Breakfast Topic: Will you Recruit-a-Friend?
by Amanda Miller 
Sep 12th 2008 at 8:00AM
Ever since Blizzard introduced the new perks to the Recruit-a-Friend system, I've had it in mind that I might want that Zhevra mount for my collection. Now that Blizzard has unveiled their Swift Zhevra screenshot gallery, it's coming back into mind. Unfortunately, I've actually "recruited" four people since I began playing, all of whom I conveniently forgot to send the proper link to, so I have never received any benefits at all. It also means that I have no one left to sweet talk into helping me get a Zhevra.
Are you planning to convince a friend to join the ranks of either the Horde or the Alliance, to the tune of some free playtime, a Zhevra mount, the ability to summon their character to you, and pick up triple experience for both monsters and quests, up to level 60?
In addition, what do you think of the Zhevra mount? Do you adore it, or do you think it is silly, or out of place, lorewise? If you do recruit someone, will it have anything to do with the mount?
Filed under: Blizzard, Breakfast Topics, Screenshots, Leveling, Mounts, Alts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Elementalist Sep 12th 2008 8:18AM
This idea with the mount but especialy with the free lvl's is the simple game-breaker , i'm not the one who had i hard time leveling but this time blizz isn't right , and for the Question : No i'll never recruit no one
TotalBiscuit Sep 12th 2008 8:29AM
And your assertion is based on... what facts and reasoning? 'Blizzard is wrong because I say so' isn't good enough bub.
Radiophonic Sep 12th 2008 8:39AM
The only reason this exists is to get more players in before Wrath.
What I'm finding it creates are people who don't know how to properly play their classes because they levelled so quickly. Lamesauce imo and hence a game breaker.
pudds Sep 12th 2008 10:24AM
The game is easy, and by definition, any new players should be teamed with a veteran player who can show them the ropes anyway.
Manatank Sep 12th 2008 12:08PM
@Radiophonic:
No one is good at the game the first time they hit max level and really start running real instances and raids because it is just so different from playing a toon while leveling. Changing how long it takes to level doesn't really affect how long it takes to learn to play end game content.
If you are basically against the idea of bringing new people into the game because they don't know how to play, then I don't really know what to say to you...
Flavio Sep 12th 2008 8:10AM
In my opinion that Zhevra should be 60% speed and the 100% should've at least have armor and better looks.
Its too "simple", just like hunter pets and druid forms their looks should "scale": they dont feel "level 70"
Jane Gray Sep 12th 2008 10:15AM
I like this about it. I think armor on mounts is stupid if you cant fight mounted.
I tried to RAF both my sister and an old college friend the week RAF came out. Alas both bailed on me without installing the trial I sent them, so I recruited myself twice and have been quad-boxing my little heart out.
TotalBiscuit Sep 12th 2008 8:10AM
Already have. It's something of a new lease of life for me. As a jaded hardcore raider, the idea of leveling up another character was abhorrent to me. Heck, leveling up for 70-80 is going to be a nightmare for me, I hate leveling, really. Recruit-a-friend is a great setup. It ensures that you have to level with a friend, so the social aspect that makes the game more enjoyable is constantly there. The triple XP ensures that you're never forced to grind or do a quest you don't want to do and the summon feature is incredibly handy for getting from place to place. Throw in Carbonite quest-mod to help you out and you'll breeze through the levels with all of the enjoyment, and none of the tedium.
Currently sitting with a Level 30 druid and I couldn't be happier. If Blizzard were intending to use this to keep people playing, it's working.
Zhiva Sep 12th 2008 8:22AM
No. Why? Because I cannot. Players from only 13 European countries have privilege to use "Scroll of Resurrection" and "Recruit-a-Friend", to participate in Blizzard contest etc. Blizzard claims that laws of other countries forbid such activity. Why, I wonder, we are allowed to play WoW then? Arent this mythical laws forbidding playing MMO? If not, then why?
Btw, I haven't found any Ukrainian law, which can be interpreted or misinterpreted as such that forbids using RaF or participating in fanart contest.
Slaign Sep 12th 2008 8:42AM
It's your local laws governing sweepstakes and contests, not MMOs, silly. WoW isn't against the law because you don't enter a contest or promotional offer and receive something of monetary value in return.
Some laws consider any kind of contest gambling and it's therefore illegal. Or these promotional offers are illegal due to some form of international trade laws in your country or some other type of thing like that.
What, you think Blizz just doesn't like money from your part of the country? They are keeping you out because they hate you probably right? Please.
Spiritwalker Sep 12th 2008 8:55AM
The same issue here... I am from Bulgaria and hate Blizzard for this DUMB politic move... It really pisses me off!
Matthew Rossi Sep 12th 2008 9:30AM
Feel free to ask Blizzard what the law in question is: they'll probably happily tell you. I called up over the WWI invitational a while back and said "Hey, I live in Canada, can I enter this contest or not" and they explained which parts of Canada weren't eligible and why.
mko Sep 12th 2008 11:45AM
Same here from Turkey. I cant recruit my friend :(
Radiophonic Sep 12th 2008 8:37AM
It's overrated. The mount looks ridiculous imo. Could have been something with a little more cool factor.
Jason Sep 12th 2008 8:42AM
I'm not comfortable with the fact that they are trying to persuade me to convince people to join the game, by seducing me with shiny toys.
Especially considering this can be a rather addictive game. If anyone chooses to play this game, let them do so themselves.
Axolotl Sep 12th 2008 8:41AM
It's the screenshot-contest thinghy Zhiva, something to do with exporting electronical data to outside the country or some "hostile" regions.
It's American Law that's in their way most of the time (but they do the American thing: blame other countries, and invade them if they have oil ... oh wait, blizz doesn't invade ... yet)
Why not go retrospective on the recruit a friend? If you recruited someone, they should be able to activate it later on so they also get the boost (and your alts ...) just for those cases people forgot to use the link
Slaign Sep 12th 2008 8:49AM
Yea, because I doubt anyone would just tell their guildmate to put them down as the recruiter even though it never happened. I mean, everyone would be honest about such things.
And you're showing your maturity there bud. Where does Blizz blame other countries? It says somewhere on the site that "You're ignorant lowly countries don't let us give you cool crap, so tough luck, shoulda been American." right? You be sure to direct me to where it says that. I'm pretty sure it probably says in vague legal boring speak something about "Only X, X, and X citizens are eligible." with no real allusion to the reason why.
Because ignorant people in other countries don't blame other countries. I'm pretty sure no one you know has ever said something like "It's American law in their way most of the time." or said something ignorant like "So they invade other countries if they have oil."
Nope, you're perfect, and your country has probably never done something wrong or controversial.
Axolotl Sep 13th 2008 3:32AM
Just check out what happened to the guy that made the ZIP-format available worldwide, in stead of passing it on to the national security services (that would be the No Such Agency, Central (lack of) Intelligence Agency and the 'Feds') first.
Tridus Sep 12th 2008 8:47AM
In short? No. This whole scheme is a cash grab. More people are using it to level alts at stupidly fast rates then are actually recruiting new people.
Triple XP is a flat out bad idea. It really messes the game up. An actual new person playing that will fly through zones so fast that quests go grey before they have a chance to complete an area. Trying to keep up with money on your own is impossible, you spend it on skills far faster then you can make it just by questing. And the Zherva is basically a bribe.
This was a poorly thought out scheme by the marketing department that needs to go away.
Nick S Sep 12th 2008 9:37AM
I RAFed my roommate, who is totally new to the game, and I'm willing to bet he'd totally disagree with you.
He's rocketing through levels on multiple toons, getting to try out different classes and find the ones he likes. It's not as though spending 3 hours instead of 1 at each level will magically make you good at WoW - in fact, I'd say most of what you learn about your class in terms of group play comes after 60 anyway.
Thanks to this offer, he knows how the Seal-Judge system works, understands totem mechanics, knows how to Shatter-combo, and Fear-bombs like a pro. If anything, the diversity of knowledge available to someone who can level so quickly is much increased.
You can call it a game-breaker or whatever you like - for me and my roommate, it's great fun. I'm willing to bet there are a lot of other people out there who feel the same way, too.