0. Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:49:04 AM PDT
As many of you already know we've been working on changes designed to improve various aspects of leveling for those making their way to level 60. These improvements, available in patch 2.3 will come in many forms and should significantly contribute to a more fluid and enjoyable leveling experience .
The first notable change was to simply reduce the amount of experience needed each level by approximately 15% between levels 20 and 60. Please note that when the patch is released, characters affected by this change will remain at their current level percentage. For example, if a character had exactly 50% of the current level's total experience before this change went into effect, the character would still have exactly 50% of the current level's total experience; only now fewer points would be needed to level.
Questing plays a very large role in World of Warcraft, especially while leveling and we felt that improvements to this front were necessary as well. Experience gained for completing quests (on average) between levels 30 and 60 is being increased. The increase becomes more substantial as you make your way towards 60. Additionally, many outdoor elite mobs will become non-elites, making many quests which were previously too difficult or required a group much easier and offer the same rewards (in some cases better!). A good example of this change would be Stromgarde Keep in Arathi Highlands, which will become a solo friendly environment when patch 2.3 goes live.
We've also added approximately 60 new quests in Dustwallow Marsh. This should help players who find themselves lacking quests in the 30-40 range. The Steamwheedle Cartel is building the new town of Mudsprocket in south-west Dustwallow Marsh, so you'll have to wait until construction is complete to learn more about these changes.
We're making other improvements to pre-bc leveling dungeons that players will likely find most agreeable. The level range for most every dungeon is being adjusted so that there is a much smaller range between the level of mobs found early in the dungeon to those found towards the end. For example, Shadowfang Keep is currently designed for levels 18-25 which means that right now, players who are towards the bottom of that range (18) will find it nearly impossible to complete the dungeon, while players towards the top of the range (25) will find most of the dungeon trivial. Using our new model (similar to what you'll notice with Burning Crusade leveling dungeons), Shadowfang Keep is being retuned for levels 18-21.
We also want to make running a leveling up dungeon more worth while. In addition to increasing quest experience for dungeon quests, we're also upgrading all pre-bc dungeon boss drops to blue quality items. Some examples are listed below:
Ragefire Chasm
Robe of Evocation old: +3 Stamina, + 4 Intelligence
Robe of Evocation new: +4 Stamina, +5 Intelligence, and +5 Spell Critical Strike Rating
As you can see there is much in-store for the next major content patch, particularly a number of changes designed to benefit players who are leveling a character. Though we've given you a few examples of the things to come, we think everyone will be pleasantly surprised when they see the full extent of the changes discussed above.
[ Post edited by Nethaera ]
"I meant," said Ipslore bitterly, "what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"Cats," he said eventually. "Cats are nice."
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery
4. Re: Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:52:25 AM PDT
Nice job guys. This is exactly the sort of optimization we needed.
Q u o t e: NO SAYS THE MAN IN MOSCOW "то, что селезенка?" AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MEAN, AND QUITE FRANKLY YOU'RE UPSET YOU EVEN SPENT THE MONEY TO FLY OVER
12. Re: Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:57:13 AM PDT
The itemization changes are great. From leveling many alts ( it's what I do, sorry, as endgame holds no appeal to me but leveling does) I can say that items from level 45-58 are rare.
Although... 60 quests? Are there even that many total in Stranglethorn Vale? :o
15. Re: Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:57:44 AM PDT
Q u o t e: Additionally, many outdoor elite mobs will become non-elites, making many quests which were previously too difficult or required a group much easier and offer the same rewards (in some cases better!).
PLEASE DON'T NERF HOGGER
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, NOT HOGGER
16. Re: Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:57:51 AM PDT
oh, quick question neth;
Are there any plans to add in more linking quests to help guids players form one level appropriate zone to the next one up when they are ready to move on? This would be especially helpful to new players or people trying out the other faction for the first time.
Q u o t e: NO SAYS THE MAN IN MOSCOW "то, что селезенка?" AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MEAN, AND QUITE FRANKLY YOU'RE UPSET YOU EVEN SPENT THE MONEY TO FLY OVER
18. Re: Leveling Improvements for Patch 2.3 10/08/2007 08:58:20 AM PDT
Great news... BUT
What about hunter pets? It is almost impossible to keep two pets leveled with you now if you quest or get reseted bonus XP.
Please make sure before this goes live that Pet XP will be based off of the Hunters XP gains so they keep up with all of this extra quest XP we will be getting! Not only do we have to gimp our leveling to have two pets but we are almost always having to use one a level below us. Not fair when you consider the 'other' pet class's pets.
A great test would be for a Dev to take a hunter and level them each level via quests and verify that BOTH hunter pets are leveled in less time.
