Life without Burning Crusade
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 14th 2006 at 12:39AM
Joeh asks an interesting question over on livejournal... What are you going to be able to do if you don't buy the Burning Crusade expansion? There are probably at least a few people out there planning on not buying the expansion-- either for money or time reasons.So, without the expansion, it looks like you're going to get a free respec, and of course all the talent changes on the trees-- but you'll still have only 51 points to spend, even though the trees will now go up to 61 points. And you'll still have access to all the content currently in the game-- you'll be able to play Strat, Scholo, ZG, AQ, and even Naxx until your heart's content. And even though you won't be able to play the new races, you'll still get to goggle at them as they run past you, sometimes on their very sweet epic mounts (although you won't see the flying ones, because those will only be in Outland, somewhere you can't go).
What else won't you get? You won't get to learn Jewelcrafting, although you will be able to use Jewelcrafted items and obtain drops. You won't see any of the new dungeons, and you won't be able to level a single XP past level 60.
And then there's some things we just don't know about. All players will be affected by the Honor System changes, but will Arena PVP be only for Burning Crusaders or will everyone get to play in them? And Blizzard hasn't said a single word about how the expansion will be implemented in-game-- will there be a World Event like the Scourge Invasion, and if so, will everyone see it, or only those who buy the expansion? Caverns of Time, we know, will be a world event in the "old" content of Tanaris-- can everyone participate in that or only those with BC?
And I know it boggles the mind, but what about post-expansion patches? Will Blizzard upgrade the entire game, or just the expansion folks? Lots of questions to be answered as we move closer and closer to BC's release date.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Expansions, Draenei, Blood Elves
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rogue Sep 14th 2006 1:30AM
At least to cover the arena PvP thing -- and I wish I had a link handy but I don't -- one of the designers stated that the arena PvP was planned to be both setup in Outland and only for level 70, so when BC comes out it will only be available to those with the expansion.
Miztress Sep 14th 2006 8:46AM
It's already been stated that there will be no content patches for those who don't own the expansion...
Dayglow Sep 14th 2006 3:11PM
This might be a stupid question: but why would you not buy TBC expansion? Is there something wrong you with? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! :-) Anyway, buy TBC and all your troubles will be over! No more random swings of depression, no more cutting, and most of all no more wondering about what you get if you don't buy TBC. I don't know about you but the thought of all the new content makes me warm and snuggly.
So, once you come to your senses and make the greatest purchase of you gaming life come on over to Chromaggus-A and I’ll give you a hug.
PST Dayglow or Glowing for hug!
jpc Sep 14th 2006 10:49AM
I thought I read somewhere that you will be able to lvl to 70 without the expansion. Can you confirm/deny this with a good source?
Mike Schramm Sep 14th 2006 11:30AM
jpc, Tseric said at one point that that was true, but he's since been refuted by all the CMs. He had bad information-- you will not be able to level past 60 without the expansion.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=13291509&pageNo=1&sid=1#3
Afroloop Sep 14th 2006 11:32AM
I for one will be buying the expansion the day it comes out. I'm looking forward to being able to level again and looking forward to new quests and seeing new areas and new mobs. My /played was at 19 days to hit 60 and I was not in a hurry; they say 60 to 70 will take as long as 1-60 so that will be cool. I'm goign to take my time so I don't reach cap too fast.
Chadwick Sep 14th 2006 1:46PM
These are assumtions...
There will be a pre-expansion patch to help with the updating processes.
PvP changes will be global with or with the expansion. Arena PvP may be only Expansion.
You can use items made by JewelCrafting and other Profession Upgrades but you can do be a JewelCrafter or make the newer items without the Expansion
You cannot go to any of the new areas. This of course includes Outland, but also any new dungeons, like Karazhan, Caverns of Time, or the Blood Elf and Draenei starting zones.
You most likely will be able to get to level 70 and get the new talents. I think this would be a global addition.
Most of the basics of the game that get affected by the more global changes will be seen in a patch. The PvP revamp, levels and talents, have a more intimate effect that just adding more areas.
Just my 2c.
Swiftlydead Sep 14th 2006 1:55PM
I dunno Afroloop - I can't WAIT to hit the cap again so I can start doing more endgame content!!
jpc Sep 14th 2006 5:32PM
Thanks Mike, I'm at work and didn't have the time to look it up.
I'm surprised Tseric was so far off... He got this wrong *and* he pissed off all the priests by touting the holy tree expansion talents - lol.
If you had been allowed to lvl to 70 without buying the exp, then there would be atleast some reason to not get the exp. But with the lvl cap difference, there is no reason to not get the exp if you have a lvl60 toon. Unless of course you plan to make a new toon of one of the already existing races, then you could get it when you hit or are about to hit lvl 60 with that.