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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsSome possible lovin' for the Marsh
by Amanda Rivera 
Aug 9th 2007 at 1:16PM
For a while now there has been a clamor amongst a vocal minority on the forums regarding mid-level content. So much TLC has gone into the end-game content, many (myself included) would love to see some of those warm fuzzies thrown toward those zones that are less than fun to play. They've done it before, why not spend a bit more time revamping older zones?
A recent comment made on the forums has given me new hope for some new content. In a post about what we might do until Wrath of the Lich King arrives, Nethaera dropped this little gem: "Even some changes to Dustwallow Marsh people might be interested in." hmmm....Dustwallow, eh? Certainly, it's a zone with room to expand, and I admit that I don't do much there other than visit Tabetha, Nat Pagle and that firey red-head in the cave. So breathing new life into this zone would be a wonderful thing, especially if it connects to storylines elsewhere in the game.
Rather than jump to conclusions, I file this one away in the "interesting to ponder" category. What do you think? Is any mention at all from the uber secretive Blizzard clan a signal of things to come, or are they just tantalizing us with yet another item to guess at?
[via Rufuscrim]
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Ryan Aug 9th 2007 4:12PM
@13 I noticed this as well the first time I leveled a horde character after several alliance characters; I had always assumed it was just me, but it's nice to have some confirmation that the allies are quest starved in the mid level ranges.
Mer Aug 9th 2007 5:18PM
It probably involves Alcaz Island and the King of Stormwind, considering that Bolvar is moving to Northrend, someone gotta stay in town.
Ooki Aug 9th 2007 5:26PM
Like the rest of you I would love the addition of the mid-level content of the area. I am afraid though that they have other plans. Rumors abound that Fordragon will lead the Alliance into Northend and a shuffle of leaders in the Keep frees up the storyline for the return of King Wrynn. Another rumor is of a "world event" prior to the release of the expansion which will explain why we are going into Northend which could then be the perfect time for all of this to take place.
Stormsinger Aug 9th 2007 9:45PM
Yeah, leaving old content the same makes alts really unappealing. Last night I hit 58 with my alt shammy and headed straight to Outland. I had gone from EPL, Winterspring quests to HFP quests. The difference is amazing. The TBC quests are better placed, better defined, and don't often require recrossing a zone to do one turn in. Really just more fun. Apart from BEM, I loved every zone in Outland. Old world... not so much.
So while getting the alt to 58 was boring as heck, now it's fun again.
But, from Blizz's side, they have to realize that enjoyable alt playing makes people play more and longer. All good for them. So how do they encourage alt playing without spending a ton of resources to retool 1-58?
Speed it up or skip it I guess or spice it up on the cheap.
* Skip it: Allow people to start at a higher level based on their total time played. Lets people skip the stuff they know by heart.
* Speed it up: Faster XP gain, or, even better, bump of quest XP and loot quality a lot. Would speed up the process and still gear people out decently as they go (otherwise you get ahead of your gear level too quickly).
* Spice it up on the cheap: Swap some quests from Horde to Alliance and vice versa. Take some of the contested areas and just shoehorn the other sides quests into it. So the alliance in STV can send me after Gorilla Sinew or Collecting Feathers in WS. They'd have to be non-lore related, but I'm sure the logic can be converted easily. This would at least give people new things on their faction.
Paw Aug 10th 2007 9:35AM
There really is so much dead space in the mid-content. There are many areas that hardly anyone ever goes to because they are lacking in entertaining content. Ashenvale...hardly anyone goes there on my server. If could be a great zone to add content to for the Alliance. Same for Ferelas. A handful of quests for the Alliance, and they actually pretty good, most people skip them because there isn't enough there to drag them away from the more populous areas. Add to that zone. There are so many possibilities that Blizz really doesn't have to think too hard about it. The zones are there. They are devoid of all but a player or two on most busy evenings. Someone said earlier that Westfall was a great collection of quests with a very good storyline. I agree. If every zone could match that level of interest it would make this game so much better than it is.
Zghuk Aug 23rd 2007 7:10AM
When blizzard reviews dustwallow, it's fine.
But it doesnt change the grinding from 1-58. Especially the time from 50-58 is very hard. Not many good quests, instances like temple or blackrock deeps are not playing because of lack of people...
1-58 is now soloplay on my server. You can find rarely groups for instances like SM.
Blizzard, your turn!
Zghuk Aug 23rd 2007 7:13AM
"* Speed it up: Faster XP gain, or, even better, bump of quest XP and loot quality a lot. Would speed up the process and still gear people out decently as they go (otherwise you get ahead of your gear level too quickly)."
This would be a good solution. More XP for questing would be fine.
What's about the rare handcrafted items? No one is selling this so many quests are not solvable.