Similar to Horde characters, there's a wide range of options and choices. The zones, and your play style, will depend on whether you are on a PvP or PvE server.
These are the best of the Alliance guides:
Alliance Leveling Guide 20-30
Jame's Alliance leveling Guide - Chapter I (30-41) Chapter II (41-50) Chapter III (50-60)
Basic Leveling Guide zones for grinding.
Wednesday 22 November 2006
Horde Levels 20 to 60
This is a big range of levels and there are many different permutations of zones and quests. A lot will depend on individual preference and whether you are on a PvP or PvE server.
These are the best Horde guides:
Jame's Horde Leveling Guide - Chapter I (21-31) Chapter III (50-60)
MFO's Horde Power Leveling Guide up to level 60
.
These are the best Horde guides:
Jame's Horde Leveling Guide - Chapter I (21-31) Chapter III (50-60)
MFO's Horde Power Leveling Guide up to level 60
.
Tuesday 21 November 2006
Alliance Levels 12 to 20
I have to admit that if you are levelling a Horde character, The Barrens does start to get old after a few hours. True, you are in different parts of the zone, and it's a big zone, but the scenery is pretty consistent. Lucky Alliance get to travel around a bit more. Most people level in Westfall, around Lakeshire, and Redridge for a little variety.
Caelestis’s Alliance Leveling Guide will take you through the quests available right up to level 20. Another good guide is Joan’s Alliance Leveling Guide.
Caelestis’s Alliance Leveling Guide will take you through the quests available right up to level 20. Another good guide is Joan’s Alliance Leveling Guide.
Horde Levels 12 to 20.
In a word, The Barrens.
This is the largest and the busiest experience zone for the Horde. You really can go all the way from level 12 to 20.
Start at the northern end, where the mobs are 12, and work your way down south where the mobs go up to level 24. Quests are available from The Crossroads, Rachet and Camp Taurajo.
I won't repeat the information available in many of the excellent guides available, this is a good Guide to The Barrens. Another here. One with a good map here.
This is the largest and the busiest experience zone for the Horde. You really can go all the way from level 12 to 20.
Start at the northern end, where the mobs are 12, and work your way down south where the mobs go up to level 24. Quests are available from The Crossroads, Rachet and Camp Taurajo.
I won't repeat the information available in many of the excellent guides available, this is a good Guide to The Barrens. Another here. One with a good map here.
Monday 20 November 2006
Alliance Level 6 to 12
You should be starting these levels at the Inn in Goldshire. In Goldshire, pick up the quests Rest an Relaxation, Kobold Candles, Gold Dust Exchange, A Fishy Peril and The Fargodeep Mine. Completing these will give you 2 more follow up quests.
The area around Goldshire can get pretty crowded and you may find competition for the mobs needed for the quests, especially the Kobolds. If there is already a group at the mines, ask politely if you can join them. Although this won't give you as much experience it does make completion of the quests faster and easier.
Sometimes it's easier to just grind out a couple of levels around 7 to 8. The area is thickly populated with mobs, so you can just run in any random direction, killing everything you see. Kill humanoids whenever you can and save the linen cloth they drop.
There are more quests at Stonefield farm to the south of Goldshire.
If you follow the questing sequence from Goldshire you will be around level 8 or 9 by the time you get the quest Shipment to Stormwind. This leads you to the nearest major city with an Auction House and profession trainers. Catch up on your class skills in Stormwind. Find the profession trainer for First Aid. Any guard will give you directions and a convenient marker on your mini-map. Train in first aid and use up all that linen cloth you have been saving by making bandages.
Select skinning and one of the other gathering professions (mining or herbalism) for your first 20 levels. Sell anything you gather in the AH. The gathering professions will make you enough gold for decent equipment at level 20 when it starts to make a difference.
After training, head back to Goldshire and finish any outstanding quests.
Around level 9 or 10, I usually head over the bridge into Westfall. There are two quests right on the path after you cross into the zone. These and a little grinding on the mechanicals will easily get you to level 12.
The area around Goldshire can get pretty crowded and you may find competition for the mobs needed for the quests, especially the Kobolds. If there is already a group at the mines, ask politely if you can join them. Although this won't give you as much experience it does make completion of the quests faster and easier.
Sometimes it's easier to just grind out a couple of levels around 7 to 8. The area is thickly populated with mobs, so you can just run in any random direction, killing everything you see. Kill humanoids whenever you can and save the linen cloth they drop.
There are more quests at Stonefield farm to the south of Goldshire.
If you follow the questing sequence from Goldshire you will be around level 8 or 9 by the time you get the quest Shipment to Stormwind. This leads you to the nearest major city with an Auction House and profession trainers. Catch up on your class skills in Stormwind. Find the profession trainer for First Aid. Any guard will give you directions and a convenient marker on your mini-map. Train in first aid and use up all that linen cloth you have been saving by making bandages.
Select skinning and one of the other gathering professions (mining or herbalism) for your first 20 levels. Sell anything you gather in the AH. The gathering professions will make you enough gold for decent equipment at level 20 when it starts to make a difference.
After training, head back to Goldshire and finish any outstanding quests.
Around level 9 or 10, I usually head over the bridge into Westfall. There are two quests right on the path after you cross into the zone. These and a little grinding on the mechanicals will easily get you to level 12.
Horde Level 6 to 12
Hopefully you camped at the Inn in Bloodhoof village for some additional rest experience.
Pick up the quests Sharing the Land, Rite of Vision and Dwarven Digging from Baine Bloodhoof standing near the totem. Run over and talk to Zarlman Two-Moons to get part 2 of Rite of Vision. Nearby is Maur Raincaller who has the quest Mazzranache. Collect the quest Poison Water from Mull Thunderhorn at the east of the village.
By now you should have picked up one or two 6-slot bags as loot. The following 6 levels should give you another one or two.
Start the Rite of Vision quest first by collecting Well Stones and Ambercorns. As you run around looking for these, kill any mobs in your path and you will find you have complete the three other kill and collect quests from plainstriders, wolves and cougars. As a rule, you should always multi-task on quests. Pick up as many as are available are head out to hunt, returning only if your bags are full.
There are several follow-on quests from these. As you complete the quest, you will be offered another, slightly harder. The higher level quests will start to give less experience, relative to the experience you are gaining from killing the mobs. This is a natural part of the levelling process. Start to focus on killing everything in your path. If a quest is a problem, don't sweat it, just move onto the next.
After the Rite of Wisdom quest, you will be offered Journey into Thunder Bluff. I'm sure you are getting the picture now – more quests in Thunder Bluff. This is also one of the major Horde cities and has an Auction House where you can sell trade skill items for some silver and learn professions. Ask any guard for directions.
If you haven't already, find the first-aid trainer and learn this as a secondary profession. Less necessary for the Shaman, who has a heal spell, but essential for non-healing classes. Select skinning and one of the other gathering professions (mining or herbalism) for these first 20 levels. The gathering professions will make you enough gold for decent equipment at level 20 when it starts to make a difference.
You can complete the Thunder Bluff quests which will take you all the way to level 12. I must admit that I find there's just too much running around on some of these, so I tend to grind the last 2 levels by killing anything close to Thunder Bluff. For a change of scenery, grind on the Harpies close to Orgrimmar.
Once you reach level 12, it's time to head to the Barrens...
Pick up the quests Sharing the Land, Rite of Vision and Dwarven Digging from Baine Bloodhoof standing near the totem. Run over and talk to Zarlman Two-Moons to get part 2 of Rite of Vision. Nearby is Maur Raincaller who has the quest Mazzranache. Collect the quest Poison Water from Mull Thunderhorn at the east of the village.
By now you should have picked up one or two 6-slot bags as loot. The following 6 levels should give you another one or two.
Start the Rite of Vision quest first by collecting Well Stones and Ambercorns. As you run around looking for these, kill any mobs in your path and you will find you have complete the three other kill and collect quests from plainstriders, wolves and cougars. As a rule, you should always multi-task on quests. Pick up as many as are available are head out to hunt, returning only if your bags are full.
There are several follow-on quests from these. As you complete the quest, you will be offered another, slightly harder. The higher level quests will start to give less experience, relative to the experience you are gaining from killing the mobs. This is a natural part of the levelling process. Start to focus on killing everything in your path. If a quest is a problem, don't sweat it, just move onto the next.
After the Rite of Wisdom quest, you will be offered Journey into Thunder Bluff. I'm sure you are getting the picture now – more quests in Thunder Bluff. This is also one of the major Horde cities and has an Auction House where you can sell trade skill items for some silver and learn professions. Ask any guard for directions.
If you haven't already, find the first-aid trainer and learn this as a secondary profession. Less necessary for the Shaman, who has a heal spell, but essential for non-healing classes. Select skinning and one of the other gathering professions (mining or herbalism) for these first 20 levels. The gathering professions will make you enough gold for decent equipment at level 20 when it starts to make a difference.
You can complete the Thunder Bluff quests which will take you all the way to level 12. I must admit that I find there's just too much running around on some of these, so I tend to grind the last 2 levels by killing anything close to Thunder Bluff. For a change of scenery, grind on the Harpies close to Orgrimmar.
Once you reach level 12, it's time to head to the Barrens...
Sunday 19 November 2006
Level 1 to 6 Alliance
Similar to starting a Horde character, the initial few levels for alliance is a case of questing, killing and collecting. This example will be for a human starting out in Northshire. Read the post on Horde levelling below for some basic questing information.
The three starting human quests are obtained in Northshire very close to your starting location. They are A Threat Within from Deputy Willem, Kobold Camp Cleanup from Marshall McBride and Wolves Across the Border from Eagan Peltskinner.
Once you get to level 2, collect the quest Brotherhood of Thieves from Deputy Willem. While you are close to the vendors, sell the junk items and equip any armour you have looted.
Completing all of these quests will bring you to level 4. If you are a little below, kill a few more Kobold.
Head back to Northshire and complete all quests. Sell your loot and get trained on your level 4 skills.
Pick up the quest Investigate Echo Ridge. Complete this and the follow up Skirmish at Echo Ridge. Completing this will give you the quest Report to Goldshire. While you are there, get the quest Brotherhood of Thieves. These, and the two follow up quests, will take to to level 6, if not 7, easily. Kill anything that gives experience that is in your path.
Time to leave the shelter of Northshire. You should now just have the quest Report to Goldshire which will lead you to, not surprisingly, Goldshire. Head to the Inn and make it your home.
As with Horde, now is a good time to take a break. Camp out in the Inn for additional rest experience.
The three starting human quests are obtained in Northshire very close to your starting location. They are A Threat Within from Deputy Willem, Kobold Camp Cleanup from Marshall McBride and Wolves Across the Border from Eagan Peltskinner.
Once you get to level 2, collect the quest Brotherhood of Thieves from Deputy Willem. While you are close to the vendors, sell the junk items and equip any armour you have looted.
Completing all of these quests will bring you to level 4. If you are a little below, kill a few more Kobold.
Head back to Northshire and complete all quests. Sell your loot and get trained on your level 4 skills.
Pick up the quest Investigate Echo Ridge. Complete this and the follow up Skirmish at Echo Ridge. Completing this will give you the quest Report to Goldshire. While you are there, get the quest Brotherhood of Thieves. These, and the two follow up quests, will take to to level 6, if not 7, easily. Kill anything that gives experience that is in your path.
Time to leave the shelter of Northshire. You should now just have the quest Report to Goldshire which will lead you to, not surprisingly, Goldshire. Head to the Inn and make it your home.
As with Horde, now is a good time to take a break. Camp out in the Inn for additional rest experience.
Level 1 to 6 Horde
Depending on your race you will start in Durotar (Trolls and Orcs), Mulgore (Tauren) or Tirisfal Glades (Undead).
Each race has their own quests for the first 10 levels. If you are completely new to World of Warcraft, just right-click on the guys with the giant yellow (!) above their heads and they will give you a list of items to collect or a number of mobs to kill. Go kill and collect and the (!) will be replaced with a giant yellow (?). Right-click again and complete the quest. They will give you an item or some cash as well as a good amount of experience. It's worth doing these low level quests since they will make up the bulk of your experience, and hence levelling, for the first few levels.
As you search for mobs to complete the quests, kill everything and anything in your path that gives experience. This advice will serve you well right up to level 60. Don't waste time finding groups unless you are lonely, it will only slow you down.
As an example, I will describe the first few levels of the a Tauren Shaman.
Life starts at level one at Camp Narache in Mulgore. Your first quest will be right in front of you with Grull Hawkwind:
He wants you to bring him 7 Plainstrider feathers and 7 Plainstrider Meat. Head off to the North east and you will see a group of level 1 and 2 Plainstriders ready and waiting. Pull each mob with a lightning bolt, bash them with your trusty mace and gather whatever they drop.
Gather the 7 of each item and return to Grull. He will now have a (?) above his head:
Right-click on him again and complete the quest. You will receive 170 experience and a new leather belt. Equip the belt. Congratulations, you are now level 2.
Equip any upgraded item you have looted and sell the rest of the items to any vendor in the camp. Use the cash from the items to visit Meela Dawnstrider for further training.
Grull will now have two more quests for you – Rune Enscribed Note and The Hunt Continues. Go into the nearby hut and accept the quest A Humble Task from Chief Hawkwind. Completing these, and the subsequent quests from the Chief and Seer Graytongue, quests will take you to level 4 or close to it. Kill a few more of any mob to reach level 4 if you aren't there already.
Go back to Grull and accept The Battleboars quest, Break Sharptusk from Brave Windfeather and Call of Earth from Seer Ravenfeather, both standing nearby.
Completing the final Kodo Rock quests will take you to level 6. If not, killing a few more of the nearby Battleboar will get you there.
Go back to get final training from Mella Dawnstrider.
I know it's hard to leave the comfort and safety of Camp Narache, but you are level 6 now and it's time to move on and make your mark in the world. Make your way to Bloodhoof Village. Your final unfinished task, Rites of the Earthmother will lead you there. Pick up the delivery quest from Antur Fallow on the way. Head into the Inn in the village and make this your home location for now.
This is a good time to take a break from the game and go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Logging out while in an Inn will give you additional rest experience.
Each race has their own quests for the first 10 levels. If you are completely new to World of Warcraft, just right-click on the guys with the giant yellow (!) above their heads and they will give you a list of items to collect or a number of mobs to kill. Go kill and collect and the (!) will be replaced with a giant yellow (?). Right-click again and complete the quest. They will give you an item or some cash as well as a good amount of experience. It's worth doing these low level quests since they will make up the bulk of your experience, and hence levelling, for the first few levels.
As you search for mobs to complete the quests, kill everything and anything in your path that gives experience. This advice will serve you well right up to level 60. Don't waste time finding groups unless you are lonely, it will only slow you down.
As an example, I will describe the first few levels of the a Tauren Shaman.
Life starts at level one at Camp Narache in Mulgore. Your first quest will be right in front of you with Grull Hawkwind:
He wants you to bring him 7 Plainstrider feathers and 7 Plainstrider Meat. Head off to the North east and you will see a group of level 1 and 2 Plainstriders ready and waiting. Pull each mob with a lightning bolt, bash them with your trusty mace and gather whatever they drop.
Gather the 7 of each item and return to Grull. He will now have a (?) above his head:
Right-click on him again and complete the quest. You will receive 170 experience and a new leather belt. Equip the belt. Congratulations, you are now level 2.
Equip any upgraded item you have looted and sell the rest of the items to any vendor in the camp. Use the cash from the items to visit Meela Dawnstrider for further training.
Grull will now have two more quests for you – Rune Enscribed Note and The Hunt Continues. Go into the nearby hut and accept the quest A Humble Task from Chief Hawkwind. Completing these, and the subsequent quests from the Chief and Seer Graytongue, quests will take you to level 4 or close to it. Kill a few more of any mob to reach level 4 if you aren't there already.
Go back to Grull and accept The Battleboars quest, Break Sharptusk from Brave Windfeather and Call of Earth from Seer Ravenfeather, both standing nearby.
Completing the final Kodo Rock quests will take you to level 6. If not, killing a few more of the nearby Battleboar will get you there.
Go back to get final training from Mella Dawnstrider.
I know it's hard to leave the comfort and safety of Camp Narache, but you are level 6 now and it's time to move on and make your mark in the world. Make your way to Bloodhoof Village. Your final unfinished task, Rites of the Earthmother will lead you there. Pick up the delivery quest from Antur Fallow on the way. Head into the Inn in the village and make this your home location for now.
This is a good time to take a break from the game and go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Logging out while in an Inn will give you additional rest experience.
Saturday 18 November 2006
Quest or Grind?
There is only one way to increase the level of your character in World of Warcraft and that is to gain experience. Experience itself can be gained in two ways. From completing quests or by killing mobs that give experience.
The only mobs that will give experience are those that are within a few levels below your current level and up. Attacking mobs several levels above you will be a quick trip to the local graveyard. The repeated killing of experience level mobs is know as grinding. Boring? Yes, it can be. Killing mobs about 2 levels below you is the fastest experience. They give slightly less experience than mobs your level but the downtime is less.
Completing quests is a lot more interesting, although it can involve a certain amount of grinding looking for rare items. With quests you complete errands for Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This may involve something as simple as taking a message to another NPC but usually involves... yes... killing mobs. One day some game designer will introduce a game where you gain experience for completing Good Deeds. “You helped an old lady across the road! You gain 150 experience!” Until then it's all about death and destruction.
Whether you gain your experience, and hence levels, by questing or grinding really comes down to a personal choice. Bored by grinding? Go quest. Need a quick level for the battlefields? Go grind it out.
My personal choice is to quest where I can. I play WoW for pleasure, not to gain levels faster than anybody else. Your mileage may differ.
The only mobs that will give experience are those that are within a few levels below your current level and up. Attacking mobs several levels above you will be a quick trip to the local graveyard. The repeated killing of experience level mobs is know as grinding. Boring? Yes, it can be. Killing mobs about 2 levels below you is the fastest experience. They give slightly less experience than mobs your level but the downtime is less.
Completing quests is a lot more interesting, although it can involve a certain amount of grinding looking for rare items. With quests you complete errands for Non-Player Characters (NPCs). This may involve something as simple as taking a message to another NPC but usually involves... yes... killing mobs. One day some game designer will introduce a game where you gain experience for completing Good Deeds. “You helped an old lady across the road! You gain 150 experience!” Until then it's all about death and destruction.
Whether you gain your experience, and hence levels, by questing or grinding really comes down to a personal choice. Bored by grinding? Go quest. Need a quick level for the battlefields? Go grind it out.
My personal choice is to quest where I can. I play WoW for pleasure, not to gain levels faster than anybody else. Your mileage may differ.
Blizzard Warcraft Sweepstakes
To celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of World of Warcraft, Blizzard are launching a weekly sweepstake. Prizes include an 80GB iPod and a $100 Jinx gift certificate.
Read the rules
Excludes those under 18 and those living outside of the US or in Florida or Rhode Island for some reason.
Read the rules
Excludes those under 18 and those living outside of the US or in Florida or Rhode Island for some reason.
Twink or not?
Twinking in WoW is where you use items or enchants that would not normally be available to a low level character. These can enable a level 10 character to take on mobs 3 or 4 levels higher with impunity and speed up the levelling process. Obviously if this is your first character you won't have the option, since it will cost you a pile of gold.
Assuming you have some spare gold, should you bother twinking?
Although it will level you faster, I generally don't bother:
1. It take time to gather items or request enchants. You can be up a couple of levels while you hang around waiting for an enchanter.
2. It costs gold and my higher levels are stingy bastards.
3. It takes away from the sense of achievement. You may as well employ a levelling service.
Two things that you might want to consider as a partial twink are first aid skill and engineering.
Warcraft First aid is fast to level – all you need are stacks of cloth. You can get to skill 150 at level 5 without wasting much time. Just buy masses of linen, wool and silk in the AH. You can then use Heavy Silk Bandage for a near-instant heal between fights.
Engineering enables you to equip some nice items that are otherwise unavailable. This will still be a useful skill at 60. For example you can't get a head item at low levels, but if you have engineering as a profession you can use Green Tinted Goggles right from level 5. These can then be upgraded to Master Engineer's Goggles at higher skill levels. You also get to make dynamite and bombs which are useful in dealing with adds.
Assuming you have some spare gold, should you bother twinking?
Although it will level you faster, I generally don't bother:
1. It take time to gather items or request enchants. You can be up a couple of levels while you hang around waiting for an enchanter.
2. It costs gold and my higher levels are stingy bastards.
3. It takes away from the sense of achievement. You may as well employ a levelling service.
Two things that you might want to consider as a partial twink are first aid skill and engineering.
Warcraft First aid is fast to level – all you need are stacks of cloth. You can get to skill 150 at level 5 without wasting much time. Just buy masses of linen, wool and silk in the AH. You can then use Heavy Silk Bandage for a near-instant heal between fights.
Engineering enables you to equip some nice items that are otherwise unavailable. This will still be a useful skill at 60. For example you can't get a head item at low levels, but if you have engineering as a profession you can use Green Tinted Goggles right from level 5. These can then be upgraded to Master Engineer's Goggles at higher skill levels. You also get to make dynamite and bombs which are useful in dealing with adds.
World of Warcraft Levelling
Welcome to World of Warcraft levelling where I will describe the fastest ways to level in WoW. The blog will also cover WoW news, gossip and any other Warcraft stuff I find interesting. I should probably add the legal disclaimer that this blog is not associated with, nor endorsed by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. World of Warcraft is a trademark of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Their official site can be found at World of Warcraft
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)