Ask WoW Insider: Old-time raiding?
by Mark Crump 
Mar 17th 2008 at 9:00AM
Hi there, WoWinsider. Perhaps you guys could help me. I started playing WoW about 6 months ago While I've done my share of TBC raiding, I'm fascinating with pre-TBC raids, and sometimes I manage to find a pug for them. I still didn't get to see most of MC, BWL and Naxx, even though I really want to.
The problem is it's impossible to find groups who do these raids anymore. I realize that the loot is no longer useful on most of them, but the game isn't really a greedy loot chase, right? It's about exploring and facing new challenges. Nefarian and Kel'Thuzad would still be quite a challenge for many players, and they're really cool loe [lore? ED] -wise speaking
Perhaps if you publish my mail on the advice column, the WoW Insider readers could help me find a server in which there's a lively pre-TBC raiding guild or community?
Thanks in advance.
I feel your pain. While I started WoW within a month of launch, due to a molasses-like leveling pace I hit 60 after TBC launched. I missed out on all the good raids and wish Blizzard would implement more quests that required you to go back to the Old World, especially the raid zones. It seems the only time my main leaves Outland is to run Karazhan.
However, that doesn't mean you can't still run them, or that you need to find a new server. A quick post on the official forums for your server might reveal a chat group you can join to PuG a raid -- I know Argent Dawn has at least one. If you're in a good guild, you could just ask if folks are interested in doing an old-world raid. I ran one in my guild and it went off well, and every now and then we toy with the idea of running another one but it never seems to get off the ground.
However, if you don't mind moving servers and want to hop over to Llane, you could join this person's guild – they are recruiting specifically for old-world raids.
What do the readers think? Is there much interest in old-world raiding on your server and what advice can you give Jane?
Got questions? Don't wait! Send them to us at ask AT wowinsider DOT com and your query could be up in lights here next week.
Filed under: Raiding, Ask WoW Insider
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Apophis Mar 17th 2008 9:06AM
[quote]but the game isn't really a greedy loot chase, right?[/quote]
No, but many Player have done MC/BWL for like 2 years every week. I can't see both of them any more...
Naxxramas is the only Old Raid Instance I still like to run, an it's comming again with WotLK :)
torrents Mar 17th 2008 3:20PM
Well, on illidan server alliance, i am making a guild called that will do all raids and instences needed any1 interested plz mail voggz
ninjasuperspy Mar 17th 2008 9:17AM
I'd honestly do Naxx again. If only to get an Ashbringer before it becomes Property of Fordring. That and some of the shoulder "enchants" from Sapphiron are actually pretty good compared to the Aldor/Scryer versions. Too bad about dropping from the next-to-last boss in Naxx, right?
turkeyspit Mar 17th 2008 9:19AM
There are still some reasons to do the Old World raids though. Just the other day me and some friends ran into ZG because the Healers wanted to get the Zandalar rep Mana Oil recipe. While there, we downed the fish Boss and the mage picked up the copy of Tome - Polymorph Turtle the has wanted forever!
I agree with the article though. I too only started WoW about 6 months ago, and really feel like I missed out on not running AQ, Naxx, BWL, MC and ZG. Part of me hopes that Blizzard will not make the same mistakes with WoTLK that they did with BC, and somehow keep Outland loot and rep important to the game (really, who cares about Argent Dawn anymore?) instead of making OL just a place to "level up" to getting to Northrend.
GopherFender Mar 17th 2008 9:22AM
I'm in the same boat as the letter writer, i joined after TBC and never got to go to the 60 raids. What I've started doing now though is putting a guild run in on monday nights for old school raids. So far we've been to LBRS, UBRS, AQ20, MC and ZG, i'm just waiting for people to pay for their attunement so we can go to Nax :D
Naix Mar 17th 2008 9:55AM
Why would you want to go back and revisit old content? I guess if you just want to revisit the old world. Now if Blizzard were smart, and we know they are, they would give players a reason to go back.
Derick Mar 18th 2008 12:47AM
Heroic ZG ftw
drht Mar 17th 2008 10:05AM
LOL
And you QQ about old-world-raids? In my current server it's nearly impossible to pug ANY dungeon aside Outland raids and daily heroics...
Time to move on?
Tetelestia Mar 17th 2008 10:14AM
If they'd give twinks the ability to stop earning experience that'd satisfy those that want classic servers as well. Turn it off at 60, there you go.
Murph Mar 17th 2008 10:15AM
Lewt Core Hounds Plox!!!
Eskerigal Mar 17th 2008 10:13AM
I also missed out on the 60 raids, and would love to see them. Blizzard put no small amount of effort in to the content and I'd think they would want us to see it. One of the reasons I can't is because of the various tedious attunement requirements. If they're dropping attunement for most of the TBC raids why not the older ones?
andyjay220 Mar 17th 2008 10:25AM
They should implement updated level 80 versions of all level 60 and 70 raid and dungeon content. This would not only keep much of the old (and sometime awesome) content relevant once people reach level cap, but it could also allow some smoother options for gear progression. I know that many people (tanks especially) may find large gear gaps in content. If there were more opportunities to gear people would not have so many gaps (they could make them sequential or just have some that are the same level, to provide more chances for gear).
I feel like right there they could add a TON of content to endgame to keep players engaged (some of it could be casual, some more hardcore) really with minimal effort of retuning the levels and updating the loot tables. I know it does take some work, but a lot less than making a whole new dungeon.
NeSuKuN Mar 17th 2008 10:34AM
I've allways thought that blizz should implement bracketed raid instances, like heroic mode but for the 60-70-80-? steps.
theRaptor Mar 17th 2008 11:09AM
If tuning the content and doing loot tables was "minimal effort" then you would find a lot more raids coming out. Just look at how long it took to tune BC raids if you want to be disabused of the notion that such effort is "minimal".
Whacking out art assets is the easy part, making the actual game part is what is hard.
People have far to much psuedo nostalgia for old raids. MC was never enjoyable once you knew better (like had done ZG before hand), and everything but late AQ40 and Naxx pales in comparison to Kara.
Azrof Mar 17th 2008 10:24AM
I consider myself a fairly hardcore raider. I think it would be extremely wise if Blizzard were to link the Hardcore raiders, the Old School community and the current desire for top-end raiders to have something "unique" that the rest of the community does not have over this exact issue.
I'd advise Blizzard to implement a specific quest line and specific gear vender for gear types that are on par with current top gear standards and create heroic modes for all old world bosses. Make the new gear function similarly to tier-gear, only let it have unique "side" powers that don't scale so linearly (summon dragon whelps and such). With each new expansion, upgrade the heroic version of old content with heroic 1, heroic 2, etc and gradually phase out old heroic versions with each new patch.
Do this for every 5 man, every 10 man, every 20 man, every 40 man....put a token drop off of each boss.
Make it the new heroic badges, only make them "Epic Badges".
Ergo Visa Vis, a reason to be a core raider, a huge goal to work towards, and old content to visit!
Bill Mar 17th 2008 12:27PM
Ergo, vis-à-vis, thus, therefore, QED, etc., hence, and furthermore: needless redundant and repetitive alliteration that is needlessly, redundantly repetitive does not become you. :P
Azrof Mar 17th 2008 12:33PM
Bill, I
Dolgo Mar 17th 2008 10:25AM
Blizzard give people a reason to go back into Pre-BS raids!
MAKE ALL THE DROPS IN THEM BOE and not BOP!
It would make the AH worth even glancing at!
NeSuKuN Mar 17th 2008 10:32AM
My guild uses pre-bc raids to train newbies into raiding, It's far more effective than attunements!
Solemn Mar 17th 2008 10:40AM
Heroic mode old world instances. Imagine downing a lvl 73 mister smite?