Coming back to WoW after 4 years absence, question about expansions

[Marlas]

Geez it feels weird to come back to these forums. Back when i was about 12 i was mad on WoW, for about 2 years it was all I did with my life, I dont think i knew what sunlight or a social life was for those years.
So i gave it up for a variety of reasons, i mainly lost interest, found it hard to fit hardcore playing in with my social life that i had discovered.

But time has passed and things have changed, now, with a few good friends taking it up, and me needing some place to spend my free time I am seriously considering taking it back up again, i mean really, can you ever really forget about WoW?

I have a question about getting started, do i just need to buy the main disk and the latest expansion (which i assume is the lich king) or do i need to get the burning crusade as well?

Also, i have COMPLETELY seperated myself from WoW over these 4 years, havent read internet news on it or anything because if i heard anything, I'd get the cravings again. So i am wondering... is there like a definitive guide somewhere about whats happened in the last 4 years? especially with the expansions and everything, like pretty much i am going to be coming back a total noob, thats no fun...

[triplex]

It is not possible that you played wow for 2 years, and then took 4 years break.
The game is a little bit over 4 years old...

You need basic wow to be able to play - you will have the most recent ruleset, but you wont be able to make extra races/classes, and go to expansions contents. You will be limited to lvl 60.

If you add BC on top of that, you will get all BC features, you will be able to go to outlands and level up to lvl 70.

If you add WOTLK on top of that you will have all things unlocked. You cannot add WOTLK without first adding BC.

If you are on tight budget you can buy basic wow, level to 60, then buy Bc lervel to 70, then buy WOTLK. That will spread your expenses over time, but most cost effective would be to buy wow battlechest (including wow+BC) then add WOTLK. Do not install from disks, download trial client from wow website. You still need CD-KEYs from retail boxes though, or you can buy them online at Blizzard.

[skpstr]

After being away from WoW myself for the last 6 to 9 months I've recently downloaded it so I can take advantage of the 10 day WotLK trial to see if it will rekindle my interest. Just from what I have seen it seems that you do not have to purchase a retail version or shell out a one off charge if you chose to carry on, but I may be mistaken.

Also, If you want to maximise your trial time you can download and install the client, and then let it update with all the latest patches, before you activate the trial period on your account.


Edit: Just read the FAQ for the free trial, you have to shell out £29.99 to upgrade your account online if you choose to continue, cheaper to get the retail pack. Also you can't got straight to WotLK as triplex said you need BC first, but the downloaded WotLK client does contain it. Here's the FAQ link if anyone is interested: http://eu.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?tag=wowwrathtrialfaq

[triplex]

If you remember your account name/pass you can continue playong on your old account.
Somebody can also send you resurection scroll (allows you to try your old frozen account for 10 days - like a trial - just you are playing on your old account - and you dont need to buy retail, just pay monthly fee if you want to continue.)

[Alaris Mystique]

Get your old account back online... you'll be able to continue your old chars...

Or, get the battle chest. You get everything you need until level 55 (if you want a Death Knight) or level 68 or so (when you start thinking about going to WotLK areas). The two new races and their starting areas are pretty cool, but if you really don't care about those, then you can just play the basic WoW until you get to level 58 or so.

Try to take advantage of "recruit a friend" for faster levelling. If you're playing with friends anyway, it'll be advantageous.

[Maticus]

In regards to starting over and finding a guide - the best way to find out about all the new stuff is to play the game. You will know the basics and if you've forgotten, it will come back.

Blizzard has expanded and recreated the game in so many aspects it would be impossible to think of everything to list for you. Here are some of the things that spring to mind:


Hybrids like Druids and Paladins can now be as good at healing and tanking as classes that specialise in it, like Warriors and Priests.
WoW now has Achievements! They are strangely addictive.
There is a barber shop so you can change your character's hair/facial hair/hair color/features. You can also pay to change your char's name, and their sex.
You can pay to move to any server, even from PvE to PvP.
Stormwind has a spectacular new harbor.
Paladins are OP.
Most people that are levelling will be veterans.
There will be Death Knights everywhere. (Do the Death Knight starting campaign, it's epic).

[snowieken]

Paladins are OP.stfu, QQ more and l2play. :grin:

[Dark Matter]

All the huntards re-rolled are now deathtards.


:cool:

[Renata]

Roll a rogue. We're an endangered species. All of them are deathtards too.

...Ren

[Marlas]

thanks for all the replies.

I think I'll just dive in then, im really excited about it now. I reckon i'll just start a new account, i mean i know the old account details and everything, but i just would rather start again.

Back when i was playing i was on Thunderhorn, i had a level 50ish hunter as my main, a few level 20's as well i think, anyway i wouldnt like to jump back in as a level 50, having not much of an idea.

I think leveling from the start again will be fun, I'm sure around level 20 though i will regret that, and be begging for my mount again.

Oh well
I reckon it'll be a hunter again, i just love being a hunter so much, i cant leave them alone. Now i just need to fit WoW in with my year 12...

[Maticus]

I think leveling from the start again will be fun, I'm sure around level 20 though i will regret that, and be begging for my mount again.

Oh yeah - you get a mount at level 30 now ^ ^

[Wintrow]

"get" ?? not unless you're a lock or a pally you're not!

Thankfully you don't need to shell out 100G (90G counting rep discounts) at L30. The price has dropped to less than half of that...

[Maticus]

Ohhh picky! Ok, you can get a mount at level 30 now :P