Playing this game as a new player feels like going to a bar as someone new in town, and just seeing old timers there. To give a point of reference, I’m almost 21, and I’ve been playing since mid-late of Shadowlands.
It’s definitely an awkward experience no matter how you look at it. I understand most people on these forums have been playing for over a decade on average, and that’s completely fine. Please consider in order for a game to be successful, the new player experience has to be inviting, and well-polished else it will just be like my analogy, an old-timer’s bar.
Maybe some of you will disagree on my opinion here that the game is not welcoming to new players - because many of you had years and years to learn each system slowly over the span of multiple years. We new players have to learn so much and go to 3rd party sites to understand what we’re even doing and given the fact that the game is centralized around end-game progression and content, it’s just so overwhelming for new players (who wish to be competitive and do high-end/bleeding-edge content.) Personally, I’ve just given up on trying to understand the story/lore, none of it makes sense and it isn’t displayed in a way that makes sense for someone who is new to the game.
I’m just willing to bet on the fact that the game just doesn’t get new blood playing anymore, and Blizz caters to the seasoned players who understand the quirks with the game. It’s a business, afterall- so makes sense they would shape the game around their customer-base.
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This game was inviting to young players once. 20 years ago.
Those young players got older. 20 years older.
Now they aren’t so young. And young people generally don’t like to hang out with older people. So it’s only natural younger players feel WoW isn’t exactly for them.
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Hardly anything is inviting to new people unless you surround yourself with other new people.
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I guarentee if you substitute WoW for chess and start playing with other experienced people you will find their patience short as well, or basketball or poker, ect.
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To get the experience you are looking for, you really need to find other people at a similiar level you are at. Otherwise, just explain that you are new, dont understand and hope for the best. This is pretty much how the world works in every facet of life.
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I started playing during BfA and it was definitely super overwhelming. I got used to it bit by bit over time but I’m still learning new things all the time.
I definitely understand feeling lost. I spent so much time Googling things to try and understand what I was supposed to be doing.
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It’s just not a good argument, though.
The game CAN be inviting for new players if Blizz wanted it to be.
Look at League of Legends, an arguably very complex game at the high level. It is 15 years old birthday this year, and there is still a huge influx of new players who can slowly learn the game without convulted outdated trash systems. Everything is kept fresh, inviting, and new-players can easily join in without worry of “catching up.”
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At the risk of upsetting the current player base. Not worth it
Whos making the arugments? 12 year olds??
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Goes back to my argument, an old-timers bar. New players are an afterthought.
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The next big mmo will have to have elements similar to Minecraft where you can build and break down the virtual game world.
Just like the yutes of World of Warcraft when it was released would have no interest in the slow combat and group chats of Everquest just half a decade before.
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I wouldn’t say they are an afterthought but I also don’t think it is a priority for them. They have made minor attempts to help new players such as the new starting zone and the Newcomer Chat. Unfortunately the game has always fallen short when it comes to in game explanations for things, and they often rely on 3rd party sources for people to get real help or guidelines on things. It is something that bothers veteran players too.
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Because the game isnt new any more. The age of marketing something new to bring in a player base is over for WoW
WoW is popular and known even by non gamers. Those who wanted to try WoW have for the most part.
Playing catch up is part of the ordeal for any established game.
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WoW and league are very different types of games.
I understand where you’re coming from, but anything that could accomplish what you want would destroy WoW for the current playerbase.
Blizzard can’t just throw away their actual players in hope it will attract hypothetical players.
They have done a LOT to clean up the game for new players though. For instance: Back in the old days, we had to go through each expansion to level up. We had to level up from 1 to 60 in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, then from 60 to 70 in Outland, then from 70 to 80 in Northrend, then from 80 to 85 in the Cataclysm zones, then from 85 to 90 in Pandaria, then from 90 to 100 in Draenor, then from 100 to 110 in the Broken Isles, then from 110 to 120 in Kul Tiras and Zandalar.
Now you just have to do one expansion of your choice, then the current expansion. It’s much simpler.
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Still check into ol’ EQ every couple years and catch up.to current.
You want to discuss an outdated game engine lol
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It was awkward back in the day for newbie players too. There’s a reason why people still meme-trash-talk about Hogger, or kobolds or murlocs or whatnot. You could very easily get lolrekt by those mobs out of nowhere lol.
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In a fraction of the time. I can level to max and be running m+ 15s in the the time i took to level 60-80 back in wrath on a new character. That being familiar with the leveling spots in Outland and Northrend
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Games basically 20 years old and never did anything to help new players or f2p players
So yea, makes sense how its bad at getting people
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WoW doesn’t have to be anything to anyone
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I’m 21, been playing for a long time. If you want to find more young players, I recommend Twitter. We hang out there. I haven’t read the replies here. If anyone here says WoW shouldn’t cater to young players, block them. It can and should.
Edit: Here’s a Discord link.
https://discord.com/invite/WMtehAxP
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You’ve got achievements that predate the Shadowlands release date by over a year, I stopped going back any further after that.
Why do people keep pretending to be new players? lol
https://simplearmory.com/#/us/area-52/balukkaj/calendar
just in case anyone wants an easy to read calendar of OP not telling the truth for whatever reason.
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If someone has an achievement from 7 years ago because their mom bought them a sub for one month back then, but they started playing consistenly in Shadowlands, then they’re still a new player.
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