For the release of WoW Classic, most people probably have a big “To Do” list. Cortyn reveals what needs to be tackled first when the game goes live.
When World of Warcraft Classic releases in August, I will surely be hit by another wave of nostalgia. In the last weeks and months, I often thought about what things I would like to experience again.
There are simply some memories that I believe, even after many years, that experiencing them again does not diminish the experience. Much will not be as beautiful as the first time many years ago – but there are a few things I simply must experience again.
Here are my “Top 5” things on my “To Do” list that I definitely want to do in WoW Classic after the release.
1. Test the limits of my character
I still remember quite well that I set out to conquer the dungeon “Scholomance” solo. It was my first dungeon that I completed with a fixed group that also lasted for years. I was there dozens, if not hundreds of times with my group, because we all wanted something cool – for me, it was “Headmaster’s Charge”, an epic staff that had a very low drop chance from the final boss.
At some point, I decided – the Nether knows why – to conquer as much of Scholomance as possible alone. I spent so many hours slowly defeating the enemy groups solo that I could still recite my pull order in my sleep.
In the beginning, I always “zerged” one enemy and then ran to the instance exit to reset the others that would have killed me. Over days and weeks, I got better and better, managing to clear more and more of the dungeon solo.
Was it stupid and super ineffective? Absolutely. Did it feel fun and give me pride when I could solo bosses like Rattlegore by kiting and “jumping through the floors”? Oh yes!
Back then, you could still consume all sorts of potions at the same time, which is why I always buffed my mage to the max with all sorts of stuff. Even potions for attack power were consumed – it was indeed possible.
2. Complete silly quests in Alterac Valley
Even today, in current World of Warcraft, players can complete many quests in the battlefield Alterac Valley. Very few do this now, unless they are farming reputation with the PvP factions there to earn some achievement. However, back then, these quests were an essential part of winning or advancing the battle – at least we always told ourselves that when we preferred to do quests rather than actually kill opposing players.
If one wanted, one could pick up armor scraps from fallen soldiers, tame rams, or collect the blood of enemy soldiers.
The collected materials could then be turned in at the respective base. If enough players did this (or if a few players repeated it often enough), there would be special buffs for your teammates. This could be something minor, like 10% more armor, but also really strong effects like elite ram riders joining the battle or a gigantic ice elemental rampaging through the players of the Alliance.
Even now, I still remember the fastest routes to the damaged commanders, whom you first have to rescue on the battlefield before you can turn in their quests.
I sincerely hope that the “Classic” players will allow such Alterac Valleys again – but I fear that the “running past each other” tactic would have worked just as well in Classic, just that it was simply unknown back then.
3. Create a level 19 PvP rogue twink
It’s nasty and unfair and ruins every player’s first PvP experience in the Warsong Gulch. When I went into PvP for the first time with my mage and suddenly collapsed “out of nowhere”, I was confused.
Why on earth is the opposing rogue SO strong? Why are his weapons glowing? Why does he have almost twice as many hit points as I do?
The answer came in the guild chat: It was a PvP twink. A rogue wearing optimally geared equipment for level 19. He had nearly perfect daggers from Shadowfang Keep and had enchanted them (Cruisader), which are quite expensive even for level 60 players.
My first thought was: “Oh man, that’s unfair!” Closely followed by the second thought: “I want one too!”
Afterward, I spent two or three weeks working with a friend to create two PvP rogue twinks to dominate the battlefields. But since we didn’t find that stupid enough, we leveled the characters a bit higher so they could use the quest item “Dartol’s Rod of Transformation” from Ashenvale. That transformed the player into a furbolg.
Back then, we found nothing funnier than when two rogues in furbolg form would take down helpless clothies.
4. Sit for hours in the park of Stormwind
I like the new park in Stormwind. I liked it even more before they placed all the demon hunter NPCs, void elves, and night elf refugees there. It was a quiet place for nice RP, which I associate with a lot.
However, this connection actually began in Classic when the park was still in its original state. There was still a moonwell in the park – or something that looked like a moonwell, since tailors could not use it as a moonwell for a long time.
I found the atmosphere there extremely beautiful and sat on the bench with my mage while I was more or less “afk”. Most of the time, I read some RP stories in the forum or wrote my own.
The park holds special significance for me because I had my first “RP date” with my mage there. I didn’t actually expect that many roleplayers would still be active at that time and especially not in that part of town, but a night elf did join me. Until nearly dawn, the elf told my mage about Darnassus, the night elves, the moon goddess, and the druids – this was unknown to both me and my character; at that time, I did not know more than the story of Warcraft 3 about the elves. One of my first, really long “RP sessions” that I can’t forget.
But to share another anecdote: The memory of this RP meeting was severely marred the next day by my guild leader. When I told him that my mage had met a night elf named “Adrianus,” his first comment was, “Well, that meeting must have been really lame.” It took me longer than I care to admit to understand that, and I could still slap myself today.
5. Listen to Allimania until I drop
For most German WoW players, the audio play “Allimania” is probably forever associated with the memories of Classic. Whether you like it or not, most WoW players have probably heard it during their Classic time (or later).
If you don’t know it: It is a fan-made audio play that tells the story of an Alliance guild fighting through World of Warcraft while experiencing all sorts of absurd adventures. Usually, WoW mechanics are satirically processed, or typical clichés of classes and races in Warcraft are poked fun at.
I still clearly remember that Allimania was always released late at night as part of the “WoW Night,” an online radio show. For me, it was always the highlight of the week (or month – the episodes were getting longer and the wait times too). The problem was, I had to stay long past my “agreed time” on the PC when the rest of the household was already asleep.
Listening to the latest episode of Allimania late at night was always mixed with the adrenaline that at any moment, a very angry parent could burst into the room to give me a PC ban for a while.
But honestly? The danger was worth it. Listening to the latest adventures of Horst, Panski, and the night elf “Uschi” enriched my nights incredibly.
Many of the jokes may seem very blunt and clichéd from today’s perspective – but back then, I thought they were great. Even if much of it wouldn’t meet my humor in other formats anymore, so much nostalgia is associated with Allimania that I can still laugh at the “Blazing Dildo of the Fire Queen” or have tears in my eyes when the pit lord Magtheridon plays a delicate and incredibly attractive elf in Pen&Paper. At the latest, when the doddering Kel’Thuzad flies against something with Naxxramas and has to hand over his necropolis driver’s license, I could roll on the floor with laughter.
While leveling in Classic, there will only be one playlist for me – and that is all 20 parts of Allimania that will accompany me until level 60.
What are you really looking forward to with WoW: Classic? What nostalgic memories do you want to relive?
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