5punkywow apprenticeship programme

Post by **Dog Pants** » February 27th, 2009, 23:30

Just an idea at the moment, but I'd like to have a way of encouraging the support of our lower level characters. At the moment it's agreed that we should be helping lowbs out, but there's no real effort made on either part. I'm thinking specifically about boosting, since it's a fast way of giving someone a nice kit advantage for the next five or so levels, even if the xp isn't brilliant. Boosting 5punkers ultimately benefits all:

It encourages new people to play if they know they won't be ignored because of their level.
It allows people to take a more casual approach to the game without feeling they'll never catch up.
It gets people to a level where they can join in on the high-end sunday instances faster.
Level 80 characters don't have a lot else to do other than instances and dailies.

I'm not looking to turn us into a raiding guild, as that's not our style, but I've noticed that once you reach 80 everything evens out a lot more and allows us to play as a group. The Northrend instances we've been doing on sundays feel very 5punky and are great fun. We might even be able to recruit a few people, although non-WoWtards are thin on the ground.

I've not got a solid plan as to how to impliment this, so I'm relying on suggestions from our current players, and maybe from those who've played previously but quit because they felt too disconnected from 5punkers/other people. However, I've a few ideas:

I pledge here and now to boost anyone who needs it to a greater or lesser extent with the conditions below. Assuming I'm around and have the time obviously.
Lowest level characters get priority. Those who might be considered low level might still be considerably higher level than others though, and could provide another level of boosting (say a lvl50 boosting a lvl20).
Main characters only please. Running Wailing Caverns is soul destroying if you do it 30 times because everyone does it for every alt who hits lvl15.
Please optimise the results by getting all the quests for the instance beforehand. The reward for both people is that the lower player catches up with the higher player that little bit faster.

Post by **FatherJack** » February 28th, 2009, 0:33

I love boosting people and will gladly do it whenever I'm on. I've been mucking about making new characters on other servers - I'd been aiming for L70 and a flying mount for so long, when I finally got them it kinda took the wind out of my sails. Still in Nagrand, haven't even been to Northrend properly yet. I started a druid, but kind of got stuck at L19, just short of kitteh form.

Helping out with achieving quest goals is the best way to level, more so in instances, but just killing stuff doesn't get the lower level char much XP. Using one of Jame's guides to maximise your efficiency at getting quests close together and worth doing is an excellent idea and having someone to kill all the baddies for you instantly means you can really jack up the XP/hour ratio.

I'm mostly levelling my professions at the moment, so that can interrupted at any time, please don't be shy about asking. If you want to play at your own pace, though - that's fine too. There's no requirement to "catch up", just have fun the way you want to.

Post by **Dog Pants** » February 28th, 2009, 0:59

FatherJack wrote:There's no requirement to "catch up", just have fun the way you want to.

Absolutely. It hadn't occurred to me that my post may have come across like that. The game's a lot of fun just lolloping through solo, which is entirely possible and is probably how most of us have played it. I'm assuming we've already captured that market though.

Imperatore · Post by **Imperatore** » February 28th, 2009, 15:13

Nice idea narf

Edit: As said in the other thread, if you fancy a pop on Alliance - Emerald Dream, add "Pweep" to your friends and I'll be more than happy to boost you through the light side's dungeons.

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 1st, 2009, 20:08

Here's a list of instances and the quests you'll need. Some need to be done a second time round, requiring a prerequisite from the same instance. Please ensure you get all that are available - if someone goes to the effort of boosting you it's the least you can do. Check http://www.wowhead.com for more details of the quests.

Ragefire Chasm - Orgrimmar - 15~16

Hidden Enemies - Series, starts with Hidden Enemies
Returning the Lost Satchel - Series, starts with Searching for the Lost Satchel
Searching for the Lost Satchel
Slaying the Beast -
Testing an Enemy's Strength
The Power to Destroy...

Wailing Caverns - The Barrens - 15~20

Deviate Eradication
Deviate Hides
Leaders of the Fang - Series, starts with The Barrens Oases
Serpentbloom
Smart Drinks - Series, starts with Raptor Horns
The Glowing Shard - Requires completion of Leaders of the Fang, starts from item
Trouble at the Docks

Shadowfang Keep - Silverpine Forest - 18~25

Arugal Must Die
Deathstalkers in Shadowfang
The Book of you're

Blackfathom Deeps - Ashenvale - 20~27

Allegiance to the Old Gods
Allegiance to the Old Gods - Series, starts with Allegiance to the Old Gods
Amongst the Ruins
Blackfathom Villainy
The Essence of Aku'Mai - Series, starts with Trouble in the Deeps
Trouble in the Deeps

Gnomeregan - Booty Bay - 24~33

A Fine Mess
Chief Engineer Scooty
Gnomer-gooooone! - Series, starts with Chief Engineer Scooty
Grime-Encrusted Ring
More Sparklematic Action
Return of the Ring
Rig Wars
The Sparklematic 5200!

Razorfen Kraul - The Barrens - 25~30

A Vengeful Fate
Blueleaf Tubers
Going, Going, Guano!
Willix the Importer

Razorfen Downs - The Barrens - 33~40

A Host of Evil
An Unholy Alliance
An Unholy Alliance
Bring the End
Extinguishing the Idol
Scourge of the Downs

Scarlet Monastery - Tirisfal Glades - 34~45

Uldaman - Badlands - 39~47

Zul'Farrak - Tanaris - 43~47

Maraudon - Desolace - 43~49

Sunken Temple - Swamp of Sorrows - 49~55

Blackrock Depths - Searing Gorge/Burning Steppes - 55~60

Blackrock Spire - Searing Gorge/Burning Steppes - 58~60

Dire Maul - Feralas - 58~60

Scholomance - Western Plaguelands - 58~60

Stratholme - Western Plaguelands - 58~60

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 1st, 2009, 20:08

In progress

Imperatore · Post by **Imperatore** » March 2nd, 2009, 19:17

Another idea would be to get the user to download Atlas Loot, they can then browse all game loot for every dungeon and raid etc.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 2nd, 2009, 19:37

Something I did when getting ready to be boosted was check all the quests on Thott/whatever, and just scribble down the level reqs, name of the giver and rough location (ie: undercity, apothecary). If we can replicate that here then that might be enough info in itself, rather than (or perhaps as well as) saying 'check wowhead' or making links to click through.

Not trying to make work for you or outguess what you were going to do, I'll help out with some and post in the replies so you can edit it in and keep the first post neat. I just found it handy to have a very brief crib-sheet to know where to run and who to look for when getting ready, the quest name alone wasn't always unambiguous in chains.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 2nd, 2009, 19:50

Ragefire Chasm

15, Testing an Enemy's Strength, Rahauro (Thunder Bluff, Elder Rise)
16, The Power to Destroy..., Varimathras (Undercity, Thone room behind Apothecarium)
16, Slaying the Beast, Neeru Fireblade (Ogrimmar, Cleft of Shadow right outside instance entrance)
16, Hidden Enemies, Thrall (Ogrimmar, Throne room Valley of Wisdom)
16, Searching for the Lost Satchel, Rahauro (Thunder Bluff, Elder Rise)

16, Returning the Lost Satchel, Maur Grimtotem (inside instance), requires Searching for the Lost Satchel

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 2nd, 2009, 19:51

That's kind of what I was working towards, but really I was more looking to give people an idea of how many quests they should be looking for and what to search for. I'll eventually get the list to be what you described, but really it goes back to someone wanting a boost to put a bit of effort in beforehand.

I don't want this:

"Can I have a boost in an instance?"

"Yeah sure, which one?"

"I dunno, whatever."

Post by **FatherJack** » March 2nd, 2009, 20:23

That's fair enough, we can't run around and show them everything, I just thought it's enough info to get them running around picking up the quests, can be easily checked against their quest log and saves them asking you where NPCs you can barely remember are.

I'm really liking the Very Useful Info posts we've been generating in here, and saw a similarity with a list I'd been thinking of making. I'd have paid money when I started for the expertise we've been sharing, indeed a quick glance around sites like almostgaming shows that some people are.

That reminds me, I should really make a start on the 'making money' guide I've been muttering about doing for ages.

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 2nd, 2009, 20:50

Good call with the money guide, I'm crap at that in every game. Personally I'm spouting Warcraft info because I'm still enjoying playing it probably 8 months after I started, and I'd like more people to give it a go. If I make it easier for them then they're more likely to, and those who do are more likely to stick around. I only wish I could bag a few new 5punkers while in-game, but 5punky types in Warcraft are hard to find. Apart from us, obviously.

Post by **Roman Totale** » March 2nd, 2009, 21:27

Might be a bit of a ball ache to do, but it could be handy to have a little list of the more coveted drops from dungeons - e.g. The Staff of Greater Horse Touching drops in Dungeon X, good for Mages and Warlocks.

Baliame · Post by **Baliame** » March 2nd, 2009, 21:43

Roman Totale wrote:The Staff of Greater Horse Touching

Is that the Stamina/Penetration one?

On a more serious note, get AtlasLoot.

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 2nd, 2009, 21:43

Sounds good in theory, although I don't even know how to root out decent gear for myself, let alone anyone else.

Anery · Post by **Anery** » March 3rd, 2009, 15:41

Imperatore wrote:Another idea would be to get the user to download Atlas Loot, they can then browse all game loot for every dungeon and raid etc.

Very much this, if the objective of the run is just gear.

Baliame · Post by **Baliame** » March 3rd, 2009, 16:03

Dog Pants wrote:Sounds good in theory, although I don't even know how to root out decent gear for myself, let alone anyone else.

It'd help if I knew what level/class you are.

Although it pretty much comes down to
Warlock - spell damage / shadow damage > spellhit (up to 2xx) > spellcrit > penetration (PvP only) & sta & int
Can moderately sacrifice intellect for spelldamage.
Mage - spell damage / (tree) damage > spellhit (up to 2xx) > spellcrit > penetration (PvP only) & int & spi
Mana (intellect) is important, you can sacrifice some spirit though.
Priest - healing OR spell damage & shadow damage (for shadow priests) & spellhit (up to 2xx) & int & spi
Either way you'll need a lot of mana, a bit less for shadow maybe, so in that case you can sacrifice for spelldamage.
Rogue - agi & str & crit & hit (up to 2xx)
Attributes are pretty useful here, keep them.
Warrior - sta > str for tanks, str > sta for dps, hit (up to 2xx), crit
You'll also need a fuckload of block and armor.
Hunter - errrr.. agi & str as far as I can remember
Are they still as shit as they were in TBC?
Druid - entirely depends on tree. Bears go warrior, Cats go rogue, Healers go priest
Are there caster druids anyway? I can't quite remember.
Shaman - again depends on tree, Casters (Elemental) go mage, Melee (Enhancement) goes rogue, Healers go priest
You're pretty much only effective teamed up with a class similar to your build.
Paladins - healers are priest, the rest I have no clue.
I still hate these.
DK - I don't know anything about these arses.
And I still haven't tried these.

I don't quite know how WLK works now, but I'm sure you can do level 60 raid instances with a fairly small group now, if you have the time even the first few bosses are good for kitting up the children.

Post by **Dog Pants** » March 3rd, 2009, 16:28

I wasn't really thinking anything specific other than getting people levelling faster (if they want to) and not feeling like they're going to have to go solo until they hit 80. Personally I think it's a bit of a waste of time going to much effort for gear for low levels, as they'll be switching it out before too long. Besides which, this is supposed to be help for beginners. When I started playing all I was interested in was DPS and armour, I had no idea what the other stats meant. I only started paying attention to item stats after about lvl50.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » March 3rd, 2009, 16:52

Baliame wrote:Stat stuff

Not bad as a very rough guide for levelling.

Paladins: Holy = Int > Spell Power > Sp Crit (Spirit is useless); Ret = Str > Hit > Crit; Tank = Stam > Str > Block

DK: Same as warrior afaik

Baliame · Post by **Baliame** » March 3rd, 2009, 17:30

Dog Pants wrote:Personally I think it's a bit of a waste of time going to much effort for gear for low levels, as they'll be switching it out before too long.

Initially I thought this as well, however after a few alts I found that there are some pretty good blue or even green stuff at you won't switch for about 20 levels at low and for about 10 levels at mid level, and if there's noone around to help you, it helps a lot.