The Alt Expansion?

A while back, in an attempt to lessen my play time, I decided to focus on playing one character instead of spreading it out among alts. This dovetailed nicely with the introduction of achievements. More time on one character, more opportunity to complete achievements on it.

But with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion I've noticed a curious thing. With its ease of leveling, ease of regular instances, ease of heroics and current ease of raiding even the more casual player can finish end game within a few months of its release.

The curious thing is how many players, at least in my guild, have essentially shelved their main characters to play alts. In the past it would at least take several months before you even found things have eased up enough (getting your professions maxed, getting your gear crafted, getting attunements) to have "free" time to start playing alts.

"But there is a lot of end game left!" you say. Finishing all heroic achievements and killing Sartharion with 3 drakes up is something to strive for, but doesn't take up all your play time unless your guild is focusing on it.

So while lucky to start running heroics with my guild again, it is mostly with their alts. Still better than pugs but usually with an under geared character hoping to get a bunch of drops. As a result the achievements I want to get are on the backburner because you have a better chance of accomplishing them with main, well-geared, well-played character.

Unless I myself decide to start playing alts again, I'm just spinning my wheels as far as the group achievements go. I could spend time on the solo achievements but I specced to primarily group and at the moment is what I'm enjoying believe it or not.

I remember reading in Everquest you grouped because you had to. And part of World of Warcraft's revelation and revolution was you could solo and progress. With this expansion your ability to solo is coming much, much faster. Great for those who like to solo. Not so great for those of us who want the multiple player experience.

Alt-friendly?

I wonder how Blizzard will handle future expansions in regards to alts.

My friend did a successful raid spot switch from one main to the a new one recently. Anyone who has raided on one character for a while knows its not always easy to switch to a new character - especially if the old role was one of those abundant healer or tank roles and the new role is the scarce dps roles. But he did so, and is having fun. However he's finding having to re-grind reputation a bit of a pain.

I had a easy time of it on my first 70 because everyone was running everything. Getting different reps - Aldor, Scryer, Heroic, Sha'tar, etc - came rather easily as a part of leveling and doing quests and helping others.

But on my subsequent alts I can't bring myself to run various instances that I've done so many times already I'm exalted.

One player on the general forum (really wish I still had the quote) said something about how having to stick with one character, build upon it and make permanent choices is really what RPGs are all about. There were comments that the alt-friendliness that is counter to sticking to one character is what made WoW successful and gave it staying power. You can't raid at end-game? Roll an alt!

Leveling gets stale, but is still doable. However the things Burning Crusade introduced have made alt playing at endgame slow down, from my limited view. I know of 3 people who play multiple characters at that level and they don't have jobs.

What does this mean for the future of WoW? If anything? I think they'll need to ease up on the endgame requirements. Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking.

Still playing alts...

And alts are an experience of rehashing everything you've done before. So I really don't have much to blog about.

Maybe they'll release Zul'Aman soon.

Altoholism

I've picked up a case of altoholism. I hardly log on to my main anymore, instead opting to enjoy the quick rewards of lowbie alt leveling.

Everything you do pretty much gives you immediate improvement at low levels. You can hear a ding in one night's play. You get new spells quickly. And as a friend said, players seem more likely to help each other.

I guess at higher levels we all get more self-sufficient. But at low levels killing a boar (think Bellygrub) can be a hard task. Riding or flying by someone is easier to keep going and forget you even saw them. Running by someone you're more apt to swing an axe to help them out, or throw a heal their way.

Soon I'll hit the point where the levels don't come as fast and the upgrades are few and far between. Traveling on foot from one inn to the next quest and back will start to get farther and farther apart as well (think STV). When the time comes, I'll just jump onto another alt.

Phear my merry band of under level 30 alts!