Completely from scratch(brand new server, no gold, no help), which 5man team is the best to start with? Also from scratch with said group, which method is best to get to 60 using RAF, the guide posted on these forums or instancing?

I was thinking the classes that need the least gear would do very well from scratch. The speed runners always seem to use Hunters on new servers, but I was also thinking that Shaman get such nice spell power buffs from their own skills and talents that 5xShaman could also cruise to 60 pretty easily, especially using the guide since it's all outside and 5xDD Spells should drop most mobs pretty easily.

Once you hit Outlands and beyond, instancing >> questing outdoors to leveling the team?



From a Theory Crafting standpoint leveing to 60 without any help, what specs are desired? My newbie thoughts:

Druid: seems like Balance would be awesome, since melee seems to pose extra challenges.

Hunter: beast mastery seems like a no brainer.

Mage: Frost looks quite appealing since it's very mana effecient and you get a part time pet, although arcane could be good with all the clearcasting procs from arcane missles.

Paladin: Retribution. All the self-healing just seems unfair.

Priest: Shadow tree, mind flay is very mana effecient, i wouldn't even bother with SW:P, just Mind Blast and Mind Flay with the mana reduction talents, once Shadow Form hits, things should just speed up.

Rogue: ???

Shaman: Elemental. Can't imagine anything being better.

Warlock: If outside questing, Destro with shadowbolts and imps firing should down things in 1 round of casting. I know Affliction looks appealing, but it's slow and takes a good amount of mana to kill things anyway, why not just nuke? If instancing, Affliction then switch to Demonology for Felguard?

Warrior: ???