Lanwar hosts WoW levelling contest
by Michael Gray 
Jun 13th 2008 at 9:00AM
Lanwar holds a variety of large-scale events focused on computer gaming. Their 7th MillionManLan convention is in Louisville, Kentucky over the weekend of July 4th. The MML events have, in the past, hosted over a thousand gamers, so it's fair to expect a pretty big turnout this year.What's interesting about the contest line-up this year is that World of Warcraft is making a different kind of appearance. Lanwar is hosting a levelling contest. And, yup, there's cash money as the prize. (How much will be determined by the number of registrants.)
This is a fairly significant diversion from the kind of eSport that's usually associated with WoW. You have to wonder what the rules are going to be like -- Lanwar's web site doesn't go into a lot of detail. Does everyone have to start with the same race and class? Or is that decision considered to be part of the contestant's strategy? What's the time limit like? Do you use your own account? Is Blizzard aware of this contest? I'm hoping to see more information posted as the date for MML gets closer -- it's certainly an interesting idea.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zeldaguard Jun 13th 2008 9:13AM
Yey! first :)
Anyway, no one should be allowed to play a warlock or hunter because they have pets, making them the easiest class to level. Unless there are time constraints... I wonder if Joana or any of the other leveling guide makers will participate?
tenangrycats Jun 13th 2008 10:51AM
>> Anyway, no one should be allowed to play a warlock or hunter because they have pets, making them the easiest class to level
eh, big myth and simply untrue. I leveled the first Ally to 70 on Cairne with a Druid. A Hunter wasn't even in the top 10 people, at least on ally side.
jrb Jun 14th 2008 8:23AM
okay. this myth needs to be dispelled asap.
all classes are essentially balanced in terms of, with the right spec, they are as good as each other in certain scenarios. E.g. levelling, end game, pvp, etc. Obviously, there are slight differences, e.g. healing, and stealthing, but essentially they are the same.
the hunter and lock pets are part of what defines those classes. Without them in a levelling environment they are useless. for example, a pet-less warlock is not as effective as a mage, or a pet-less hunter is not as effective as.. well, anything. the pets are part and parcel of what defines those classes, in the same way as forms are what defines a druid, etc etc etc.
hunters were often quoted as being the easiest class to level, mainly because of they would often not need downtime between mobs, or even 10's of mobs. This is not so much the case now since 2.4 because of mana regen when you have intellect below a certain level. Also, it's important to realise that pet training, and happiness levells actually make the hunter a slower to level in a pure XPPH (xp per hour) race.
Naix Jun 13th 2008 9:17AM
I predict nothing but hunters. With everyone using questhelper.
BTW questhelper is the best addon hands down. I dinged 70 in only 4 weeks of casual play. This thing even helps me with the left over quests for gold. I love it.
Bastiaan Jun 13th 2008 9:53AM
Since it's one of eleven 'fun tournaments', while there are also three competitive tournaments, I think the levelling will be done for half an hour, or whoever dings 5/6/10 first, something like that.
I don't think you'll be allowed to use your own account as it makes tracking down cheating very difficult.
Hunters up to lvl 10 aren't the fastest levellers at all, due to the lack of a pet.
Phil Jun 13th 2008 9:59AM
Believe me, I'd like to see some more info on that contest to, because I'm *in* that contest.
WYCHWOOD Jun 13th 2008 10:31AM
I recon they will jsut make everyone get a trial acocunt and jsut first to lvl cap wins, no trades for help etc, tho i imagine the race/class thing wont be enforced but part of your tatics as stated above
Maliyah Jun 13th 2008 10:42AM
I'd be all over a leveling contest. I've gotten quite good at speed leveling with various alts. I've currently gotten my alt lock to 68 with 7 days /played. I think that a leveling contest is pretty cool--since the focus is normally on the Arenas or PvP--two things I'm not overly interested in.
The MML party isn't too far away (like a day's drive)--might have to go get my geek on.
Phil Jun 13th 2008 10:57AM
Come down! The more the merrier. :D
deviationer Jun 13th 2008 11:08AM
pdxlan will be doing something similar
http://www.pdxlan.net/MMO/
Aichon Jun 13th 2008 11:32AM
Does no one else here remember when Blizzard did the leveling contests? They had just opened up a new realm which only accepted new characters (no transfers), and as soon as it went live they announced a contest to level up as fast as possible. First person to 20, 30, and 40, as I recall, no restrictions on class or race. Back then, people were still figuring out the game, so it took a good couple of days before anyone hit 30, let alone 40.
That said, I think all of the people near the top of the rankings were Hunters. Between their Aspect of the Cheetah, their pet, their ranged attacks, and their various other tricks, they can get around to get kills far more quickly than most other classes, and they can keep the kills coming fast too.
Erixx Jun 13th 2008 3:08PM
Joana? Brian? You're needed on aisle level-really-fast.
Lars Petersson Jun 16th 2008 4:29PM
I was just wondering how many players would be alt-tabbing between WoW and a levelling guide...