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by Mike Schramm 
Nov 18th 2008 at 6:00PM
I have to agree with Lowangel: where's the upgrades? We all knew that the gear dropping in Northrend wasn't quite going to be as huge a jump as it was when we headed off to Outland, but I was only dressed in late Karazhan gear, and at this point, close to 73, I've upgraded one thing. I thought I'd get a little upgrade -- time and time again, I've picked up soulbound quest items, only to have to vendor them off because they don't have the hit I worked to get or the extra Agility on top of the Stamina I've already got.As much as I appreciate keeping the epics on, it is a little disappointing that I may not actually get new gear for ten levels (indeed, many of the folks who cleared the PvE content already were dressed in their old gear as well). Dressing yourself in clown greens is embarassing, but having no upgrades at all is a problem in the opposite direction. Bornakk says to be patient and that we'll find upgrades soon enough (and I have, to his credit, already seen a few nice rep items that I'd want, even if I don't have the rep to buy them yet). There are upgrades out there.
But so far, I've only hit a few sidegrades and hardly any clearly better gear than what I had before. How about you?
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Quests, Expansions, Leveling, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 7)
Gorgzy Nov 18th 2008 6:16PM
the quest greens are always pretty average.
my elemental shaman is in mid-late T5 quality gear, and so far, i just got a new shield that i can't use til 74 (i'm 73), from that instance in Zul'Drak
Fung Nov 18th 2008 6:13PM
the experience is roughly the same after untwinking a char at any other ceiling level. i don't think i replaced my twink 49 shadowpriest's equipment until upwards of 55.
that being said, everything DOES seem entirely too easy. I and a pug of other 71s-at-the-time took down ahn'k first try w/o a wipe.. supposedly a 73-75 instance.
i'm seriously hoping that, rather than shifting the bell-curve of difficulty towards the easy, instead the bell curve has elongated, and i can expect to see the difficulty skyrocket when it comes to heroics or something.
it sure would suck to have no challenge in this game, as it currently seems.
Robin Nov 19th 2008 6:45AM
Youre right, heroic and the normal is a huge diff =p
elladion Nov 19th 2008 3:13AM
The game is excellent for us that we dont have time to burn ourselves on countless raiding hours.I like the chanllenge,if any,on 5 men that give us the opportunity to have fun w/o wiping and wiping forever.For the ones that want greater difficulty go play on heroic mode with better loot.There is no need for Blizzard to ruin all the game for a minority that plays countless hours and keep needing more and more difficult dungeons.The game is for everyone and not for hardcores only.
Adj Nov 18th 2008 6:15PM
The way I see it is this, if you were stuck at lvl 40 for a while and did every instance and got decked out with the best gear you could get for your level. Would you really be replacing that gear a few level later?
On the WoW forums someone said that if they made it so top end 70 gear was out of date by 72 greens then the gear at 80 would be so strong that players could do things like solo Illidan.
Bigelow Nov 18th 2008 6:18PM
Me, as a prot pally going through Borean Tundra, there really isn't anything in the way of defense rating/avoidance given in quest rewards. I was Kara ready before I crossed the waters, and I wound up replacing my weapon that I had pre-3.0 (HotR FTW). I see no need to replace my defense rating gear unless it gives me, like massive stam bonuses and, like free pizza or something cool like that. I am not lolret, or a dk, or a fury warrior, so please, give me dodge/block/parry stuff!!
gundamxzero Nov 18th 2008 6:18PM
I think part of the problem is they may not recognize an upgrade when they see one. I didnt get any upgrades until I got into the 75-75 zones, and I was in T5 gear.
I recommend www.maxdps.com so people can plan accordingly.
Nodaba Nov 18th 2008 6:21PM
I'm used to keeping gear. I had my Robes of Arugal till I hit Outland......
(After about level 25 I didn't touch instances and just quested/grinded to 58 with no luck on robes)
Tirthayaad Nov 18th 2008 6:21PM
I kinda agree that there is no rewards anymore. Like the others. When I hit OL I replaced everything. We were all equal agian. Everyone thought that would happen agian. NOT so much. The guys that are in T6 took off and have others left in the dust. No way are some of these guys going to catch up to us. I was kinda hoping so b/c I have a few friends that really wish they could raid but now it is looking like they are going to have to do even more prep work.
Fortone Nov 18th 2008 6:56PM
So far I have been vending my greens from quests and drops compared to my epics. On the other hand, blues from dungeon drops in Northrend is a different story.
AlexW573 Nov 18th 2008 6:21PM
74-75 is when I started getting my gear really replaced (geared to around BT req pre-3.0.2 I think) in Grizzly Hills. I've only got 2-3 bits of my BC gear left now, I'm over half done with Zul Drak and about 4.5 bars into 76.
kate Nov 18th 2008 6:22PM
The main upgrades I have seen have been enchants and quest or dungeon blues. The enchants are a no-brainer - they provide immediate bang for the buck. Greens - not equipped a single one. My lower alts, though, would definitely see some upgrades, so for them it would smooth out leveling to have this gear.
Rugus Nov 18th 2008 6:22PM
If people do replace old stuff... people complain.
If people do NOT replace old stuff... people complain.
Come on...
Jack Spicer Nov 18th 2008 7:24PM
I think that people are right to complain when their epics get replaced by green gear that only requires 1 or 2 levels higher than their current gear.
But I think its also a problem when guilds can burn through an entire raid in the gear 10 levels under them.
Sashayla Nov 18th 2008 6:30PM
My experience thusfar (from someone just getting into Kara before the expansion) is, with rare exception, that it takes Northrend blues to be any sort of upgrade over Outland purples. I've covered Howling Fjord and most of Borean Tundra and I think I've only seen one uncommon that was worth replacing an epic on my characters.
alt255 Nov 18th 2008 6:27PM
Im dressed in my T6 gear at lvl 74 and im damn proud of it. Blizz did do a good job at making the greens not look trashy but I am very happy that all my hard work wasnt replaced in 1 lvl of questing.
Barachiel Nov 18th 2008 6:27PM
I hit Northrend in Outland Battlegear (non-socketed, I dinged 70 like a week before Wrath hit), and I've swapped out most of it for green gear, primarily because of the boost to Spell Damage it got my Holy Paladin. That said, I've suffered in other areas, and if I spent the gold to socket the set, I probably would have kept it, despite its hideous appearance.
Lewis Nov 18th 2008 6:36PM
If people do replace old stuff... people complain.
If people do NOT replace old stuff... people complain.
Come on guys, you are the ones that wanted this remember? I for one loved replaceing all my gear, gave me incentive to quest. But you guys got your way, enjoy not getting any new gear until your guild starts nax
Ironhide Nov 18th 2008 6:39PM
you make a very valid point, this is what people wanted. This is what they asked for.
Reminds me of a Metalica song.
Becareful what you wish for, you may regret it.
Becareful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Ironhide Nov 18th 2008 6:37PM
I think it's a case of just adjusting TOO much to what the customer wants.
Everyone hated the gear jump, and the steep learning curve in TBC.
They fixed it, unfortunately I think they fixed it a little too much.. the instances are far too easy, the raids aparently too easy too and the gear they give as rewards is not quite up to par.
Lots of people had badge gear, and it's better than anything I;ve found so far up to 73.