Feb 8

As most of you know, patch 2.3 introduced an experience curve that isn’t quite so steep for the majority of the old world levels (from 20 to 60), and experience gained from quests has been increased (from 30 to 60, getting more increased as you get closer to 60). This makes those of us who suffer with altitis very happy–it also means there’s no better time to hit it up if you want to switch to another character as your main.

With WotLK coming later this year (most likely), the level cap will be raised again to 80. I don’t know about you, but 1-60 again doesn’t sound like much fun, and 1-70 sounds like even less fun for those who, like me, just made another character my main. 1-80 sounds even more less not un-fun that that! Thankfully, the new curve helps get your low level toon up to 60 quicker. But that’s when the bonuses stop–60-70 have to be done the old fashion way.

But is the decreased XP needed/increased XP gained completely a good thing? Let’s take a look.

Now that XP seems to flow so freely, I’ve found that I don’t tend to run as many instances. I did Deadmines only once on my new hunter, and then Stockade only once for the ring at the end of the quest chain. I didn’t run another instance until I did SM Cath when a PuG asked me to come. Now she’s level 43 and hasn’t even finished the main SM quest, which I would never have passed up before the new XP curve. Grinding, especially quest grinding, as become so efficient that I just don’t feel the need to go to instances. Coupled with the fact that I have a character in Outland to supply my lower-level characters with gold, I don’t really need to run instances to get loot (even though the loot was also improved in 2.3).

When I do feel like running an instance, I find it difficult to find a group. The experienced players, like myself, are doing the same thing as me and funding their lower level toons without needing to run instances. Many of the PuGs I’ve managed to find have been, frankly, horrible. Then the group falls apart and I end up not doing the instance anyway, which makes me not try as hard next time I want to do an instance. All the waiting looking for a group can be better spend gaining my increased XP from mobs and quests.

The exceptions to this rule are quest-heavy instances like Uldaman. Wow! If you do all the quests for Uldaman, coupled with the increased experience gain from killing mobs, you can get a lot of XP. But this is assuming you can actually find a group for Uldaman.

Also, many first-time characters are finding it harder to earn the gold they need for their mount by the time they reach level 40. Without a high-level Outlander to send the gold flowing into their mailbox, they have to earn it the old fashioned way: selling gathered materials, etc. But since they’re spending considerably less time in each zone (due to leveling faster), money is not as plentiful. The same goes for professions: it’s easy to head off to a zone more your level only to find out that you can’t mine the ore there, and have to backtrack to level your skills.

I personally think the new XP curve is a great thing, but problems can definitely arise. What do you think? Blessing or curse?

Related posts:

1. Patch 2.4
2. Loremaster of Northrend
3. Patch 2.4: People are Far Too Optimistic
4. Foray into Multiboxing: Dual-Boxing with Recruit-A-Friend
5. Outland at 58 or 60?