Saving quests for level 70
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 17th 2008 at 5:00PM
As early as Hellfire Peninsula (which I'm playing through on my Hunter right now), it becomes pretty clear that Blizzard packed Outland with quests and things to do. By the time you hit Zangarmarsh, you're probably already at 62, and with a few instance runs, it's pretty easy to get all the way to level 70 without ever seeing certain quest areas or zones in Outland. So Dacronic wants to know: what zones did you save for level 70, when you didn't need XP any more and just wanted to get money or have fun?On my Shaman, I barely saw Netherstorm before 70, and went up there way after I'd hit the highest level to go looking around for cash. And there are lots of fun quests to do up there, too. Shadowmoon Valley was another one that I didn't actually quest in for a while after 70, but now that I've done it, I'd say that it should actually be a priority ASAP-- there are a ton of terrific quests in SMV, not only for lore's sake, but just really well-done content as well.
When you hit 70, what areas did you head towards to continue questing in? And what areas did you "save" until you were as powerful as you could get, and reading to have fun instead of just grinding?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Quests, Expansions, The Burning Crusade
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Whitesaber Jan 17th 2008 5:05PM
I actually just finished leveling my first character to 70, and I did it in Nagrand on the Ring of Blood and Nesingwary quests. I wasn't intentionally trying to reach it before the higher level zones, but I do tend to stay in an area until I've finished every quest available.
I'm looking forward to questing in Blade's Edge, Netherstorm, and Shadowmoon Valley for the extra gold, but I kind of regret not going to those places earlier because there are a lot of quest rewards I probably could have attained at an earlier level if I hadn't insisted on staying in the lower level zones until I finished every quest.
Oh well, no time like the present.
SteveK Jan 18th 2008 11:39AM
Between all the quests in BC, and the multitudes of instance runs you should be doing for rep, you can easily hit 70 without ever setting foot in the last 2 zones. Then you can do all those quests for gold, and the gold really does add up fast. I remember not being able to do the Blood Ring quest when I was level appropriate, and doing it at 70, running all the bosses is worth over 100g. Not bad for 15 minutes work.
Mats Jan 17th 2008 5:07PM
My first 70 hit it in Netherstorm, having not been in Shadowmoon yet.
My second and third 70 both hit it in Nagrand.
Jasperwind Jan 18th 2008 10:08AM
Same for me. My main is 7 bars/blocks/bubbles (whatever you call it) from 70. I'm in Netherstorm and will level up there. I haven't been to Shadowmoon Valley yet.
Chris Anthony Jan 17th 2008 5:08PM
I'm not saving any zones specifically, but my priest is about to hit 68 (holy on a PVP server: yes, I am crazy) and hasn't touched Netherstorm or SMV; and I've done all of three quests in Blade's Edge (although I did run up and get the Toshley's Station flight point). So I have all of that to look forward to - which is great fun, since this is my first time through the content and I'm well on track to have a flying mount as soon as I hit 70.
Plus, I still have a bunch of quests in Hellfire, Zangarmarsh, Terrokar, and Nagrand that I never finished...
Kasika Jan 18th 2008 1:56AM
I've leveled several times to 70 without touching netherstorm, smv and a few quests in BEM, like in Evergrove and Toshley Station. It's a great money maker.
Smurk Jan 17th 2008 5:10PM
I also only hit 70 recently. Maybe a week ago. I think I somehow ran out of quests and didn't know where else to go in Terrokar, because I let Smurk chill there for a looooooong time out of frustration. And then when I finally said "screw it, I want to hit 70" I ground at least 2 full levels on Firewing Point elves, which is hardly thrilling (or safe, on a PVP server).
I didn't go to Shadowmoon Valley or Nagrand until I was level 69. This week, I've been clearing up tons of Nagrand quests - I didn't realize they were mid-60s level. I've barely touched Blade's Edge and haven't visited Netherstorm (I had noobishly assumed you had to fly there).
Theadrick Jan 17th 2008 5:21PM
On my main I saved most of Netherstorm, all of Blade's Edge, and most of SMV for 70. Upon hitting 70 I completed every quest in those 3 zones as a cash source to get my epic flyer.
Krick Jan 17th 2008 5:22PM
I didn't "save" quests per se. But I did attempt to quest/grind in a way that was most efficient with respect to reputation. I also did a lot of research on quest rewards and only did specific quest chains before level 70 to get desirable rewards.
I posted my notes online if anyone cares...
http://www.tankadin.com/forums/index.php?topic=79.0
...
Krick
http://www.tankadin.com
Ryan Jan 17th 2008 5:23PM
The only thing I save are the lower city and cenarian expedition rep quests. If you can wait until honored to do these quests you will have a MUCH easier time with the grind toward revered. With CE you can hand in plant parts and with LC you can hand in arakkoa feathers until honored. For HH/TM you have to run HFC dungeons in leiu of a turn-in, so those don't really have the same pay-off that the LC and CE quests do (not having to run instances over and over to rep up), also thsoe quests are pretty much the only ones you can do at 58, so it may be a little hard unless you've dinged 60 before you hit the portal.
Mainstay Jan 17th 2008 5:25PM
I avoided both SMV and Netherstorm on my second 70 and ended up with 3,000g towards my epic mount when I finished those last few :)
h8rain Jan 18th 2008 10:04AM
That is about what I did (not really on purpose). I quested the heck out of HF, then moved to Zang, Tero, Nag, and I dinged 70 in BEM. I have been "quest" grinding in Netherstorm so far. I have done like 2 quests in SMV (with a buddy), so I have that entire area left. I have about 1500g so far, so I am not doing to bad, at least I think I am doing ok.
Zali Jan 17th 2008 5:27PM
I didn't save anything for when I hit lvl 70. I ran every non-group quest I could (I prefer to solo most of the time) and then moved on. I had finished pretty much every quest I could solo in every area except Shadowmoon Valley. I'm a map whore. I can't stand having unexposed map anywhere... which is why I will go kitty and sneak into major Whored cities... not to be a pain in the ass, but just to open the map... then I sneak out.
I'm leveling a warrior, rogue and lock now... when I need a change of pace. I'm going to totally skip questing in outland and will grind to 70. Then run the quests for double bucks.
The love of money isn't the root of all evil... it's those evil ganking whored bastards.
ErsatzPotato Jan 17th 2008 9:51PM
Here's my solo heavy & rep maxing plan. It is a bit grind-y. Less useful now that heroics only need honored.
Non-rep quests in Hellfire (unless I need a specific piece of gear from a reward). Non-CE rep in Zangarmarsh. Go back to finish both once the easy rep is over (plant pieces Zang, orc grinding/first two instances HF).
This gives honored CE and Hellfire at a very low level, 62-63ish.
Terrokar (finish rep quests while gathering feathers but don't turn in yet, do after feather rep is over) & anything in Nag.
That dings 70 somewhere in the middle of Nag with minimal or no instancing. Three full zones and strays left that'll give most of the money for epic flight and maximized rep gains for less grinding instances later.
For a tailor clothie it's nearly perfect with only minimal questing elsewhere or instancing for gear (to grab SMV or SV quest helm) on the way up. Other classes/profs will of course need to make some detours to grab specific key gear. Non-tailor clothies can still get by fine buying cheap netherweave/imbued netherweave/Crimson robe from AH. DPS casters go hellfire staff then Nag staff then Bringer of Death from AH.
Downsides: hitting 70 with low Aldor/Scryer & Consortium rep--that's what Netherstorm is for. The feather collection is a pain but it's a blue per turn in and fewer Auchindon runs later. Some of the belts are very good.
Personally I'd rather ding quickly rather than (wait to) run a lot so that's what I do. Go back later for the instances. I don't play tanks or melee DPS though, so the above may not work at all for them. It's also not a good idea if you're playing a class role with which you're totally unfamiliar. Nothing beats at-level instances for that learning.
ErsatzPotato Jan 17th 2008 9:53PM
Meant to say: honored Hellfire and pushing revered CE at those levels.
SaintStryfe Jan 17th 2008 5:27PM
I ground 67-70 mostly grinding Ogres for Kurenai rep in Nagrand, so I didn't touch BEM, Netherstorm or Shadowmoon. a few months later, I still haven't touched Shadowmoon, except for flight points and to fly around the Black Temple.
Oldbear Jan 17th 2008 5:27PM
I ding 70 moving from Terokkar to Shadowmoon, with one delivery quest to Blades Edge, and without seeing Netherstorm.
Girl Meets WoW Jan 17th 2008 5:32PM
I haven't "saved" areas at all, but in the initial week of racing to 70 on my mage, I deliberately skipped Netherstorm and went to SMV to avoid the crowds. On my priest and hunter I've done the opposite. One of the main advantages of going Netherstorm for leveling is Kirin'var Village, home of some of the fastest quest XP in the game.
Chris Anthony Jan 18th 2008 9:47AM
Apropos of nothing, I wish you'd link your blog at the end of your posts! You're one of the few WOW bloggers I read on a regular basis (and one of two, I think, whose blogs I read by RSS), and I believe firmly that you should have a higher readership. :)
-Chris A.
http://www.etherjammer.com/blog/
maxbliss Jan 17th 2008 5:44PM
Shaman 69 now living in Kirin'var to finish up. Apparently if I kill all the dead people there, I will reach 70.
My leveling recipe: always be killing mobs 2 levels over your own for maximum xp.
So I have a lot of low level quests in starting areas that I will return to once I can FLY there. I like the idea of getting gold instead of xp and being able to sleep under the stars.