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World of Warcraft boasts a sophisticated interface that allows newcomers to perform the basics with ease, yet handles more complex tasks, such as macros, calendar scheduling, and party/raid management. Still, the game's native interface is only the tip of the iceberg -- thousands of fan-made modifications have, with Blizzard's blessing, been made available to improve your control over the game. To supercharge your WoW experience, you'll want to avail yourself of some of these mods.
Massively-multiplayer role-playing games have a lingo all their own. While some of it is just fancy jargon meant to allow self-styled insiders to pat themselves on the back, much is genuinely useful, particularly in group play. If you want to be invited back to group dungeon-running sessions, make sure you've got the basics down. Your function in a party will usually break down to one of three roles - "tank" (the big lug who absorbs damage from enemies and tries to protect the rest of the party, usually a warrior, paladin, or druid); "Threat" or "Aggro" refers to an enemy creature's prioritization of which party members to attack first; generally you want to make sure the Tank has the lion's share of the Aggro, which means damage spells and healing spells need to be modulated so as not to draw too much attention.
On PVP server, you are one of those brave souls who choose to play where you can attack or be attacked by players from the opposite faction at any time, you'll need to be on your toes a bit more than normal. If you're creating a new character, consider playing one of the classes that can go into stealth mode like the Rogue or the Druid, as this will allow you to hide from enemies and get the lay of the land from a safe vantage point. And also questing is easier for stealth classes, as they can often avoid enemies en route to their goals rather than fight their way through everything.
Or you might consider playing a Warlock, a class whose reputation for PvP toughness precedes it and makes anyone think twice before attacking without backup. Whatever class you've chosen, it's advisable to find a goodly-sized guild and team up with friends for questing sessions. Still, everybody finds themselves outmatched now and again, so practice your escape techniques. Pretty much every class has a spell that can briefly stun, immobilize, or incapacitate opponents -- whether it's the Paladin's Hammer of Justice, the priest's Psychic Scream, or the rogue's Blind. Discretion is the better part of valor, so when you feel outmatched by an unexpected foe, try one of these spells as you beat a hasty retreat. As usual carrying a few Swiftness Potions are obtainable from the auction house or an alchemist friend.
As long as you're blasting through the levels from 70 to 80, don't forget to try some dungeon crawls along the way. They'll provide a ripe source of experience points and quality loot. In Lich King, the dungeons are quick to complete and, as in Burning Crusade, many contain multiple wings, with separate bite-sized hubs that can be cleared in an hour or less. Get to know the initials of the various dungeon names so you'll be able to recognize them in the "Looking For Group" chat channel as other players seek to fill their parties. The first dungeons you'll be able to visit in Northrend are the Nexus, which can be found in the center of the Borean Tundra, and Utgarde Keep, located on the shores of Lake Cauldros in the Howling Fjord. Both can be attempted by a party of adventurers around level 71. Make sure that pick up some of the quest rewards in the Northrend starter zones to improve your gear first, though -- unless you're a hardcore player already clothed in fancy epic weapons and armor.
Massively-multiplayer role-playing games have a lingo all their own. While some of it is just fancy jargon meant to allow self-styled insiders to pat themselves on the back, much is genuinely useful, particularly in group play. If you want to be invited back to group dungeon-running sessions, make sure you've got the basics down. Your function in a party will usually break down to one of three roles - "tank" (the big lug who absorbs damage from enemies and tries to protect the rest of the party, usually a warrior, paladin, or druid); "Threat" or "Aggro" refers to an enemy creature's prioritization of which party members to attack first; generally you want to make sure the Tank has the lion's share of the Aggro, which means damage spells and healing spells need to be modulated so as not to draw too much attention.
On PVP server, you are one of those brave souls who choose to play where you can attack or be attacked by players from the opposite faction at any time, you'll need to be on your toes a bit more than normal. If you're creating a new character, consider playing one of the classes that can go into stealth mode like the Rogue or the Druid, as this will allow you to hide from enemies and get the lay of the land from a safe vantage point. And also questing is easier for stealth classes, as they can often avoid enemies en route to their goals rather than fight their way through everything.
Or you might consider playing a Warlock, a class whose reputation for PvP toughness precedes it and makes anyone think twice before attacking without backup. Whatever class you've chosen, it's advisable to find a goodly-sized guild and team up with friends for questing sessions. Still, everybody finds themselves outmatched now and again, so practice your escape techniques. Pretty much every class has a spell that can briefly stun, immobilize, or incapacitate opponents -- whether it's the Paladin's Hammer of Justice, the priest's Psychic Scream, or the rogue's Blind. Discretion is the better part of valor, so when you feel outmatched by an unexpected foe, try one of these spells as you beat a hasty retreat. As usual carrying a few Swiftness Potions are obtainable from the auction house or an alchemist friend.
As long as you're blasting through the levels from 70 to 80, don't forget to try some dungeon crawls along the way. They'll provide a ripe source of experience points and quality loot. In Lich King, the dungeons are quick to complete and, as in Burning Crusade, many contain multiple wings, with separate bite-sized hubs that can be cleared in an hour or less. Get to know the initials of the various dungeon names so you'll be able to recognize them in the "Looking For Group" chat channel as other players seek to fill their parties. The first dungeons you'll be able to visit in Northrend are the Nexus, which can be found in the center of the Borean Tundra, and Utgarde Keep, located on the shores of Lake Cauldros in the Howling Fjord. Both can be attempted by a party of adventurers around level 71. Make sure that pick up some of the quest rewards in the Northrend starter zones to improve your gear first, though -- unless you're a hardcore player already clothed in fancy epic weapons and armor.
