I’m trying to understand what the common definition of Retail is, from a WoW Classic point of view.
I think I’ve noticed that some people seem to consider anything from Cataclysm onward to be Retail.
What do you mean when you say Retail? What are some of its defining features?
Are guild achievements a Retail feature?
Most prominently is how gaining experience gains were “revamped.”
Solo content used to be difficult. Previously you would struggle at early levels with fighting any mobs of equal or 3+ levels above you. Elites and elite quests had to be handled with larger groups. Crushing blows were on the table, denying you from pushing content too far outside your level range.
Crushing blows, however, became a non-factor. With stats scrunched and simplified, you could now kill a level 10 mob at level 1.
This is what I most often think of when I consider the “Retail” experience.
What about Heirloom items, which were introduced in 3.02. Would that be something you do not consider to be a “Retail feature?”
When Classic was released, the “other” thing became retail.
No. Those had to be earned. They weren’t given to you. It’s no different than your main sending gold or gear to your alts to improve their leveling experience.