TheWoWDBFYI: this is a single quest - no chain required. The target isn't even an elite (1398 HP). So basically, at level 23, come get a free blue item.
Sploder stands on a little balcony on the front of the bomb tower. Access by walking up the track / ramp in the back of the tower. He's standing in front of a backlit window, dual wielding torches.
If you're twinking 24, the ring is temporarily good for rogues, hunters & feral druids while you're grinding for your monkey or agility [item=9461] in Gnomer (which will be an upgrade but may take a long, long time to get).
Horde side has a marginally better ring: [item=65725]
Quest
The Goblin Braintrust
A World of Warcraft quest in Ashenvale. Facts and objectives from the current retail game data.
The highest voted Wowhead comments for this page. They are community notes, not TheWoWDB comments.
If you approach from the S as I did, you will need to go around to the N side of the tower the bomb is on and climb up the tracks or whatever they are to kill the technician and the approach Sploder on up the track.
He is on the S side and not a difficult kill and you get his head.
Do not forget the quest from the bomb after killing Sploder. I had to go around to the N side and farthert uo killing one more technician on the way.
The Goblin Braintrust http://youtu.be/UrT8kbPWl00
Quest facts
LevelLevel 7-30
ZoneAshenvale
Quest ID13979
Check whether you have already completed this quest
in-game: /run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(13979))
Requirements
FactionAlliance only
Read from the Blizzard quest API.
What to do
StorylineAshenvale, Alliance, step 21 of 50
RewardsSkunkworks Sword, 
Braintrust Vest, 
Jalin's Recompense, 10g 50s, 4,100 XP
Skunkworks Sword, Braintrust Vest, Jalin's Recompense, 10g 50s, 4,100 XPDescription
If we could just stop the damned bombing from the goblins' creations we'd be able to launch a counter-offensive to take back Silverwind Refuge! It's been my experience that goblins are either lazy and unproductive, or too productive and end up killing themselves with their own explosives. Unfortunately for us, they're being motivated by the brilliant Chief Bombgineer Sploder. Get up to the Skunkworks on the west side of the refuge and don't come back until you have the Chief Bombgineer's head!
Where to go
Pins are the quest’s own POI points from the current retail client, projected onto the in-game zone map. The game marks one blob as the quest’s turn-in; the rest are objective areas. Points that fall outside a map’s window are dropped rather than guessed at.
Turn-inObjective areaIn-game waypoint: /way #63 35.1 71.6
Coordinates
- Turn-inAshenvale 35.1, 71.6
/way #63 35.1 71.6 - Objective areaAshenvale 46.1, 61.6
/way #63 46.1 61.6
Map coordinates of the pins above. An area the client draws as a shape is given by the centre of its points.
Nearby on the Ashenvale map
- Return to Stardust same spot
- They Took Our Gnomes same spot
- Ze Gnomecorder about 20 yards
- Field Test: Gnomecorder about 20 yards
- Burn, Baby, Burn! about 20 yards
- A Disturbance in Ashenvale about 810 yards
- The Light of Elune about 820 yards
- Knives of the Forsaken about 820 yards
- Desecrate this Fire! about 970 yards
- Put Out The Fire about 1,140 yards
Quests whose map markers the client places closest to this one on Ashenvale, nearest first. Distances are straight lines between the markers.
Getting there
Alliance flight points closest to the quest’s turn-in marker on Ashenvale:
- Stardust Spire, Ashenvale
- Astranaar, Ashenvale
- Windshear Hold, Stonetalon Mountains
From the turn-in, the objective areas lie:
- Objective area
Straight-line distances in yards between the quest’s own map markers (QuestPOI) and the client’s flight-point positions (TaxiNodes); flight paths and terrain are not modelled.
Community notes from Wowhead · 7 comments
Top 3 shown aboveThe comments below were written by Wowhead users. They are community notes, not TheWoWDB comments. See them in context on Wowhead.
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Choose one of these rewards:
3D Model
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
Reward details
Pick one of these
TypeTwo-Handed Sword Two-Hand
Item level16
BindingBinds when picked up
Weapon9 - 15 damage, speed 3.6
Stats+6 Strength, +5 Stamina
Suited toBlood, Frost, Retribution, Arms, Fury, Unholy
Sells to vendors for77 silver59 copper
TypeLeather Chest
Item level16
BindingBinds when picked up
Armor8
Stats+5 Agility or Intellect, +7 Stamina
Suited toBalance, Restoration, Mistweaver, Devourer, Vengeance, Feral, Guardian, Brewmaster, Subtlety, Outlaw, Assassination, Havoc, Windwalker
Sells to vendors for42 silver20 copper
TypeArmor Finger
Item level16
BindingBinds when picked up
Stats+3 Agility, +4 Stamina
Suited toVengeance, Enhancement, Subtlety, Outlaw, Assassination, Windwalker, Feral, Guardian, Havoc, Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival, Brewmaster
Sells to vendors for13 silver56 copper
TypeMail Chest
Item level16
BindingBinds when picked up
Armor12
Stats+5 Agility or Intellect, +7 Stamina
Suited toElemental, Restoration, Devastation, Preservation, Augmentation, Marksmanship, Beast Mastery, Survival, Enhancement
Sells to vendors for40 silver63 copper
Reputation: Darnassus +250
This Alliance capital is populated by Night Elves and is located in the Island of Teldrassil. Ruled by the Priestess of the Moon, Tyrande Whisperwind.
Reputation group: Alliance.
Other quests in Ashenvale that reward Darnassus reputation: Supplies to Auberdine (+500), Don't Forget the Horde (+250), Of Their Own Design (+250), Naga of the Strand (+250), West to the Strand (+10), Delivery for Orendil (+25).
Item facts are the current retail client’s (ItemSparse); the specialisations for a pick-one item are the ones the Blizzard quest API lists; faction and currency text is the client’s own. Lowest listed price = the US commodity auction house now.
Storyline
Ashenvale, Alliance
Part 21 of 50.
Previous: Retaking Mystral Lake · Next: Three Friends of the Forest
- 16All's Well
- 17Dryad Delivery
- 18Search the Bole
- 19Playing Possum
- 20Retaking Mystral Lake
- 21The Goblin Braintrust
- 22Three Friends of the Forest
- 23In a Bind
- 24Clear the Shrine
- 25The Last Stand
- 26Return to Raene
- 27Dartol's Rod
Showing steps 16 to 27 of 50.
Storyline order is the client’s own QuestLine data from the current retail build.
Where this quest fits
Before this quest
Taken from the storyline's own step order.
- Retaking Mystral Lake
We could easily have held Silverwind Refuge from the Horde had they not taken control of our water elemental defenders on Mystral Lake. One of their shaman summoned in Tideress, an old and angry water spirit of the forest who befouled our elementals and turned them against us.
After this quest
Taken from the storyline's own step order.
- Three Friends of the Forest
Care to make a quick trip to the south? I've three friends that I haven't heard from in a while. With these strange tentacles popping out of the ground to the north, and all of the demonic activity, I don't dare leave my family.
Also counted by Ashenvale Quests
Its criteria name 12 quests; others include:
- Respect for the Fallen
- Stopping the Rituals
- The Forest Heart
- Return Fire
- Recover the Remains
- Vortex
- The Last Stand
- The Lost Chalice
The storyline at a glance
Ashenvale, Alliance has 50 steps, from Bathran's Hair to The Forest Heart.
Maps its steps are placed on (steps per map): Ashenvale (50).
Other storylines on the Ashenvale map
- Ashenvale, Horde
- The Warchief's Command
- Stonetalon Mountains, Alliance
- In Darkest Night
- Ashenvale, Everyone
- Battle Pet Tamers
Steps, storylines and map placement from the client’s QuestLine, prerequisite and QuestPOI data; neighbouring quest text is Blizzard’s own (quest API), shortened to its opening sentences.
Achievements
Completing this quest counts toward this achievement.
- Ashenvale Quests: its criteria name 12 quests, this one included.