WoW, Casually: Gearing up before level 60 (Reader Mail)
by Robin Torres 
Apr 24th 2008 at 5:00PM
Each week, Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player who has 2 hours or less to play at a time.
This week, I answer some Reader Mail that is only a month old. Woot!
Hi Robin,
I am what I consider to be a casual player on WoW. A good session for me will last about an hour or two... Usually just long enough to gain a level before I run out of time. The current character I am working on is my "main", a level 50 Orc Hunter. One thing I was hoping to find in your articles was a way for a casual to obtain equipment when they haven't yet reached the 60s and 70s. The last time I updated my gear was in the low 30s, so it is really starting to show its date. I was having trouble finding a way to equip my character for the rest of the game until I can start on some epics. It seems the only way is to dump a ton of money in mediocre items (which is basically what I did in the low 30s), or spend hours doing instances... Hours being something most of us casuals don't have.
Is there something I'm missing here?
Thanks,
Paul
My answer and more are after the jump.
This week, I answer some Reader Mail that is only a month old. Woot!
Hi Robin,
I am what I consider to be a casual player on WoW. A good session for me will last about an hour or two... Usually just long enough to gain a level before I run out of time. The current character I am working on is my "main", a level 50 Orc Hunter. One thing I was hoping to find in your articles was a way for a casual to obtain equipment when they haven't yet reached the 60s and 70s. The last time I updated my gear was in the low 30s, so it is really starting to show its date. I was having trouble finding a way to equip my character for the rest of the game until I can start on some epics. It seems the only way is to dump a ton of money in mediocre items (which is basically what I did in the low 30s), or spend hours doing instances... Hours being something most of us casuals don't have.
Is there something I'm missing here?
Thanks,
Paul
My answer and more are after the jump.
Hi Paul,
You are right that I do tend to stress being casual at level 70 and that just isn't the case for many casual players. A lot of time-constrained players are stopping to smell the roses and taking their time to the endgame. After all, it's all about fun.
Unfortunately, the short answer to your question is no, you're not missing something. Instances are the best way to gear up throughout the game, starting from about level 20. But here are some tips for improving your gear without too much time expenditure:
- Crafting: Crafting the gear yourself is often the best way to stay reasonably up to date. If you haven't taken up Leatherworking (or whatever is appropriate for your class), there is usually a guildie who would love to have a grinding victim, er, recipient.
- AH: Yes, there's a lot of mediocre gear for high prices on the AH, but there is also a lot of mediocre to good gear for cheap prices there, too. I highly recommend putting Auctioneer on a bank alt (you don't want such a memory hog on any of the characters you actually play) and checking daily for good deals. The latest version of Auctioneer will mark good deals in blue or green text, making them easy to find. Crafters will often try to make extra cash by trying to sell their grinding results for rockbottom prices on the AH. Though, they will also try to gouge you, so checking daily and being a smart shopper is the best move.
- Quick Run Throughs: I'm not a huge fan of getting a friend and/or guildie to run you through an instance, because it generally isn't fun for either of you. But it doesn't take very long either. I know this is selfish, but if you want it to be the most efficient for you, don't send out a general invite for others to join you for the run through. Unless your groupmates are not going to want any of the same gear drops as you, you'll waste time having to compete for the only reason you are being run through.
- Quests: You are questing and not just grinding mobs, right? Quests are the fastest way to level and the rewards are often very nice gear upgrades. Though they will not supply all of the required upgrades you need.
- It's not that important: Though new gear is definitely more fun and it does help, it isn't required for leveling up to 60. I really wouldn't stress it too much if the above tips still don't have you completely upgraded.
When you get to 58, run, don't walk to the Dark Portal. In Outland, Green truly is the new Purple. You will replace all of your gear so fast, you will have a hard time deciding which shiny new green you should wear. The drops and quest rewards in Outland are both powerful and plentiful. I wouldn't spend a dime on gear once you are 55 for this reason. It just isn't going to last you past your first few forays into the Burning Crusade content.By the way, while you are leveling up, this is the perfect time to be adding to your Casual playmates list. Once you get to 70, gear really does make a difference and you are going to want to have a way to get groups together quickly, if you don't want to go the PvP Welfare Epic route.
Thanks for the email, Paul!
In other news, it's Arathi Basin for the Call to Arms this weekend. Maybe if you're lucky (?), you will have a dreadfully boring but quick match against one of those Lose on Purpose teams.
And next Thursday, Children's Week begins. Keep an eye out for an It came from the Blog event during that time.
Have fun!
WoW, Casually is a column for those of us who are playtime-challenged and proud Welfare Epic wearers. If you have questions or tips about how to get the most out of your limited playtime, please send them to Robin.Torres AT weblogsinc DOT com for a possible future column.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Features, Leveling, WoW, Casually, Battlegrounds
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daniel Apr 25th 2008 1:42PM
DON'T waste your gold on gear upgrades, you'll need every copper you can scrounge for your mount. Instead, use a resource like wowhead to cherry-pick quests with good rewards, and to find which instances have drops you want.
Rob Apr 24th 2008 5:42PM
Bingo, use wowhead or even the armory to figure out a gear upgrade for you. As a feral druid I found that leatherworking was pretty useless in azeroth (pre300). Now that I'm in outlands and 300, the LW gear is pretty nice, actually, there are 4 piece sets that are cheap and easy to make, that are good upgrades.
Auction house - try to avoid if possible. Seriously avoid buying weapons, they tend to be quite pricey. On my server typical prices are 5-10g for 40-50 level weapons. One thing I will buy is a wand (for locks/priests) and a ranged weapon (for hunters), because the dps increase is so useful.
John Apr 24th 2008 5:43PM
I run Auctioneer/informant/enchantrix on all my toons, hasn't resulted in a drop in framerate. Otherwise I would have to turn it on every time a green drops and I have to decide whether to AH it or send it to my main for disenchanting. If you're good at making money, even as a casual you should have no problem affording your 60th and 70th level mounts, so go ahead and buy gear, but not at 50, wait till at least 57ish when you start seeing greens from outlands on the AH, tho you should probably wait till after you've done a few outlands quests, and then upgrade the pieces that you didnt get as a quest reward. If you have enchanting mats sitting around (perhaps you're levelling enchanting, you poor soul), or can otherwise afford it, you can also enchant some of your junky gear, which may result in an increase in your efficiency, watch trade for enchanters giving away chants (so they can level, the poor souls). If you can get a friend to run you thru an instance, it's not a bad way to gear up, even if you can only get 1 run (just be sure to get all the quests possible for that dungeon before that 1 run), I disagree with Robin, that it's not fun for the runner, I have tons of fun "playing hero" and single-handedly killing _everything_, or just screwing around and using my sword instead of spells, but it can be very boring for the runnee, especially if you have seen the instance before, but if you havent, pay attention, it'll give you some forknowledge if you should ever run it with a level appropriate group.
Rich Apr 24th 2008 5:54PM
If you have at least one level 70 to support you, then shell out the cash on the AH for the best weapon you can find. They will last 10-15 levels and maybe cost 50-70g. If you have an enchanter or are friends with one, enchant it. Forget the rest of the gear, and just get quest rewards for the rest. If you have some friends that are much higher level, see if they will help you farm instances for BOP items, but don't spend more than 3 or 4 trips into the instance farming the item.
If you don't have a level 70 character already, then avoid the AH. Stick with quest rewards. I would avoid instance runs for just loot at all possible. If you have a quest that requires a instance run and it has a nice reward do it, but don't farm an instance for a particular item that is a boss drop.
Naix Apr 24th 2008 5:57PM
If you have a 70 main so about 5 dailies. About 30 minutes. and then buy 3 or 4 instance runs.
kenney Apr 24th 2008 6:05PM
The best advice to any new player is to just take mining/skinning until 70, and wear the gear that drops or comes from quests. Maybe buy a good weapon on the AH every now and then (but if you are a hunter, you are threat-capped by your pet, so a weapon wont matter much)
That said, most new players find that to be an un-fun approach. But as has been mentioned- you don't need amazing gear to quickly and effectively do the solo content in the game.
rick gregory Apr 24th 2008 6:08PM
But folks, this person DOESN'T have a 70....
A 50 running around with lots of 30s gear isn't taking quest rewards. TAKE THE REWARDS! I did that throughout levelling my rogue and it worked fine. You might not upgrade every slot this way, but if you're doing level appropriate quests you should be seeing rewards that will upgrade you every few levels. TAKE THEM. No single upgrade wil seem like it's a lot, but cumulatively the stats add up.
The other things is that instances don't have to take hours - find a good group (friends, guild, etc) and run stuff.
Finally, at 50 you have a class quest for a good blue - find it, grab it, do it.
Bastiaan Apr 25th 2008 4:18AM
I can tell from personal experience that the lvl. 50 class quest for a hunter is a complete PITA: it involves running all around Azeroth, do some drop quests with VERY low drop rates, and run Sunken Temple.
What Robin and others say is correct: gear is not that important, I think I've kept the Seal of Sylvanas until I was in Outlands, for example. As an orc hunter, you shouldn't have any trouble completing quests anyway.
That being said, two easy quest reward updates come to mind: at 51, you can run Alterac Valley and get the Bloodseeker as a reward, a very nice crossbow that will serve you up to Outlands. The quest is given to the north of Tarren Mill, at the actual entrance of AV. And there's a quest in Revantusk Village, in the Hinterlands (Job Opening: Guard Captain of Revantusk Village), that will give you a +AP, +hit trinket.
Paul Apr 25th 2008 9:15AM
See, I do do quests, and I do take the rewards. The problem I'm finding is that many of the rewards I'm offered simply do not help. I've been waiting for the day when I see a good +AGI and +STA quest reward that is actually better than whatever I happen to be wearing at the time. Perhaps using WoWhead or the Armory as suggested by other users here will help me pinpoint quests that drop stuff that I can actually use.
rick gregory Apr 25th 2008 5:33PM
Paul,
Yeah that happens sometimes... but not for 20 levels. Wearing level 30ish stuff at 50 with the right stats is probably worse that wearing level 45 or 48 gear with close, but not right stats. And, if you're really unlucky at quest rewards working for you take the highest selling reward (Auctioneer will tell you this) and sell it, banking the money... then buy something that does work for you. Kind of an indirect way having making the quest reward work.
@Bastiaan, the level 50 chains are all like that... they all end in ST. Oddly, I like the chains. But, yeah, the ST run can be long and might now work for someone with limited playtime.
If the person's using some level 38 armor at 50 that's one thing... but level 33 pieces at 50... I have a hard time believing nothing better could be had in the intervening levels.
Finally.. no gear's not that important... but it's not irrelevant either - you do NOT want to walkinto Outland in level 40 gear.
Yeawen Apr 24th 2008 6:27PM
I do the same thing with many alts, but I also PVP a lot. I don't know if the reader PVPs at all, but battlegrounds can be a great way to upgrade your gear without spending any gold. It's also a nice way to spend an hour or so of playtime a day - you can run 1 or 2 battlegrounds a day, and within a week probably collect enough marks to buy one piece of gear. At any given bracket (19, 29, 39, 49), you'll be able to upgrade at least your weapons, cloaks, rings, belts, and boots and pick up trinkets along the way. Most of the BG gear is better than that available for a given level otherwise, instances or no.
jbodar Apr 24th 2008 7:39PM
While I agree in theory, it won't help this guy. A lvl 50 in lvl 30ish gear will get so worked over in the 50-59 bracket that it just may scar him for life, especially with the amount of grinding necessary to fully gear up.
Holly Apr 24th 2008 6:32PM
I have friends and guildmates who will keep an eye out for BoE equipment for me. My main, a human Paladin, just passed 40, and acquired the ability to wear plate. One of my co-workers sent me some nice boots, and one of my guildies sent me a helmet. I, to return the favour, pass along greens that won't sell to be disenchanted. In the end, everyone's happy.
CapnSkillet Apr 25th 2008 11:20AM
Hi Paul, I do recommend you get in a good guild if you are not in one. Perhaps you can find some other casuals to game with. Check your server forum on the official site for guilds recruiting.
Here are a couple of links to wowhead that list quest reward items that might help you aim for certain quests.
Ranged weapons: http://www.wowhead.com/?items=2&filter=qu=2:3;ty=2:3:18;minle=40;maxle=65;cr=126;crs=-2323;crv=0
Armor: http://www.wowhead.com/?items=4.3&filter=qu=2:3;minle=40;maxle=60;cr=126;crs=-2323;crv=0
Rings, amulets, and trinkets: http://www.wowhead.com/?items=4&filter=qu=2:3;ty=-3:-6:-2:-4;minle=40;maxle=60;cr=126;crs=-2323;crv=0
Some of those quests might requires instances, but just use wowhead to research them. Hope this helps!
Rod Apr 25th 2008 11:36AM
Honestly, and although it might seem wrong for some, focus totally on agility and don't worry about stamina or anything else. If an item has some other stats, good, but if it doesn't have agility, forget it (unless attack power, crit.).
Check auction house for 5 minutes every day, for of agility, of the monkey or of the tiger items (specially on weekends or at least on weekends).
Go all the way Beast Master or balance a little with Survival.
Do one or two Arathi Basin a day, and cash something nice when you have 20 AB marks of honor (go quest while on queue though).
Once you hit 58, run to Hellfire Peninsula and everything is great from there all the way to 70, either soloing or in very short instances.
Renwald Apr 25th 2008 12:13PM
This is one side effect of the higher XP quest awards and lower XP requirements to level, while you are going from 1-60. Your gear is probably gonna be pretty sub-par if you are aggressive with taking yellow quests.
I recommend that you just accept that you'll have a hard time in the gear department and run not walk to outlands, and maybe accept quests which are lower level yellows. Another possibility is to just cherry pick quests which award quest reward items, even quests which aren't on part with your current level.
Keep in mind, even with the poor gear to level now, you are still better off then before the retuning of XP rewards and level requirements. Before the retuning of XP level and rewards, you would probably be a level 40ish running around in level 35ish gear. Now you are a level 50 running around in level 35ish gear. It should be a lot easier to do the old level ~45 quests to get gear upgrades with you much higher level.
Going the AH route, pick up mining and either leatherworking or herbalism. Sell what you gather on the AH and use the money buy gear upgrades and mounts. Don't smelt, just sell the ore to blacksmiths and jewlers.
Daniel Apr 25th 2008 1:52PM
Re: #7
exactly, Paul. go to wowhead, browse quests in a zone with yellow (or red if you can handle 'em...) quests, sort by reward type and look for upgrades. Then check out the quest it's from, it may have prerequisites. Bang out the quest and/or it's pre-reqs, enjoy your reward...
Toque May 2nd 2008 5:43PM
Running to oulands at 58 is great, but i found it was really helpful to upgrade my gear before I went with outland greens from the AH. There are a ton of 57/58 greens with great stats for not much gold on the AH. It makes a huge difference for the first few levels in outlands, where there are no green mobs for you to easily grind out quests.