WoW Rookie: Leveling in the pre-Cataclysm era
by Lisa Poisso 
Apr 2nd 2010 at 1:00PM
Make hay while the sun shines. In fact, if you're leveling a character pre-Cataclysm, you might want to consider making that hay on one of the farms in Westfall. Westfall is slated for a "moderate" overhaul in the upcoming expansion, so the Harvest Reapers you see today might be something entirely different come Cataclysm. Maybe the farms will be gone entirely. Who knows? Whatever ends up coming our way, it's time to stop and smell the flowers (or in this case, the sweet scent of hay). Whether or not you choose to purchase Cataclysm, zones like Westfall will be forever changed when the expansion hits.
My significant DPSer and I are currently leveling a set of Alliance characters (our original faction, but one we haven't played much in several years) specifically in order to revisit content that Cataclysm will sweep away. We're not the only ones with that idea. Still, it's not all nostalgia. The desire to soak up all that WoW has to offer rings just as true for new players who are leveling their first characters. We'll show you how to embrace it all while you still can.
Our suggestions for new players who'd like to experience as much of WoW's original content as possible before Cataclysm changes the face of Azeroth:
- Quest in zones that Cataclysm will be changing.
- Deploy some alts. If you're pushing forward toward Icecrown Citadel, we understand. It's pretty cool stuff. But if soaking up lore and exploring new territories is more your style, now's a good time to slow down and make enough alts (both factions!) to see all the sights before they're gone. Leveling goes so fast these days that you'll level past many zones and instances while you're busy in other areas. It might take several characters (or a willingness to work through grey quests) to see everything that will be changing.
- Get a handle on the game's lore. The World of Warcraft is a living, breathing world. If you understand what's already gone on, you'll be in a much better position to keep up with the context of changes Cataclysm will bring.
- Retro raiding (going back to see old level 60 and level 70 raiding content once you're level 80) and classic raiding (raiding the level 60 and 70 content when you're at the appropriate level) are both great ways to see what used to be considered endgame content. Looking for a group? Send The Classifieds your Armory link and a line or two about what you're looking for; email TheClassifieds@wow.com. We'll take retro raiding and classic raiding guild recruitment notices this week, as well.
- The gang playing along with WoW.com's Choose My Adventure series is specifically targeting content that will be changing come Cataclysm. The project's moving along on US Zangarmarsh-H as part of <It Came from the Blog>.
- Leveling a warlock, 60-80
- Leveling an enhancement shaman, 1-20
- Introductory guide to fighting warlocks
Recent resources for the new level 80
- Warlocks: Destruction 101
- Macros for mages
- Things that change your healing priorities
- Gearing a fresh balance druid
- Resources for retribution paladins
- Five-man gear for death knights
- Choosing a role for restoration shamans
Visit the WoW Rookie Guide for links to all our tips, tricks and how-to's. WoW Rookie walks you through all sort of new-player concerns, from game lingo for the beginner to joining your first guild as a mid-level player and on to what to do when you finally hit level 80.Filed under: WoW Rookie
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gamer am I Apr 2nd 2010 1:31PM
Having leveled multiple characters through the old content, I am of the opinion that the changes to the old world can't come soon enough. I am ready to say goodbye and good riddance to this old world. Sure, some of the zones aren't too bad, but I am still looking forward to Cataclysm eagerly.
Falcon6 Apr 2nd 2010 1:47PM
Nevertheless, WoW's old world is an expansive area. Going through it the first time was incredible, albeit incredibly slow considering you don't know the tricks you did before.
I'm more excited for the fact that Blizzard's finally understanding that they have an entire world they could use for expansion content, not just add another continent every single time they wanted something big. Hell, the very fact that you'll be able to fly in the old world come Cataclysm will make it a very huge change. There's so much potential now for some great storytelling.
Boz Apr 2nd 2010 1:55PM
I cannot agree more: The areas being most heavily revamped seem to be the areas that need it the most.
My wife just said to me about a month ago, hitting 60 for the first time, "Leveling is so much more fun in Outland." This was followed the other day after dinging 70 with, "Northrend is SO much more fun than Outland!"
psychodude Apr 2nd 2010 2:29PM
There's a lot of nostalgy in those old zones, and as one who only recently began playing again after having done pretty much just classic and only a sniff of TBC and seen even less of WotLK first hand those classic areas still hold a lot of fond memories to me.
However, many of the areas changing heavily also deserve it does WoW wish to stand time. Next to the nostalgy factor there's simply many zones I'm rushing through again now simply because they're filled with boring fedex quests and the general design is plain and dull.
That's not something Blizzard will be wanting for their game, instead these lower zones should perhaps be even more exciting than the later zones as these are the areas after all in which new people shall get hooked.
I'm definitely looking forward to see to what extent all of the content will have changed. Looking forward eagerly here as well :).
JA Apr 2nd 2010 2:32PM
Amen to that. I'm currently leveling my Druid in Duskwood, and the quest designed there is so non-intuitive - three or four quests there requires you to kill the same mobs near the graveyard, but at different interval! It's so annoying to have to ride back and forth between the zone.
Wowcoholic Apr 2nd 2010 2:09PM
I'm still waiting to play my panda....
Smurk Apr 2nd 2010 2:17PM
Are any of the level ranges for zones changing? And if they are, could we see different zones (like Westfall) become contested on PVP servers?
Leviathon Apr 2nd 2010 2:25PM
Yes several are changing in levels but only the southern barrens is changing to contested (and Horde getting 10-20 Azshara). Otherwise the 10-20 zones are all staying the same.
Leviathon Apr 2nd 2010 2:26PM
Yes several zones are getting different level ranges. The 10-20 zones are all staying the same though except for the Horde getting a 10-20 Azshara and Southern Barrens becoming it's own separate contested zone.
Nathanael Apr 2nd 2010 2:31PM
Some tips for 80's going back, particularly to complete LOREMASTER while seeing the sights:
- Get the addon "EveryQuest" - It can tell you all the quests in each zone you've missed
- If you also get tomtom and Lightheaded, you can read the quest descriptions for all the ones mentioned above, AND get coords to the quest giver!
- If you have a free profession slot, get herbalism, even if you don't level it, a large number of quests require you to locate sparkly plants which you can track
- If you have a high level cook, get the track humanoid food(Blackened Worg Steak), which is also hugely helpful for kill quests
- If you have completed a FACTION TRANSFER, and find your quest completion number plummeted, you may be pleasantly surprised to find them return when/if you switch back, due to each quest having a unique ID!
- Make sure you know your screenshot button, and if you're a Mac user, configure the built-in video capture for those special moments (don't forget to leave record UI on, or you won't record speech texts!)
- Sometimes NOT completing a quest is best decision, such as the Alliance-side Ashenvale quest which gives you Dartol's Tranfsorming Rod until you turn in the quest!
- Running the old dungeons will net you an achievement for each, and completing each will get you "dungeonmaster" (achievement, not title)
- Don't forget the "The Explorer" achievement either, especially those of you using Cartographer, which reveals all of the unexplored map by default!
- Most of all, have fun: Help lowbies, kill opposing faction members on sight, and maybe even hand out a gold piece or two - the karma flows through Azeroth just as strong!
drmgrl_808 Apr 2nd 2010 4:37PM
"- Sometimes NOT completing a quest is best decision, such as the Alliance-side Ashenvale quest which gives you Dartol's Tranfsorming Rod until you turn in the quest!"
Just a note: Completing this quest line no longer causes you to lose the transformation rod. I completed this recently while working on Loremaster and confirm that you will still have "Dartol's Rod of Transformation" when you cokplete the series.
FeverSK Apr 2nd 2010 3:37PM
This article is relevant to my situation. I started playing last summer (har har) and I'm kinda desperately trying to experience as much of the old world as possible. I have a level 61 Undead priest main ATM, just got in Outland. Now I'm going to roll Alliance to play through Kalimdor and Kingdoms "from the other side". The hardest part are probably level 60 raids. How the hell am I going to get 40 people together at the appropriate level nowadays?
terph Apr 2nd 2010 6:34PM
I'd say get to 80, then run the classic raids. It's much easier to get a handful of 80s together to see old content than it is to run them at the appropriate level. My server has a pretty active chat channel for people who like running old raids. I also joined WoW late to the game, and I've had a lot of fun seeing content that few people run these days.
Marita Apr 2nd 2010 7:46PM
I started 3 new toons these last months, both sides, just to have a more fulfilling wow experience.
And I'm surprised by the changes to the starting areas.
At least for the human one, now the defias are not aggresive!!!! I feel cheated >_< all those horrible memories of desesperate food eating to have my back stabbed by a mob >_<
but it was very nice these time :)
Now I could go to get that guy's head without worring about is minions :D
MightyBurebista Apr 3rd 2010 12:57AM
"(...)and classic raiding (raiding the level 60 and 70 content when you're at the appropriate level)"
YES!!!
FINALLY, someone to encourage this...
zappel Apr 5th 2010 11:41PM
things have already changed in the old world, so whats new about further changes?
starter zones have been made toddler safe. no red mobs at all.
BoA gear making it a farce to kill mobs your level.
when you can run RFC as alliance without having to risk being 1-shotted by the guards and having to corpse run into it...
L20 mounts.... they had to do this cos ppl were levelling so fast they needed to run just as fast. now you can mount and run into the instance in gnomeregan. so the mobs can be mostly avoided unless they hit u and u get dismounted.
things will always change. that's just how the dice rolls.