Returning Player and more than a bit overwhelmed

Guides Returning Player Help & Discussions
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Hi all, just came back from a long hiatus. Last time I properly played was Cataclysm. I did return briefly for Legion but didnt stay for long due to work/life commitments as well as limitations with device processing power. Now that I am back, I found myself almost utterly lost. For example, I had to do a bit of research to understand how to get to Undercity (by completing the BFA quest chain) for the Nobelgarden quest, but then the quest tracker that asked me to go to Undercity seems to point to Silvermoon, and thats another nut I have not crack. I figured out how to get to the TBC version of Silvermoon but cannot for find a way there for Midnight. Going through the portal to Ghostland from Eastern Plagueland seems to kick me back. It also seem like I am now stuck in the BFA version of Undercity with all the poison fog around the Ruins of Lordaeron. I cannot find a way back to the Ruin of Lordaeron without the fog.

I guess my question is if there is a better way to re-orient myself to the current expansion? I know it is almost an impossible ask with almost 15 years worth of content, but a starting point would be nice. I started with the catch up journey quest but I think it leaves me more confused than anything. Thank you in advance!

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Welcome back!

If you’re not overwhelmed, you don’t know what’s going on! :smiley:

Yeah, we hear that a lot of people are more confused after that catch-up process.

You obviously remember Wowhead. I’m assuming that’s how you got this far.

I also suggest you bookmark this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyqj414Se1Y

It is massively long, but broken into small chapters of 1-2 minutes each, and there is a Table of Contents inthe Description if you click “More”, so you can go straight to what you want.

Since it’s for beginners, you will already know a lot of what’s in it, but you might be surprised by some of the updates.

I further cautiously recommend asking AIs about problems - Perplexity AI, Grok AI, Lumo AI are all easily available for free (up to a point) on their websites. I say “cautiously” because they will usually give you good answers, but can also get completely turned around and confused, mostly because they are consulting different websites from different expansions.

OK, so that’s some resources for future use.

Phasing is a curse, and the devs are addicted to it.

Phasing is something you would have seen a little in Cata. Mount Hyjal was the main example. Phasing is when a specific place is in two different states because it is as seen at two different times, and Tirisfal/Undercity is one of those cases.

You are put into a phase by doing some quests, which require you to see that phase to continue there.

In many phased areas, Zidormi is placed somewhere around. Zidormi is from the Bronze Dragonflight Keepers of Time, and will on request, switch you from one phase to another.

You will find Zidormi in Tirisfal Glades, and many other places. Look for a speech bubble on the map. Talk to Zidormi of you want to switch phases. It doesn’t always work, depending on your quest state, but always worth a try.

You should not be able to switch to the Midnight phase of Silvermoon on a level 50 character, since a level 50 can’t start Midnight quests.

Does the original Silvermoon not have Noblegarden?

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Thank you, that was helpful. Will look into this when I login again. I looked at the TBC Silvermoon at least twice and I don’t see anything. The quest objective marker is also not there.

I guess the other thing I probably screwed up on is I did not buy the base version of Midnight? It didn’t occur to me until I dig into the extra bonuses when I see the green upgrade button in the launcher. Something that didnt even occur to me since I didnt think that you can play without buying the expansion. I have always been buying physical copy of the collector’s edition so it all kinda came in naturally until this expansion.

Yeah I used google which generally gives you the AI Gemini response which may not have helped. But I got the part where I have to phase to the old version through Zidormi seeing as i was able to travel between pre-BFA and BFA Ruins of Lordaeron.

So I guess the plan of action is watch the video for starter. I am already past level 50 so I guess I might not have found the right quest for it. May be a silly question but I guess I will need to purchase at least the base version of Midnight expansion too.

I will give that a go and see if it gets any better. I think it will require a lot of adjustment as I have always leveld through dungeon finder back in Cataclysm and now that it all has changed, I will have to get used to the updated dungeons. Thanks! I am sure I will still be lost to some level and will come back if the video and link doesnt help.

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Buying Midnight will do nothing for you yet.

Your character will not be able to interact with Midnight content or zones in any way until you hit level 80. That’s when you can take your first Midnight quest, and enter the Midnight phase of Silvermoon. It simply does not exist for characters below 80.

You can still level through Dungeon Finder.

Which timeline did you choose from Chromie?

If you want to play familiar dungeons, you can go back to her and choose Outland, Northrend, or Cata, and if you do, LFD will match you with the dungeons from those expacs.

And do please ask again here if you have more questions!

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It is a bit much. Been gone for a long time too. I was level 80 when I left and I come back as a 30. I couldn’t even find my way out of Orgrimmar, let alone remember how my affliction talent tree was set up.

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Apparently can’t do this either, on my grandkid’s account.

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I’m in the exact same situation. I haven’t played in forever… Maybe 10 years? I don’t know how long… But along freaking time… It is overwhelming because so much has changed. But I’m not pressuring myself. I’m just going here and there and doing whatever I feel like doing… I hit 90 in about a couple weeks… and now I’m doing rituals and trying to figure out how to gear. Don’t stress yourself and enjoy.

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