[WoW] 2.3 Levelling changes - some details released

[Itzena]

WoW-Europe.com Forums -> 08/10 Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3

As many of you already know we've been working on changes designed to improve various aspects of leveling for those making their way to level 60. These improvements, available in patch 2.3 will come in many forms and should significantly contribute to a more fluid and enjoyable leveling experience .

The first notable change was to simply reduce the amount of experience needed each level by approximately 15% between levels 20 and 60. Please note that when the patch is released, characters affected by this change will remain at their current level percentage. For example, if a character had exactly 50% of the current level's total experience before this change went into effect, the character would still have exactly 50% of the current level's total experience; only now fewer points would be needed to level.

Questing plays a very large role in World of Warcraft, especially while leveling and we felt that improvements to this front were necessary as well. Experience gained for completing quests (on average) between levels 30 and 60 is being increased. The increase becomes more substantial as you make your way towards 60. Additionally, many outdoor elite mobs will become non-elites, making many quests which were previously too difficult or required a group much easier and offer the same rewards (in some cases better!). A good example of this change would be Stromgarde Keep in Arathi Highlands, which will become a solo friendly environment when patch 2.3 goes live.

We've also added approximately 60 new quests in Dustwallow Marsh. This should help players who find themselves lacking quests in the 30-40 range. The Steamwheedle Cartel is building the new town of Mudsprocket in south-west Dustwallow Marsh, so you'll have to wait until construction is complete to learn more about these changes.

We're making other improvements to pre-bc leveling dungeons that players will likely find most agreeable. The level range for most every dungeon is being adjusted so that there is a much smaller range between the level of mobs found early in the dungeon to those found towards the end. For example, Shadowfang Keep is currently designed for levels 18-25 which means that right now, players who are towards the bottom of that range (18) will find it nearly impossible to complete the dungeon, while players towards the top of the range (25) will find most of the dungeon trivial. Using our new model (similar to what you'll notice with Burning Crusade leveling dungeons), Shadowfang Keep is being retuned for levels 18-21.

We also want to make running a leveling up dungeon more worth while. In addition to increasing quest experience for dungeon quests, we're also upgrading all pre-bc dungeon boss drops to blue quality items. Some examples are listed below:

Ragefire Chasm
Robe of Evocation old: +3 Stamina, + 4 Intelligence
Robe of Evocation new: +4 Stamina, +5 Intelligence, and +5 Spell Critical Strike Rating

Deadmines
Smite's Reaver old: +2 Strength, +1 Stamina, +1 Spirit, 11.1 dps
Smite's Reaver new: +2 Strength, +3 Stamina, +2 Hit Rating, 14.5 dps

Shadowfang Keep
Robes of Arugal old: +3 Agility, +5 Stamina, +9 Intelligence, +10 Spirit
Robes of Arugal new: +3 Spirit, +5 Stamina, +9 Intelligence, +12 Spell Damage

As you can see there is much in-store for the next major content patch, particularly a number of changes designed to benefit players who are leveling a character. Though we've given you a few examples of the things to come, we think everyone will pleasantly surprised when they see the full extent of the changes discussed above.

All good stuff, really.

[Dyscord]

Still need to buff quest green items. The change to dungeon blues is welcome, but honestly, no one does Shadowfang over and over to gear up. No one is going to do Uldaman more than once. Hell, most people won't do them PERIOD. Green quest items are universally god awful, and are the most in need of a buff. Like my shadowpriest just got a quest reward of cloth gloves with INT and AGI on them. HURRAY FOR PRIEST DODGE!!!

[Smellson]

Additionally, many outdoor elite mobs will become non-elites, making many quests which were previously too difficult or required a group much easier and offer the same rewards (in some cases better!). A good example of this change would be Stromgarde Keep in Arathi Highlands, which will become a solo friendly environment when patch 2.3 goes live.

Those changes alone will make the game alot more enjoyable; it was pretty disconcerting to realize that half of your quests require some effort when most people are just fucking around. Kudos.

[Algol Devilstar]

Wait... so what you are saying is... priests dont use AGI?

[Quineloe]

Gimping elite outdoor quests sucks. They should buff the rewards instead. If the three Stormgarde quests each had 4 decent options, preferably blue level 45 items, there would be no problem getting people there.

Same with instances. BLUES FROM EVERY BOSS FOR FUCKS SAKE. TWO per boss! These items will be shit in 10 levels anyways, there's no reason not to throw them at people like there's no tomorrow. If every boss in SFK dropped two level 25+ items, Alliance lowbies would be crawling Silverpine.

[Algol Devilstar]

I was hoping 30% less xp required. 15% is nothing =(

60 quests in Dustwallow, damn are there even that many in all of Stranglethorn?

[chu]

Originally Posted by Algol Devilstar

I was hoping 30% less xp required. 15% is nothing =(

60 quests in Dustwallow, damn are there even that many in all of Stranglethorn?

15% is indeed stupid. Why even bother changing it?

[Ravensign]

Originally Posted by Quineloe

Same with instances. BLUES FROM EVERY BOSS FOR FUCKS SAKE. TWO per boss!.

Why can't they do this for all instances? Why must bosses drop 1 or two items of such non-useful loot?

You level so fast in WoW, and move on. I remember doing Hellfire Citadel like the week TBC came out a few times, and the bosses would drop like 1 item for no one in particular could use. By the end of that week, I was already outlevelling the instance, and would never return.

Further, why would people even bother to PuG these things when they can advance soloing?

Note to MMO Developers, don't spend months and months making great zones and content and events, only to give people meh loot.

[Shabado]

Originally Posted by chu

15% is indeed stupid. Why even bother changing it?

It depends how significant the quest exp changes are, I suppose.

[Clericnon2boxed]

quest exp raised too tho, when is it goin live, thinking about stopping my latest and greatest character at 20 until then

[Algol Devilstar]

probably 15% more xp woop!

[antha124]

Its more than 15% since they are giving more exp per quest. Unless you are grinding your way to 60. Any change to decrease the lvling time is welcome in my book.

[Dyscord]

If you read, they are upgrading all Pre-TBC boss drops TO blue quality. So all bosses will now drop blue items. Welcome change.

NEEDED change is still looking at the god damn quest items which are absolutely useless. You know, the items that comprise 75% of the items you see leveling up.

[Algol Devilstar]

they should all be converted over the +sta shit we get in BC.

[Quineloe]

as long as they also drop the spirit and shit...