A WoW player's guide to Warhammer Online
by Mike Schramm 
Sep 9th 2008 at 1:00PM
Need a class translation guide, or want the lowdown on what quests and crafting are like? Perhaps the biggest difference between WoW and WAR is a bigger emphasis on PvP of all kinds, and Massively's got the story for you on that as well. If you've been interested in checking out Warhammer at all (or if a few friends have mentioned they're switching), this guide will bring you right up to speed.
Of course, even EA admits that Warhammer won't really be a rival to World of Warcraft, but there's no question that the game has already influenced how even Blizzard makes its games, so no matter how many players choose to cross over, there's no question the new MMO on the block is going to make a splash. The game comes out in just over a week on September 18 -- if this guide has piqued your interest, stay tuned to Massively for more on what's up with the game and its release.
Filed under: Night Elves, Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, PvP, Quests, Death Knight
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Kolbe Sep 9th 2008 1:30PM
I wish the beta would work for me, but the client just sticks at 99% and the site was broken for all the time since sunday. Euro this is.
Bromnir Sep 9th 2008 5:50PM
On the behalf of all the American WAR beta-testers who've been having no trouble whatsoever playing the beta this weekend, I want to say that we (well, when we're not busy PvPing) send our condolences to our European brethren, where the overseas publisher of the game is making a mockery of it. We feel for you and hope some kind of recompense is headed your way, preferably in the form of a publisher's head on a stick.
In the meantime, since you're here on WoW Insider, why not play a little WoW? :)
drewlanich Sep 9th 2008 1:27PM
Battle is too slow-paced in the PvP, after playing WoW it just seems so boring and unexciting.
gundamxzero Sep 9th 2008 1:47PM
Wait wait, wow pvp is exciting?
There are what 4 bgs, which are fun the first 4-5 times you play them, and arena.
You mean grinding up to 70 and then grinding to get gear? GG
You pvp from level 1 in war, and if you are playing with friends its a blast, there is open world pvp, open world siege weapons, castle sieges(ENTIRE TOWNS) and keep sieges that you can hold for rewards.
All you get in wow is cookie cutter builds and only certain classes/combos can do well sounds exciting to me.
Koskun Sep 9th 2008 2:53PM
@ Gundamxzero
Yea, you CAN pvp at level one in Warhammer, if you want to get your ass handed to you over and over.
They temporarily inflate your HP up to a certain point in the PvP (first ones are level 8), but people higher level get in and just wail on you. The balance issues for their PvP are way out of whack in Warhammer.
Jason Sep 9th 2008 3:28PM
The game is VERY balanced. Yes you can PvP at level 1, you do get bumped up to level 8. I find that I didn't get wailed on as you put it. I held my own and took some people down. Their scenerios allow for far greater strategy than WoW, as does the collision detection.
Icckleguy Sep 9th 2008 1:29PM
If WAR is more PvP orientated maybe we can get rid of some of the EPeen swelling PvP fan boys who think wow is not about PVE and all about PVP, i don't mind a bit of pvp, i am on a pvp realm, but the guys who do nothing but whine on about how they pwn in arena because mindlessly mashing a keyboard whilst total beginners get wiped out and don't learn anything don't sound that appealing to me.
drewlanich Sep 9th 2008 1:40PM
WAR is going to be very heavily PvP and Quest orientated. There is only about 20 or so "bosses" in the hidden lairs, which you must find in the first place, and complete puzzles to get in them. With RvR, the BG system, and Seige raids .. WAR is shaping up to a PVP-focused game.
And with that, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I believe in WoW (esp on PvP realms) that the PvE aspect of the game is diminishing, and it needs to be brought back. Hopefully some PvP junkies will leave for WAR and give us back the amazing PvE experience of WoW that WAR could never top.
Nexxan Sep 26th 2008 1:48PM
Well that is indeed a sad scenario, the fine part in WAR is that even in the scenario they strive to balance the teams. So that it won't be a bunch of lvl 2's against an army of lvl 10's. I've played WAR since the release (WoW before that) and i have to say that I find WAR to far more fun and balanced in all aspects. And I can mention that I'm not one of those pvp fellas. I can recommend WAR as a good substitute to WoW. And besides, I've managed really fine and taken out loads of players over my own lvl. Its more about tacticts and team work than button mashing.
vlad Sep 9th 2008 1:40PM
no one here cares about massively. just like golfers dont care about sports illustrated. yes its a sport. but its not their sport.
Marc Sep 9th 2008 5:56PM
Dude, you're just annoying. Don't you see yourself getting voted down every time? Yet still you bring your negativity to every post. Go away.
Manatank Sep 9th 2008 1:51PM
Can we please stop hearing about Warhammer on Wowinsider? If I cared about other MMOs I'd read Massively. That's what it is there for right?
A lot of these posts have zero to do with WoW. It is just like the run up to LotR Online and AoC... Tons of posts about how such and such new MMO might topple WoW, and then a month or two after release there is dead silence on the subject as yet another MMO has failed to make a dent in WoW's subscriber base. Why constantly post articles about it?
WoW will probably be over powered by another MMO at some point, but why not wait until then to report on it?
And please stop pimping Massively. If we cared about other MMOs we would already be reading it.
Raaj Sep 9th 2008 2:06PM
And yet you chose to click the link leading to this article. Seriously, if you don't want to hear about it, don't open it. You act like they somehow forced/tricked you into reading.
Manatank Sep 9th 2008 3:53PM
I didn't click the link to read the article (especially since it was short enough to fit on the front page). I clicked on it to leave a comment.
Raaj Sep 9th 2008 4:34PM
A comment about an article you care nothing about. I'm just saying you don't have to open it. Just move the fuck along, like you would on any other blog that has an article that doesn't interest you.
Marc Sep 9th 2008 5:56PM
Don't assume you speak for everyone. I like reading about anything related to WoW, even other MMORPGs. If you don't like it skip the article.
MissMutilate Sep 10th 2008 4:10PM
@ Manatank
Don'tcha know by now that any sort of attack on WoWInsider and how they present themselves with their articles typically means you'll see an immediate down ranking of your post?
Candina@WH Sep 9th 2008 1:56PM
I may look into the open beta just to see if it interests me.
I am a tad WoWed out at the moment.
And I like 'Dark' fantasy.
and my wife calls me evil... so... ;)
Lori Sep 9th 2008 2:44PM
I would like to check it out, as well but you have to pre order to get in the open beta. Anyone know if you can cancel a preorder if you don't like the game?
Improvidence Sep 9th 2008 6:41PM
Lori, I would reccomend going to Target for your preorder. Target isn't actually taking preorders, so when you pick up the preorder package, you aren't actually preordering the game. What you do get are the various preorder bonuses, including the open beta access, as well as a $5 dollar off cupon for the full game if you decide to get it from Target. This package costs you $1, so if you get it and decide the game isn't for you, it's only a dollar you've spent.