Cata levelling rate

[Windzarko]

I'd also like to add that whilst the original intent was for a levelling experience that would last longer for the 5 levels than it did for the previous 10s, they partially (bear in mind that for 5 levels it DOES still take a while) abandoned it in favour of having a longer "pre-endgame" period; as in, the period between dinging 85 and being able to step into raids without having to be carried. In Wrath, you could potentially go in there straight away, or with minimal gear from 80 dungeons/raids, if you weren't a DPS (and even some healers and tanks coped). In Cata, if you aren't in full Heroic gear, woe betide you, and if you want to get that Heroic gear, you'll need to go get full dungeon normal/crafted/85-quest gear first; that's not going to be quite as fast, as we've gotten used to, aye?

 

[Huung]

I'm just finding it hilarious that 80-85 is faster than 75-80. Madness!

 

[Enya]

I'm just finding it hilarious that 80-85 is faster than 75-80. Madness!

Is it really?

 

[Elincia]

Yes it is a lot faster if memory serves me right!

 

[Huung]

Atm it's taking me 3-3.5 hours per level for 80-85, which is less than 75-80 was.

 

[Enya]

Atm it's taking me 3-3.5 hours per level for 80-85, which is less than 75-80 was.

that makes no sense whatsoever

 

[Huung]

that makes no sense whatsoever

As in "it doesn't make sense that it works that way"

Or

"Huung, that made no sense"?

 

[Marqo]

I managed 70-80 in about two hours (rested) on my Druid. On that same druid, 80-83 took 3.5 hours each, 83-84 about 4.5 hours and at the same rate 84-85 looks like it will take about 10 hours. So no, it's not faster than 75-80...

 

[Huung]

I managed 70-80 in about two hours (rested) on my Druid. On that same druid, 80-83 took 3.5 hours each, 83-84 about 4.5 hours and at the same rate 84-85 looks like it will take about 10 hours. So no, it's not faster than 75-80...

1) That's rested.

2) I'm assuming with heirlooms also? I meant 75-80 pre-heirlooms was slower than 80-85 now.

 

[Angelic]

I managed 70-80 in about two hours (rested) on my Druid. On that same druid, 80-83 took 3.5 hours each, 83-84 about 4.5 hours and at the same rate 84-85 looks like it will take about 10 hours. So no, it's not faster than 75-80...

I´m sorry, but I would have to see a screenshot or something to believe 70-80 in TWO HOURS. That´s approximately 6M exp per hour and that is just not possible, even with heirlooms and everything.

 

[thatbloke]

I´m sorry, but I would have to see a screenshot or something to believe 70-80 in TWO HOURS. That´s approximately 6M exp per hour and that is just not possible, even with heirlooms and everything.

I *think* he meant 1 level per 2 hours.

 

[Enya]

So my question is. Why?
Why is it that ppl level faster from 80-85. It seems like something has gone wrong.

Also the hole leveling experience is so different then what is use to be. I have just done Vashj'ir and the quests there are so stream-lined. Pick up 3 quests go do em and bring em all back pick up new quests go do em again. Complete all quests go to the next quest hub and do there some quest.
Seriously you don't need to go looking for quests in cata.
IMO that's great. I actually like doing quests again and it also makes it faster to level up to 85. Or at least it makes you feel like you are leveling faster because you are doing something all the time.

 

[Silk]

Also the hole leveling experience is so different then what is use to be. I have just done Vashj'ir and the quests there are so stream-lined. Pick up 3 quests go do em and bring em all back pick up new quests go do em again. Complete all quests go to the next quest hub and do there some quest.
Seriously you don't need to go looking for quests in cata.
IMO that's great. I actually like doing quests again and it also makes it faster to level up to 85. Or at least it make you feel like you are leveling faster because you are doing something all the time.

All of old world (new world?) now uses the same mini-hub quest structure.

 

[Zooggy]

As far as i can recall, both TBC and WoTLK saw their first max characters within the first 24hrs of play, so why on earth this is such a surprise for Cata i have no idea.

Really? You think it's normal that we, The Haven, have a full raid team (minus the gear) within two days of expansion release?

I'm not talking about the nut jobs out there that can level a character from 1 to 85 in under 30 hours of play time. Most of our crew plays the game at a fairly normal pace. Getting to max level in one sitting is just silly.

Also your making it sound like its a bad thing. [...] leveling from 80-85 is not what the expansion is about. WoW is all about endgame Players will be spending most their time on wow at Lv85 now, raiding, instancing and PvP-ing so why drag out the 80-85 leveling when it doesn't need to be drawn out.

Yes. But then, why not make it ten minutes to a level? Hell, why have levels at all? There's no real reason why an expansion isn't just a raised cap on professions and a few new instances and raids. If you really need the characters to be a different level for mechanical reasons, you can easily have an NPC that simply bestows five levels upon you for the low, low price of 150G.

No, I don't buy it. The levelling process gives the raids and instances context. Ulduar was as epic as it was partly because the Storm Peaks story line was so awesome. Naxx and ICC are deeply imbedded into the whole of the Northrend lore. ToC was an aberrant abortion of a thing, that simply failed to grasp my interest in the slightest, precisely because of its lack of grounding to the levelling zones.

If Cataclysm levelling is flat, all its raids and instances risk being boring and devoid of grounding.

It goes without saying that this is all my opinion, but if I make it sound like a bad thing, well, that's because, frankly, it is.

Cheers,
J.

 

[Silk]

Meh, in about 16 hours playtime I'm 5% away from 83 and only half way through the second zone, so it does seem a bit fast, yeah.

Especially when you consider I'm kind of taking my time, skilling up tradeskills and making gold on the AH, and gearing up both specs at once. And playing other alts (Got a lev 9 worgen and 5 goblin). And have spent a few hours in Hyjal on my rogue as well.

I think if you want to complete every zone (even after hitting 85) it'd probably take longer.

 

[Silk]

If Cataclysm levelling is flat, all its raids and instances risk being boring and devoid of grounding.

It goes without saying that this is all my opinion, but if I make it sound like a bad thing, well, that's because, frankly, it is.

Cheers,
J.

So far I've only opened up the Vash dungeon and it was very, very tied into the zone & lore.

 

[Zhinrak]

Really? You think it's normal that we, The Haven, have a full raid team (minus the gear) within two days of expansion release?

I'm not talking about the nut jobs out there that can level a character from 1 to 85 in under 30 hours of play time. Most of our crew plays the game at a fairly normal pace. Getting to max level in one sitting is just silly.



Yes. But then, why not make it ten minutes to a level? Hell, why have levels at all? There's no real reason why an expansion isn't just a raised cap on professions and a few new instances and raids. If you really need the characters to be a different level for mechanical reasons, you can easily have an NPC that simply bestows five levels upon you for the low, low price of 150G.

No, I don't buy it. The levelling process gives the raids and instances context. Ulduar was as epic as it was partly because the Storm Peaks story line was so awesome. Naxx and ICC are deeply imbedded into the whole of the Northrend lore. ToC was an aberrant abortion of a thing, that simply failed to grasp my interest in the slightest, precisely because of its lack of grounding to the levelling zones.

If Cataclysm levelling is flat, all its raids and instances risk being boring and devoid of grounding.

It goes without saying that this is all my opinion, but if I make it sound like a bad thing, well, that's because, frankly, it is.

Cheers,
J.

To be blunt Zooggy, your over reacting. I do not understand how you have made the connection between a quick leveling experience being a bad leveling experience. Yes a lot of players enjoy exploring the new zones and the lore behind the instances and raids' but just because you can reach the max level within 2 or 3 days doesn't mean that it hasn't happened.

You describe how WoTLK enhanced its leveling experience by involving the player more, putting each person in a more active role on the world, and thus helping the player feel more connected and invested in the raids and instances they were doing. My first question is, have you played enough of Cata to say it is any different? From what I've seen looking over masia's shoulder Cataclysm is full of in depth quests and lore, putting you in the center of a progressing storyline.

WoTLK saw its first 80's within 24hours, and its first raids and heroics were underway before the weeks end. Even the haven had its first naxx groups very early on in the expansion. From what i can tell the leveling rate in Cataclysm is exactly as planned. More importantly, the haven may end up having enough people for a raid very quick, but with how gearing works it will be a long while before you have 10 people who are 85 and ready to raid.

Get to lv85, complete the quests in all the zones, experience as much of the new content as you possibly can then make the decision on how "flat and bland" cataclysm raiding is, don't make assumptions based on how fast caffeine addicts are hitting 85. The exact same thing happened in WoTLK and i don't remember this much concern over it

 

[Huung]

I've hit 85 a few minutes ago - got to say, by far my favourite expansion so far. I love the way the quests are hubbed now, it really drags you into the story a lot more, like chapters of a book as opposed to random pages here and there.

I'm actually enjoying the immersiveness and the lore. ME. Huung. IS ENJOYING LORE. That's how well they've done it. Play and you shall fall in love, Mr Zooggy.

 

[AcidK]

In all honesty I welcome the slightly faster pace of levelling. If you pay close attention the time spent getting to 85 is the same amount of time it would take you to get from 70-75 when WotLK came out. However instead of giving you massive scenery and basic storyline layout, Cata imerses you into the events, making it feel like you are a part of the events as they unfold.

Gearing wise is much, much harder than WotLK and you cannot, I repeat cannot steamroll instances for the gear. I have been in many situations where the tank is still in '80's heroic mode' and charges in, only to be slaughtered in epic failness. And that is only on normal. I would say it is on par if not a little more difficult to get the right gear to do heroics than TBC and certainly harder than WotLK was. This makes it much better as it means you need to actually work for your gear.

Shock horror, working for your gear, as if that is ever a bad thing. I welcome Cataclysm and much prefer the speed of levelling, because the endgame is more difficult to jump into than WotLK and better imo.

 

[Enya]

I've hit 85 a few minutes ago - got to say, by far my favourite expansion so far. I love the way the quests are hubbed now, it really drags you into the story a lot more, like chapters of a book as opposed to random pages here and there.

I'm actually enjoying the immersiveness and the lore. ME. Huung. IS ENJOYING LORE. That's how well they've done it. Play and you shall fall in love, Mr Zooggy.

Indeed. You feel more drawn to the lore now more than ever. Especially when you get a nice cinematic in the end of a bigger q-chain.
That said, cant wait to get to cinematic land (Uldum).