Cataclysm and RAF and New Servers

[smooth]

I know it has not been confirmed by Blizzard but I am going on the assumption that there will be at least 1 brand new server released with Cataclysm

I enjoy leveling on brand new servers and I have used RAF extensively since it came out, primarily dual-boxing 2 hunters to 60.9, then solo from that point forward.

I want to have a discussion about how RAF and Cataclysm may work, with all the Cataclysm changes to the old world content. As far as I know, there is no way to test out RAF with the Cataclysm beta (which I have access to) and there could be some unforeseen circumstances.

Some of my concerns are:

1) Phasing

A lot of the 1-60 content is now phased and this may create issues for dual-boxing.

When I dual-box, I probably only complete 75% of the quests on my 2nd character (ie, dont do collection quests on the 2nd char) and this may cause a lot of issues with phasing.

I know I have read somewhere something to the affect that if grouped while questing, you will still be in the same phase, but I dont have proof of that.

2) Realm Firsts with RAF

I have seen it mentioned that Blizzard has said that characters that use BOA gear do not get credit for Realm Firsts. Obviously that will not affect those on a brand new server (no BOA).

Some other people have mentioned that they *think* in Cataclysm that using RAF will invalidate Realm Firsts also. I know first hand that when WOTLK came out, using RAF did NOT invalidate Realm Firsts on the brand new servers released on WOTLK (ie, US Grizzly Hills).

I would like to hear people's thoughts on this or if anyone has any links to prove or disprove.

From my experience, using RAF will still allow characters to get Realm Firsts.

3) Lost Isles/Gilneas

As a Goblin, you have to complete Lost Isles before you can leave and travel to the "old world". My assumption, like DK's, is that Goblins will not be able to RAF summoned out and must finish the quest chain.

If we were to RAF 2 goblins, obviously we would be well in excess of level 12 if we were to finish all of the quests there and I wonder if any of the quests could be skipped to get to the final quest that is actually needed to leave.

Again, without being able to test RAF on beta, there is no way to know this.

If it's not possible to skip any quests, we may find ourselves around level 18-20 and completing a bunch of grey quests just to get off the Lost Isles.

[Hivetyrant]

Can I ask why you would not do the same quests on all toons? Just curious as we all hate it, but it's nice x[ and gold.

Yes I believe it was confirmed that characters will be able to enter another characters phase, though if you are leveling together it shouldn't be a problem.

Not sure about realm firsts, but when a new realm is opened, they always have free transfers from other realms, so I doubt there would be any advantage.
Plus I'm pretty sure they have said there will be no new realms as they have already been added and there are plenty of low pop servers as it is.

[smooth]

> Can I ask why you would not do the same quests on all toons? Just curious as we all hate it, but it's nice x[ and gold.

The reason why I dont do all quests on both toons is that it is very much faster to only do some quests on 1 toon, then just grant a level to the other toon when the 1st toon gets a head. This speeds the 1-60 up by quite a bit. I would generally grant about 10 levels to the 2nd toon from a 1-60..

>Yes I believe it was confirmed that characters will be able to enter another characters phase, though if you are leveling together it shouldn't be a problem.

This would be a problem if the 2nd toon is not doing all the same quests as the first toon. As mentioned, it is definitely slower to have both chars do all quests.

>Not sure about realm firsts, but when a new realm is opened, they always have free transfers from other realms, so I doubt there would be any advantage.
Plus I'm pretty sure they have said there will be no new realms as they have already been added and there are plenty of low pop servers as it is.

Actually, there are 2 types of new realms. 1 is transfer realms, where characters from other servers can free transfer across (to reduce load on another server for example). The other type of new new realms are brand new, non transfer, fresh realms. These are the only realms I am interested in. The last 2 new fresh realms where on the day of WOTLK release. New Fresh Realms have some restrictions, such as NO transfers to the server of any type for 90 days.

Blizzard have NOT said there will be NO new realms. For people like myself, who only enjoy playing on fresh realms (and there are a lot of us), the argument "play on a low pop server" is pretty ignorant as that has nothing to do with what we are looking for. The difference between a brand new, non transfer server and a "low pop server" with a ton of 80s is not even in the same ballpark. I couldnt care less there are a bunch of low pop servers. Not my problem =)

[HPAVC]

Your RAF questing strategy makes no sense, you need to rethink that. Especially for the economic loss your taking for free gold on a virgin server.

Though frankly 1-60 is so easy I would rethink that as well. Banging out 5 characters with out RAF to 68 is pretty trivial doing the boxable quests for every zone (some amazing fell has a tourguide for this even on these forums, though for cata it will be stale)

[Velassra]

Actually, I've read a thread where Blue said there would be no new servers this time around. I don't have the link though.

[smooth]

I can guarantee you that dual-boxing 1-60 with my strategy (having one main char that completes all quests) and the 2nd char only completing some quests and being RAF granted each time they slip behind, is MUCH quicker than someone dual-boxing 1-60 and both chars completing all quests.

The nominal amount of gold, lets say up to 20-40G, is dwarfed a few hours later when I am 70+ and earning way more than that, and levels ahead of someone that didnt use my strategy.

Anyone dual-boxing for speed (Speed Leveling), and completing the exact same quests on both chars should rethink their strategy. For speed, it's definitely not the quickest way to go.

I can confirm that the last brand new, non transfer server (Grizzly Hills WOTLK), I reached level 60 almost 10 levels ahead of the next RAF pair..

[smooth]

Actually, I've read a thread where Blue said there would be no new servers this time around. I don't have the link though.

I have not seen such a post and no reference to such a post by anyone in the "we want a new server" community.

[Velassra]

I have not seen such a post and no reference to such a post by anyone in the "we want a new server" community.

Well good luck then. I'd have a plan B ready just in case though. With them converting dead PvP servers into PvE servers, and the vast majority of PvP servers seemingly dominant one faction...I can't see them creating a new server to go 1-85 to end up w/ the same mess. That's a long haul this late into the game. I could see them doing a wave of PvP server conversions.....which may drive alot of the population off w/ the free transfers....but that won't give you your realm firsts.

[Truelle]

Hi,

I love the realm firsts and race to level up too. (Had the realm first DK on Thrall)

I really expect there to be probably one new server with Cata. Even tho we don't need any more servers - I think Bliz will release one - if they don't its almost like admitting their game is in the decline phase.

I get the impression based on what I have read so far that RAF will be active and wouldn't disqualify you from a realm first. It looks like if you plan on doing a realm first worgen or goblin that you do have to complete your starting area to qualify for realm first tho. (It actually says that on the achievement)

I played on Grizzy Hills too and was using RAF but there was one horde and one alliance that was quite a bit ahead of me and I'd assume you were one of those.

If they do open a new server I assume we'll cross paths again. Good luck

Your strategy for only doing quests with one toon and granting on the other is the fastest way to use RAF without boosting. I'd didnt use that on Grizzy Hills but did use it with future RAF toons.

[smooth]

Hey Truelle,

I am sure our paths will cross again on a new Cataclysm server =)

I played a hunter called Smooth, and yes, there was an alliance guy that was about level 56 when I hit 60. I think the nearest Horde player was about 51 or 52 when I hit 60, maybe that was you?

I ended up stopping in the early 70s due to a RL situation, but had fun doing that run.

Let me know if you plan on playing Horde and maybe we can catch up there.

Smooth