'Blizzard has built an elaborate seamless world...' I think we've all been in enough seams to know this as a lie. And it was used as a verb, leveling, in this country at least.

As far as leveling goes I always had more fun in City of (Whoever) series just because I play MMORPGs due to there being real live people in it. With WoW it feels like a chore to level with someone, meaning that the 10 items on a 1 in $%& you drop rating may as well be 100 for just a pair, and 'kill yourself' if you dare to bring an entire bloody group. Leveling should be a fun learning experiense as well as an oportunity to meet new people playing the bugger who are not complete $%& in the @$%es and whom you can maybe see yourself not killing in the near future, if but for the sake of useing them for all they are worth.

You've got to be kidding.

The guy writes a long and pretty detailed article and all some of you can take from it is the spelling of "leveling/levelling" in the title.

Unbelievable.

Some people really just need to stroke their own self-esteem that desperately I guess.

Also, I've seen a comment or two to the effect of "we've already seen these articles before, why do we need another?".

Well, the answer, if one drops their conceit and looks beyond their own nose, is very obvious... There are others who may *not* have ever read an article like that before and could find it useful/informative.

Very good article and it touches on some things that, to me, are a problem in many MMOs.. particularly the "getting so caught up in the grind that players forget there are other things to do". Those are usually the ones  blowing past 70 levels of "other stuff to do", then complaining about lack of content.

So... Very nice article overall :).

In the spirit in which this article was writing I thank the author. Please don't  mind the gramar police. Based on the new patches and changes to WoW you wished to inform gamers of the positive changes to an already great game and for that I thank you. Call me a fanboy of WoW... it doesn't change the fact that an already great and enjoyable game has improved many aspects of it's game to help out new and returning players. I believe this was really the reason for the post and not how the missuse of one word could completely side track sooooooo many people! So understanding this to be the meaning for this post I do not believe it has been played out. Many changes and additions have been released in WoW over the last few patches and it was enjoyable to read about them.

i guess the article is ok (i would have to agree that it is leveling not levelling--maybe someone should start a website for proper gaming terms/spelling to solve these issues, lol). hopefully it'll help some people who are new to the game, it didn't really give me anything worthwhile but i've been playing wow for a long time.

i personally would do several of the leveling builds differently though--honestly as other have said WTF warlock build?!

rogue--i prefer a good hemo/shadowstep build myself, i originally switched to a hemo/subtlety build because mobs kept seeing me stealth near them. for that reason and the fact that hemo is a fairly easy way to play a rogue i'd say it'd be good for beginners:

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/rogue/talents.html

paladin--been forever since i leveled my paladin, but the main thing i remember and i tell this to every new paladin who asks me for advice on a build..ALWAYS PICK UP SPIRITUAL FOCUS IN THE HOLY TREE!! in my opinion it is the most important talent for leveling, especially in the lower levels. several times i can recall being attacked by 3 mobs or more and if i could've only healed myself i would've been fine except i couldn't because the spell would take forever to go off. also i never felt that sanctity aura was all that great, also i'd put another point into pursuit of justice:

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/paladin/talents.html

for druids i'd probably drop intensity and pick up feral instinct instead--again the mobs seeing through stealth issue which is a pain in the ass when you're trying to get the jump on them or sneak past them.

hunters--it looks like you've got a decent lvl 70 build there, but it's not as good for leveling in my opinion, before i'd suggest putting 2 points into pathfinding, but since you get a mount at 30 now that's not as important, but animal handler is still good--one of the most annoying parts of leveling is traveling as you pointed out in your article making it a bit easier is always good. also improved revive pet is very good to have.

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/hunter/talents.html

warlock--what the heck were you thinking?! lol, for leveling i'd either do an affliction build or a demo build--personally i'd level affliction and respec to demo (felguard) at level 50 or so.

affliction:

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/warlock/talents.html

demo:

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/warlock/talents.html

for priest i'd probably drop a couple of the holy talents and pick up shadow focus, i remember when i leveled my shadow priest a long time ago that it was disgusting how many resists i'd get, picking up that talent should keep that from being too much of an issue.

I think it is a great write up.  What many people here fail to realize is that not everyone who reads these boards 'knows all'... as many of the posters (posers) like to troll, flame, and profess to. 

A new player (or even a  potential WoW player) may look at this guide and find some positive information or opinions/input here. 

I know some people stray from games that have been out for a while because they fear they are too far behind veterans.  Blizzards has helped new players out a lot.  I think the article helped lay that out fairly well. 

Other players say that the journey 'from level one through done' in WoW becomes 'boring' or tedious after a while.  The author pointed out BG's as a way to break up the 'grind'.

Every article isn't written for the uber, the high-exalted, never-faulted, all knowing, all pwning, +1, 1 up, my daddy can beat up your daddy, my soccer mom is hotter than your soccer mom, Chuck Norris endorsed, super-awesome-kung-fu-grip featuring, and 'elite' gamer. While the article was posted in a place that all can view and all can read, it doesn't mean that the subject matter is useful for 'all'.  But, there are some people who would find value in that write-up. 

If you read the article and found it to be 'elementary' or simply 'beneath' you or your level (should I add another L??), then just move along and don't flame.  If you thought reading the post was a waste of your time, then why waste more of your time by flaming it? 

Anyway, leave Brit Spears alone while you're at it, too. 

But seriously, a lot of the ego's need to be checked at the login, imho.  Think before you type.  People spend too much time slathering forums up in 'you're dumb/I'm smart'. 

So, to the OP/author... nice work. 

Maybe articles and guides should be rated?  Advanced for the uber (veteran, skilled, and educated).  Beginner for the noober (new or potential gamers).  And maybe another rating in there for 'average' or 'all'. 

15% less exp to level. Now that is interesting. Does this mean that there are alot of players now quitting, saying that they found the leveling process too boring? Or does it mean they dont want low level newbies to feel afraid of leveling 80 times?

Everything happens for a reason.

Originally posted by _Seeker

15% less exp to level. Now that is interesting. Does this mean that there are alot of players now quitting, saying that they found the leveling process too boring? Or does it mean they dont want low level newbies to feel afraid of leveling 80 times?

Everything happens for a reason.

I don't think you will  find  many people leaving the game you just find that the veterens that have a couple of 70's under their belt are bored and tired of the long grind to 58 so they want to shorten the time it takes to get there.So really it's about retaining the populace they have.My personal belief is that while BC was a really great expansion pack it killed the game for players below level 58 that can't access the outland. There is hardly any gear on the AH for levels 15-58 that is not priced below a level 58 item since no one really 'farms' those areas any more. So there is no real joy in the game below level 58 except for getting your mount.  Just my personal oppion, but the game really only begins now when you can access the Outlands.

I'd like the thanks the op for his time and laugh at all the spelling heros (I dont want to use the n**** word)

I decided to dip back into wow as iv quit aoc and im waiting for war, wow as a game is ok, its the people, like the elite here who dont need any help and they want the game tougher because everythings too easy for them.

Its like they have became too good for wow or mabye they just like to talk the talk.

in game yesterday some guy lvl65 is asking for a guild, hes laughed at by 3 or 4 people called and noob and told to lvl up, no decent guild is going to take a lvl65. now its not true that no guild will take him but there are whole guilds of players who think anyone under 70 is inferior.

Originally posted by Bakgrind

Originally posted by _Seeker

15% less exp to level. Now that is interesting. Does this mean that there are alot of players now quitting, saying that they found the leveling process too boring? Or does it mean they dont want low level newbies to feel afraid of leveling 80 times?

Everything happens for a reason.

 

I don't think you will  find  many people leaving the game you just find that the veterens that have a couple of 70's under their belt are bored and tired of the long grind to 58 so they want to shorten the time it takes to get there.So really it's about retaining the populace they have.My personal belief is that while BC was a really great expansion pack it killed the game for players below level 58 that can't access the outland. There is hardly any gear on the AH for levels 15-58 that is not priced below a level 58 item since no one really 'farms' those areas any more. So there is no real joy in the game below level 58 except for getting your mount.  Just my personal oppion, but the game really only begins now when you can access the Outlands.

I think they're making leveling so much faster for the new player, because....Blizzard isn't good at adding ANY lower level content with expansions or patches, at least thus far, so to give you a reason to BUY said expansion....they have to make it more attainable for a new player that is below lvl 58....to hope to PLAY soon.

Perhaps, instead of making leveling easier, they could have just added more lower level content TOO, in addition to the high level content.  I'm not a huge EQ2 fan, but to their credit...when they have an expansion, it adds things for both lower AND higher level players.  WoW just pretty much keeps beefing up the "end game" crowd. 

Let's say you were a new subscriber to WoW.  Well...the old world instances are pretty well abandoned now, other than enchanters farming for mats.  So without the xp boosts, it WOULD probably take longer to level that it originally took.  WE could run instances over and over.  I know some lower level players spam trade chat for DAYS just trying to get ONE Scarlet group put together.  WE didn't have to do that.

So...Blizzard is, in my opinion, trying to help the newbies catch up, so that they'll have a REASON to purchase the expansion.  Otherwise...what's in it for them?   New haircuts?  Pffft.  That's hardly worth spending 40 bucks.

Originally posted by girlgeek

I think they're making leveling so much faster for the new player, because....Blizzard isn't good at adding ANY lower level content with expansions or patches, at least thus far, so to give you a reason to BUY said expansion....they have to make it more attainable for a new player that is below lvl 58....to hope to PLAY soon.

Perhaps, instead of making leveling easier, they could have just added more lower level content TOO, in addition to the high level content.  I'm not a huge EQ2 fan, but to their credit...when they have an expansion, it adds things for both lower AND higher level players.  WoW just pretty much keeps beefing up the "end game" crowd. 

Let's say you were a new subscriber to WoW.  Well...the old world instances are pretty well abandoned now, other than enchanters farming for mats.  So without the xp boosts, it WOULD probably take longer to level that it originally took.  WE could run instances over and over.  I know some lower level players spam trade chat for DAYS just trying to get ONE Scarlet group put together.  WE didn't have to do that.

So...Blizzard is, in my opinion, trying to help the newbies catch up, so that they'll have a REASON to purchase the expansion.  Otherwise...what's in it for them?   New haircuts?  Pffft.  That's hardly worth spending 40 bucks.

that's not entirely true, they did redo dustwallow marsh a little while back, which made it much better--adding in new quests & quest hub. but you're right, they do not add in nearly enough low level content. which is a shame because in my opinion the main thing that blizzard did right was making leveling enjoyable--i'm about to have my 10th lvl 70, so i obviously have enjoyed it plenty, but without new content it makes leveling up new characters a pain in the ass now because i've done it so many times.

eh, they added in a little content with Ghostlands, along with easy-to-get blues and a sweet twink cape with Tranquillen. Then there was the addition of Mudsprocket later on, but I agree. There needs to be at least some new content for leveling, theres only so many times you can go through an area before getting sick of it.

Oh well, they did shorten the exp needed to level, moved mounts to 30, and added triple exp friend invites with free zebra mounts to the inviter, guess that counts somewhat to helping, eh?

Main thing I'd disagree with though, is referring players to guides and addons, I consider almost all addons nothing more than something to supliment or replace skill, and guides take the fun out of exploring.

Hell, a week or so after Sunwell came out, I decided to try Magister's Terrace, and I was stuck with a group of Addon-dependant sadsaps who moaned and groaned cause their precious addons werent working, tank couldnt hold aggro if he was beating the enemies mothers, and the rest were pretty sad too.

Originally posted by Someone

but the way they are put together eliminates the incredible grind session found in many other MMORPG’s today.

What.. effing.. game.. are.. you.. playing?

I am not interested in the leveling of this bad game.

Why does mmorpg.com have a correspondant dedicated to this POS?

Shesh.

Here's a wacky idea - instead of relying on the community to make a game fun, how about laying the burden on the DEVELOPERS.

Blizzard decided to take their amazingly well-designed engine and world and fill it with pointinless, idiotic timesinks because a bunch of EQ raiders took over as leads of the game.  Kaplan talks about the importance of trash mobs in dungeons to get the 'timing' right when 'timing' is just another word for tedious timesink. 

Instead of looking for solutions to the problems these Developers created for their game, I prefer to look for a game that doesn't have them in the first place.       It's taken a while but we're finally seeing upcoming MMORPGs that are evolving out of those wretched, old-school mechanics.  

WoW showed the world that MMORPGs didn't have to be mind-numbing garbage but Blizzard didn't go far enough, it will be up to others to carry the torch now. 

The rogue tree is generally in the right direction, going with the combat tree.  But EVERY rogue, no matter focusing on pvp, pve, or leveling, grabs 5/5 malice in assassination.

Here is a more accurate rogue leveling build.

www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/rogue/talents.html

I

Nice thread.

One thing though, Eye of the Storm can be started at 60.

As for builds, to each their own!

---

Originally posted by girlgeek

I think they're making leveling so much faster for the new player, because....Blizzard isn't good at adding ANY lower level content with expansions or patches, at least thus far, so to give you a reason to BUY said expansion....they have to make it more attainable for a new player that is below lvl 58....to hope to PLAY soon.
Perhaps, instead of making leveling easier, they could have just added more lower level content TOO, in addition to the high level content.  I'm not a huge EQ2 fan, but to their credit...when they have an expansion, it adds things for both lower AND higher level players.  WoW just pretty much keeps beefing up the "end game" crowd. 
Let's say you were a new subscriber to WoW.  Well...the old world instances are pretty well abandoned now, other than enchanters farming for mats.  So without the xp boosts, it WOULD probably take longer to level that it originally took.  WE could run instances over and over.  I know some lower level players spam trade chat for DAYS just trying to get ONE Scarlet group put together.  WE didn't have to do that.
So...Blizzard is, in my opinion, trying to help the newbies catch up, so that they'll have a REASON to purchase the expansion.  Otherwise...what's in it for them?   New haircuts?  Pffft.  That's hardly worth spending 40 bucks.

---

This post really hits the nail on the head. WoW is not good at adding expansions that offer much new content to lower-level players so, at least with WotLK, fast-leveling workarounds are a must.

As for the "levelling vs. leveling" discussion, as an editor I have to weigh in. Both forms are correct (i.e., British vs. U.S. spellings), and it is the editor's decision which style is chosen as long as it is consistently applied, which it is.

Nice article, well written..Good job.

Thank you all for the constructive comments, it's wonderful to see people are reading past the title. As for the builds, I only put down what I used. Each to their own, as you can level without using any talents period, it's just a lot more difficult. But thank you all!