[:1]So, after repeating myself for the umpteenth time here's the skinny:
Your region
It doesn't matter where you are in the world.
You can play on US servers from the EU. You can play on Korean servers from Australia and you can play on EU servers from China (though China is always a bit... "if they don't block ya"). The only reason not to is lag. As in, the further you are from your server (realm actually, one realm = multiple servers presented to you as one) the worse your gameplay will be.
What determines your server-location? Where you create your account:
US = www.worldofwarcraft.com
EU = www.wow-europe.com
KR = ??
Oceanic = ??
China = ?? (but you get the idea)
There is a different game client to go with each of these regions, but that can be downloaded from the above World of Warcraft Account Management page.
What to install
Always, no matter what you buy or don't buy, if you're going to be playing wow the right way (that is, no private servers, we don't likes them here) you need to be using the latest greatest version of wow (3.3.5 as of writing) (currently 4.0.3 ~ Gorny).
The game client itself is actually completely free to distribute to as many friends as you like on as many pc's as you can get away with. That includes downloading from a (reputable) website and lending the disks to and from anyone who'll have them. The level of content you can experience is then dictated by your account (see below).
Even the installed game client is pretty free to distribute as is. Your password is not kept anywhere, only your account name (which, granted, still is somewhat of a security risk) and your addons and their data.
In fact, if you're migrating to a new pc you can simply copy over your wow installation folder and be good to go.
Expansions and whatnot
There are several levels of accounts:
- Trial
- Vanilla
- Burning Crusade
- Wrath of the Lich King
Trial:
- You can make a Human/Dwarf/Night Elf/Gnome or Orc/Troll/Tauren/Forsaken (=Undead)
- You can level up to L20, have xx amount of gold, bla bla
- All kinds of restrictions to prevent griefers from annoying other players
Vanilla (aka Classic):
- Same as trial without the restrictions
- Level up to L60
Burning Crusade (aka BC or TBC):
- Level up to L70
- Make a Draenei or Blood Elf
- Go to Outland. The Dark Portal lets you in from L58, but you can portal in sooner with the help of a Mage. You won't get any quests until reaching L58 though.
Wrath of the Lich King (aka WotLK or Lich King):
- Level up to L80
- Once you have at least ONE character L55 or higher you can make Death Knights (they start at L55 and are awesomesauce). On any server you want.
- Go to Northrend. You can freely go there any level you want, but you won't get quests there until L68.
Upgrading is done by purchasing a box:
- Trial -> Vanilla = buying the World of Warcraft box
- Vanilla -> Burning Crusade = buying the Burning Crusade box
- Burning Crusade -> Wrath of the Lich King = Buying the Wrath of the Lich King
and there is no skipping possible.
You can get a good deal by buying the WoW Battlechest which is Vanilla + BC for a nice price.
When purchasing a box you are in effect getting two separate items:
1. A CD and/or DVD with the game client on
2. A one-time use authentication code to upgrade your account with (do not confuse with "Blizzard Authenticators", an altogether different beast).
The CD/DVD is of course a bit unnecessary as you can download the whole thing. The authentication key is the most valuable part until it's been used. After that it's only use is that a GM might request it to verify your identity (so don't throw it away).
So, that's it, sticky??|||Maybe mention that Jewlcrafting is only available to accounts which have Burning Crusade whereas Inscription is available to all.
To future proof this post perhaps mention that the "cataclysm" will occur and affect all accounts. That AFAIK flying in Azeroth will be available to all flying eligible accounts, but without cataclysm you won't have access to the new races and new 80-85 areas of Azeroth.|||Oceanic plays on the US realms Win :)|||Quote:
Oceanic plays on the US realms Win :)
I was too lazy to do the actual research on the realms thing since I was merely trying to convey the principle of it. But thanks. Now the newbie oceanic players won't be desperately looking for a separate wow-site .
Another useful addition would be to illustrate that it is entirely possible to space out your purchases like this:
- Start a vanilla char (say Human Warrior) in a trial account
- Level to L20 or play to the end of the trial period (whichever comes first)
- Buy vanilla
- level to L60
- Buy TBC
- Level to L70
- Buy WotLK
- Level to L80
- and so forth for following expansions|||Looking good, i stickied it for now :)|||It could also be noted that although you don't need to buy a CD to instal the game, it is alot faster to use the CD as opposed to the online download. Also, in order to play WoW you will need to make a battle.net account (either US or EU, doesn't matter which as long as you know which it is) and merge your WoW account to it.|||does it matter cant you play them all|||I wasn't aware you could play on US servers from EU? I take it you would have to download the US client?|||Quote:
I wasn't aware you could play on US servers from EU? I take it you would have to download the US client?
You can play on any region's servers from anywhere in the world as long as you have the appropriate client and account. If I had a EU account, and the EU client, I could play on the EU servers from the US. I doubt I'd get a very good experience though: Lag would be incredible given the distance between me and the servers and the time difference would probably make it difficult to get any good end game raiding, but I could play on the EU servers.|||I found this helpful, and I'm sorry if I over read what I am about to ask in the help guide above, But here is my question
I am new to WoW, I am still on the trial account, Is it possible for me just to upgrade straight to =WoTLK= without playing or buying the other expansions?
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