Howl: One Fine Pussy Starts Her Sojourn in Northrend
Because I’m verging on falling asleep on my keys at this very second, I’m going to keep it short (since apparently I disappointed some people by not posting something world-ending). The Midnight Release at the Lansing GameStop was underwhelming, at best, particularly when it started raining and we were all still waiting outside, but I did get to enjoy two pints of Strongbow before happily strolling off with my Collector’s Edition of Wrath.
True to our ever-impatient gamer-nature, Lycentia and I installed the game the instant we got home and defrosted (and I threw on a pot of coffee). We made swift work of about half of Howling Fjord, and I have zero regrets bypassing Borean Tundra to start. Howling Fjord is a lush environment with dynamic landscapes, new and interesting creatures, and an easy-to-follow questing progression. It’s also not the first place every Average Joe on your realm is going to go to; technically, it’s the 72-74 zone (hardly, in my opinion), and you have to get yourself to Menethil to find your way over first thing. Lycentia and I assumed that the vast majority would think Stormwind Harbor the only crossing to Northrend—turned out we were correct. The Borean Tundra, which we started clearing through after demolishing Howling Fjord, was lagged to shit. General Chat was so obnoxious that even I had to turn it off after awhile. Do yourself and go to the Fjord now.
All that being said and done, Lycentia and I are both currently 73. Some dude from Drow is already 76, probably because he’s a robot or isn’t sleeping, and there are a few 74s and 75s. Tomorrow we’ll probably blow through the rest of Borean Tundra, sidestep as many noobs as possible, and then head over to Dragonblight. Leveling has been interesting. With the build I’m currently utilizing, Lycentia and I either AOE tank four million and twelve mobs to death or I hit Mangle eight thousand times and win (lolberserkiMangle). It’s very strange, and I’m not altogether comfortable with it right now. Without those two points dumped into Shredding Attacks, there’s little point in ever Shredding, even with Lycentia tanking. With the Energy cost reductions from iMangle and my two-piece T6 bonus, I’m literally Mangling almost every GCD for over 2k and then biting for 3k+. Talk about mindless.
Ultimately, this has been an exceptionally smooth transition. No server restarts or catastrophic lag. Minimal quest bugs. Phenomenal quests with a lot of interesting “pet bar” interactions (oh, Howling Fjord, how I love you). Much of what you see ties directly into the Arthas storyline, or at least the landscape. It’s tight. Literally. My only complaint is that the “dig-through-poop” quests have been reiterated to great effect, and there’s only so many “Hey, clean up your shit!” or “I have a lot of shit to take care of” jokes to be made.
Log on early if you can, kids: Doomhammer had over a 2000 person queue during primetime.
THANKS! I actually managed to install the expansion late last night, and went to both starting areas and got the flight paths. Then, since I was told there was an assload of people doing all the same “kill this many such and such” quests, I went and made a DK.
It was not crowded at all, which surprised me. I’ll get to quests next week sometime after I figure out I don’t like being a death knight.
I’m really glad I blazed through most of Howling Fjord the night I installed, because I somehow avoided the biggest rush. The Death Knight starting zone and the Borean Tundra have been total shitshows. Not very fun. My Death Knight is something I’ll eventually level for fun, but I’ve really been dedicating myself to leveling my Druid. After that, I need to level my Warrior and Paladin, if only for professions.
Glad you’re having fun so far!
I am still saddened that I couldn’t come out to Lansing to join you guys. I would have at least bought you drinks.
Since it dropped I think I’ve spent all of three hours in game, and two of those was running a guildie/friend through the DK starting area (as I had done it in beta and knew the quests). Last night was my first forray into Northrend on my rogue, and honestly I… am not too impressed at this point. Whether or not that will change soon has yet to be seen, though I’m not sure if this in part is due to being tired of playing a rogue or if its just that I feel so rusty with my character (having spent the last four months leveling a paladin on another server.)
I’m lad to see you guys have been blowing through the content though — and not only blowing through it but enjoying it! It gives me hope that it gets better.
To be totally honest, you didn’t miss all that much. We got there at 10 o’clock, Lycentia yelled at some dudes who cut in line and became a hero to some uber nerds, paid for our copies early…and then drank. It actually started raining (borderline sleet) while we had to wait outside, and at that point, it became very Un-fun. If enough people from the area showed interest, we could all meet up some time and hang out.
I think a lot of it depends on where you start in Northrend; the Borean Tundra sucks. Total anticlimax. I recommend starting in Howling Fjord, and if you don’t like that, I’m not sure what to tell you. My impression thus far (and I’m 79 now) is that Blizzard focused on making everything look amazing…but also made it stupidly easy. It makes it great for leveling quickly, but I have to admit that if the endgame stays at the established “level,” I will be very disappointed (and bored).
But stick with it for awhile. Places like the Grizzly Hills, Crystalsong Forest and Icecrown are immersive and visually rocking. Plus, all the Norse mythology tie-ins rule.
“Do yourself and go to the Fjord now”
Hehe, did you mean to say “Do yourself a favor and go to the Fjord now”?
I for one (I = resto druid, now specced resto/balance hybrid for leveling purposes), started in the Tundra, and enjoyed most everything except for the gnome quest hub - it just wasn’t engaging/exciting enough. I’m kind of sick of the “oh hey we’re small and we tinker with stuff and make machines that only sometimes work!” If I hear “My, you’re a tall one!” one more time, ima punt a gnome.
I’ve done most all of Dragonblight, and am working on Grizzly Hills. I think tonight I’m going to head over to the Fjord though - I’ve heard so many good things about it, and I want to get those quests done while they’re still yellow (I’m about 60% through level 73, and at 74 I’m told the Fjord quests go green).
Also, our midnight release here in Boston was kind of a bust as well. It was really neat to hang out with some many wow geeks at one time (I’ve never been to Blizzcon or anything like that, so it was awesome and new for me), but overall it was kinda meh. A lot of waiting and standing. At least we were inside the mall…. >.>
This is the first time I’ve been to your blog, and I really like it. =) If you want, feel free to check mine out at goldenfishsticks.blogspot.com. Also, feel free not to =P I hate it when people are like GO RAED MAH BLAGGGG !!!!111one. So I’m trying not to be like that…. whilealsohypocritcallyandshamelesslypluggingmyblog *ahem*
^^
Lol, what an awesome typo. It’s probably just fine the way it is, honestly.
I suppose it’s really all a matter of preference. The Borean Tundra felt boring and disjointed to me, less linked to the overarching ARTHAS OMG storyline that Blizzard has done so well integrating elsewhere. The landscape was flat and mostly non-visually dynamic (Nexus notwithstanding). I also really loathed all the gnome quests; it’s amazing how mercenary we’ll be if we’re getting gold and XP.
But, I started in Howling Fjord and then went over to Borean Tundra and did every quest there as well. I wouldn’t worry about things “greening out.” Just go and do whatever. The Grizzly Hills are actually pretty cool and remind me a lot of the band Nickel Creek/Disney’s Ft. Wilderness, and there are some pretty fun/inventive quests over that way (and updated Furlbolg forms!). You’ll start getting into the real storyline over in Dragonblight.
I’m actually originally from the Southern NH area, so I probably would have headed down to Boston if I were still around. Sorry to hear it was lame; I feel like there needs to be some sort of major coordinated event for anything to work out. And I’m lazy.
Regardless, I’m glad you enjoy the blog. I’ll take a look at yours as soon as I can get my wireless to function properly (or I get home). Take care!