Patch 3.3 PTR: Easing the curve for beginners
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 1st 2009 at 6:00PM
So what's up with these changes? My guess is actually that Blizzard is streamlining the 1-10 experience, because in Cataclysm, it's about to get a little crazier. We heard about just how much is going on in the starting zones the other day, and without spoiling it, there's revolutions, wars, plagues, life, love, and death. That's a lot to be putting into 10 levels, and so these new changes seem like they're meant to keep new players (or new alts) from worry too much about having enough health or getting dazed or geared up. Once you hit level 11, then things can get underway, but it seems like, in patch 3.3, Blizzard is paving the way for lowbies to worry less about fighting, and more about what their character is doing for the storyline.
Filed under: Rogue, Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Leveling, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Nazgûl Oct 1st 2009 6:03PM
Certainly Cataclysm related, but I'm curious as to why all of these changes are in 3.3. They seem out of place almost.
snowleopard233 Oct 1st 2009 6:07PM
Better to put the changes in now and see how they affect the gameplay rather than putting everything in all at once. Think of it as testing, especially considering it is going on the PTR.
Angus Oct 1st 2009 7:47PM
2-3 months on PTR then 3.3 comes out.
That puts us around end of year.
You really think they are going to leave the end of LK on there for more than 6 months?
I think cataclysm is going to show up a lot earlier than some folks anticipated.
Putting these changes in now allow people to get those alts up to snuff and allows people to level up a character faster. This is one of the few things end game raiders can do once they have gotten to see all the content.
See all the content again, only without the tedium of taking so long to go around places, drink every pull and essentially be a wimp for 19 levels.
JoeHelfrich Oct 1st 2009 8:45PM
Honestly, I'd say 1-2 months on the PTR. They're going to want a big new content push out for the holidays. Drive sales and get people home from the holidays to reactivate their account.
kabshiel Oct 1st 2009 9:47PM
I think these mana/health regen changes are to fix what they broke with the spirit nerf a couple patches ago. That was a necessary nerf for level 80s, but it made leveling, especially at the very low end, much more painful for casters.
Skonged Oct 6th 2009 10:43AM
Why not just start characters off at level 58?
Cyno01 Oct 1st 2009 6:04PM
Rogues dual wield from lvl 1? I want my 10s back!!!
Kakistocracy Oct 1st 2009 6:29PM
They will also get to skip the fun of the slowest ranks of stealth.
Arturis Oct 1st 2009 8:15PM
I suspected a change like this was in the works when I noticed that the Goblin Rogue playable at BlizzCon was dual wielding at lvl 6. Honestly, I think this is a smart change, as this is an ability that is rather iconic for the Rogue class.
kunukia Oct 1st 2009 6:07PM
Why, in my day, we had to climb uphill through the snow; both ways!!
Jemhadar Oct 1st 2009 6:10PM
Because leveling 1 to 10 is SOOO HARD
kunukia Oct 1st 2009 6:15PM
Hehe, exactly.
danawhitaker Oct 1st 2009 6:26PM
Certain classes are more painful than others from 1-10, especially solo. I recently started a shadow priest, and I have no trouble actually killing things, but I do have trouble constantly running out of mana and needing to stop to eat/drink non-stop, even with using the "beat to death with my staff after casting 1-2 spells" approach. It's much slower than leveling as a rogue or a warrior that doesn't need to worry about mana. So I'm happy to see some of these changes that affect caster classes.
Dazaras Oct 1st 2009 6:34PM
Seriously though, around level 20 the game suddenly becomes actually difficult, I don't think making the lower levels this much easier is going to be beneficial to new players in the long run. It'll just make them discouraged when they hit the invisible boundary.
Of course, I did all this back in vanilla wow, so things have changed, but I don't think they've changed that much.
PeeWee Oct 1st 2009 7:51PM
"around level 20 the game suddenly becomes actually difficult..."
Huh? What game are you playing?
Karilyn Oct 1st 2009 8:11PM
@Jemhadar
I don't know about you, but I generally find the first 10 or 20 levels of a character the single most difficult levels in the game to solo.
During that time, 2 mobs on you at the same time is pretty much certain death.
joerendous Oct 1st 2009 9:40PM
so, does this mean they want us to transfer over our lvl 1 alts onto the PTR?
Aedilhild Oct 1st 2009 9:57PM
We laugh about difficulty, but after leveling a paladin, a warrior, and a druid, I was shocked -- and discouraged -- by how lethal Elwynn forest was to my mage.
Maybe it was because I tried to play the character as if he were in plate; maybe not, and if not, the experience may drive away a new player.
Blizzard can't possibly have any interest in a repellent introduction, especially if the company wants to expand its subscriber base beyond traditional gamers.
Kirkules Oct 1st 2009 6:08PM
So if Elites can complain about Casuals getting Easy Epics, can Casuals complain about Lowbies getting Easy Level 10s?
Rubitard Oct 1st 2009 6:18PM
Based on my experiences with the internet, anyone can complain about anything at any time.