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by Mike Schramm 
Jan 8th 2008 at 9:03PM
We've done a lot of talking about alts here at WoW Insider, and if I had to guess, I'd suspect that most of our readers tend to be what most of us writers are: alt-a-holics, with many, many classes and levels of alts, sometimes even spanning across servers. But not everybody is like us-- some people, like the Nameless One over on LJ, have only one character. And to tell the truth, I kind of envy her a bit.I've known a few people who have only played one character in the game ever, and in my experience, they've done great-- all the money they make goes directly to them, they never have to redo rep runs, all the keys they collect never have to be collected again. If you are an altaholic, think about all the gear you've gotten across the board and all the time you've sunk into other characters-- people with just one toon get to put all that time and effort into just one character, and get to reap the rewards.
There is a lesson here, however, even for us altaholics. I've often found that if I really want to level up one of my alts, the switching just can't happen-- I have to choose one character and stick to it. All the money I earn stays with that character, and my only goals while online are for that character alone. And when I focus, and put effort into just one, that's when things actually get done. I, like many players, get bored easily-- if I had only one class ever, I would have had to give up on this game a while ago. But when it comes to earning gear and leveling fast, the best strategy I've found is to sit down, focus in, and play like you have only one character.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Alts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
TotalBiscuit Jan 9th 2008 10:56AM
Those who think you have a limited understanding of raid dynamics if you only play a single character are being mislead. You seem to have this idea that raiding is a lot more complicated than it really is.
Newsflash, it isn't. I have 1 mage, always had 1 mage, and I was a raidleader for MC, BWL, AQ40, Naxx and a good chunk of the TBC instances. I was also in a guild who had cleared Hyjal and half of Black Temple. Boss abilities, player abilities, class roles, these are all easily quantifiable and very predictable things. All playing a class gives you is the knowledge of what that class can do, and when to do it. This is knowledge you can also acquire from other sources. It's not like practicing with a weapon in Counterstrike to become skillful with it, there's little skill to be found in pushing hotkeys at the appropriate time. In such an environment, knowledge, and it's application are power.
Alkahn Jan 9th 2008 2:46PM
I would actually argue that if you want to raid lead, it's helpful (not required) to have played a tank, healer, and DPSer in at least 5-man content in the past. People make so many assumptions about how they're done and they're practically 3 different games.
Just read any of the "stupidest things said to XYZ class" posts on the WoW forums that post at some point:
* "OMG spam taunt!" or "WTF tank why did you lose aggro" (after someone stunlocks a mob when a pull starts)
* Where were my healz? (when someone squishy pulls aggro and dies)
...etc
Underestimating the stress of healing is probably the biggest mistake a raid leader can make. Having done all 3, I'd say on average it's the hardest job in the raid.
You are not going to viably be able to raid as all 27 or so spec/class combos, so doing them all isn't reasonable, but supplimenting your study with some basic experience doing the 3 primary roles in raids will tend to make you a better, more understanding leader.
Siedre Jan 9th 2008 11:18AM
The question I'd ask as a follow-up to this post is, which Class do we single character people tend to play most?
For me, it's Druid all the way, especially since the big 1.8 and BC patches making more than one spec even remotely viable. As a Druid all I have to do is have different gear sets and different specs, and WA-LA!, I'm a warrior, I'm a rogue, I'm a mage, I'm a priest. It's turned me into a total bottom-feeder, grabbing gear no one else needs in the instances, my DKP is so far in the hole I can't find it, and my bank is stuffed to the gills, but it's all on one character! In a way, my gear-frenzy is a lot like playing different alts. I get a special sense of pride whenever I complete a new set to my satisfaction. Right now I'm buying heroic badge Moonkin gear.
Christian Fredrickson Jan 9th 2008 11:43AM
I only have one. A warrior. I kinda abandoned WOW before and then came back. Who has time to play more then 1 char...Having the WOW job really cuts intp my parental job...
Perderedeus Jan 9th 2008 8:31PM
Pre TBC, I had one character I focused on. My warrior. Only toward the middle of 2006 did I start playing my hunter and took a break from tanking. Since TBC hit, I've rolled a BE paladin and mage and have leveled both to 70. The hunter, too, is 70 and has an epic flyer. My original 'main' - the warrior - is in mothballs and lingering at 69. I'm now working on a druid. Yes, altaholism has set in ;)
I may start up a rogue next, depending on when WotLK releases. Come WotLK, I'll probably get my original main, the warrior, to 80. I figure he deserves that much. Then it's time for the other alts and a shiny new Death Knight!
Chrissie Jan 9th 2008 1:06PM
I have a lvl 70 Night Elf Hunter who is my first character I ever made on WOW. As weird as it may sound, she is also my favorite character to play with. We've been through hard times, nice times, and epic times!
Of course, I do have alts in varying classes (druid, mage, priest, and even a few side hunters) but instead of working on these rarely used alts, I always go back to my hunter alts or my main. My alts never seem to get past lvl 25, except for my priest who is currently a lvl 30.
Akamiya of Feathermoon
Kurst Jan 9th 2008 1:56PM
Perhaps the best article so far. I'm a soloist, playing a Tauren Warrior. 42/5/14. I rolled this character when I returned from Iraq, purchasing WoW as a survival present. I learned skinning and LW just to be the odd man out. I recently dropped skinning for mining so I can help lower players with cash when I stroll by them. It sure is fun to march to the beat of your own drums.
PS. Blizzard time to make two handed wartotems for warriors and shamans. Now that is a good idea.
Ikarus Jan 9th 2008 3:32PM
Who was it that said "Variety is the spice of life"? So true. I have 1 of every class except a shammy. I go through periods of focusing on a particular one. For example, right now im focusing on my druid, just got lvl 51. However the road to 70 can get a bit monotonous as i've already done all the quests mulitple times before (i already have 2 other 70's - BE priest and a Troll rogue).
So, to change things up from time to time, I've got a 39 lock and a 49 hunter that i take into the BG's. I'll do that for a couple days, then go back to the doomkin and focus on leveling. If i could only play 1 toon, i think, as was said above, i would have quit a long time ago.
I've thought about starting a guild for all my alts :)
Erok Jan 10th 2008 11:01AM
I'm playing World of Warcraft almost from 3 years ago... And I never had/played with another character... I'm a warlock and I'm a proud member of guild Phalanx from Kor'gall...
I have picked up the warlock class because I love death magic, curses, demonic minions and things like that... No matter the game... if the game has the Necromancer/Warlock/Dark mage class, I pick one of them, depends on the class that's in the game... That's my theory for RPGs
P.S.: World of Warcraft its not a game for long time ago... its a style of life, a very good option to spend your free time and so on. Gratz to Blizz for this!