Breakfast Topic: Bugging out
by Zach Yonzon 
Feb 9th 2009 at 8:00AM
There are bad bugs, and there are good bugs. Bugs like Wintergrasp crashing the continent every time someone wins? That's bad. Bugs like Death Grip giving players a psychedelic free trip around the world? That's good. Well, as good as bugs go, anyway. I know, Blizzard's developers would probably freak out at the mention of 'bugs' and 'good' in the same sentence, but there are just some fun ones that have popped up over the years.At WoW Insider, we try to make it a point not to report on exploitable bugs that can break the game or give players an unfair advantage over other players. But I have to confess that there are just some bugs that are too fun to ignore. There was once this bug in Shattrath involving potions and vanity pets that probably put an unnecessary strain on the server -- but I thought it was cool that there was at least one way to have all your pets out at once.
In your time playing the game, what kind of bugs have you encountered or seen that struck you as more fun than flawed? Small orc shoulders were certainly not fun for all the orc players, but I can just imagine Alliance having a good laugh at their expense. Oh, and for the sake of not getting ourselves banned and all that, let's talk about bugs that are no longer in the game. Except, well, for the best bug ever. Don't do it! But man... it's just too darn cool.
Filed under: Bugs, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
AndremedaSC Feb 9th 2009 8:11AM
My favorite bug was the one with the Outlands fishing dailies where you always caught the fish you needed on the first cast, except for the Zangarmarsh shrimp quest. It was especially nice on the Stormwind quest, because the ordinary fish there are almost worthless, unlike most of the Outlands fish which are good for a couple of gold still.
But alas, they fixed that one in 3.0.8. Sigh.
Nathanyel Feb 9th 2009 11:02AM
Before the "bug" appeared (I figured it was a feature...) I always threw those fish away, but after 3.0.8 (doing that daily with 3 chars now) I'm using them to push my bank chars' and even my DK's cooking to 150+ :D (My regular chars all have appropriate cooking skill levels)
Skilling up with green recipes was never more fun.
Axolotl Feb 9th 2009 8:14AM
There used to be a bug with the old location of Dalaran, where it was possible to use a location near this old tower to get under the dome (nothing to see there, just an earth circle), and then (if you had ranged attacks) kill the opposing faction as they came questing there without them being able to return the favor.
The mobs managed to come through the dome by using the inside of buildings, but other players just died of AmagadWhereIsThatGankerHiding
Who expects to see fireballs blasting out of a pink dome anyways?
Kassu Feb 9th 2009 8:18AM
My favorite bug was when the small bugs that Hadronox is fighting in Azjol Nerub before you engage her actually KILLED HER.
We were just speechless. No loot, though..
Zaltais Feb 9th 2009 8:20AM
I had this interesting bug that occurred when I was just about to be rezzed by the spirit healer in Strand just as we switched sides, ended up being rezzed in the Crossroads graveyard with a Deserter debuff ..
Alex Feb 9th 2009 9:57AM
The alliance version of this bug involves getting rezzed at Westfall instead with the same conditions.
Relk Feb 9th 2009 11:05AM
A long time ago, my brother and I died in a cave in Dun Morough (south of Ironforge). We ended up at a spirit healer in the Arathi Highlands. We were level 4 and ran all the way back, dying and picking up flight paths on the way. We told our story to at least 12 people we passes on the way. Good times.
Razel Feb 9th 2009 8:26AM
Actually, although I won't give details, there is still a way to go underneath Dalaran now in Northrend. Great fun confusing your friends by waving to them and them not being able to see you. Even more confusing if they are in your group, as they can see where you should be in Dalaran :)
Enderwig Feb 9th 2009 8:28AM
I experienced a bug a few times back in pre-TBC times, where someone would continue to be mounted after getting off of a taxi. This happened to an alliance player that "flew" into UC, but couldn't be targeted because he was technically still "in flight". This could be seen by everyone and was great fun to see someone hovering around on a gryphon (Remember, no flying mounts at this time). Another time a guildie got stuck on a wyvern, but I was the only one who could see it.
Ike Feb 9th 2009 8:29AM
More boat related fun.
After realizing that you can climb up the ropes on the boat to the Exodar, I climbed all the way to the top for a laugh.
Imagine my horror when the boat zoned and found myself, at level 15 with my hearth on full cooldown, in the middle of the stonetalon mountains with no connecting flight points.
No idea if it still happens. Once was more than enough.
Eggie Feb 9th 2009 8:28AM
I recall something as Old Ironforge back in the days :)
Those were the bugs!
Ecowarrior Feb 9th 2009 8:30AM
Encountered a random bug a few times where I've been ported out of an instance for some reason and ended up in Westfall...
Vapidity Feb 9th 2009 9:49AM
That's happened twice with our healers in H OC. Different people each time, but always the healers. They were both having connection problems at the time, though.
Smartersnipe of Bladefist Feb 9th 2009 8:34AM
My Favourite Bug Encounter, Which is still active, is able to go under Orgimmar but appear as if u were right in the middle of the town, between the bank and the AH, as an alliance, and NO ONE can attack you :)
I should probally make a video of this ..../shrug
Kanuris Feb 10th 2009 11:38AM
Because the area is classed as Durotar? I've seen this trick in many spots in Ironforge. Infact, you use one of them behind one of the pillars outside the bank to get into Dun Morogh, where you can duel.
PvE realms only for the standing and laughing at Hordies though.
Riz Feb 9th 2009 8:41AM
Getting summoned to Nexus and end up in Crossroads
=/
EvilGrin Feb 9th 2009 8:42AM
The great plague of 2005, caused by hunters summoning pets with the Hakkar debuff on them in AH's and Banks. :)
Or possibly kiting Doom Lord Kazzak into Stormwind.
VSUReaper Feb 9th 2009 2:45PM
I wish we could still do that. Boo on blizz for nerfing raid bosses so they can only be kited for so long a distance.
On my server, back when BT was still brand new, the top guild kited Doomwalker to shat. He promptly killed everyone around him, and then proceeded to kill A'dal.
So damn funny to zone into shat and seeing A'dal lying dead on the floor. 30 min after the kill, the server was reset, and in the next patch they made it so Doomwalker couldnt leave SMV.
Dawneb Feb 9th 2009 8:45AM
Once time before BC I was levelling a toon and was running north from Gadgetzan, up to where this little hill is with some wreckage.... stepped into one of those Fall Through the Earth Forever holes. lol/fun
Another time I used my mage to blink through a crack in the door of ZA before it was opened up, and had to jump off the edge of nothing once on the other side... it wouldn't let me blink back through!
ChanceC Feb 9th 2009 9:06AM
Oh, gah. That was such a pain in the neck. It was pretty neat though.