Turn off XP gain for classic raiding
by Eliah Hecht 
Jun 19th 2009 at 9:00AM
The ability to turn off experience gains is coming in patch 3.2, and is rightly being touted as a feature to enable twinking (to go along with the new battleground experience system).
However, that's not all that turning off XP lets you do. Remember how people have been asking for classic realms with the level cap set at 60 (or 70)? Yeah, here you go. Level a guild of characters to 60, pay 10g to turn off XP gain, and raid the old world to your heart's content.
Nethaera mentioned as much in a blue post yesterday, constituting the first supportive mention of classic only raiding that Blizzard has ever made, as Adam noticed. She does mention that this may change during testing, like everything, but for now: classic content lovers, rejoice! Don't forget to loot your core hound.
Patch 3.2 will bring about a new 5, 10, and 25 man instance to WoW, and usher in a new 40-man battleground called the Isle of Conquest. WoW.com will have you covered every step of the way, from extensive PTR coverage through the official live release. Check out WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2 for all the latest!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
pietrex Jun 19th 2009 9:07AM
I like this idea very much. This opens brand new possibilities for alts. You can stop leveling at whatever level you like and experience the content. Did you want to keep running an instance, but it became pointless because of your high level? Well, this is no more! I hope this feature goes live. It's not exactly what vanilla lovers wanted (class changes remain etc.), but I still think it's a huge thing.
rawk1977 Jun 19th 2009 11:45AM
it would still be pointless by your definition.
impurezero Jun 19th 2009 5:07PM
Actually, by his definition, running Stratholme in a group of level 60s might be fun for him to do every now and then...but just tearing through it one-shotting everything might not.
Lios Jun 19th 2009 9:11AM
I wonder... if you stay 60, will quests reward gold instead of xp, just like when you are max level? If that is the case, it might be profitable to have a certain alt stay at a certain level at which you would get maximum profit from dailies.
Nathanyel Jun 19th 2009 9:38AM
I doubt it, but even if, "converted XP money" from quests is usually not much higher* than the basic money reward you get anyway. I assume it is more profitable to just keep levelling and do higher-level quests.
* did some quick checks on Wowhead: http://www.wowhead.com/?quests&filter=minrl=1;cr=3;crs=1;crv=0
For Northrend quests, the converted XP can be over double than the normal money reward, since they give a whole lot of XP, but the lower the required level goes, varies between 50 and 100% of the normal reward. For Outland quests, it apparently is even lower, unless Wowhead has their data set off because most people did those quests back at 70.
Ricohardt Jun 19th 2009 9:14AM
This was what first came to my mind when this feature was mentioned. I don't PvP, but I was even considering buying another account and not upgrading it, just so I could be capped at 60. Fun times ahead if this makes it into live.
Spazmoose Jun 19th 2009 10:15AM
If you are thinking of buying another account, just so that you can cap yourself at 60, this is really a waste of time IMO. You could start another account, and just not upgrade it to BC/WotLK, and you will automatically cap yourself at 60.
Given, this means that you wouldn't have access to certain things (such as jewelcrafting as a profession), but you are still capping yourself at 60.
However, if you are into twinking, this can be a godsend...I just think this will help eliminate the "OMG if I [insert experience gaining situation], I will level, but I really need that item" QQ.
I am thinking though, that this could be really fun for DKs that want to see how they would have performed in the old world. Hmm...I may have to roll a DK on another server to try this.
impurezero Jun 19th 2009 10:48AM
So, let me get this straight. He likes this feature, because the only current way for him to replicate it is to spend an additional $180 a year on a second account? In your opinion, this feature is a "waste of time" for him?
But you get to get an extra item now, so it's a "godsend" for you?
Ricohardt Jun 19th 2009 1:53PM
"You could start another account, and just not upgrade it to BC/WotLK, and you will automatically cap yourself at 60."
Isn't that what I said?
Bob Dewane Jun 19th 2009 9:16AM
I wonder how the gold charge is going to work. The article says that you have to pay 10g to turn off XP gain. Do you have to pay to turn it back on? If so how much? I suppose, though, that it wouldn't matter if the goal is to get to the desired level and stay there.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone, though. This lets the twinks park at a particular level and lets the people who want classic vanilla raids to form their own guilds to raid classic. GG Blizz.
Eliah Hecht Jun 19th 2009 9:17AM
It also costs 10g to turn XP gain back on.
SarahTheGnome Jun 19th 2009 9:18AM
It does cost money to turn xp gain on again, but only 10g. So 10g for off, 10g for on.
SarahTheGnome Jun 19th 2009 9:19AM
Damn it Sir Hecht and your speediness.
Hihi Jun 19th 2009 9:26AM
@SarahTheGnome Obligatory "That's what she said."
Hedwinkle Jun 22nd 2009 8:32AM
@ HiHi
Scrubs ftw!
Sicadastra Jun 19th 2009 9:17AM
I wish this had been available just a month earlier so I could have stayed in Outland for a while at 70. As a new player (since Jan) I feel like I missed that entire expansion, just flew right through on my way to Northrend. But that's what alts are for I suppose.
Drahliana Jun 19th 2009 9:17AM
No it will not give you max gold for those quests unless you don't have the expansion. Because you're only suspending your level gain, you're not level capped.
The focus of these change is to finally separate twinks from the low level battlegrounds and give them what they claim they want... a sandbox all thier own so that real honest to goodness low level players can finally return to the low level battlegrounds.
Retropally Jun 19th 2009 9:17AM
Some people will be happy, others wont care. I personally dont care as i've been through all the content on achivement runs...blown through it there so the motivation to do old content at a harder level just isnt exciting for me.
Its still a win win for everyone though.
Naix Jun 19th 2009 9:18AM
This is silly.
Gnosh Jun 19th 2009 9:22AM
....