The Daily Quest: Absence makes the heart grow fonder
by Anne Stickney 
Jul 22nd 2011 at 6:00PM
WoW Insider's on a Daily Quest to bring you interesting, informative, and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.
You know what I miss? Class-based quests. Not the simple You have reached level 10, let's do a quest where you learn how to cast that one spell I just taught you variety -- the kind like the old quests found in Molten Core or the epic mount quests that warlocks and paladins had to do. I did all but one of them at one point in time or another, the exception being the hunter quest that you picked up in Molten Core. And each of them was unique, fun, interesting. And ... giant pains in the butt now that I think about it -- but hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Today, we've got at a few posts from around the blogosphere regarding absences of one kind or another.
Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.
You know what I miss? Class-based quests. Not the simple You have reached level 10, let's do a quest where you learn how to cast that one spell I just taught you variety -- the kind like the old quests found in Molten Core or the epic mount quests that warlocks and paladins had to do. I did all but one of them at one point in time or another, the exception being the hunter quest that you picked up in Molten Core. And each of them was unique, fun, interesting. And ... giant pains in the butt now that I think about it -- but hey, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Today, we've got at a few posts from around the blogosphere regarding absences of one kind or another.
- Orcish Army Knife laments the lack of level 50-60 water and offers some suggestions on where to get your mana fix.
- Flow ponders the lack of incentives to keep raiders in your guild happy and raiding effectively.
- Raging Monkeys ponders what would be lacking if the game happened to lack a proper heroic feel.
Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.
Filed under: The Daily Quest
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kala Jul 22nd 2011 6:55PM
Abstinence ?
Garnlok Jul 22nd 2011 7:07PM
Although not a quest, the new Hunter taming challenges are great for getting your fix of class fun. Bonus points for not looking up how to tame one and figuring it out yourself.
Miz Jul 22nd 2011 7:14PM
Is absence makes the heart grow fonder, then what does presence make?
Jack Spicer Jul 22nd 2011 9:27PM
Irritation
Lemons Jul 23rd 2011 6:34AM
How about "familiarity breeds contempt"?
Cetha Jul 23rd 2011 1:31AM
seriously though, I wish blizzard would look into the water/mana ratio given the other changes they have made to the game. Even with all the changes, and smite spamming your life away, my experience with the last 2 priests i've played is that I spend more time drinking than I really want to be, especially in the first 40 or so levels. This was true to a lesser extent on my mage, but I could make my own food so that lessened the annoyance factor. My melee classes just fare so much better. Bandages>Mana potions.
TecXero Jul 26th 2011 1:24PM
I remember the quest line for the Dreadstead, how long it took and how much gold I sunk into it. There was great lore in it and it felt epic. When I finally got it, I was proud to show it off in Org. After TBC I quit for a while and came back to see every level 40 warlock running around on it like it was a common sight, think my inner warlock died a little that day.
Undomiel Jul 23rd 2011 5:33AM
We'll it's crying time again... +10 for a lovely song reference Anne...
Khazou Jul 23rd 2011 1:48PM
Yeah, Paladin Mount. Most epic questline ever! Thanks, Anne for reminding me!
arkhan Jul 23rd 2011 3:31PM
Posted this on the Queue, but I guess since this article inspired it I should post it here as well:
Has Blizzard ever explained why they removed all class-specific quests from the game? I know that Cataclysm removed a lot of other quests too, but at least they were exchanged with new ones of the same or in most cases better quality.
The only class-specific quests nowadays are the "You have reached level 10, let's do a quest where you learn how to cast that one spell I just taught you" ones and the Shadowfang Keep quests, which are essentially the same fetch quest over and over just with different items and a different quest giver for each class. I really don't know why they even made different ones if they weren't going to bother to make it interesting.
The old dreadsteed questline was awesome and it did more for immersion than twenty Uldum cut-scenes combined. It was nice to have something more to make your class feel distinct from others than "Hello [class]" at the beginning of quest texts, your spell rotation or how your tier armor looks.
Not to mention that they replaced the feeling of pride and accomplishment after getting your class mount with a resounding "meh" as you click on the train-button at your class trainer. Why even have class mounts for paladins and warlocks if you don't have to do anything to get them? This whole thing makes no sense to me.
Jonrock Jul 23rd 2011 4:28PM
Primarily because they were giving perks to individual classes that were impossible to balance. Is there a *gameplay* reason why warlocks should get a free mount, but druids do an equally epic questline but only get faster swimming? Furthermore, is there a *social* reason why developers should spend time on a quest that only 10% of the population is even capable of doing and then have to deal with 90% of the forum users whining about why they can't do it too?
Philster043 Jul 23rd 2011 5:12PM
If the main issue is providing an adventure and reward worthy of each class, they just need to put some effort in each one. I don't think the 90% would complain if they had their OWN epic questline & equally nice rewards.
I can think of so many possibilities for druids, for example, that would be WAY better than faster swimming.
arkhan Jul 23rd 2011 7:01PM
There are still quests in the game that only certain classes or races can do (the questlines for legendary weapons, draenei starting zone, etc), so Blizzard is obviously not taking a steadfast "we're only making quests that everybody can do" stance.
"Primarily because they were giving perks to individual classes that were impossible to balance."
You do know that these perks are all still there, right? It's just that now you don't have to do anything for them and just get them at the trainer.
" Furthermore, is there a *social* reason why developers should spend time on a quest that only 10% of the population is even capable of doing and then have to deal with 90% of the forum users whining about why they can't do it too?"
So by that logic Blizzard shouldn't spend development time on raid hardmodes because only a fraction of the players will experience them. Also this 10% and 90% math is pretty faulty. The community isn't partitioned into neat 10% piles just because there are 10 classes. Paladins are one of if not the most played class, I'm too lazy to check the census site, but it's definitely more than 10%. You're also assuming that people only have one toon, which is pretty weird too.
All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt Blizzard to design some class-specific content. Yes, for every class, so nobody has to be sad.
Philster043 Jul 23rd 2011 5:08PM
Though I understand why they removed the class-specific quests, it's definitely still a shame. I never personally got to experience most of them and I wish I had when I hear my girlfriend describe how it was getting a paladin or warlock mount, etc. Each class SHOULD have class-specific quests that helps that character feel a little more unique. But Blizzard now believes raiding is where it's at, and questing is just a stepping stone to that now. In taking that approach I think they've made the game feel less immersive and that's too bad.
Not too late to fix it though and have the return of class-specific quests at some point.
Oh, and they DON'T have to be giant pains, either. I always enjoyed the shaman-specific quests to get each totem, and they were short enough.
Amaxe Jul 23rd 2011 8:52PM
Personally I would have preferred the class quests be soloable. It was always annoying to get to a situation where you had to either find a group or a 60 (or a 70 or an 80 later on) to do a quest to get your special ability... especially when the group decides "let's not do that wing tonight."