So, I’ve been playing WoW longer this last week, than I have the past 2-3 years.
There are some things that I had forgotten about, that I’m re-discovering and being genuinely surprised, happy and grateful for Classic bringing back to the game (like unflooded Thousand Needles, zones NOT being split in half or completely ruined design-wise thanks to the stupid Cataclysm), while other things are actually new to me, and having a blast learning all that’s new.
When I started playing WoW originally, during the last patch of TBC, I believe the hunter’s pet loyalty system was still in the game, but not sure of that? I know that “Beast Training” was, but I was so new to the game at the time, and already making mistakes like not knowing about talent points, class trainers until around level 30 or so, that things like Beast Training, and even learning new pet abilities by taming different types of pets/animals was a thing (again, I don’t know what was removed or changed in WoW by the time of patch 2.3, but I know Beast Training was still in the game).
But yeah, I’m really glad that Classic is here and happened. Like I said, few years back I decided I didn’t care about WoW anymore, and was doing everything I could to distance myself from the game (didn’t even care about private servers, since, Blizzard was on a warpath it seemed, and I just could not stomach Legion/BFA anymore - and private servers NEVER last, why invest somewhere when it’s not going to matter in a week? a month? half a year? a year?)
I can get passed or gloss over what issues or problems so many come on here to whine about. I don’t care about rushing to end-game (I stopped caring about that when MOP came), I don’t care about progression - hell, I don’t even care about “firsts” despite people actually caring, tracking and posting/updating that crap about “who got level 60 first”, “who downed Rag first”, “who downed Ony first” etc.
I finally have, the version of the game I’ve been missing and desiring for such a long time back. I can finally be out in the Azeroth that IS Azeroth, and be at peace with my fun and enjoyment, doing quests, having crazy fun adventures with my family, and most importantly, NOT having rude jerks stack on NPC’s, or just overall screw about in my or anyone I play with faces with their over-sized/flying mounts (and to actually become amused and take it as a game, and eventually launch into such a toxic, foul-language and insult-ridden assault on me or anyone I play with, who so dares to /spit on the offenders).
WoW to me, is not a race, or a competition. I do like some PVP via BG’s from time to time, but that’s NOT even remotely close to why I enjoy, or even play WoW.
And I did not have very high expectations of Classic. I figured I would pick the lowest pop realm I could find, not be part of anyone’s guild, and would probably have a miserable time trying to do anything - I decided to roll on the realm a streamer I watch chose to play on, I joined the guild he formed, and being on a fairly high pop realm (I’ve been seeing it say “full” when ever I go to log on, and usually have to wait 30-45 minutes in a queue to log in), and part of a guild with over 900 members, has been the best experience in WoW since 2008-2009!
Just finished my sense undead quest actually and am working towards my hammer.