Jahger Conquers Outland

So my new Cataclysm character, Jahger the Worgen Hunter, has reached level 70 (the current level cap is 85). With the revamp of the content for levels 1-60, the content released for levels 60-70 in the first expansion is now the oldest content and the most annoying to do. However, the hunter having a pet allows you to tackle content normally designed for groups. So, to make things more interesting, I've gone out of my to tackle all the group quests I've come across. This culminated in my hard fought victory over the ferocious gronn, Durn the Hungerer.

Durn the Hungerer slain

Level 69 unlocks the top talent in your chosen talent tree, which as a Beast Mastery Hunter is the ability to tame exotic pets. I've started by getting the striking looking core hound, the Kurken, from the Draenei starter area. The unique buff it provides, Ancient Hysteria, is one of the strongest in the game - equivalent to the much vaunted Shaman ability Heroism/Bloodlust.

Jahger, level 50 hunter, with his new, unnamed, core hound

Unfortunately it looks like Survival is by far the best talent tree to take for the current endgame content at the moment, so I guess I'll just enjoy my Beast Mastery while leveling and ready myself for having to relearn the class when I hit 85. Until then, though, I have the frozen lands of Northrend and the new zones of Cataclysm to explore.

Cataclysm Shatters Sales Record

So, according to a Blizzard press release, World of Warcraft's third expansion, Cataclysm, sold 3.3 million copies in its first 24 hours of release, making it the fastest-selling PC game of all time.

I'll count myself in that number and since I resubscribed I've been playing it a lot. Jahger, my Worgen Hunter has already reached the lofty heights of level 50. Leveling in this post-Cataclysm world is a real pleasure, streamlined and story-focused. If you have any interest in MMOs (or are a lapsed WoW player), you owe it to yourself to give this new world a try. You don't even need to buy any of the expansions to experience the changes.

Story-focused post-Cataclysm questing

Besides questing and doing group dungeons, I've picked up a fascination for animal collecting. You see, with the overhaul of the Hunter class for the new expansion, the class-defining Hunter's pets were all put on a level playing field (though you customize them with talent choices) except for a unique buff or debuff based on the pet's family - cats give an agility buff, hyenas increase bleed damage taken by the enemy, etc. By the time he reaches the new level cap of 85, a good Hunter should have a wide selection of pets to cover whatever buffs/debuffs are missing from the group. I've picked out the pets in each family that I want based on their looks, and seek them out to tame them as soon as I reach their level. My preferred pet while I'm leveling is Whitefang, a White Worg, which gives a bonus to one's chance to score critical hits.

Jahger and his faithful worg, Whitefang

The leveling curve does get steeper, but I hope to get on to the new Cataclysm (80+) zones in another week or so.

"Terrible, yet refined..."

With the release of World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Cataclysm, I've cancelled my Aion subscription with Armitage the Cleric having reached level 20. Although the questing has been fairly fun, I've yet to see any group content, which is a pity for an MMO. Regardless, I don't see myself rushing back with the amount of content to see in Cataclysm.

Armitage, Elyos Chanter (Aion)

For those who don't know, Cataclysm has reshaped all the Old World (level 1-60) content, making for a much more enjoyable experience. And with PvP battleground queues and the (relatively new) PvE dungeon finder, joining groups for multiplayer while you level is really easy.

To further tempt one to experience the new leveling content, Cataclysm has introduced two new races, Worgen (werewolves) and Goblins. I've created Jahger, the Worgen Hunter.

Jahger, Worgen Hunter (World of Warcraft)

The Worgen have their own introductory questline that runs along the timeline of the Shattering. As a human in the kingdom of Gilneas, you begin by helping to defend the capital from the constant assault of Worgen, before eventually falling to the Worgen curse yourself. Held prisoner by the humans, you're given a chance to prove that you have control over your bestial nature.

Can a Worgen be trusted?

What begins as a defence against an assault by the Forsaken (the undead of the Horde) becomes a desperate evacuation as the cataclysm sees the land sinking beneath the ocean.

Just this questline tops anything I've seen in Aion with World of Warcraft's phasing tech being used to give a real sense of progression of the timeline. Of course, most quests still boil down to kill X creatures or find Y items, but it is really worthwhile to pay attention to the story here.

I believe Goblins have a similarly excellent introductory questline and look forward to giving that a go, but meanwhile I'm pushing on with Jahger. I've already reached passed level 20, leaving Armitage's accomplishment as just a fading memory.

The title of this post is a reference to an oh-so-relevant Penny Arcade comic about Cataclysm and Worgen.