A player has recently spent a lot of time in World of Warcraft during Mists of Pandaria. Now he has decided to give the game another chance. Seeing how little of what he used to know is left pains him. But he resolves not to dwell too much in the past – WoW offers too much new content.
Who is the player?
- The user rikndikndakn123 on Reddit claims to have primarily played WoW as a teenager and young adult.
- He last actively played during Mists of Pandaria, the 4th expansion of World of Warcraft, which was released in 2012. When he was actively playing, he was in his early 20s.
- In 2019, he played again for a month in Battle for Azeroth, but he did not find a connection and quickly stopped again. Now he is looking back into the MMORPG.
This is his journey: rikndikndakn recounts that he has no idea what is happening in WoW right now. Not even what the current expansion is. What he does see is that “A LOT” has changed since he was last in the game.
Now he is at level 50, where he was last somewhere in the 100s. The level squish back then was a big deal. He doesn’t even really know where he is now, what has happened in his absence. Whether the people he used to play with still play, or if they are even still alive. Everything feels somewhat deserted:
My friend list is empty. Stormwind is a ghost town full of echoes from the past. My mailbox is filled with mementos of festivities I used to celebrate with my friends. A reminder of a past life.
The king is no longer in the castle. I have no idea what happened to him. I no longer know where the paladin teacher is. But he is no longer in the cathedral. For a brief moment, as I enter the cathedral, I hear a choir that makes me feel like I am that child again who started playing WoW so many years ago.
rikndikndakn then looked for his old mounts and tabards. Memories of achievements that no longer count today. He made his way to Elwynn, to Redridge Mountains, and then back.
An important station for rikndikndakn and thousands of other players was Northrend. It even led to overcrowded ships during the re-launch in Classic:
“Grief is okay. But at some point, one has to stop looking back”
On his way to Northrend, rikndikndakn met another player on the ship heading there. However, he seemed little interested in conversation: as soon as they arrived, he bolted, “probably to his next quest.”
In Northrend, the player visited the Grizzly Hills – where he suspects he discovered his love for forests and fjords. Ultimately, he defeated the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel. Memories of his spells and abilities from the past are returning.
Only the victory somehow feels hollow. No one to share the achievement and loot with. A brief fight with loot that means nothing anymore. He even started with WoW Classic in an attempt to relive the feelings of those days, but to no avail. rikndikndakn yearns for the memories but realizes that it’s not everything:
I decide not to dwell in the past any longer. I want to look forward. I want to experience Draenor and the Shadowlands. Not as checkpoints to a new expansion, but as a goal that gives me the adrenaline just like Cataclysm and Wrath of the Lich King did back then. […] I hope to find someone there. Someone on the same journey as me. And if not? Then I will just fly around a bit longer. Just a little bit longer.
A little nostalgia that has accompanied players since Classic: the Murloc gurgle. It still causes flashbacks today:
“With Dragonflight, there is a new lease on life”
The post on Reddit clearly resonated with the feelings of many players who understand what nostalgia in WoW is so important. It simply connects many fans. However, they also clearly state: Dragonflight offers so much more, one does not have to live in the past.
Sure, Stormwind and Orgrimmar are relatively dead. However, Valdrakken is just full of life – so much that players’ FPS regularly drops there. The people are not gone, they are just in the new social hub now.
One can “visit nostalgia, but not live in it.” When you are there, you should smile and laugh, but not mourn the memories of happiness. Otherwise, you feel miserable in the now.
The players suggest that rikndikndakn should visit Retail and Dragonflight. It is worth it. They even invite him to reach out. Then they could raid, quest together… just do something together.
Dragonflight itself is currently one of the most successful expansions ever. Never since the release in 2004 has there been so much content, innovations, and small details that still bring a lot of joy. MeinMMO demon Cortyn explains further: World of Warcraft had its best year, even if you might believe that later
