Will grind for dragon mount
24th February 2009 – 10.52 amI haven't kept it much of a secret that I have found the level-based restrictions and pointless content-unlocking quest chains rather frustrating, to the point where I am enjoying my own corner of nostalgic glee in grinding for the Netherwing Drake. Melmoth heeds my disatisfaction, 'Lo, if you want to fly a dragon, get thyself to the Temple of the Wyrmrest Accord.' That certainly sounds like a plan and I like a good grind to get my teeth in to, particularly one with a goal.
Heading out to Dragonblight to start my quest the cryptic aspects of the expansion show up again before I even get started. Riding to the Wyrmrest Temple presents me with an innkeeper and flight point, but nothing more that is obvious. There aren't even any yellow exclamation marks on the mini-map to indicate available quests. If I hadn't been brought here before by a guild member—when I was too low-level for the quest givers to consider wanting to talk to me, naturally—I might have dismissed the temple as nothing more than a waypoint, not realising that I have to talk to an arbitrary figure standing outside to be flown to the top of the temple to find the quest givers. I don't know why the game is suddenly so opaque about the simplest of mechanics, picking up quests, which it managed to do so well right from the start.
My little rant over, I pick up all the quests and scatter myself to the four corners of Dragonblight, discovering pockets of beauty and devastation in the frozen wasteland I hadn't wandered in to yet. Meeting my future self was interesting, thinking I had wandered in to Ragefire Chasm was curious, and seeing the birds reincarnate before my eyes was glorious. More importantly, I was back in Northrend, questing and enjoying myself. After the quagmire of world events and apathy towards funnelled adventuring had sucked the fun out of Wrath of the Lich King it is invigorating to see the new continent afresh. Thanks, Melmoth!
My death knight is running around improving her reputation with the Wyrmrest Accord, picking up Dalaran cooking awards most days and heading in to the chaotic and thrilling skirmishes of Wintergrasp whenever she can. My warrior is moving up the ranks of the Dragonmaw with considerable speed, being almost revered by the Netherwing already, whilst also trying to get some Dalaran cooking awards. The daily quests are really helping to keep my interest. Not only that, with a new focus on both characters level progression is now a side-effect rather than an aim, XP the exhaust of my fun-jets. It was actually a surprise when they both reached 75th level recently, after stagnating so long at 74th. This is how I like playing, where my actions are my progress and I don't feel I am mechanistically performing rote tasks. The World of Warcraft is my oyster again.
4 Responses to “Will grind for dragon mount”
Keep going in Dragonblight, as well as the Wyrnmrest faction there's the excellent Wrath Gate quest chain, which although perhaps not as extraordinary as some bloggers have exclaimed, is worth experiencing. I think you have to complete a couple of quest chains from Wintergarde Keep to get yourself on the path to the Wrath Gate chain.
I'm very glad to hear that you've regained your enthusiasm!
Is that the gate that despite almost identical to the entrance to Mordor from the Lord of the Rings feature film is still completely awe-inspiring, with frozen wyrms battling both Horde and Alliance outside of it? I think I am about to begin that line of quests.
That's the one!
I'd say more but don't want to spoil anything for you. Let us know what you think once you've witnsessed The Event (DUN DUN DUN!)
I have indeed been sent to Fordragon Hold, but on getting here I find no one has any quests for me.
Stupid game.