So I never got a chance to play Vanilla WoW since I joined once Wrath came out, but I'm really excited for the challenge of leveling. In current retail, we're given so many things to help us level as quickly as possible which devalues the stories that are given to us through quests that we end up missing out on.

Also, instead of being the one that saves the world time after time, I'd like to just be someone who happens to know what they're doing in combat and doesn't die too often. I enjoy being a simple adventurer. '

I'm just excited to have a close-knit community in a server which happened even in Wrath. That was awesome.

Honestly one of the main things is that there is "ceiling" in terms of gear progression - I like that I wont be punished for not playing everyday or pushing high level content everyday or whatever. Gives me more time to go do things like professions or gold making or PvP. And that's another point - I guess PvP is more "balanced" seeing as there isn't an ever shifting loot table.

I really just want to play an MMORPG version of World of Warcraft again.

I say that because I don't really consider the current iteration an MMORPG. Sure, you can create your character, but it's extremely cookie-cutter. Year on year, RPG aspects have been picked apart and removed to the point where it feels more like a hack and slash action game now.

Here's what I'm looking forward to, specifically:

- Building a reputation within my community, and having everyone else do the same, for better or worse
- Actively looking for groups to complete content, or just adventure with
- Exploring the zones to their fullest, not just flying over the top
- Dedicating time and effort to my character, both in obtaining gear and gaining reputation, such that it feels like I've achieved something
- Finding a guild with members that I can enjoy myself with, playing together and socialising

I'm genuinely really excited, and can't wait until I can get started. :mrgreen:

World PvP 100%

Creating a name for myself and working hard to maintain a lasting reputation on the server. It's fun to be known as 'that guy'.

Twinking was a huge part for me. I had 2 to 3 alts which I got second best-in-slot items on, and could play these characters for months.

Reason why twinking was such a big thing for me is that—even at lower levels—you actually had reason to remain there, and not rush everything to 60. I had twinks at 29, 39, and 49, and those levels were still relevant to remain at, which felt great.

Sometimes I took, let's say, my level 49 to level appropriate zones and attacked opposite faction, doing some World PvP. It was fun to just do something else.

Professions were still relevant, and big in Classic, enchanting being one of my favourites for sure. This is something I really enjoy.

Running dungeons, while not mechanically challenging, just had great themes to them, which made them feel as a big part of the world and actually made them great to run; plus that items that dropped in them were actually set-in-stone and could no magically "forge" into something else, something you didn't want. Dungeons, and the items, all had a purpose.

It was never a rush. You took each day in Azeroth as it came. It was still a game, and I daresay back then people were not as invested into gaming as people can be today, but Vanilla had that pull, which made it feel more than a game at times.

Honestly one of the main things is that there is "ceiling" in terms of gear progression - I like that I wont be punished for not playing everyday or pushing high level content everyday or whatever. Gives me more time to go do things like professions or gold making or PvP. And that's another point - I guess PvP is more "balanced" seeing as there isn't an ever shifting loot table.

You are spot on here, and not just ceiling of gear, ceiling of everything - zones, available spells, raids, dungeons etc. What this means is that all the time you pour into making your character, is never wasted or lost. It will always be as powerful as you make it, and an expansion or new tier of gear wont make your character useless/undergeared/under repped.

I can't wait to put time into my character and my reputation, and know it will be a lasting thing.

I can't wait to put time into my character and my reputation, and know it will be a lasting thing.

This exactly, and if I don't play then I won't be penalized by needing to grind extra when I finally decide to play again. I pick up where I left off, and play the game at my own pace and enjoy it at my own pace.

World PvP, also i love when im run for quest, and i saw chest or rare mob (without any addons for rares mobs and chests locations) damn...best feeling for me

It may be something small but what I'm most excited about is the feeling of being some average Joe adventurer or just some guy in a fantastical world, as opposed to the chosen one or some important entity.

I think there's a plethora of reasons why I fell in love with Vanilla WoW when it came out all those years ago, and why I dislike modern BFA.

Without making it a rant on gameplay mechanics and all the amazing things WoW did, I'll put it into a short list;

- RPG Elements
- Simple but interesting stat system
- Unique items/weapons
- Community, and the living breathing world you were apart of
- Actual faction warfare
- Class fantasies and class quests
- Engaging gear progression and dungones/raids

The 2 day AVs :) PogChamp

The 2 day AVs :) PogChamp

Haha, I was waiting for this one! AV, one of the absolutely best PvP encounters for me, and for the reason - it's complicated, vast and teamwork oriented. Especially fun when you join in with your mates and form a task-force, proceeding through the objectives with a small group in which everybody is aware of whats happening in the midst of huge zerg fest along the forntlines.

The most rewarding thing is being able to finally achieve victory after a real marathon. This is certainly not convenient or handed on a plate, therefore might not appeal to most of the players. For me - it's the best.

Real talk now. World of Warcraft is a gripping and immersive game because it came after years of world building with the previous Warcraft titles. WoW was the fullest realisation of that imagination and was put together by very talented people. Whilst I think BC and Wrath that followed were fitting expansions, everything after that felt like a bolt-on job.

It’s been mentioned here many times before but I’ll say it again anyway - ‘rare’ actually means rare in vanilla. Whether its a world drop, or baron mount, or even a spawn, it really does feel epic when this kind of stuff drops on you in the middle of nowhere.

That has the effect of seeing people with super rare stuff and thinking ‘holy fuck’, or being impressed by someone with the wintersaber mount, knowing how much work went into the grind to get it.

Lastly, all of that will persist and always be relevant! If this doesn’t inspire people to play and invest in their character then I don’t know what will.

Playing the latest expansion made me realize how easy the game has become. You can level though the expansion casually in a week and gear up in full epics in a month time.

Starting in February 2005, it took me a couple of months to even reach level 60. After that it took a long time to get enough blues to even think about raiding.

It was all so much slower and chill back then.

Wiping in a dungeon in the current expansions results in people leaving without saying a word. Heck, joining a dungeon using the lfg tool requires no communication. I've completed dungeons with the latest expansion without anyone saying a word in the party chat.

Wiping in dungeons in vanilla was part of the experience and people were fine with it. Dungeons that took multiple hours where common. Nowadays people are rushing to finish the dungeon within 30 minutes.

The sense of community is lost nowadays. Back in the days on my first server I knew every large guild, famous people with good gear and the pvpers of the opposite faction. You where stuck together on the server because you've invested a lot of time in your character. It also forced you to build a good reputation to be invited in groups and raids.

Honestly one of the main things is that there is "ceiling" in terms of gear progression - I like that I wont be punished for not playing everyday or pushing high level content everyday or whatever. Gives me more time to go do things like professions or gold making or PvP. And that's another point - I guess PvP is more "balanced" seeing as there isn't an ever shifting loot table.

This - while I am still playing retail, I think this is a huge thing for me - a ceiling.

In classic, you're just an adventurer. Your impact is small, but noticeable.

You hit the nail on the head with this one.
I’d like to add that everything matters in Classic. You farm linen cloth on retail? Who cares. You farm ANYTHING in Classic, it’s worth something to someone. You don’t need any professions in retail. Can you even imagine NOT picking a profession in Classic? You’ll be missing out! Everything is so impactful and that’s awesome. Especially important for people who work fulltime and only have a few hours to play per day (like me).

The fact that I can do whatever I want when I want and the only progress that's hindered is the expectations I set for myself. There are no outside factors inside the game that is making me feel penalized for not participating at that point in time. If I want to fish all day instead of gearing up, that's perfectly acceptable and it's my choice to "set myself back" instead of the game making me feel punished for doing so.

The whole experience...again. The feeling of achievement from the things that you did without being rewarded with "achievements". The amount of time to gear cap in vanilla took so much longer than it does in BFA and felt so much more rewarding back then. Your guild would celebrate your victories in leveling and gear with you. That aspect is mostly gone now.
There were no daily quests. Daily quests involved you getting your ass outside and gathering mats to craft or sell for gold.
In BFA I have to do a hundred quest chains to unlock certain areas or content. In vanilla it was all there ready for you to go find for yourself.
There are so many things I am looking forward to.