At what level does grinding > questing?

[Steamboat]

Ok. Assuming you already know where everything is and how to finish most quests, at which level is it faster to grind than to quest?

This is also assuming that you only have 2 hours to play at a time, and each night you're going to an inn to logout.

My guildmate and I argued about this. We were both at level 20 and went our seperate ways for a couple days - he went questing, I went grinding.

Two days later he was level 27 and I was level 24. I actually think he put in a lot more playing time than I was able to, but it did make me wonder.

He of course claims that questing is always faster. I was under the impression that ~35 or so grinding will be faster.

FYI he is a warrior, I am a priest.

[Trendkill]

questing is always faster. mainly because a lot of quests end up being grinding quests for a certain item of some sort. so when you kill 20 guys, so had your friend, and then he handed it a quest and got another 2k xp for it etc.

[Thalassicus]

Level 60. :smiley:

At that point you almost entirely shift over from questing to solo/group/raid to advance your character (among other things to do).

Before then, quests are usually a better option than non-quest mob killing, since almost every mob out there has a quest (and bonus experience) associated with it.

[Italia]

Well, the fact that you are a priest really had something to do with it. Personally I think doing instances will boost you faster then anything. That's what I always did. I would do DeadMines until 22, then Stockades until 30. Simple as that, but that's because I hate Duskwood. I might touch a few quest though, when I got sick and tired of running the same instance. Besides, you'd go faster through instances because everyone would want to take you. On the other hand, if you went grinding, your weak little curses at level 20, compared to his hack and slash approach would be severly unmatched.

So for you, being class specifically a priest, go with questing or instances. Warriors and Paladins will make it alot farther on things like that, because they can out and not worry about things.

[NeoOrc]

Just about all the time Questing will yield better results than to grind. The problem with your idea that Grinding is faster is flawed because if you only rest for a day, after about 20 kills your lvl the rested xp is gone. If you quest and kill things that are a part of the quest or just so happen to aggro while your questing you can extend your rested xp and if you only play for 2 hours you can possibly retain some of that rested xp to the following day. Always quest and you have the right idea to log at an inn all the time

[Piemaster]

I would actually argue that grinding is faster most of the time for most classes. The only exceptions are:

1. Quests or quest chains that are incredibly easy and yield high XP
2. Quests that can be done while grinding anyway.

[Aerath]

Considering what Joanna did (who leveled to 60, using a Hunter, in less than 5 days /played) was 90% questing, 10% grinding - I'm definitely thinking that picking your quests well will have you leveling faster than grinding.

[Cadineal]

the only time I grind is when i am looking for bits and pieces for cooking.

Questing IMO far exceeds that of standard grinding. I would only grind for parts or silver/gold.

[rutty]

Considering what Joanna did (who leveled to 60, using a Hunter, in less than 5 days /played) was 90% questing, 10% grinding - I'm definitely thinking that picking your quests well will have you leveling faster than grinding.

Yes, I was reading up on that too.

Personally I prefer to take my time. The social aspect of the game is more important than getting to 60 in a week, but then it's almost tempting to buy that guide, take a week off work and go for it.

[Krollin]

Never, grinding is so totally boring and one of the few things which really disappoints me about WoW.

[Grendo]

Grinding > questing does occur around 40, if not slightly earlier if youre counting days actually played (not real time). In realtime, questing will have an advantage due to rested experience not lasting forever. However, if you have 3-4 days between sessions, grinding is king.

Of course, the best combination is knowing where Kill# quests are or quests that support grinding so you can turn them in at the end of the day for a nice boost.

Ive grinded my new main to 59 after questing two toons to 60. This is mainly due to my love of BGs, and being on a PvP server (so quest mob competition is deadly...literally).

Ive managed 37-45k honor per hour since 40ish on rested. Without rested, I average 25-30k depending on mob type.

Questing yields about 25k or less, but puts me in high traffic contested areas, and a lot of travel downtime.

I find it just as fun in many aspects. Ive already seen many of the quests the game has (of course, id never claim all) and i missed many ingame models questing the first two times thru. I also have much more time to PvP this way, and rep while im at it. Not to mention, it allows me to have more fun at 60 (which is what disapoints me about WoW). Having a ton of quests to do to keep me busy, gear to work on, etc etc.

At 59, Im a Stone Gaurd, revered with several of the major factions I wanted (Org for a wolf, TH, Frostwolf) and under 15 days played. Ill have to look when I get home for exactly how much time Ive spent.

Grinding has allowed me to enjoy the 55+ game enough to want to stick with a toon past 60.

[Noriah]

Grinding is boring no matter what game you're playing. EQ was all about grinding and it got to be truly, mind-blowingly tedious.

The thing is, when you're questing, a lot of the time you ARE grinding. For example, in the mid-20s there is a quest in Duskwood to kill 15 Skeletal Horrors and 15 Skeletal Fiends. You can just go grind them, or you can do the quest, kill them anyway, and then get a couple thousand extra experience for doing the quest turn-in. Not doing the quest is like leaving money on the table.

...Noriah

[FlareCDE]

Questing's worth more, when there are quests availible. Some quests, particularly long ones that don't involve killing anything, are frequently not worth doing. Questing can be both more and less efficient, depending on what quests you choose to do.

[zkajan]

i think the bigger issue here is that they were both soloing but one is a warrior and one is a priest...

[FlareCDE]

Depending on talent spec, either class could solo fine. Time is the number one factor, so if you aren't positive you both spent the same amount of time, there's no way to make a determination from that example.

[NeoOrc]

Ok again I am gonna have to say Questing is always better unless you have the full 1.5 levels of rested xp, which by the way takes about a week or so to get so if you feel like being a casual player than grinding may be the way to go. Powergamers that want to get to the endgame, Questing will get you there quick and painless. I also suggest to not be a pansy and group for every dang quest you have. You may kill more but in the end splitting xp isn't worth it and I think it is fun to try it on your own(The exception to this of course is elite or instances). I also suggest that you don't turn in quests until you are about 2 lvls higher than the quest recommends if you have certain add-ons you will know the suggested quest lvl. By doing this the quest is still yellow and you get the average xp...this will not always work as sometimes you will receive quests and they will be green or grey.

[Sionzen]

Yes, I was reading up on that too.

Personally I prefer to take my time. The social aspect of the game is more important than getting to 60 in a week, but then it's almost tempting to buy that guide, take a week off work and go for it.

Which guide is this? Link pls? :smiley:

[Marlas]

questing is always faster. mainly because a lot of quests end up being grinding quests for a certain item of some sort. so when you kill 20 guys, so had your friend, and then he handed it a quest and got another 2k xp for it etc.


thats what i was gonna say. Plus you get rewards.


Which guide is this? Link pls?

That would be against the rules of this forum to link the guide just telling in advance to anyone.

[Beatboxer]

I'm not much one for grinding over questing but I've dusted my old preist off after sitting for a month or so and I find that I dont want to do the quests for his lvl again. I've done them to death, so I've been grinding. I only grind when rested and I've been progressing surprisingly quick.

lvl27-30 now preist in hillsbrad. I can say I've averaged about a lvl per 2 hours or so, when rested, grinding southern hillsbrad at this lvl.

No travel time just kill, kill, kill, kill. I agree that questing is usually better and more fun, rewarding and interesting...but sometimes grinding is the better option overall.

[kcma]

depends on class. some classes arent even capable of grinding all that fast.

as for 90% questing for less than 6 days /played. i can say the same for grinding. i've seen mage doing nothing but grinding to 60 in about 6 days played. at lower lvl tho, questing has a distinctive advantage of... you can get a high lvl to help u bang out quests super fast.

[amgyn]

2hours play time a day isnt enough time to find a group and go into an instance (of course this depends on your server and group you are with) .. but i find that instances take more than 2 hours from LFG notices to final boss...

but if you have the time instance runs are the best to gain exp/money/equipment ...

[kcma]

sometimes you'll need more than 2 hours to find a group =p and unless ur in a good group where you dps the poop outta all the mobs, instances isn't fast way to lvl up.

[Kirkburn]

I remember months ago many were saying grinding was best for lvling (and for boring yourself into oblivion, but that's another matter). However, in most of the recent patches lots of new quests have been added (especially around 40-50+) so at nearly all levels you will have a completely full quest book from which you can pick and choose the easiest and fastest quests to do - suddenly questing has regained it's crown :)

[LunarSolaris]

I firmly believe that a combination of smart questing combined with grinding is vastly superior for leveling a character at any level.

The trick is knowing what quests are in certain regions, getting those quests (which typically require one kills a certain amount of certain mobs), and then grinding on those mobs a bit.

Repeatable quests are also great for good exp. For example, at about lvl 41-49 alliance players can grind the trolls in the Hinterlands for experience (and complete some quests), but also to collect their necklaces. 5 of them are turned in for 550 experience at those levels, which adds to the pot.

Also, in Felwood once you hit lvl 47-ish and higher. You can grind for Timbermaw faction as well and collect the feathers (new change in quest) to also turn in at 5 each for 550 exp. It adds up well and you win three ways (Timbermaw rep, experience from killing, experience from turning in feathers).

I think that most of us once we learn the game, get used to what quests are in which regions. Even with a full rest-bar experience, it's still faster to grind + quest when you know what/where quests are.

[WingedNazgul]

Until you can show me proof that grinding can get you a 60 in less than 5 days /played, I'm going to have to say questing is always better than grinding.

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