Blizzard comments on Outland and Northrend leveling in Cataclysm
by Mathew McCurley 
Mar 31st 2011 at 8:00PM
Naethera -- 1-60 AWESOME leveling but...
Quote:
I have been leveling this warlock past few days and the new quests are more than superb, I have been enjoying leveling like crazy. I started in the human zone and right now Im in Redridge, the story is incredible and fun. This is the first time I level without even noticing which level I am and without even looking to my exp bar.
My point is that, sadly, the fun ends at 60 and a horrible tedious journey starts, especially from 70 - 80, it is a boring nightmare.
Blizzard, is there a way you could make leveling from 60 - 80 as fun as the "new" leveling? Or anyone know if there are plans to do this?
I have heard that 80 - 85 is also very fun, but I dont know because I havent reached there yet.
I have been leveling this warlock past few days and the new quests are more than superb, I have been enjoying leveling like crazy. I started in the human zone and right now Im in Redridge, the story is incredible and fun. This is the first time I level without even noticing which level I am and without even looking to my exp bar.
My point is that, sadly, the fun ends at 60 and a horrible tedious journey starts, especially from 70 - 80, it is a boring nightmare.
Blizzard, is there a way you could make leveling from 60 - 80 as fun as the "new" leveling? Or anyone know if there are plans to do this?
I have heard that 80 - 85 is also very fun, but I dont know because I havent reached there yet.
We know that for many who have gone through Outland and Northrend before, it may not be as fun as the first or second or even third time you've gone through it. We understand but also believe that in general, the quest flow is much better than what was available in original World of Warcraft. Between that and the increased rate of experience gain, you should be able to go through these areas relatively quickly. Would we like to update Outland at some point in time? Sure. It's a possibility. But it's not on our immediate radar. There's still a lot more to be done in World of Warcraft.
Naethera -- 1-60 AWESOME leveling but...
Quote:
MId game is broken. Blizzard know but they happen to care more about doing nothing that actually working on something players are requesting.. sad blizz.. very sad
MId game is broken. Blizzard know but they happen to care more about doing nothing that actually working on something players are requesting.. sad blizz.. very sad
Broken implies that it doesn't work at all. This word is thrown around quite a bit, but just because something doesn't work how you feel it should, does not mean it's broken.
We definitely aren't doing "nothing" since we are currently focused on getting patch 4.1 worked on and moving on from there to more Cataclysm content.
We do appreciate those who have given constructive feedback on their feelings on leveling from 60-80 and as I mentioned earlier, we do have accelerated experience gains for these levels. As someone else mentioned earlier in the thread, getting flight early on also helps with getting around these areas and completing quests in a more efficient way if that's what you're looking for.
To make any other changes to the way the leveling zones and quests work within Outland or Northrend would take a significant amount of additional development time and isn't a simple undertaking as many have seen with Cataclysm and the changes brought about with it. If and when we feel the need is there to revisit the content in Outland and Northrend we will (again as we've exhibited in our willingness to address "old" content with the changes to Azeroth itself), but now is not the time for that.
While I agree that the Outlands and Northrend leveling experiences are less engaging at the moment versus the absolutely amazing Cataclysm content, it is mostly because Outland suffers from second-child syndrome and Northrend is still too fresh in my mind. The content is hardly broken, however. Nethaera is right about development time -- look at how long and hard Blizzard had to work on the original world to get it up to snuff.
I recently completed Outland and Northrend on an alt and did not spend much time, really, in either place. The increased experience gains and relatively easier time due to heirloom items made leveling a breeze and only required completion of three zones in Outland and four in Northrend. Any content is going to seem dated and repetitive if you just ran that content. Maybe this is the double-edged nature of the amazing leveling sword -- such compelling content engages the player so well that they speed through it, and 1-60 doesn't last as long as it should.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.
Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Corath Mar 31st 2011 8:07PM
Personally, I'd be fine if they left Outland and Northrend as is for now, but when the next expansion comes it should include the update then.
MusedMoose Mar 31st 2011 8:11PM
Agreed. I was thinking that a good way to do it would be to have the Burning Legion strike at Northrend (possibly they're going after what's left of the Lich King) and at Outland (no real justification needed there). Thus, there's a reason for new things to be happening in the two expansions' lands, and the higher-level content can deal with going after the Legion on other worlds. Just a thought.
CaryEverett Mar 31st 2011 8:43PM
I've often contemplated if an easier solution to this would be to adjust the EXP and the mob/quest level ranges so that both Outlands AND Northrend are level 60-80 zones.
This would give you reason to go questing beyond just HFP and Nagrand in Outlands, and Howling Fjord, Borean Tundra, and Dragonblight in Northrend (Or at least those are the zones I normally do).
And it will give you the ability to skip or mix and match zones between the two continents. Leveling is less frustrating when you have the option to chose between 2 different zones for each level range to go visit.
Drakkenfyre Mar 31st 2011 8:57PM
I have seen this kind of reply by (I think) her before to someone else.
I would rather them keep Outland as close to it is as possible, maybe tweak a few things here, change a few things there. I don't want to see another linear follow-the-path-only-way-to-clear-quests thing going on in Outland. I would also rather not see an entire expansion's worth of items no longer available. It's gotten tiring looking up items on WoWHead, finding out they no longer exist because the quest or the quest item has been removed. I would rather not get to, for example, the Ring of Blood and find out all quest rewards have been changed.
They already admitted they think the questing in Cataclysm is a little too linear, let's hope they don't make that same mistake again.
Kylenne Mar 31st 2011 9:05PM
@Drakkenfyre: I would be okay with this with the exception of the Azeroth BC-era zones. They desperately need tweaking to bring them up to modern times. It is *jarring* how out of sync those zones are with the new 1-60 storylines, particularly the Eversong/Ghostlands experience. I rolled a Belf warrior and it felt very WTF.
CaryEverett Mar 31st 2011 9:29PM
It is likely me Drakkenfyre. I have not seen another person advocating that solution, and every once in a while I mention it in different locations.
Avan Mar 31st 2011 9:33PM
I have to disagree. There is exactly one change they need to make to Outland, and that's give Hellfire Peninsula some colour. Look at the worgen starting zone for example, every questing hub and related area is a different location and looks very different. You get to Hellfire Peninsula, and it's just all orange, all the time. It is not a very good first impression for Outland, not by a long shot.
I remember the first time I went through HFP. I was bored to tears before I even got to Falcon Watch. It's far too much orange.
bobikinbobwalker Mar 31st 2011 10:03PM
@MusedMoose - If it happens in the next expansion, then general weirdness will ensue. You'll have Cataclysm-era quests until 60, then you'll have fourth-expansion-era quests from 60-80, and then you'll go back to Cataclysm era quests for 80-85, and then you'll go to fourth-expansion-era content for 85-90.
flawless Mar 31st 2011 10:09PM
What Outland *needs* is progressive droprates, or just higher droprates, on quest items.
Thirty kills for eight quest drops? Bugger that.
Belfonisis Mar 31st 2011 10:35PM
The story inconsistencies bother me a little, but overall I think Northrend is a lot better done for leveling than the new 80-85 zones. I dislike the linear nature of the Cata zones. I love hopping around Northrend tackling what I want when I want, and the tech is still fresh and "new" feeling. I'm on my 10th toon leveling through Northrend, and while it is somewhat repetitive by now, it still appeals to me more currently than the thought of having to bring another 80 to 85.
Angus Apr 1st 2011 12:50AM
Change the XP in Outlands so that HFP, Zanger, TF, and Blades Edge are enough to get you to Northrend. (actually very little adjustment)
Change these zones to talk about how the war of X years ago saved Outlands from the Legion and this is a second attack by them. Alter quests in small manners (getting rid of poop scoop quests please) and Have them get to northrend.
Northrend, talk about LK being dead, cleaning up the scourge, and now the Legion is attacking. They can have some of the slack and cover some of the lower zones to show how the scourge has retreated.
Have us hit home for Deathwing, then go back to Outlands to shore up the horrors there.
Black Temple Redux, now held by a demon that rose in Archimonde's place, Netherstorm with new damage/quests as they try to keep it from being torn apart by the forces of the Legion, Nagrand, and the aftermath of the LK story with Saurfang Sr and Jr, Garrosh, Thrall having their stories furthered.
Alliance has the Khadgar saga to further. He'll be instrumental in a few chains and stories including the retaking of Kara for the forces of light. The Legion is attempting to use the magic and Ley lines of the create a gate.
Izaach Apr 1st 2011 12:56AM
Keeping consistency in quests/lore would really help with the immersion but that can easily open up problems with other aspects of the game. Ideally, I'd want them to update most of the quests everytime they add an expansion, just to keep with the evolving storylines, but that's obviously too much to ask. Even if Blizzard's able to pull it off, you'll run to problems with stories in dungeons and raids.
For example, they could update the major stories in Northrend to match the knowledge of the fall of the Lich King and the new destructive threat in Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms. But then, you still have ICC where you can still fight LK. Or even before that: a tournament to see who is fit to fight LK. One option to fix this is to just dump some raids and dungeons into the Caverns of Time. But meh....
Utakata Apr 1st 2011 2:52AM
In comparison to Tol Barad Avan, Hellfire Peninsula looks like a clown suit on acid in both colour and story. Just saying.
Sorcha Apr 1st 2011 4:27AM
@Flawless: I disagree. The amount of XP gained being equal, I feel much less like I'm doing pointless grinding if I have to spend 10 minutes doing one quest with low drop rates (Outland) than doing 5 quests with 100% droprates (Cataclysm). I get burned out on having tons of quests to do very quickly.
For the rest, I hope they leavr Outland alone. If you don't like it now you can skip through it in heirlooms and if you're like me and love it you can do the whole thing start to finish. That seems like a good compromise.
Noyou Apr 1st 2011 6:43AM
@ Angus
With all the BoA's guild bonus and mining/herb xp- not to mention 2 dailies in SW/Org I did a few quests in HP (maybe 20) and most of Zangarmarsh (75-80%) and that put me around lvl 67. I did a few Alterac Valley's and I was at 68. Nothrend went just as fast. Did most of Borean, some Howling Fjord, a couple in dragonblight, about a dozen in Grizzly hills and I was ready for Zul Drak. After doing maybe 30-40 quests there I was ready for Sholazar at lvl 76. Barely did any quests there (15-20) and was moving on to Icecrown at 77. I still love the argent crusade/tourney quests so began doing that. Before I knew it I was 79. After one more day of dailies there I was about 25-30% into 79. mined and explored my way in Hyjal to 80. I skipped so much of northrend it was silly. For any of those who feel it takes too long, get some BoA's and make sure you level up with herb/skinning. For those who feel it's too fast make sure you don't. I like to do a lot of different things when I level. I make sure I clear my outland and northrend maps. I stopped using the BoA's I had (except the cloak) at 80. So yeah if anything outland and northrend go too fast but having gone thru it now 8 times, my goal is to get to 85 as fast as possible. I have 2 more to level and i will be certifiably insane ( and have all 10 classes to 85).
Rimar Apr 1st 2011 6:43PM
I honestly do not find this grind troublesome, after the massive xp nerfs Blizzard has added to the game.
At 58 I que for Ramparts.. And again.. And after the 3rd time I ding 59. Repeat and ding 60. At this point I run to either thrallmar or Honor Hold (depending on which faction I am playing) and buy flight training and a flying mount. I then begin doing hellfire quests that are ridiculously easy once you have a flying mount. Amidst questing I continue to que for Ramparts or Blood Furnace.
By the time I finish quests in Hellfire, I am basically level 64/65. If 64, I run to Zangarmarsh for a few quick quests to hit 65. At 65 I do Ring of Blood in Nagrand and get the best-in-slot weapon for 65-66(67) unless I am all in BOA. Then I continue quing for dungeons and run thru the Zangarmarsh dungeons until I am high enough to que for the various dungeons in Terokkar Forest area (Sethekk Halls, etc.) A few runs thru those and I am 68 and ready to begin Northrend. I pick one of the Northrend starter areas and only quest between Wrath dungeon ques. I almost never need to even finish a starter area before I am high enough to begin quing for Cata dungeons while doing cata quests. I start with Mt Hyjal and so on, finishing with Twilight highlands. All thru this I am quing for various cata dungeons. The entire 1 to 85 grind is easy as pie. So far I've leveled 6 alts 1-85 and have up to 20 alts past 70.
Zelius Apr 1st 2011 9:53AM
@bobikinbobwalker
I agree. I'd rather they have 60-80 take place during the Cataclysm era, and only go ahead of that after level 85. That way we'd have a consistent timeflow from 1-90 (or whatever the next level cap will be).
Devin Mar 31st 2011 8:10PM
I may be alone here, but I don't see a need to update these zones at all unless we end up going back there for anything more significant than grinding old reps and farming mounts. You don't spend a lot of time in Northrend/Outland and devoting development time to "fix" these zones would be considered a waste of time to a much larger portion of players than this vocal minority. I do play alts myself, I have one of every class at various levels and 5 of them at 80+ with the intention of leveling them all so i'm not just speaking out of ignorance.
Iirdan Mar 31st 2011 9:15PM
Storywise, though, they make no sense. It's annoying in that sense; you go back to Nagrand, for example, and Garrosh is there, horribly disheartened and not a thing like the "present" Garrosh.
Avan Mar 31st 2011 9:37PM
Outland could do with a bit of an update. I mentioned in another comment that HFP could do with some more colour, because all orange is just repulsive. Alternatively what they could do is give us the option of starting at Zangarmarsh instead, because HFP is just god awful.
I hate HFP is what I'm saying.