official World of Warcraft

[Shadrack]

Its strange to me you have almost the polar opposite experience with paladins that I do.

Please explain? For DPS you have Mage, Rogue, Warlock and even Hunter is usually better than at least my Paladin. For tanks an appropriately spec'd Warrior or Druid is better. For healing it is pretty close between a Paladin and a Priest though.

[Slane]

Please explain? For DPS you have Mage, Rogue, Warlock and even Hunter is usually better than at least my Paladin. For tanks an appropriately spec'd Warrior or Druid is better. For healing it is pretty close between a Paladin and a Priest though.

Granted I prefer Pallies for healing, put a well geared/skilled ret/protadin is an awesome addition to any raid, and as tank (warr usually main) I welcome them since they can outdo me on any AoE pull, and some bosses far better at tanking.

[Dotdot]

Paladin = Hybrid class.

Anyone with a basic knowledge of english ill know hybrid means "mix" of 2 or more elements. So Paladins shud be able to Dps/Tank/Heal. All 3 of which Ive done withmy Pally and never had any probs.

Just dont expect to outheal priests, likewise you wont out dps rogues.

[Zab]

or tank like a warrior for that matter.

[funkymunky]

I dinged my Pally to 60 yesterday :)

Only took 4 months, lol.

Outlands is so much fun :)

Also all my time playing the game I can outdo any warrior I've been with at DPS etc. Probably because all my gear is geared around fighting, plus I can heal which him such a cool character :)

[Kussie]

Thanks.

I did my first real instance today. Got about 90% XP and about 1 gold. It was awesome. We killed VanCleef. Got 3 new blues, and an awesome staff.

Question: What weapon should a mage mainly use? I kept greeding/needing the wrong things people said. I'm using a staff right now.

Also, when I go to the mage trainer, should I buy everything he has to offer? Some stuff sounds dumb so I leave it.

Yes buy everything from the mage trainer. As for weapons since your low level focus on gear that gives you a bit more int and some spell damage. Shouldn't need to worry too much about stacking +damage gear till you are higher level :)

On the bright side my guild is now starting to venture into Hyjal and Black Temple hooray :) Full clears of ZA, SSC, TK and have them on farm statusnow the fun stuff can start :)

[the evn show]

I did my first real instance today. Got about 90% XP and about 1 gold. It was awesome. We killed VanCleef. Got 3 new blues, and an awesome staff.

VC (Deadmines) is a hell of a lot of fun, it's still one of my favorite instances as far as story and atmosphere go.

Question: What weapon should a mage mainly use? I kept greeding/needing the wrong things people said. I'm using a staff right now.

You can only equip "cloth" items, swords, daggers, wands, staffs, and "Held in offhand" items. Which pieces you put in what slot aren't going to matter but while you're leveling up you you should focus on:

• Spell Damage: Items will say "Equip: Increases damage and healing done by spells and effects by up to 51"
  
• Intellect
  
• Stamina
  

In that order. Items that have strength, agility, or attack power are useless to a mage (they will make you less powerful in fact) so you should always pass or greed-roll on them. Healing items—things that say "Equip: Increase healing done by spells and effects by up to 100 and damage done by up to 30" are generally intended for healing priests and you should pass or greed-roll those too. Items that are an upgrade for your character can typically be "need" rolled for. If you're in doubt about how a group will handle loot ask at the start of the run.

Clearly I disagree with Kussie on the value of spell damage. If you're having a hard time working out why we disagree we can state are cases and you can decide for yourself.

Also, when I go to the mage trainer, should I buy everything he has to offer? Some stuff sounds dumb so I leave it.

I think it's always worth buying every one: skills last forever so spending gold on them isn't a waste. A lot of the skills that don't sound practical end up being extremely useful.

I'll talk about paladins later.

Edited February 13, 2008 by the evn show

[SMELTN]

you know the argument of spell dmg vs stam/Int have been going on forever. And honestly it changes with level and raiding.

My opinion is at a lower level or leveling post 70. You should worry about Stam/Int and skip the +spell dmg items.

Then post 70, you worry about getting +spell dmg / spell hit and crit type items.

[Sethos]

Need some opinions here!

Just dinged 70 with my Hunter last night, that makes it my third level 70 character.

I'm planning to focus on the PvP aspect of the game with this character, for now.

Since the Public Test Realms are running, means the 2.4 patch is less than 2 weeks away or so.

I already scraped some honour together, I'm debating with my self if i should start getting those PvP Welfare epics. In 2.4 they are gonna introduce S2 PvP gear for honor, so should i just wait, save my honor? I just can't run around this leveling gear for two weeks or more :laugh:

Also, if i decide to save the honor, could i buy the epic capes, rings etc. As far as i remember, they aren't being replaced/upgraded.

[the evn show]

you know the argument of spell dmg vs stam/Int have been going on forever. And honestly it changes with level and raiding.

I tended to agree with you prior to 2.3 but since they've overhauled low-level gear a pure spell-damage set will tend to out-perform more traditional "of the eagle" style gear. These days it's reasonable to have 150-200 spell damage in the 30s, and over 400 before 60 if you try to find it. Assume chain casting fireball until OOM at level 39:

13% crit, 3000 mana = 13 fireballs until out of mana (295*13 average damage + (13*10+22) DOT + 897 ignite damage ) 4884 damage total*

12% crit, 2000 mana & 200 spell damage = 9 fireballs until out of mana (465*9 average damage + (9*9+22) DOT + 979 ignite damage) = 5267 damage total*

Not only would you do more damage with much less mana, you'd do it substantially faster (which means you're less susceptible to push back, pulling adds, and critical hits have a higher chance of 'saving' you a spell, etc). Down time is reduced because you drink for roughly 35% less time too.

*Back of napkin math, we really don't need an exact model for this argument.

Also, if i decide to save the honor, could i buy the epic capes, rings etc. As far as i remember, they aren't being replaced/upgraded.

Skip season one because S2 is substantially better. It makes sense to pick up some of the items that you're unlikely to replace:

• 2-minute PVP trinket (it's godly)
  
• Battlemaster Trinket
  
• Vindicator ring (even if its' upgraded, you'll still use this with whatever the new one is)
  
• Gems
  

By the time you've collected that and farmed up 75,000 +100 marks for each battleground you'll be able to step in to 5/5 Season 2 the say season 4 starts.

You'd do well to farm up a couple thousand arena points this season -- queue up for 2v2 alone and just dance in the middle if that's what it takes, it doesn't take very long to get 'last-seasons' weapons even with a miserable rating and its doubtful you'll have access to better until level 80.

Turning in tokens for "for great honor" should yield enough honor to pick up bracers or boots that same day. That would leave only boots/bracers, belt, neck, back, and 1 ring slot open

[Bawx]

I went on at level 16, logged out at halfway to 20. And made almost 4 gold. Pretty damn good day I say! Ran VC twice, a few blues and almost full green gear! I'm ****in addicted to this game, I knew it would happen.

Now I just need to find a guild that is helpful and mature/plays a lot.

Anyone on the Fire Tree server?

[Sethos]

Thanks for the suggestion, the evn show (Y) Gonna wait for S2 then.

But that "for great honor" quest, thought they removed that? Where can i find the guy for the Alliance?

[the evn show]

But that "for great honor" quest, thought they removed that? Where can i find the guy for the Alliance?

It's back in 2.4. Horde side there was a quest giver at every battleground portal and at the warmasters in the major cities, I suspect the same is true for the alliance.

[Sethos]

Yeah, just found the 2.4 notes - You can deliver 100 for each BG in one go for around 31k honor, that's pretty decent!

[MediaSoldier]

Is there any downloadable demo for WoW ? I want to try this game then maybe buy it.

[Slane]

https://signup.worldofwarcraft.com/trial/index.htm

Can only get to level 20 and it has some more restrictions but not to much to restrict someone trying the game for the first time.

[MediaSoldier]

Thanks :) How much does it cost to subscribe to WoW Yearly since I'd rather not pay monthly.

[Prosidius]

$180 but you get a discount for paying in advance. You prolly save 10-15 bucks.

[Slane]

Can't pay yearly. Only monthly, three months and six months.

$14.99 USD - One Month Recurring

$41.97 USD - Three Months Recurring ($13.99 per month)

$77.94 USD - Six Months Recurring ($12.99 per month)

$180 but you get a discount for paying in advance. You prolly save 10-15 bucks.

Err you can't. Unless the official website doesn't have that option listed for me underneath 'Credit Card Payment Method' page.

[Bawx]

Where can I buy a World of Warcraft Activation Code online? I think I saw someone link to it in some thread. The WoW site says it's $20, then you go on and it's talking $20 plus 29.99 activation?

Anyone know the deal? Or is the actual WoW site the only place to get the code?

[Prosidius]

Can't pay yearly. Only monthly, three months and six months.

$14.99 USD - One Month Recurring

$41.97 USD - Three Months Recurring ($13.99 per month)

$77.94 USD - Six Months Recurring ($12.99 per month)

Err you can't. Unless the official website doesn't have that option listed for me underneath 'Credit Card Payment Method' page.

Thats what I mean, paying for 6 months at a time saves you like $15, so a free month of WoW pretty much.

[Bawx]

I have a concern.

When I buy the game today or tomorrow, will I easily find people to be in a party with? For quests/instance runs etc. ? I usually have to run up to random people I see grinding to see if they want to party up and do something. I get pretty good results like that, too. Also, how do I find a guild? Just ask around town?

Just wondering.

[Shaun N.]

It's back in 2.4. Horde side there was a quest giver at every battleground portal and at the warmasters in the major cities, I suspect the same is true for the alliance.

Can you show me the patch notes that say this as I can't find it anywhere.

The quests are probably the burst of PVP daily q they have put in that take you toi Hallaa etc

[FudgeMonkey]

I have a concern.

When I buy the game today or tomorrow, will I easily find people to be in a party with? For quests/instance runs etc. ? I usually have to run up to random people I see grinding to see if they want to party up and do something. I get pretty good results like that, too. Also, how do I find a guild? Just ask around town?

Just wondering.

There is a looking for group button down by your character, inventory, social buttons so you can always use that to find people to party.

Finding a guild is generally somthing that just happens in my experience. Rolling a tank or healing character generally helps as they are usually in demand but if you get a good group when running instances or quests with random people a quick mention that you're looking may encourage an invite.

[the evn show]

Can you show me the patch notes that say this as I can't find it anywhere.

Not all of the changes are in the patch notes (see also: retarded change to drinking). Roll a new character on the patch test realm and run to the major city of your choice: the quest was available ~5 days ago.

When I buy the game today or tomorrow, will I easily find people to be in a party with? For quests/instance runs etc. ? I usually have to run up to random people I see grinding to see if they want to party up and do something.

You'll have an easier time finding people to group with when you're not on the trial - you can whisper people without having to wait for them to do it first, you can start parties, etc. Unfortunately you're coming in to the game rather late so it's going to be much harder for you to find a group than it was for some of us while leveling. On the plus side, leveling up is a fairly minor part of the game compared to all the time at level cap.

Finding a group as a mage is generally pretty easy compared to other DPS classes. A group has 5 spots: 1 tank, 1 healer, and typically 3 damage classes. Mages provide the best crowd control, portals, food/drink, and top-knotch damage so getting in to a group is generally easier than it is for a shaman, rogue, hunter, etc. Even so, you should expect to spend most of your time playing solo until you get to a higher level.

I get pretty good results like that, too. Also, how do I find a guild? Just ask around town?

Just wondering.

Generally if you look in trade chat in any major city you'll find somebody recruiting members. If you group with somebody and have a good time playing with them you can ask to see if you can join their guild. There's no rush to join one and no real reason to stay in one you don't like so don't worry too much about it. The only time a guild really matters is when you get to the end-game content (pvp, raiding, whatever), otherwise you can pretty much get by adding people to your friends list.