Patch 2.4 Notes

[Kevin]

All of the discussion about obsoleted content has been quite a revelation to me.

I recently decided that I would finally cap a character. I've messed about with several character classes up to about level 30, on various realms, and now I know what I want to play, and where; thus, my new Warlock, Stroud, on Terenas. I'll be 70 soon, mark my words.

Anyways, on to the meat of the issue. How does a new character gear up? Does he run with his guildmates in content he is clearly undergeared for, more of a drag than anything else? Does he convince his guildmates to run easier content with him? Is there a mechanism built in for just such a situation?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, what will I see on my way to and when I get to level 70?

Playing with Lurkers on Terenas you should have a few options.

1) Get "cheesed" through an instance. Someone (or several people depending on the instance) uses a higher level character to get through the instance and take you along. Once you are in Outlands (as a warlock you could probably successfully start doing some of the quests there at L56 since I think they offer some that low, though you might have to be 58, but an L56 in the first instance, Ramparts, with other L56-60's can be successful in that instance no cheese needed if the players have any skill). Anyway once you are in Outlands the people cheesing you might even be getting something out of the instance as there are daily quests to clear out stuff in various normal and heroic mode instances.

2) Play with alts of guildies. Most lurkers like their alts, and you do have the chance to get a level appropriate group for an instance, though this will generally take some pre planning, like a post in the Terenas forums saying "Hey I want to run Gnomer and these are the times I can do it, if you've got some alts that want to go, that would be great". With some advance warning there are enough folks in the guild with enough alts at vaious stages to get groups this way. It may not work out for you though.

2a) You can underman the instance as well. If you can only get 3 other lurkers with level appropriate toons as long as you have a healer and someone who can tank (which might be the warlock with pets, fears and other tools) most of the instances can be handled just fine by 3 or 4 leval appropriate lurkers. The very first time I ran Blood Furnace we 2 manned at L61 through the first boss (beast hunter + shaman), picked up another hunter for the 2nd boss and then picked up a shadow priest for the rest of the run. All of us L61, only the shadow priest had seen the instance before.

3) PuG the instance. I've actually had pretty decent luck with PuGs (Pick-up Groups) on Terenas since TBC launched. You still get a some major morons, but generally you'll have at least 2 of the 4 other folks that can play the game, and you might get 1 or 2 other lurkers these runs can be fun or frustrating.

Now when you get to the very end game, hit L70. You'll probably end up doing a lot of the 5 man instances on heroic mode and if you are running with other lurker mains even if you are in auction house greens they mostly be easy instances. You'll hit other end game 5 mans in normal mode with the over geared mains, over geared alts, and undergeared alts. As far as the raids go, you'll probably get priority on a slot in Karazhan so that you can get geared up better as the guild likes to do that. Again you'll be in there with alts and mains and since most all of the Terenas Lurkers have run Kara way too many times you'll probably feel like you are being brought along for the ride as well, but you don't have to. Play your best and you'll know you are contributing, and you'll be able to tell that it's only gear difference that has you not doing as much as others, but there are still jobs that even an under geared warlock can do in that instance that will make the place easier for everyone if you play well. ZA is a little bit harsher on the gearing and class balance than Kara so you might find yourself on the sidelines till you get some better gearing then again you might be the 10th person that makes the run happen and the group will just have to play better. Which isn't a problem.

You'll also probably find a spot on some of the 25 mans. We've had folks in blues and greens in there on learning runs in SSC and TK, sure it's because they weren't at 25 without that person generally but there is still slack in the 25 mans despite what some folks claim and you will help and you'll likely get some better gear as well. Skill is greater than gear in this game.

So you should find enough heroics and five mans and the Kara runs and have folks helping you with crafted items to get geared up pretty quickly and feel like you are a bigger part of the team. It will still probably take a few months after you hit 70, really depends on the luck, but once you get a few crafts a few badge rewards and few pieces of Kara gear you really do have all you need if everyone executes everything perfectly to get through the whole game. The other better gear you can and will get doing the other instances just means that people can make more little mistakes. :)