The mid-level, nothing new blues (a.k.a. I went down to the Crossroads)
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Mar 28th 2007 at 11:01AM
I'm no good with alts. I've been playing this game for two years now, and I've still only managed to get one character to the max level. My character list is littered with the names of forgotten, abandoned, and damaged-beyond-repair alts -- a 51 warlock, a 42 hunter, a 27 mage. No matter how much I love the class at first, eventually I get tired of doing the same old quests for the same old rewards, and as I approach the max level, I begin shivering at the thought of attunements and guild applications and all the other busywork of level 60 or 70.
So it was with a heavy heart that I took my blood elf paladin out of the Ghostlands and into the Barrens at level 20. Although I'd really love to have an end-game pally for tanking and/or healing, I know that I have a good chance of giving her up before she hits Outlands. Luckily, there are a couple strategies for fighting off the mid-level blues:
- Use a free leveling guide, or at least look at one. I've been taking a gander at Jame's Horde Leveling Guide for my pally. If nothing else, it gives you a good window into which quests are time-efficient and which ones will have you reaching for something to stab the NPCs with.
- Start a new profession. If you've never done skinning/leatherworking and it works with your character, go for that! Same with tailoring/enchanting, mining/blacksmithing, and herbalism/alchemy. If you've been through all of those before, everyone can do mining/jewelcrafting and enjoy its newness.
- Socialize. Join a new guild. Roleplay, if that's your thing, and come up with a really unique character. Heck, even if you're not on an RP server, make up a history and background for your character. Get involved in conversations in general chat.
- Level with a pal. Partnering up can make questing easier, and can keep you going on a character even after you would have given up solo.
Do you have any tips for those pushing through the middle levels for the second, third or fourth time?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
robodex Mar 28th 2007 11:19AM
I had the same problem, to be honest. Basically, what I've been doing is playing my alt for a level or two at a time, using up all the rested XP and then shelving them again for a week or so. I rolled my hunter alt about 6 months ago and he's level 52, and I intend to bring him to 70 eventually. I also rolled a shaman alt just for fun and it's a good change of pace.
Strongmark on Arthas Mar 28th 2007 11:24AM
I personally like those ideas and have been doing alot of that with my Orc Hunter... my third alt... and I havent even gotten my main up to 60 let alone 70 yet... I like rolling new chars to try everything out, but I always end up like my warrior the best. I agree with the rested XP thing too, definitely helps alot when you have a tonne of it, helps level faster and makes it even more fun to level.
New scenery is always nice and generally why I have rolled alts. On the alliance side, I have a char with every race and on the horde, just Orc currently. I do wanna try each and every race and every class to see how they all play :o)
Tumnus Mar 28th 2007 11:27AM
I love the pic that goes with this article.
John Mar 28th 2007 11:34AM
"Heck, even if you're not on an RP server, make up a history and background for your character."
I do have to say, and maybe this is just me, but running into some role-playing on a non-RP server is kinda weird, and slightly annoying. Maybe it's just cause it's out of place, but it bugs me. Dunno why.
HiWay Mar 28th 2007 11:52AM
You get mad kudos for the eric clapton reference.
Metaphyzxx Mar 28th 2007 12:22PM
My plight exactly. I have 1 character that's made it to 60, and a BUNCH of 20 somethings. I've finally started levelling a hunter, and made it to 30... I love Desolace by the way.
I take the same approach #1 does. I make 4-5 characters on a server, get them all to the first town, and stock them up on rest xp. Then burn the rest xp for the character, put them away, and make another. Eventually, you have a bunch of characters that can "help" one another, depending on professions.
Cool thing was, when I finally got to the x9 level (19/29), I could leave a character there for pvp purposes, and still have a play toon.
Hank Mar 28th 2007 2:21PM
I have 3 alts on my server (Blade's Edge! Come to us!) each in a different level range (40s, 30s, 20s) that I use to help guildees when appropriate. Why bring a 70 and get them minimum xp when my 30 warrior can easily help lead a lvl18 through Deadmines?
While I've done most of the quests in the Eastrern Kingdoms, I did only the starter stuff and the 40+ stuff in Kalimdor with my Main, so it's new to me!
Also, you can roll an alt faction toon. I assume that there are different quests for Horde than Alliance (and I'm finding out slowly)
Cody Mar 28th 2007 2:24PM
I have alt ADD something fierce. I have: 43 Warlock, 42 Priest, 40 Pally, 37 Warrior, 36 Hunter.
I think my problem is the addiction to rested XP. I can't stand getting normal XP, so I will put a character away for a week until his rested XP is back up and only then will I play him...
Astarte Mar 28th 2007 1:50PM
Not to go too off topic, but as the photo indicates, more of a Robert Johnson reference, than Clapton's or cream's cover of his song.
Anyway, yes, switching through alts until xp bar goes purple really helps speed through. I totally agree that leveling with friends helps as well, I convinced a bunch of guys and gals at work to level up our alts at the same time. We are running instances weekly and helping each other out. Really does make those 20-40s better.
Theadrick Mar 28th 2007 2:04PM
I have 7 alts that I actively play. My main is 70 and 5 of my alts are 60-65. I have both a draenei and a blood elf as well.
I did almost every quest I could get my hands on with my main... including those that had already gone grey. With my alts, I have a set levelling path which I pretty much stick to. I choose areas where I can "stack" quests and grind quest xp (the best way to grind) effectively. When rested xp runs out on one alt, I switch to another. I skip most instances on my alts until I hit the higher levels.
My way of levelling is (to me anyhow) more effective than the one shown in the levelling guide.
Anyway... I love the game, and trying out different class/race combos. The only two classes I have not levelled to a significant level (50+) are mage and druid... which I simply do not enjoy.
As for tradeskills, I have Herbalist/Alchemist (my main) and an Enchanter. The rest are gatherers. All have the skinning skill and either mining or herbalism (to support my main).
Guernia Mar 28th 2007 4:18PM
In the lower levels it's way too easy to burn through rested XP. With my main and 6 alts (some of which are low level - I could run through 3 or 4 of their rested XP bars in a day or two) I find myself playing a character for a week or two, then switching when I need a change of playstyle.
I ditched my 60 priest at TBC release in favor of a new BElf Pally for a main. In order to not get burned out, I made a deal with myself: neither my 60 priest nor 60 hunter were allowed to set foot into Outland before my pally. This was a *great* incentive to bust through all the "boring" old mid-level content. I managed to get to 60 in about 6-7 days /played - not a phenomenal speed, but not terribly slow either.
Thus far, I've taken three BElf's through the new blood elf zones and enjoyed the new content each time, with the mage currently nearing level 35 (a good breakpoint for crafting, she's already up to 225 tailoring, and nearly that for JC - and has the mats to get 300 rather quickly). Pally is 63 (having run no instances yet) and the belf rogue is 20 or so. My other 60's are still 60 at time of writing.
Also, now that rep gains aren't nerfed on old quests, I'm AoE grinding my mage up to max level if possible (with some quick quest doing for good rewards). I managed to get one to 50 or so before I abandoned my old server, so this is an interesting alternative to the same-old same-old.
On the other hand, maybe it's because I really like STV, Tanaris, Un'goro etc. that I don't seem to have difficulty getting through the mid-levels. Or maybe I'm immune to mind-numbing tedium. Who knows?
Ryan Carter Mar 28th 2007 9:21PM
My main is a level 29 Druid, and I have several alts (18 warlock, 13 mage, 9 rogue, and some other 6's and such) who all different profs to help everyone out. I obviously haven't been playing as long (a month or so) but I can already see that I will enjoy leveling each character up to higher levels, since I really like the change in pace and purpose behind each character. I know I sound like a ubern00b, but granted, I may have a higher level main, if I didn't already dabble so much in alts. The mid-level blues will hit me I think, and my remedy for that is to play a few horde chars until I "forget" a bit of the alliance side of play.
Kibeth Mar 29th 2007 1:57PM
"Not to go too off topic, but as the photo indicates, more of a Robert Johnson reference, than Clapton's or cream's cover of his song."
QFT
Elra Mar 30th 2007 12:53PM
I always leave one or threee areas of the game alone for my next char. for example, ive never finished off ashnevale, felwood azhara or winterspring, neithere ungoro or silithus. Stv is also unpopular, but that seems to be general concensus that questing their is stupid.
Schmuzzy Mar 29th 2007 4:37AM
@5 Know your lore! Eric Clapton refers to Crossroads (a lot) as a tribute to Robert Johnson (the guy in the picture) and his legend. References can also be found in movies like Crossroads and O Brother where art thou, as well as the Tenacious D Video Tribute.
So Elizabeth deserves even more Kudos than you think for putting up the picture.
Sorry about the off topic reply. Me, I just wish I had the time to level my alt.
C.A. Mar 29th 2007 7:05AM
I'm in the same boat Elizabeth. I'm not an alt type of guy. One level seventy and the rest of the gang are lowbies. I've been playing since launch too. I just don't get into doing the same stuff again well. I am making some progress though. I think because I don't want to save for an epic flying mount and I feel like that's all I have left since I'm not a raider.
Kazzaam Mar 29th 2007 8:29PM
I have nothing but alts. I get bored with any toon after 20 or 30 levels and then I roll a new one.
My problem is that the starting levels become boring once you've done them a couple of times. So, I focus on running instances instead of quests. There may be less xp, but the action is more intense and it's never boring, especially with PUGs.