Five Years

[WindupAtheist]

I've been playing on and off (mostly off) since the first couple days of retail release, pretty much every single time at the behest of one UO friend or another. I didn't max-level a character until mid-BC era.

Most memorable was being in Westfall for the first time with a friend of mine, standing on top of a shipwreck, looking down at the murky water-filled hold. Abruptly some other newb runs between us and dives right in, prompting the murgle-murgle of about a million murlocs attacking. Just as I'm about to go "Ha ha, glad that wasn't us!" I see my friend diving in after him. Naturally I had to follow. As our ghosts ran back to the wreck afterwards, he was like "Dude we almost won!" This was back when the game was still brand new.

Another good time was shortly before BC. My old defunct UO guild had temporarily reformed on a WoW PVP server as Horde, so I had made a tauren shammy. Me and this chick in the guild had both just hit 40, so we decided to go terrorize Alliance newbs with our new mounts. We went and massacred Duskwood, wiping out all the newbs at one location and then moving on. We wouldn't just grab one newb and camp, we would make laps of the zone. That way it would be that much longer before the calls for help started going out, and the help wouldn't neccessarily find us waiting for them.

We eventually did get ganked/camped into oblivion by a bunch of high-levels, but we were way past caring. We had been terrorizing the zone for like 45 minutes by that point. Good times.

[Kail]

I started in the closed beta, where I thought the game was boring.  I was really hung up over the idea of paying a subscription, too:

I'm not a big fan of MMORPGs. In fact, I like them even less than I like single player RPGs. It would take one hell of a game to change my mind on this, a game that really realized the massive, untapped potential that MMORPGs represent. I thought, maybe, that World of Warcraft would be this game. Looks like I was completely wrong. This game is supposed to go live in like, a month (November is what I'm hearing). The Stress Beta I was in ended in mid-September. They have a hell of a lot of work to burn through in two months to make this entertaining for more than a week after release. If there wasn't a monthly fee, I'd probably pick it up, but the fact that I can't play it without donating to the cause every month is probably going to keep me away.

The game's not horrible, but it's not mind-blowingly awesome, and for an extra two-hundred meseta a year, you'd damn well better give me a game that cures cancer or something. There's just too little in the way of really impressive innovation here for me to justify that investment. I mean, you roll up your character, grab your staff, and assault the local wildlife for a hundred hours. There's no story or anything, the graphics are stylistically nice, but the gameplay is shallow and extremely repetitive... there's just nothing here that really impresses, once you get over the "hey, that's neat" effect of the Warcraft style graphics.

Ended up getting it at release anyway (or shortly afterwards, I forget) and rolled a cow shaman.  He was the first character I got to level cap... about three months into Burning Crusade.  I level kinda slow.

My first instance run was memorable, for me.  Me and my brother and three other random guys in good ol' Wailing Caverns.  None of us really knew what the hell we were doing or how to tank, we just played like we did when we soloed and the healers tried to keep everyone alive.  It was crazy.  We actually finished the instance, I believe, somehow, after having figured out that the more armored characters should try to keep the monster's attention.  Walking out, we all felt like supreme badasses.  One of the guys said something like "I feel like Ocean's Eleven or something" which pretty much summed up my feelings on the subject.

Other memorable things include a few times my Shaman had to tank because A) I kept pulling aggro anyway, and B) I have a shield, right?  So our Warrior would stand there and plink away with his one-hander and I'd be sitting there healing myself, trying to keep my blue bar higher than the enemy's red bar.

[WindupAtheist]

Deadmines runs when everyone is like level 15 and nobody knows WTF they're doing because the game has been out for less than a month. God they were brutal.

[apocrypha]

Unhhh. I'll see your Deadmines and raise you a Wailing Caverns at level 15. Horrible, horrible dungeon and it goes on for soooo loooooonnnggggggg! 

[Selby]

Horrible, horrible dungeon and it goes on for soooo loooooonnnggggggg! 

Especially in the old days when the casting flying dragons would get stuck in the walls where you can't hit them, but they can sure hit you!

[Tannhauser]

Yeah, DM is nothing compared to the suckfest of WC.  Once I got my blue staff I never went back.  Now, SFK, that's a great instance IMO.  BFD was pretty decent but Horde players never seemed interested in going there.

[Rendakor]

BFD isn't bad, it's just out in the middle of nowhere. It's easily a 10 minute walk from Splintertree to Zoram Strand, then another 5 to the instance.

[Shrike]

WC has the well-deserved reputation as being the worst designed instance in the game. It does suck, but it is what you see first as a hordie.

Dead Mines is better, but...well, it's a rough place at level 14 or so. Tanks can barely do that. Healers can barely do that. DPS can do that and pull aggro easily. Rough ride, though the last part is hella fun.

Black Fathom Deep is a neat place, but it's out in west bumfuck and people just don't want to go there. SFK just rocks, but Alliance is hard to convince to go there, aside from 20ish pallies wanting their mace. I first remember really beginning to gel in an instance in--of all places--The Stockades. Nothing worth a damn dropped in there, but it was wild, wooly, and you actually had enough levels so your character was beginning to really play like they should.

Then there was Maraudon. I still get hives thinking about that place. On the other hand there was ZF (fun!) and Scarlet Cathedral, which I dearly loved--after I had it memorized backwards and forwards. Unlike most people, I really do like Sunken Temple, but it was too long. After that, suck rears its head again, but BRD was cool in small doses. Lower spire sucked. Upper spire was rock and roll when it was 15 man. If I never see Scholo again, it'll be too soon. Strat I liked, but it was hell to tank back in the day. More fun on my hunter. Then there was Dire Maul. I always rather disliked it. I became a DPS warrior for good in that place, and I never did see the north wing until late in TBC. People were real assholes about groups in there. Of course, they were in TBC as well, so I suppose that's a wash.

[Ashamanchill]

Unlike most people, I really do like Sunken Temple,

All standing you had with me was just put up against a wall, given a last cigarette, and shot. Fucking Sunken Temple. Grrrrr.

[WindupAtheist]

During my stint as Horde, I would give a lot of guild newbs instance runs. I eventually refused to do WC. I'd land my pack of 4 newbs in STV, give them water-walk, run across the sea to Westfall, and take them through Deadmines instead. On a PVP SERVER. That's how much I hated WC.

[Vision]

I loved my old deadmines runs. I never knew what a ninja was until I won some blue level 15 hammer and the group paladin started spam whispering me terrible, terrible things.
Man that guy was pissed.

[apocrypha]

During my stint as Horde, I would give a lot of guild newbs instance runs. I eventually refused to do WC. I'd land my pack of 4 newbs in STV, give them water-walk, run across the sea to Westfall, and take them through Deadmines instead. On a PVP SERVER. That's how much I hated WC.

Got some old friends started playing WoW with me a few months ago, one of whom had never played any kind of RPG before (he stopped playing Fallout3 at like level 10 after someone told him it was an RPG) and we did this.

Best fun ever. They absolutely loved it. I made them all flag pvp (we're on a pve server) to enhance the experience and it was awesome. They're now coming up on 70 and I think that DM run played a big part in getting them hooked.

No fucking way was I going to take them through Sunken Temple or Maraudon though!

[WindupAtheist]

The same friend who dived into the murloc pit eventually developed some kinda fetish for Sunken Temple. Eventually I was a 70 paladin while he was playing the hell out of his 40-something lock, and he'd keep wanting me to run him through ST. I don't mind running him through stuff, but fuck ST. Eventually I was just like... bullshit, you're on your own. Anyone normal would just bang out quests for a week and head for Outland, not fuck around trying to run ST over and over.

Speaking of running people through shit, I like doing Stratholme with a mixed-level group. Say a couple people at 80 and whoever else around 60. You can split up to kill different bosses, one group can go after the baron if someone is there for the mount, the other can track down the guy who drops the piccolo or run over to the Scarlet side, etc. I've done it a couple times and it's an amusing way to waste time farming vanity items.

[Shrike]

The main problem with Sunken Temple was it was linear. It HAD to be done in a certain way, or you'd never see the bottom. Unlike BRD, which could be done in pieces--time permitting. That made it waaaaaaay too long. There was some good loot in there, but it was too much trouble to seriously try and get it.

On the other hand, the fights in there were fun. They didn't cause the warrior (any more than usual) to go insane. It was truly great as a hunter. The bosses were cool. Even the sub-bosses were fun; there were just too many of them. It was easy to skip progression-wise, though. Only two of my characters ever completed it at the appropriate level--my first two. Still, I kinda like the place. So sue me.   

[proudft]

Nah, the worst part about Sunken Temple (and BRD to a lesser extent) is the minimap is completely useless for overlapping levels.  I finally know my way around BRD, but I still get lost in Sunken Temple.  All those spiraling staircases look alike!

I leveled slower than the rest of the guild, who had spent more time in beta.  So my first instance was Stockades.  Then Maraudon, followed by Sunken Temple.  I'm surprised I still do instances, frankly.

[Arinon]

Sunken Temple was all right provided you stayed out of the basement area.  The only instances I made a point of visiting while leveling alts or helping friends out were SFK, SM, ZF, and Strath.  Those plus 15 man UBRS probably round out my top 5.

[Sjofn]

WC has the well-deserved reputation as being the worst designed instance in the game. It does suck, but it is what you see first as a hordie.

Ragefire Chasm! Where is the love!

I fucking hate Wailing Caverns, I refuse to go there anymore. If it fell into a lava pit during Cataclysm, I would be happy about it.

[Ingmar]

At one point for those class trinket quests a lot of us had to go into ST again after swearing never to go back there. Stupid place. But hey, that's where my very first dropped epic came from (got Kang off of some trash in there. I had an "epic" before that as I was a blacksmith and could summon that epic 1h hammer for 1 hour out of every 4 from the trinket or whatever.)

[Vision]

I actually really liked RFK (or RFD, whatever one is higher lvl). I have a lot of good memories getting warrior pieces in there.

[Azuredream]

I don't get the WC hate. As soon as I installed atlas the instance was fun & good drops if you wear leather for the set. The only complaint I had was the painfully sloooow escort guy RP-walking his way to Naralex. ST is way more confusing.

[Montague]

Deadmines at level was nothing compared to the sheer hell that was Gnomeregan. My first time through was an eight hour slog as I tried to tank as a Prot specced paladin ( ) with an underlevel resto druid ( )while various rogues and hunters that just wanted their goddamned Triprunner Dungarees alt-F4'ed or hair-on-fire-gotta-go'ed when it became obvious that this was not going to be over quicky and we were not going to enjoy this, kinda like in 300. We finally gave up when we ran into those Dark Iron sonsabitches that throw the bombs. *shudder*

[Morfiend]

That sounds a lot like my first time through Blackrock Depths. I believe it lasted about 6 hours, and we all gave up in frustration when we realized we had gone in a giant circle and ended up right at the beginning only managing to kill one boss total.

[Malakili]

That sounds a lot like my first time through Blackrock Depths. I believe it lasted about 6 hours, and we all gave up in frustration when we realized we had gone in a giant circle and ended up right at the beginning only managing to kill one boss total.

Blackrock Depths is at once everything favorite and least favorite dungeon in WoW.

[Sjofn]

Deadmines at level was nothing compared to the sheer hell that was Gnomeregan. My first time through was an eight hour slog as I tried to tank as a Prot specced paladin ( ) with an underlevel resto druid ( )while various rogues and hunters that just wanted their goddamned Triprunner Dungarees alt-F4'ed or hair-on-fire-gotta-go'ed when it became obvious that this was not going to be over quicky and we were not going to enjoy this, kinda like in 300. We finally gave up when we ran into those Dark Iron sonsabitches that throw the bombs. *shudder*

Oh shit, yes. I don't remember how long it took us to get through Gnomeregan the first time, but we were SO not the right level for it. We beat it, though, through sheer force of will. I believe end boss guy was orange to Ingmar (our tank) but it may have been red to our deepz, I really can't remember. All I really remember is that it took a MILLION YEARS. And that even though I really liked the STORY behind Gnomeregan, it was not a place I would visit often.

Same with Uldaman, really. I liked the concept but one completion was enough for me.

[WindupAtheist]

I did Gnomer once, decided it was terrible, and never went back ever again.

[Ingmar]

Sjofn is leaving off that she totally picked the wrong reward from the big Gnomeregan final boss quest! 

[Sjofn]

Shit, I totally forgot I had done that too.

[Jayce]

The worst thing about Gnomeregan (besides the annoying music and sheer length) was the amount of movement, flashing lights and noise. That place not only takes forever, but the whole time you're being assaulted in every sense.  I always got a headache and ended up exhausted.

[raydeen]

Most memorable thing for me was completely undermining the plans of two hordies who were attacking Chillwind camp. If I recall, it was a level 40 BE paly and a 60 (or thereabouts) BE priest. I'm a 42 lock. So since it's not a PvP server, I'm standing there watching the pally kite the NPCs around the priest doing the healing. They're both making rude gestures at me and taunting, but I'm all 'Fuck you. I'm a Lock. I bide my time.'. So I wait until the pally bites off a bit more than she can chew, the priest gets distracted and runs in to heal. Fear priest and dot dot dot. Fear pally and dot dot dot. Both die and I, like the brave, noble Alliance pussy that I am, run and jump in the lake near by and cast Unending Breath on myself and sit at the bottom for 10 minutes or so until the PvP wears off and I can once again safely waltz around.

I've moved on to PvP servers now that I found some me some courage, but that for me was such an adrenaline rush mixed with glee at being a fucking nasty-ass Lock that I'll never forget it.

Shake the paranoia, can't stop the Lock, you can't stop the Lock.

[Jayce]

That post reminds me of another good time I had recently.  I was fresh back to WoW from EVE, so my taste for blood was greater than normal.  I was on an approximately 40 druid, when I caught sight of an 80 DK powerleveling a 20s or 30s warlock in Hillsbrad.  I stealthed around until the DK was well engaged with murlocs on the shore, then backstab/stunlocked the powerlevelee.  As soon as I was out of combat, dashed off and stealthed up and I didn't get caught.

The DK would of course have taken me apart if he could have found me, but no dice.  Felt good for all the gankings I've been the recipient of over the years.

[Shrike]

Ahh, gankings. I play in a PvE server, so opportunities are rare, but a few events stand out.

My first ever genuine ganking was dry-gulching a tauren hunter hassling the quest NPCs over north of Auberdine (some outpost). I was on my NE hunter and was about level 25 or so. My pet was the notorious Takk the Leaper (before the runspeed nerfs). Caught the hordie sitting on the hill above the NPCs (I was further up the hill). Sent the pet in, hordie can't figure out where fire is coming from; attacks pet. Good move, beef. Killed him a few seconds later. Sit and wait. Sure enough, he returns to the scene of the crime. Kill him again. Never saw him again after that.

Horde have been real douchebags on Whisperwind of late, so I generally will kill any flagged I see, no matter what the level. Got three flagged 20ish hordies outside of Southshore with my (then) 79 DK. Dropped D&D on them and pretty much instakilled the lot. Play with fire, get burnt. Also, killed an 80 rogue that tried to gank that same DK when she was level 78 and flagged from a WSG while I was in K3. Stomped a mudhole in his ass. Very sweet. Guess those DKs are kinda tough after all, aren't they? And it was a rogue. Rogue. Dead. Rogue. Dead. I like that. Lots.

Another memorable one was on my (then) low-40ish protection pallie. She blew into Southshore on some errand (probably quest turn in from SM), and caught a high 30ish orc shammy hassling the townfolk in the taven. Killed him DRT. Wait...sure enough, he reincarnates (I play a shaman and expect this), wax him again. Move outside and...yep, res and wolf. Gee, guess ghost wolf can't outrun avenger shield. Sucks to be you. His body was still there a day later. Sweeeeet. Almost felt guilty about that one. Kinda. Well, not really.

[Dren]

I didn't do the Beta, but I started at launch.  I never stopped my sub this entire time.  I've gone to several servers but my home server is still the one I do 99% of my time on.  Have 8 x 80's and a 77 mage.  My hunter is 30 something and will be for quite awhile I'm thinking.

I don't really have any particular memories to point out.  I've had similar experiences to others written here.  My time in WoW has been good with no real high or low points.  It is a good source of consistent fun for me. 

I sometimes compare my experience in WoW with my time in UO which had about the same amount of my attention (6 years I think.)  UO had extreme highs and lows with me.  That really isn't all good.  Some of those lows really got to me personally, which is just silly looking back on it.

I do have specific memories that jump to mind from UO.  That really is from one part nostalgia and one part me getting old (everything just seems to mush together anymore.)  Some memories are really quite bad too.  I can't really say that for WoW.  I good with that.

WoW has been more about having that comfortable play space with good people to talk to on a nearly nightly basis.  The casual nature fits in well with my schedule and psychology these days.  I've even gotten back to PvP'ing more and realizing how much I do like it.  Again, I seem to forget things like that at my age.

Overall, WoW has been a good experience for me and I do not plan to quit anytime soon.  I'm certainly hopefull for something new to come out and take its place, but nothing above and beyond that normal feeling that most gamers have I think.

[Vision]

I guess one of the reasons I'm dissapointed with the current emphasis on end game content (which was a move blizzard had to make) is because, for me, a game like WoW is all about the memories, most of which occured during the initial leveling process when things were annoying, the WC runs where all of my friends complained, the Gnomer runs that no one wanted to do but did because they were with their friends. When replacing my lvl 14 green with a blue, dowing Hogger for the first time with friends, and getting VC's cutlass were memorable because of the newness of WoW. End game content and an entirely epiced out server didn't really matter.

[Malakili]

I guess one of the reasons I'm dissapointed with the current emphasis on end game content (which was a move blizzard had to make) is because, for me, a game like WoW is all about the memories, most of which occured during the initial leveling process when things were annoying, the WC runs where all of my friends complained, the Gnomer runs that no one wanted to do but did because they were with their friends. When replacing my lvl 14 green with a blue, dowing Hogger for the first time with friends, and getting VC's cutlass were memorable because of the newness of WoW. End game content and an entirely epiced out server didn't really matter.

Hell, even some very early runs of Molten Core spending a couple hours wiping to Molten Giants made for decent gaming memories.  Of course, a year later when we were still farming it to gear up new people, it was eye bleedingly terrible.

[Paelos]

Content needs to come out every four months in my book. It's long enough for everyone to get a shot at it, and short enough that the casual raiders can get through a good percentage.