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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Missed that one
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 7th 2008 at 8:00AM
I was surprised to find out, as I'm sure you will be also, that our own Zach Yonzon admits he has never actually run Deadmines at the level it's meant for -- he's always run it afterwards, to pick up gear for twinks or just to grind for lowbie stuff. Which means he's never felt the magic of getting stunned by Smite, or really pushed to take that Goblin Shredder down. A real shame, if you ask me.And it got me thinking: what instances have you missed out on at the level? At first I thought I didn't miss any -- I love running instances, and whenever I hit the right level, I usually run to them as fast as I can. But after looking through the list, I realized that I've basically missed out on Dire Maul -- I've only run the instance a few times, and then only for quests like the Mage water quest and the Warlock mount quest. I've never once run the DM Tribute -- I know, also a real shame.
So be honest -- what instances have you missed out on at the level? And why did you miss them -- did you just not need anything from there (including possibly XP), or did you never have a group to run them with? And have you ever gone back, or leveled up an alt to make up for lost instance runs? I'll definitely have to do something about that Dire Maul Tribute -- I wonder if I could run it solo with my 70 Hunter...
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics, Instances, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 6)
Wibblymat Aug 7th 2008 9:29AM
Never done at right level:
SM Graveyard
Maraudon
Dire Maul
Blackrock Depths (got half way a few times, never finished it)
BRS, upper or lower
Stratholme
Scholomance
Magister's Terrace
Before BC I was a major alt-o-holic and despite buying the game within a month of its release I didn't have any 60's until after BC came out. I got to Sunken Temple level pre-BC and then finally got my head down and just grinded my way to Outlands, skipping dungeons.
Kayla Aug 7th 2008 9:39AM
I leveled up my main (and only character) as a holy priest from day 1 so I could have seen every instance at the right level multiple times since everyone is always looking for a healer.
Unfortunately, my first time in an instance was Deadmines around level 10 and it did not go well. Two friends and I were run through by a level 50 and it was a disaster. I died so many freaking times I practically had a breakdown at the end. You have to understand that I thought it was my job to keep him up and didn't realize he was just pulling more than he could handle.
Anyway, I vowed never to go into an instance again, and I didn't until Scarlet Monastery Cathedral. So I missed all of those. And then when I hit 58 BC came out so I missed all the level 60 instances. I always think I'd like to start an alt and if I ever do I'll want to do the instances I skipped the first time around.
Poleleboo Aug 7th 2008 9:43AM
Honestly, I ran BFD while I was first leveling. Since that my guild pretty much sucks (I know, I should join a new one, but they're friends) we never run instances together and I was forced to PuG my first run...It went exactly how you'd think. Sucked. Since then while leveling to 70 I just quest. Sure it takes long, but at least I don't have to deal with assclowns in PuGs
Zone99 Aug 7th 2008 9:55AM
I think I've forgotten most of the instances I haven't or never completed:
Never completed:
- Uldaman
- Scholomance
- Stratholme
- Hellfire Pennisula
- Gnomeregan
Never had a chance to do:
- Blackwing Lair
- Onyxia
- Scarlett Monastery
- Underbog
- Slave Pens
- Steamvault
The list goes on.
I had never done LBRS/UBRS until recently. I have a level 70 hunter and missed the window with my guild to finish the Onyxia quest chain. I had worked my way all the way up to the Drakefire Amulet and most of the guild was already on to Onyxia. I could never get anyone to help me run through so I left it alone...for 10 levels!
Last week, several mid-60s and I ran both LBRS and UBRS in about 90 minutes and I completed the quest.
Now I figure I'll wait until I'm level 80 and I can solo Onyxia!
joggoms Aug 7th 2008 10:03AM
LOL. I hardly did any vanilla WoW instances at the appropriate level. I did RFC, WC, SM, and UBRS/LBRS.
I did just about every Outlands instance at the appropriate level, though there are a few I still haven't seen.
Charn Aug 7th 2008 10:04AM
I have been playing almost since launch and have run everything at the right lvl. However, that is the only time i have ran at the right lvl. Since then i just have guildies burn me through on my alts. I have tried to run some stuff just for that good ole days feeling with a group the right lvl, but try getting a group for RFC and not having a bunch of ignorant ppl with you. I remember trying to run BFD once with the right lvl of group and the warrior dual wielded vendor bought claws the whole time 'because it looks cool'. Needless to say we failed that and I had a lvl 70 lock buddy run me through the next day. Once in a while you do meet a lower lvl person who is an alt and they actually try to run the instance smart like but i have only met a handful of those ppl.
prudychick Aug 7th 2008 10:14AM
Gnomer. I've only run it once and it was on my - at that that - level 60 druid. BFD always seems to run past me too. Usually run that as a higher level simply cause I've quested past it.
Superboog Aug 7th 2008 10:21AM
I started playing as Alliance first in a guild called 'The Dead Dragons Society' which had a horde counterpart called 'Cult of the Dead Dragon'. As I levelled up my warrior I did pretty much every instance along the way apart from the more 'hordeish' ones such as RFC, WC and SFK although I did do RFK and RFD. I pretty much did every high level dungeon apart from DM West and LBRS. I then took a break from the game for about a year, when I came back... the Alliance guild had pretty much disbanded, however the horde side was very active and had migrated from Argent Dawn to Steamwheedle Cartel. I rolled a mage there and have since done pretty much every instance along the way BUT I've still never done DM West... really should try solo the place someday.
Milktub Aug 7th 2008 10:23AM
My first toon was reaching 60 right as the excitement over TBC was about to boil over. So while I've experienced everything (except DM:VC, more on that below) up to the mid/high-50 stuff, I missed out on those top-level 5-mans. I did get a Scholomance. That was a kick. But no Stratholme, no DM (though I did go back and solo the part I needed for some quest just to see the inside), only have had part of a level-appropriate BRD run ...
But what's the big deal with DM:VC? What makes this such a touchstone of legend and awesomeness?
Mixplit Aug 7th 2008 10:30AM
I hit 60 on my main about 6 or 7 months before BC. So I did get a chance to do all the pre-bc 5 mans, at least once. However I was only raiding briefly before BC came out & the guild I raided with sort of disintegrated. Cleared ZG many times & had all my Zandalar set except the trinket. Did MC many times but never saw Rags go down. Only ever downed the first boss in AQ20. Saw Onyxia go down, but never even managed to finish the first boss of BWL. Never enter Naxx or AQ40 before BC.
Jason Aug 7th 2008 10:08PM
Blackfathom Deeps, Maraudon, Dire Maul...oh, and I've never done a non run-through of Wailing Caverns.
And I've been playing since 2004. O_o
banaoil Aug 7th 2008 10:40AM
As hard as it is to get a equal level group together for VC, Bliz should bring the mountain to Mohamed, Make a Heroic Deadmines. That would be 2 scoops of awesome. Then to top it off, instead of Van Cleef coming out of the darkness on top of the boat, make it a random old world boss for awesomesauce on those two scoops and launch that boat ala Goonies, when you beat the new improved Heroic boss. Anyone in Favor of Heroic Deadmines?
(This Message brought to you by the Old Azeroth Preservation Society.)
Gall Aug 7th 2008 10:44AM
It's tough doing all the instances at appropriate level now. I'm trying with friends now. In 2.3 (I think), when they reduced lvl xp and increased instance xp, they made it tricky to avoid gaining too quickly as you progress from one dungeon to another.
We did Maraudon with four slightly-above-level toons, and are now facing an too-easy skip though Sunken Temple.
They're still my fav part of the game.
Oneiroi Aug 7th 2008 10:42AM
Scholo, Strat, Dire Maul.
No one is ever in a queue for them. And I only got to those levels post BC. I think i'd really like some of them too, it's a shame.
Orian Aug 7th 2008 10:49AM
Oddly enough I've done all of the old world instances and raids, but very few of the lvl 70 TBC instance and raid content (read: none past S.lab and that place with the gnome you break out of prison who opens a can of you know what). I just kind of lost interest, while I welcomed many of the improvements that arrived in TBC, I liked the story and atmosphere of the old world a little better. I think that will change with Wrath however.
Braundo Aug 7th 2008 10:45AM
Blackfathom Deeps
Razorfen Kraul
Razorfen Downs
I think everything else I've run the "intended" way.
darkkenchild Aug 7th 2008 10:49AM
Beyond the obvious former end-game stuff (i.e. Onyxia, Ahn'Qiraj, and such) and Dire Maul, there are very few instances that I did not run at their appropriate levels (nor that I've run as a 70 for fun).
That said: I've never been to Mauradon or Razorfen Kraul, ever. I have never been to Scholomance/Strathholme on anything but a 70 (even solo'd the former, the latter was to help a pally friend get her mount).
Also, I don't know if this counts, but I never ran any of the Hellfire instances until I was 70. The first time I ever set foot in the Ramparts was on a 70 and a heroic, and I've never run Ramps on anything but heroic...
zappo Aug 7th 2008 10:50AM
Can't say I've done a lot at the right level. I remember doing a BRD run healing as a shadow priest and being slightly lower level then I should have been. It was a total blast. I later did a run with another 70 and a 64 and found it just wasn't nearly as fun - no challenge.
Right now I have a pally tank I'd really like to level in instances but often getting a group together takes forever if it even happens. So I solo out of boredom... then level, etc. I wish there was a way to put the breaks on XP gains if you want to stay at the same level for a while.
Robert M Aug 7th 2008 11:05AM
I know alot (all??) of the old world instances are considered tank and spanks, but I really love the design and storylines involded with them. Not running deadmines is more of a loss for an Alliance player (unless the horde have a great storyline that I didn't know about). One of the ones that so many alliance players miss out on is Shadowfang Keep, and I think it was designed masterfully. NO CLOTHIE SHOULD MISS SFK AT THE APPROPRIATE LVL.
Am I the only one who wishes that Blizz would tune those Azerothian instances for 70's or now 80's with Lich around the corner. I always hear complaints about the lag in shat and the way the old world is completely abandoned. Imagine a few groups of 80's in moonbrook to take down VanCleef for some badges.
I can hear the whispers begging for gold already!
Charlie Aug 7th 2008 11:06AM
Dire Maul. Never went inside except to nab mage water quest.
Also, i never did crypts until a few weeks ago when it was a daily. Its an awsome instance, sad i missed it. (i didn't level in terrokar on either toon, skipped it completely)