Breakfast Topic: Design your own old-school achievements
by Anne Stickney 
Aug 23rd 2010 at 8:00AM
Wrath of the Lich King introduced a new toy for players that wasn't really anything groundbreaking like phasing mechanics or vehicular combat -- the achievement system was simply that, a toy. You didn't have to complete anything on the list; you could play through the game normally and ignore the feature, but it was a fun diversion if you liked the thought of gaining imaginary points for nothing in particular. None of the rewards were particularly game-changing, but the pets, tabards and potential mounts were an added bonus for those that wanted to work toward them.
Unfortunately, since this system wasn't implemented until Wrath's release, it meant that old accomplishments, "achievement-worthy" quests and objectives weren't able to be tracked or implemented into the new system. This is sort of a pity -- there are old quests and items in game that I always thought should have some sort of achievement attached to them. For fun, I used to think about what I'd stick an achievement to and what I'd call it.
Unfortunately, since this system wasn't implemented until Wrath's release, it meant that old accomplishments, "achievement-worthy" quests and objectives weren't able to be tracked or implemented into the new system. This is sort of a pity -- there are old quests and items in game that I always thought should have some sort of achievement attached to them. For fun, I used to think about what I'd stick an achievement to and what I'd call it.
- Alas, Poor Yorick Complete the Test of Skulls. (Horde)
- You're The Dragon in Disguise Complete the Great Masquerade. (Alliance)
- All Fired Up Obtain the Drakefire Amulet. (Alliance and Horde)
- If I Had A Hammer Obtain the Mallet of Zul'Farrak (Alliance and Horde)
- Because Everybody Works Obtain the Scepter of Celebrias (Alliance and Horde)
- Looking Sharp Complete <class> Dungeon Set One (Alliance and Horde)
I could go on, but I won't -- mostly because I want to hear what everyone else has to say. How about it: If you could make an achievement for old world content, anything we haven't seen achievements for, what would it be? What would you call your achievement? If it's an Alliance achievement, what would the Horde equivalent be?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
