Comments on the starting area/race experiences in WoW?

[Tigole]

The Horde are getting around 30 new Ashenvale quests with the next patch. Also, they got a significant boost in Stonetalon and Desolace.

With the relocation of Blackfathom (there is a Horde outpost very close to this, flightpath and all) and the addition of Ragefire Chasm (instanced dungeon located IN Orgrimmar), the Horde in Kalimdor should have a much easier time leveling up.

[Vorph]

Originally posted by Fulorian
The Alliance can afford to skip some quests in their lands and never grind, and still get through these levels, while Horde has to do everything AND do some grinding during this time.

The problems really become apperant at level 27 - 32 or so. This has been slightly alleviated by the inclusion of the Big Game Hunter quests for Horde and not just alliance in STV, and the new Thousand Needles quests, but its still a problem. You basically WILL have to straight up grind for at least two full levels as Horde in this level range, depending on when you do the quests. Finally when you hit 32 - 34, you can begin in Stranglethorn Vale, the problems mostly dissipate, and you'll do decently for quests for the rest of the game. However, you'll have to hunt for your quests, as there is little centralization to their quest givers.

I just leveled my undead warrior from 1-37 and I saw none of this. I never once ground xp on something that wasn't for a quest.

I don't plan to in release either.


PS- I skipped most of Stonetalon and all of Desolace too. The new Thousand Needles quests bridged that gap easily.

[Fulorian]

Mmm, admittedly I haven't leveled a Horde character up in those levels in a while, but theres still serious Alliance vs Horde differences in leveling speed. Have you played an Alliance to 35 yet Vorph? Its very different.

My Human Paladin leveled faster than my Undead (Shadow) Priest. That should REALLY say something.

Edit: Stonetalon has at most 10 quests, and half of them aren't worth the time you spend running around. F that. Desolace sucks, period. 4? revamps and it still sucks.

[Vorph]

Originally posted by Fulorian
Have you played an Alliance to 35 yet Vorph? Its very different.

My Human Paladin leveled faster than my Undead (Shadow) Priest. That should REALLY say something.

Edit: Stonetalon has at most 10 quests, and half of them aren't worth the time you spend running around. F that. Desolace sucks, period. 4? revamps and it still sucks.

Haven't played alliance past 20(?) I think. That's another thing I never plan to do. I can only tolerate their mindless babble for about 15 minutes before it starts to drive me insane. I'd rather play horde where I don't have to turn all the channels off, and constantly ignore people using /yell in all caps.

I'm not really concerned about levelling speed provided I can level without ever grinding xp. Alliance may be faster, but Horde can still do it without grinding, so that's fine with me. I guess when you're riding the shortbus you expect things to be a little easier anyway.

What I care about is item rewards from quests, and those have mostly been fixed. The only major ones left that I can think of offhand are the two main SM quests for horde and alliance. The alliance rewards are vastly superior/more varied. Tigole, fixplz!

As for Stonetalon, I agree 100%. You spend 15 minutes killing mobs and then an hour running around to hand in the quest only to be sent back out for 15 more minutes of killing and another long ass run back... over and over.

Desolace, I dunno. Heard it was better, and at least you don't have to kill like 300 centaurs anymore, but it's still a drab, ugly, just plain blah zone that I'd rather not set foot in without a damned good reason.

[Kildace]

Gonna have to disagree with you too Ful.

I haven't grinded once, ever, as Horde. At one point I was running low on quests but the patch brought me more 1k needles quests. Right now the levelling speed is not *that* far from what I had as alliance. There is just less choice in leveling spots.

[Fulorian]

Well, as I said, I haven't leveled a Horde character since the last revamp, so I can't say for sure.

[Xandelwyn]

Undead and Tauren starting areas are both fantastic. Very appropriate to each race, and fun to go through, even multiple times with different characters. Night Elf and Troll starting areas were both lacking a few months ago, haven't tried them recently.

[ChewieTobbacca]

Ironically, I now find Horde to have the advantage in quests compared to Alliance.. unless the Dwarf/Gnome areas have suddenly decided to suck because it sure seems like that when I'm already out of quests / the next quests are all too high for me in Loch Modan.

To Westfall now?

How ironic that Horde leveling is actually easier.. now if only the Barrens weren't so fuckin orange.

[The Bog]

Originally posted by Xandelwyn
Undead and Tauren starting areas are both fantastic. Very appropriate to each race, and fun to go through, even multiple times with different characters. Night Elf and Troll starting areas were both lacking a few months ago, haven't tried them recently.

The troll starting areas were the same as the orcs O_O