So I am seriously considering buying this game.

[Llava]

There's a copy sitting at a nearby EB, and I have an itch for a fantasy MMOG that needs to be scratched.  I don't want to play EQ2, and I wouldn't touch Lineage 2 with someone else's Cursed Longspear of Worthlessness.

Rapidly tap A button to convince me to buy this game!
Rapibly tap B button to convince me to skip it!

Or put up some arguments either way.  Whatever.

I like playing Rogue-type characters, but I mean that in the more traditional D&D sense than the MMOG sense.  I like having a lot of utility that makes other players say "Damn, that makes life so much easier."  Will I find that?

I also like dual wielding.

I usually don't care for crafting, but I sometimes find myself tinkering around.  Can I do this as a hobby and not worry about being required to keep my crafting skills at a certain level?

I don't like farming/camping for equipment.  How high is the power-ceiling for this, and how much time does it take to reach it?

I don't like mindlessly running around, assaulting things that happen to be standing nearby.  In my experience with the beta, I had tons and tons of quests.  Does that continue all the way, or does the flood stop and will I find myself stuck without much to do but walk around and hit things?

I prefer soloing and small groups.  I like that the group maximum is 5.  I like that a lot.  How solo-friendly is the rest of the game?

I like to be immersed in the world.  How are the roleplaying servers?  Are there PvP roleplaying servers?  Anyone play there?  Do they suck?  Do they rule?  Overpopulated/underpopulated?

I remember when I'd see a game with a neat cover and go "Oo, I'll buy that."  Now it's like buying a house.

[WayAbvPar]

I like playing Rogue-type characters, but I mean that in the more traditional D&D sense than the MMOG sense.  I like having a lot of utility that makes other players say "Damn, that makes life so much easier."  Will I find that?

Rogues have a ton of fun abiilities- Stealth, Vanish, Pickpocket, Lockpicking, plus a bunch of combat moves like Sap, Ambush, Garrote- they are quite entertaining to play. Not terribly durable, but they dish out DPS in a big fat hurry. They can also dual wield.

I usually don't care for crafting, but I sometimes find myself tinkering around.  Can I do this as a hobby and not worry about being required to keep my crafting skills at a certain level?

Crafting is entirely voluntary. If you want to do it, you can, or you can opt out. If you don't want to craft, I would suggest taking 2 gathering skills instead- you can sell all the ingredients to the crafters. Easy money.

I don't like mindlessly running around, assaulting things that happen to be standing nearby.  In my experience with the beta, I had tons and tons of quests.  Does that continue all the way, or does the flood stop and will I find myself stuck without much to do but walk around and hit things?

I have had to delete quests from my log continually- I end up with more than 20! I also tend to kill time waiting for friends by farming for XP and loot and save a lot of questing for when my buddies are on, so I advance outside of pure questing.

I prefer soloing and small groups.  I like that the group maximum is 5.  I like that a lot.  How solo-friendly is the rest of the game?

All classes can solo- some are easier than others. Rogues are exceptionally easy to solo IMHO.

I like to be immersed in the world.  How are the roleplaying servers?  Are there PvP roleplaying servers?  Anyone play there?  Do they suck?  Do they rule?  Overpopulated/underpopulated?

I think the RP is dependent on guilds or who you play with regularly. There is a lot of bad pidgen English on the Horde side of Earthen Ring (RP server), but it is not too bad. Most likely you will get what you give.

If you play, come see us Horde side on Earthen Ring.

[Rasix]

If you play, come see us Horde side on Earthen Ring.

If you're a compulsive catass, come to Shadowsong. I'll give you money they can't compete with!

And you don't want a rogue, you want a priest. So stealthy those holy specced priests...

[Llava]

That's the other thing.  I'm torn about what to play.  Including f13, I've got 3 different possible communities I could join up with.  One is a guild and group of friends to which I still belong and have for a couple years now in DAoC and CoH.  A lot of them moved to WoW.  However, they are playing alliance.  Hisssssssss.

I've got a casual friend who wanted me to pick the game up and join him in the Horde.

But if Earthen Ring is an RP server, and F13 is playing Horde, I'll have to seriously consider that.  Is it PvP?

[Llava]

If you play, come see us Horde side on Earthen Ring.

If you're a compulsize catass, come to Shadowsong. I'll give you money they can't compete with!

And you don't want a rogue, you want a priest. So stealthy those holy specced priests...

Usually I have a grouping character as well.  My first character is usually a damage dealing melee of some sort (Nightshade in DAoC, Scrapper in CoH) and my secondary is usually a grouper (Mentalist in DAoC, Controller in CoH).

And yes... I do catass sometimes.  Is the server RP?  PvP?  These are abnormally important things to me.

[Shockeye]

Earthen Ring is a RP server.

Heck, if enough people start playing maybe I'd re-subscribe. Too bad I got awful pings to Earthen Realm, though.

[WayAbvPar]

If you play, come see us Horde side on Earthen Ring.

If you're a compulsize catass, come to Shadowsong. I'll give you money they can't compete with!

And you don't want a rogue, you want a priest. So stealthy those holy specced priests...

Ha!

Get your catass over to ER as well- you can blow through the early levels and get caught up with us in a hurry. Then you can use your 60th level char for battlegrounds when it comes out...

[HaemishM]

WoW is a fun game, if you aren't completely and totally burned out on the DikuMud forumla. It's better than EQ2 by a long shot, and I'd put it right under CoH and right above DAoC for fun factor.

[Rasix]

Shadowsong is plain vanilla.  No RP or name nazis, just plent of plain vanilla idiots. No gankage hassle either. 

It's rather relaxing when you can avoid the idiots.

I probably would have gone over to Earthen ring, but my group is all west coasters (pings there were a bit higher).  And we didn't want to bother with the higher pops (initially) of the RP servers.  Plus, it's an RP server and we're not RP folk.

[schild]

The only people on the server who roleplayed were trolls.

Stupid rastafarian jerkoffs.

[WayAbvPar]

I am farther West than you are! I haven't noticed any trouble. It has been perhaps the most trouble-free of all the servers judging from the foaming at the mouth complaints I see when I dare venture onto the official boards.

As for RP, about the only RP I do is not naming myself something fucking retarded. Which is my pimary reason for choosing RP servers in general.

[Rasix]

Early on, it was noticable.  100-200 higher ping standard.  I usually have sub 100 or even sub 60 on Shadowsong.

Anyhow, if I was allowed (if they ever, ever implement that and I fit the rules for a transfer), I might move a character to Earthen Ring.  Otherwise, not a chance (unless my friends quit).  I've already got my new baby up to 28. 

[Llava]

WoW is a fun game, if you aren't completely and totally burned out on the DikuMud forumla. It's better than EQ2 by a long shot, and I'd put it right under CoH and right above DAoC for fun factor.

That's what I wanted to hear.  I have a fair shot at enjoying myself.

What I /really/ want is to have a group of roleplayers and a fantastic DM available at my beck and call to play Dungeons and Dragons, but I don't see that happening so I'm looking for something to act as a nicotine patch until the urge goes away.

Hey, while I'm asking questions, do Night Elves get those double-sword glaive thingies that I've seen in some screenshots?  I can't tell if those are NPCs or players.

You know, if I could be a Blood Elf Spellbreaker I'd have bought the game and would be level 60 already.

[Rasix]

Hey, while I'm asking questions, do Night Elves get those double-sword glaive thingies that I've seen in some screenshots?  I can't tell if those are NPCs or players.

You know, if I could be a Blood Elf Spellbreaker I'd have bought the game and would be level 60 already.

Please, enjoy your stay on Earthen Ring.

[Llava]

Oh, yes, I should point out- though I want to play Horde, I am an elf fan.  Not so much for the Night Elves... they're just a bit too hippy-ish for my tastes.  I'm a bigger fan of the "Yeah, that's right, I AM better than you.  I'm an ELF.  I will live for thousands of years.  I'm everything humans wish they could be.  Stupid mortal." attitude.

[Toast]

You can't go wrong with Rogue. The class is incredibly addictive, and it's obvious that the dev team put much tender loving care into this class. The utility abilities are top notch.

Depending on talent build, you can approach battle in completely different ways. Some players go with stuns and high, steady damage irregardless of positon.  Other players go for the high burst damage of a dagger-based ambush and backstab build.  Either way, it's fun to tinker with different strategies.

[Shockeye]

Early on, it was noticable.  100-200 higher ping standard.  I usually have sub 100 or even sub 60 on Shadowsong.

Anyhow, if I was allowed (if they ever, ever implement that and I fit the rules for a transfer), I might move a character to Earthen Ring.  Otherwise, not a chance (unless my friends quit).  I've already got my new baby up to 28. 

My pings from AZ were 100-200 to earthen realm as well. One of the reasons I stopped playing on the server. The other reason being time which is actually code for my wife mocked me for saying "Zug Zug" all the time.

[Morfiend]

Oh, yes, I should point out- though I want to play Horde, I am an elf fan.  Not so much for the Night Elves... they're just a bit too hippy-ish for my tastes.  I'm a bigger fan of the "Yeah, that's right, I AM better than you.  I'm an ELF.  I will live for thousands of years.  I'm everything humans wish they could be.  Stupid mortal." attitude.

Blah. Elf = Pansy no matter the color of his skin. Ill take my "Ill jump out of the shadows sitck a knife in your back, then procceed to eat you" undead rogue.

[Shockeye]

This one time at band camp, my elf totally pwned an orc and a troll at the same time and then stuck his flute up...

Nevermind. Elves suck.

[Llava]

I wish I could make a Blood Elf Spellbreaker and make you all regret those words.  Yeah, call me a pansy when I'm eating your fucking spells for lunch and carving you a new one!

Maybe in an expansion.

[WayAbvPar]

You have a Drizz't plushy doll at home, don't you?

[Signe]

Warren Zevon is an elf, you know.

[Llava]

You have a Drizz't plushy doll at home, don't you?

I don't like "Let's hold hands and feel good about ourselves" elves.  They don't do the race justice, imo.    That's why the Night Elves don't do it for me.  Arrogance and grace are what elves should be.

[Shockeye]

Warren Zevon is an elf, you know.

I thought he was a corpse.

[Righ]

I don't like "Let's hold hands and feel good about ourselves" elves.  They don't do the race justice, imo.    That's why the Night Elves don't do it for me.  Arrogance and grace are what elves should be.

There are plenty of night elves who play in the manner you prefer. On ER, the most famous is Vermillion. He attacks the bankers between trips from the graveyard. You could be his Robin.

[WayAbvPar]

Nock is another- he spends the vast majority of his time in Tarren Mills ganking lowbies who come to defend.

[Kageru]

I don't think anyone could argue that WoW won't give you enough gameplay to justify the purchase. The world is interesting, well realised and the classes are more varied than those in most MMORPG's. Tradeskills are quite enjoyable and mostly happen naturally while you level, that's why they had to limit you to two after all. It's a quality game, you can tell the developers really cared about what they were doing. Although there are, mostly high end, weaknesses that make it clear they weren't finished when it shipped (but which MMORPG is?).

Rogues are insane fun, quite possibly overpowered. However you won't be getting anything like that picture because that's a blood elf, and they're not exactly on the best terms with the night elves who are in the game. In fact the only quest I (as an orc) got from a blood elf was to hunt down night elf forces. If blood elves are introduced they're most like to be their own faction, but they'd probably be more friendly to the horde than the alliance.

[Signe]

Warren Zevon is an elf, you know.

I thought he was a corpse.

Ok, was.  Your pedantical airs are plaguey.

[MrHat]

If you make a rogue, prepare to solo alot post 40.

I could've gotten to 60 in half the time if I had just solo'ed the whole time.  Plus, about 40% of my server is rogues, so it's a nightmare to get a group at the high end.  Ah well, now that he's 60, I log in for 10 mins, spam my friends list looking for an instance group, then log my mage on for some AE goodness.

Also starting up a priest after being wtfpwned by a duo of them in Hillsbrad. If you are going to make a horde rogue, make it an undead.  Will of the Forsaken is an uber ability and don't let anyone tell you differently.  It is the difference between killing a priest in 4 seconds and fighting a priest to a stalemate over 4 hours.

On the subject of blood elves, I wouldn't be surprised if the first or second expansion (1yr) includes Bloodelves as playable.

[Llava]

I would absolutely expect them to join the Horde.

Blood Elves hate humans due to a perceived slight against them (the destruction of their homeland and their treatment by the alliance afterwards).  They hate the Lich King, which makes them somewhat likely to work with the Forsaken in hunting down as many of the Lich King's undead as possible.  They hate Night Elves, because Illidan sort of came along and saved them as the Night Elves were hunting him (plus there's the whole highborne, etc backstory... Blood Elves use magic that Night Elves believe should be left untouched).

They shouldn't really have any quarrel with the Orcs, Tauren or Trolls.  They're about as good a fit for the Horde as the Forsaken were.  They definitely don't work in the Alliance.

I should point out that I don't mean to go out of my way to grief.  However, I will treat it the same way I did in DAoC.  It is a war.  If I see you, and you are an enemy, I am perfectly within my rights to kill you.  If I do not, it is merely whim.  But there's a difference between that and actively hunting low levels.

[Rasix]

The day they add elves to the horde, I will cry.  I may quit. 

Disturbing thought. 

Worse than tubgirl.  I'm not sure yet though, still trying to reclaim the lost bit of my humanity over that one...

[Llava]

I would submit that the Horde already has Elves after a fashion.

Undead appeal to the same people.  It's the lack of mortality and the feel of being human-like, but more.  They want to play Elves, they just don't know it yet.

Don't question me, it's psychological.

[MrHat]

I would submit that the Horde already has Elves after a fashion.

Undead appeal to the same people.  It's the lack of mortality and the feel of being human-like, but more.  They want to play Elves, they just don't know it yet.

Don't question me, it's psychological.

Actually, I would expect a third faction with Blood Elves and playable Naga.  But then again, they did give us GNOMES instead of goblins so who knows.

[Llava]

Bought it, installed, finishing up the patching.  I'll be Llava on Earthen Ring.  Probably start with an Undead Warrior just because I already tried Rogue in beta.  Will probably end up switching to Rogue, though.  Just want to give Warrior a shot.

[Miasma]

I would submit that the Horde already has Elves after a fashion.

Undead appeal to the same people.  It's the lack of mortality and the feel of being human-like, but more.  They want to play Elves, they just don't know it yet.

Don't question me, it's psychological.

That's insulting.  I played undead and I despise elves so much it is part of the reason I cancelled, too many elves running around in those lvl 30-40 areas. Not most of the reason, I'm not insane, but maybe 20% of it.

I almost went on a rampage after I went into the Undercity's royal quarter to find the undead leader Sylvanas.  Why was I not told she was a God-damn night elf?!?