I just wanted to chime in and say that World of Warcraft Hardcore has been the most fun I’ve had with WoW in years, and as if the game I’ve always loved never left in the first place.
I understand that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I myself was turned off at the thought of losing even a second of my time because of permadeath, but what was unexpected was how permadeath affects the community in the most interesting ways, leads to genuinely emergent gameplay, and turns a solved game into an adventure again.
Lower level zones are always packed with players LFG’ing for the zone’s elite quests, and it’s filled up right up through the higher level zones. The economy is healthy and even average joes can make fortunes through simple farming and crafting. Players are naturally defensive and treat dungeons and Elite quests like dangerous encounters. Professions are useful and equipment is in-demand and rewarding to craft for friends or to turn a tidy profit.
It really does feel like a world again, and the lowbie elite quests almost remind me of Diablo “runs” where the content is just fun and engaging to interact with. Every piece of gear, every reputation, every gold piece earned feels weighty again and I simply cannot get enough.
If you wrote off Hardcore thinking it’s dead or that no one played it, I implore you, please give it a chance. I’m grateful to have the chance to have played HC and it might surprise you as well.
Stay safe, stay alive.
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yes, everyone being so risk-averse really opens up a variety of new play styles 
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I find that even though people are more risk averse, things still go wrong and the scramble to escape is really tense.
People take advantage of things in ways they never did. Back in the day you never saw Petri’s, target dummies, or FAP’s in a PvE setting. I think that adds to the game.
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Look at you, Eyr.
You’re so in love with SoD that you’re complaining about Hardcorpse now.
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It was fun – still is fun – but I’m on Hardcore Hiatus for now. Having fun in LKClassic with RDF.
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I realize now this might have come off as sarcastic but it wasn’t
Dear diary.
Today I have learned that Engineering is not overhyped.
Engineering is so, so strong.
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Feeding into my appreciation of this game, even though I’ve played this game for a very long time there are still nuggets of things I never knew existed.
One, when you finish the Stitches quest, if Stitches is not already spawned you will have members of the Night Watch enter the Town Hall with reports that the wildlife of Duskwood is afraid, and that packs of wolves are fleeing from the west.
I was lucky and turned in the quest right as it was turning 5PM server time, so as the Night Watch member was reporting this, the town’s bells were tolling. It was raining, it was dark.
I was so immersed, man. I love this game.
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Everything you’re saying about hardcore was already true for classic, except not deleting all your work after 1 death. Good luck doing anything at 60 btw, if you even get there.
A lot of us aren’t here to raid. So, meh… whatever.
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have you even played HC? it’s much different and the level of engagement at every level of the game is much different. HC classic is the only version of WoW that succeeded at creating a world that truly feels alive.
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Agreed. It is a wonderful break from Retail. There is a Level of danger to everything that you do. I’m really enjoying it. Thank you for a good post!
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Duskwood is ten times spookier when you have permadeath. Stiches ran by me on the way to the road (before he has an aggro radius) and it was a shock!
And things like the fog or enemy density really feel harrowing when you’re trying to survive!
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Yep, still loving this game. On a druid now, and it’s even more fun than before!
Just wanted to say, this is such an amazing post; it captures my sentiment toward HC perfectly. These forums are so full of negativity that its very refreshing to see something like this. Appreciate it.
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