Long, exceptional, and hidden questlines
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 17th 2007 at 2:30PM
A query on the forums for what the longest questline in the game might be brings up this amazing page over on WoW Wiki-- a great collection of "long, exceptional, or hidden questlines" in the World of Warcraft. We've covered pretty much all of these quests before (including this cool compendium of quests you've got to do if you haven't done yet at 70), but this is a great and well-written guide to (mostly) higher level quests that have to be done to be believed.As for the actual longest questline, it appears to be the "Fallen Hero of the Horde" line (that Alliance can do as well)-- it starts around level 50, and rolls all the way around the world and up to level 60. But I actually agree with some of the other posters in that thread-- while Fallen Hero is actually a great quest, the longest, most annoying questline in the game is probably the Dungeon Set 2 quests (also known as the Tier 0.5) armor. Back in the days of 60, Blizzard wanted to give players a way to obtain Epic armor without raiding, so they invented a long, grueling questline (with multiple branching paths) that would let you upgrade your first set (Tier 0) armor, piece by piece, into an Epic, eight piece set. I never made it any farther than the bracers, although I know for a fact that lots of folks got the whole thing done (and this was after completing the eight piece Tier 0 set in the first place). As long as the Fallen Hero questline is, I believe the Tier 0.5 questline wins, if only because it seems so much longer.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Quests, The Burning Crusade, Lore, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Durrill Sep 17th 2007 2:56PM
I never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER got my Crown for my priest from that bastard at the end of Scholomance. We ran that instance every friday and saturday evening for about 6 months and it never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER dropped. Thanks to it not dropping, I couldn't complete the dungeon 2 set.
I was really pissed. The burning crusade was coming out and I knew I'd never see my completed dungeon 2 set.
The dungeon set 2 was a pipe dream. I personally have NEVER met anyone who completed the entire set. I've been playing since launch.
I love this game, but this is one of my pet peaves. Nothing pissed me off more than how god damn stupid blizzard is in coding random loot drops and grueling epic quest lines.
popeguilty Sep 17th 2007 2:56PM
I'm surprised the answer isn't "Onyxia", especially if we can count the 30 or so levels-long quest chain that runs from Elwynn to Westfall to Redridge and then abruptly dies in Duskwood.
"Yep, some bad shit goin' on here in the kingdom, what with the royals refusing to help us... wait another 25 levels and go someplace else and do something that is apparently unrelated."
Hellbena Sep 17th 2007 3:03PM
Ah yes, the dungeon upgrade quests. The only real hang up with this questline is the infamous 45 minute UD Strat / Baron run. It sounds simple now, but back then you needed 3 people wearing Tier 1 or better to get through it with _maybe_ a couple minutes to spare. I however am the proud owner of TWO full sets of Tier 0.5.
Hellbena Sep 17th 2007 3:05PM
Ah yes, the dungeon upgrade quests. The only real hang up with this questline is the infamous 45 minute UD Strat / Baron run. It sounds simple now, but back then you needed 3 people wearing Tier 1 or better to get through it with _maybe_ a couple minutes to spare. I however am the proud owner of TWO full sets of Tier 0.5.
honkhonk Sep 17th 2007 3:15PM
Sweet Amber was a neat questline and the reward was fun :)
45m Baron Run was awesome. Most difficult thing I did in the game with a group of 5 green/blue equipped players. More than one bad pull and you were toast.
MP Sep 17th 2007 3:30PM
I did the dungeon set 2 quest line with a few friends pre-BC, and got my full Deathmist set. I have to agree with the 1st poster: getting lucky on drops for the 5 BoP pieces was just as difficult as doing the long series of quests to upgrade each of the dungeon set 0 pieces. I got my robes in 1 run of UBRS right after I hit 60, but then I had to run Scholo 17 times to get my helm! One of my friends never got her legs from the Baron, despite the number of times we killed him.
The best part of the upgrade quest line was the 45 minute Baron run. If you tried it with 5 people who all had on blues from 5 mans at 60, a 45 minute Baron run was very challenging, but lots of fun.
The next best part of the upgrade quest line was the summoned bosses. There are bosses in Strat, Scholo, BRD, DM, and UBRS that have to be summoned and beaten to continue the quest line. The last one, Lord Valthalak http://knightsofniguild.net/?p=16 was a tough one. IMO, That was by far the hardest 10 man boss pre-Kara.
I still carry my deathmist set around in my bags and put it on sometimes just for kicks.
Hybrys Sep 17th 2007 3:39PM
I did a 45 min Braon run in 35 mins *TOTAL* with people in blues. You just gotta know what you're doing, and have enough pots for everyone to chain pull.
Skrilla Sep 17th 2007 3:40PM
" I love this game, but this is one of my pet peaves. Nothing pissed me off more than how god damn stupid blizzard is in coding random loot drops and grueling epic quest lines. "
agree 110% I have run certain dungeons countless times without ever seeing certain drops that would be an upgrade for me. Meanwhile, in these same runs, every boss drops something NOBODY in the group can use. I understand shards are good, but this shit pisses me off.
Urthona Sep 17th 2007 3:46PM
I agree with the Fallen Hero questline. While not as rewarding as the Tier 0.5, it's great that it makes you quest in primarily low pop zones, like Blasted Lands and Azshara. Especially the parts with the Demon Hunter...
Not much else comes to mind, except the long early quests that result in disappointment. The Scythe of Elune was a lot of running for little payoff, Prophecy of Mosh'Aru begins with a nonsensical back and forth between Zul'Farrak and Jintha'Alor and ends 10 levels AFTER you resurrect Hakkar, Tower of Althalaxx takes place in Ashenvale and Darkshore.
kentiam Sep 17th 2007 3:58PM
My priest, warrior and hunter all had 0.5... two of them didn't really need it (wearing T2) but I did the chains because I was bored. It was really long... not hard though, 45 baron was a cake walk with a decent group and vent.
Gorgas Sep 17th 2007 4:21PM
The Sceptre quest, i have all the chapters for about a year, still haven't killed weavil :/
Coherent Sep 17th 2007 4:30PM
The Tier 0.5 set was worthless for it's stated objective "To provide epic equipment options for casual/nonraiding players" because in order to complete it, you had to assemble a full team of raiders with high-end gear.
So it was a waste of time. If you could complete it, you didn't need it. It ended up being completed almost exclusively by raiders who were bored and just wanted another costume to walk around in.
Blizzard's Tier 0.5 plan = massive fail (by sabotage)
Shalmaneser Sep 17th 2007 5:05PM
I can't believe my topic got picked up on WoW Insider. It does restore some of my faith in the general WoW community to see a simple request get a really good answer. And I don't think I saw one OP Warlocks comment!
Rao Sep 17th 2007 5:23PM
LOL
Come on, I can't believe you forgot to talk about the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain. I've done every single bloody quest in the game basically, that includes the fallen hero quest chain, the teir 0.5 quest chain, onyixa's key quest. But those quest chains are jokes in comparison to the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain. After finishing that quest chain, I can easily say that all others before it, were nothing in comparison.
Krystalle Voecks Sep 17th 2007 5:28PM
I got the full Dungeon Set 2 Rogue set, primarily because I thought it looked seriously cool. Of course, now the Skyguard wear armor that looks like Rogue Dungeon Set 2 in BEM. I'm glad to see the set art again, even if the stats are undoubtedly worlds different.
Fletch Sep 17th 2007 6:15PM
Ahh, the dungeon 2 set quest: the point where it became obvious that Blizzard likes to give raiders new content, while non-raiders get recycled content.
whyblizzwhy Sep 17th 2007 6:26PM
#1, I feel your pain!
I played a rogue and ran Baron until exalted (to the point that my guildies and I were able to 45-min Baron runs with several minutes to spare time after time without much trouble), all so I could get my damned Shadowcraft Pants and move on with the .5 questline.
But those pants never dropped =/ It was unbelievable. Even if they had dropped on one of the later runs, it would've been pointless anyway since I had decent raid gear by then. But I NEEDED to get those pants and finish the questline! I was so determined to do it, just for the satisfaction. But noooooo...omg having Baron flashbacks, must take a Xanax.
Mir Sep 17th 2007 6:43PM
I love the quest to get the Forest Darter minipet, it's long, it's cute, and I didn't find it until my 3rd or 4th char. :)
Nick Thomas Sep 18th 2007 2:01AM
Ya definitely should have mentioned the broodlord head/aq gate quest, it was insane, and gave multiple epics along the way.
BenMS Sep 18th 2007 4:56AM
Gates of Ahn'Qiraj was by far the hardest, longest quest chain. On my (months behind/RP) realm, it took the two biggest Alliance guilds in conjunction with the biggest Horde side guild to get it all done. Lots of Vent coordination and farming Silithus like mad things finally got it done.... and y'know what? I think a total of two guilds ever killed C'Thun.