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The Queue: Returning to WoW, Titan is still happening, music while WoWing
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) will be your host today. Good questions in The Queue today. I hope everyone in the States is having a safe Memorial Day, and remembering why many of us actually have the day off. Gavstar22 asked: My wife and I leveled a few characters to 90 and participated in a couple of raids at the start of MOP, after getting sick of giant tentacle killing in Cataclysm. Now we are back and have no idea what to do besides killing elites on the timeless isle. Our guild which was running 10 mans is now us and our GM (who spends time running dailies on alts) Can we progress legendary cloak quest in LFR or do tokens still not drop? What's with rare troll elites in Pandaria? Anything new with archaeology as I like the new interface? What are the achievements needed for LFR participation? So many questions ! Basically we're a bit lost at the moment feeling disconnected from what's happened.
Ask Massively: Vanguard's CE, Pandaria, and region-locked servers
It can be easy to forget how awesome MMO players are when we're knee-deep in troll-infested comment threads, but a note from a reader named Joshua this week served as the perfect perspective-reorientation: I was helping my brother demo and clean his father-in-law's home today and stumbled upon what appears to be a mint-condition Vanguard limited edition (collectors edition?). It looks to have all the goods, so I was wondering whether anyone at Massively would like to have it. Knowing how easy it is to get attached to these games, I figured someone would want it for sentimental reasons (I still have my DAOC boxes and books!). I don't know whether our staff will take you up on it, but just the fact that you thought of offering it to our bereaved fans instead of making a beeline for eBay warmed my heart.
What to do when you run into technical problems in WoW
Most of the time the World of Warcraft game client runs just fine. We like it that way, because it means all we have to do is click the game icon to dive into Azeroth where we can go about questing, raiding, crafting, PvPing, or whatever else we'd like to do. However, sometimes things just aren't working right -- maybe you can't connect or the game is too laggy for you to do anything. In situations like this, it's usually nothing but frustration until you manage to sort things out and the game starts working right again. Fortunately for our sanity, Blizzard has a great customer support team to help when you're having trouble. Whatever your game problem, they can definitely help you solve it. And if you're just not sure where to start, we'll point you in the direction of the right resources to find the answers you need.
How to get back into WoW after a long break
If you've taken a break from World of Warcraft, coming back can be tough. Even if you've only been gone a few months and missed a patch or two, gameplay changes and new content could catch you by surprise -- and if you've been gone for an entire expansion or more, the game changes could make World of Warcraft seem like a brand new game that you need to learn from scratch. But if you're interested in returning to WoW, don't despair. No matter when you left, you can get back in and enjoy new content and challenges, though relearning the game may take a little longer than you might like. We'll walk you the steps to get you back in the game as quickly as possible -- but be prepared to be patient as you hobble around like a newbie all over again.
The very best resources for players coming back to WoW
If you used to play World of Warcraft but you've been away for a while, coming back to the game can be daunting. With as much as WoW changes patch to patch (and expansion to expansion) you may not be joining a completely new game, but it can certainly feel like it. But catching up can be hard, as news and other sites tend to talk about what's happening right now more than what's changed over the last few years. But if you're trying to dip you toe back into WoW, we're here to say: don't be afraid! While there have been a ton of changes, it's easier to get up to speed than it's ever been with better in-game help and quests that help point the way when you need to go do something (like train riding or venture into a new zone). And on top of that, there are some great resources out there that can help you figure out up from down in the world of Azeroth and beyond.
Get back into the game with Blizzard's returning player guide
Are you a former WoW player considering a return to the game, but just don't know where to start with all the new systems since Cataclysm? Or are you a current player looking to help some newly-reinstated WoW friends get the most out of their play time? Nethaera's got you covered, with this detailed and thorough guide for returning players. It doesn't just go over changes in game mechanics, but even reminds players merge their battle.net account if it's been years since their last log-in. The guide mentions pretty much all of the significant changes that have occurred in the last two or three years -- from the talent system overhaul to the addition of battle pets and transmogrification. The guide also serves as a nice one-stop-shop for links to other, more detailed, guides, walkthroughs, and FAQs, so it's a nice hub from an organizational perspective, too, even if you don't need all the guides. If you are indeed taking the plunge again after an extended absence, welcome back, and along with Nethaera's guide, you may want to check out some of WoW Insider's as well! Seven things every newbie needs to know Five reasons patch 5.2 will pull you back into WoW Everything you need to know about getting started with addons How to make gold without breaking (much of) a sweat How to get started with transmogrification How to get started building your own battle pet arsenal
What advice do you have for a player just returning to WoW?
Hello there. You probably don't know me because I haven't been around these parts for a while. My name is Fox Van Allen. Normally, I'm the one who writes advice in 1,000 word chunks to help make your game-playing experience better. But today, I'm the one who needs a hand. Care to lend one? I have a dirty little secret (that's not much of a secret): I haven't played World of Warcraft in quite some time. My characters -- two shadow priests, an elemental shaman, and a boomkin -- are sitting at level 85. None of them have left Stormwind (or Orgrimmar) since MoP launched. My account is a blank slate. So I'm asking all of you who are enjoying your 104-day head start and all the insight it provides: What should I do first? What are the must-complete quest lines? Should I roll a panda monk and experience the new expansion from the very start, or should I start with the content for my existing level 85 characters? What talents do you love more than any other? And, most importantly: Where all the fun stuffs at? Mists of Pandaria is here! The level cap has been raised to 90, many players have returned to Azeroth, and pet battles are taking the world by storm. Keep an eye out for all of the latest news, and check out our comprehensive guide to Mists of Pandaria for everything you'll ever need to know.
Returning to World of Warcraft to play Cataclysm
You haven't played WoW in years -- but then you got a whiff of the expansion. Now you're itching to play again, but you're completely lost. So much has changed. Heck, so much is still changing. What do you need to do to get your characters back up to speed? Is there something you should be doing right now, before the expansion hits in December? Should you wait and reroll a new character? Will you sideswipe yourself if you simply start blind and fresh from level 1 in Cataclysm? WoW Insider makes it simple. Coming back to WoW after a break This article hits all the basics: Should you start now or wait for the expansion? Will you be at a disadvantage if you're not in game "getting ready" right now? What's changed since X date? What's important right now in today's game? What's important about Cataclysm? Get a good grasp of key changes and new content in the upcoming expansion. Cataclysm: The inside scoop Here's our reference page where we constantly update you with everything you need to know about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Click onward for more answers you can sink your teeth into.
