Breakfast Topic: Preparing for the storm
by Nico Deyo 
Mar 27th 2010 at 8:00AM
When faced with warnings of imminent change, what do you do? Do you stockpile and organize, or do you let it just happen? Cataclysm is fast approaching and preparing for it in-game can be as much a part of the process as pre-ordering a copy of the game in real life. There's several new things coming in the expansion that certainly may go smoothly if you take the time to plan for it -- two new races (worgen and goblin), new level cap, and a lot more classes opening up for the existing races. In the past, people also stockpiled things like cloth for bandages or mats for new tradeskills that were being introduced. Some players have given up doing anything in general and stopped playing WoW until Cataclysm hits.
I myself tend to be more of the planning type, especially now on the horizon of my third expansion -- I am stockpiling a lot of gold in the event of some ridiculous new transportation cost. I also recently completed Loremaster on my main character as many of my favorite quests or zones in the old world might be changed or gone entirely by the time the expansion rolls around. I also might sink a little bit of money into buying a Traveler's Tundra Mammoth. Having a portable repair-bot and vendor will ease the burdens of leveling considerably. Some new character names might have also been reserved on my server in preparation for a cute little gnome priest or worgen rogue in the future.
So what have you been doing to brace yourself for another (possibly your first) expansion? Is it grinding out badges for BOA gear for a new toon? Perhaps you are sitting around Dalaran doing nothing!
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Anuillae Mar 27th 2010 8:08AM
I am going to
a) level my mage to 80
b) stockpile gold
c) stockpile resources or Archaelogy, so as to level as soon as possible and be the sole seller on my realm for a week or two
d) Get Loremaster on at least one character
cmichaelcooper Mar 27th 2010 8:58AM
Unfortunately Blizzard has stated that Archaeology will be a gated profession, so players will not be able to level it all in one go, therefore preventing situations like this.
Anuillae Mar 27th 2010 11:12AM
ok, ok, just an idea :(
Tony Romo Mar 27th 2010 1:29PM
You'll at least be able to stockpile resources so that you'll be able to level yourself faster once the gates open anyways.
Possum Mar 28th 2010 3:45AM
Tony, I think those 3 points you spent in Unprovoked Hostility would be better spent somewhere else.
Anuillae Mar 28th 2010 9:57AM
well, to TonyMotorola, I did manage that with Inscription, and made a huge profit from being the only person bothering to sell on the AH for the first few days.
andrew Mar 27th 2010 8:11AM
I have been trying to get as many toons as I can up to 80 so when the new expasion comes I will be able to have a few to farm whatever new badge is available to purchase tier items etc. Just think if only a couple 100 people reach 85 how much would an item similar to primordial saronite go for in the beginning. And I didn't even think about the tundra mammoth that is a great idea. Time to start doing dailies like it's my job.
Sqlsiren Mar 27th 2010 9:34AM
I've been doing the same thing. Priest, druid, mage, and paladin down. Warlock and DK in the 70's and hunter and shaman in the 60's. Altoholic has been a great addon for me with it, shows me how much rested xp I have on each character, where I am on their professions, how my gold is distributed, and what's in their bags and banks.
chris Mar 27th 2010 8:13AM
I have been getting all the old world rep done and basically getting all the old world stuff done i can...Even getting all the old world pets.....
Nazgûl Mar 27th 2010 8:17AM
Well, Runetotem was down last night, so instead of sitting around Dalaran doing nothing like I had planned, my guild invaded Wyrmrest Accord.
Four characters: "Logging" "Into" "Game" "Server". Dancing in the AH.
Super Guest Man 9000 Mar 27th 2010 8:17AM
I plan on making a worgen druid, my 3rd druid (I have a problem), and i've been gathering up gear for him. Also I've been farming runecloth again for turn ins with my main for Worgen rep.
Flipside Mar 27th 2010 8:19AM
My account's going to stay dead until Cataclysm hits.
Maymer Mar 27th 2010 11:33AM
I'm almost like you Flipside
I'll be taking a month off, on for a month, take another month off, then go on another month. That way I can still do "WALSTIB" (what a long strange trip its been), and accomplish my main goals before Cataclysm: Loremaster and Explorer...and get the old school Raids done...maybe a few vanilla reps....some patterns learned......those months are going to be busy
uncaringbear Mar 27th 2010 8:19AM
I'm busy generating as much gold as possible. I want to ensure that once the multi-passenger flying mount becomes available, I'll be able to purchase one outright without the need for any external financing. The goblin mafia is not getting one lousy gold from me this time!
Wowclaxon Mar 27th 2010 8:25AM
I've been grinding gold for the Tundra Mammoth and trying to avoid getting too geared seeing as i will probably be replacing some epics fairly soon. Waiting Patiently for the Reclaiming of Gnomeragan. Can't wait!
Lemming Mar 27th 2010 8:31AM
Stockpiling gold is not really a luxury I can't afford. There are just far to many things it gets spent on, on my main (who is also my achievement main).
I'm preparing by collecting heirlooms for the alts I'll make when the expansion hits, as well as keeping any interesting BoP gear they may find useful while I'm out questing.
I was doing the spritedarter q for my main (and that elusive loremaster of Kalimdor achievement) and an epic world drop shield turned up. That's a keeper for a Worgan warrior-tank! :D
MusedMoose Mar 27th 2010 8:35AM
All I've done so far is reserve a bunch of names for alts - five at last count. ^_^ I've thought about doing the Loremaster thing on my mage, as it seems appropriate, but it sounds like a ridiculous amount of work.
cmichaelcooper Mar 27th 2010 9:03AM
The hardest part of Loremaster is getting through Kalimdor. But once you're through that, the rest of it is fairly easy. Outland and Northrend zones have individual quest counters to keep you motivated.
jakel Mar 27th 2010 11:45AM
@cMichealCooper
What would you recommend for Eastern Kingdom? Kalimdor was cake because that's where I leveled. I haven't done *really* any of the dungeons in the EK there...I guess it will just take some time. Working on finishing Northend first (SOOO CLOSE) then EK and finally outland as that will stay the same post CATA-astrophe.
Working on getting some heirlooms and saving some cloths and clothes and really just enjoying this World while while it lasts.
Sel Mar 27th 2010 8:38AM
Because of my inability to decide on a main character right now, I've just been leveling and gearing alts. Normally I'd put a lot of gold into them, but because I don't see myself raiding any time soon, I've just decided to start saving. So gear from heroics/badges and dailies on multiple 80s every day. Also trying to figure out which of my characters will be getting deleted since I have zero open character slots on my server and I know I'll want to level up at least one new character as a new race.