Learn2Wow

I started writing up some stuff for a "How to Wow Seminar" I am planning on doing with raid noobs. Maybe someone can find the information useful. Or in need of correction.

cavebovum.guildlaunch.com has the whole thread

As an educator, I like to see people do the best they can. And if they can't, I like to help them. Unless they're snotty nosed third grade punks then I tell them to shut up and put their head down.

If you already know how to WoW, you're better off in a MH/BT guild. If you want to raid, but have never raided, this is for you. Hell, who knows, you may be in MH/BT and not know how to raid.

Anyways, this information area is a work in progress, so keep checking for replies.

LEARN2WOW

Step 1--Pre-login preparations

This heading lists some obvious things and some not so obvious things. I'll probably add some stuff as I go. Keep checking back.

First of all, you need a level 70 toon. Or at the least a level 68 toon--if it's a lock. Otherwise keep grinding and get to 70.

Once you're 70, you need to focus on getting some easily accessible gear so you aren't completely coat-tailing. This requires one of two things:

1) an encyclopedic knowledge of quest and BOE loot ALONG WITH an understanding of your classes stat priorites
2) Google-Fu

Basically if you plug in "pre-karazhan _____ gear" with the ____ being your class, you'll more likely than not find a fairly decent blog listing easy to get gear for you.

www.maxdps.com and www.wow-loot.com do the trick as well.

As mentioned in #1 above, you need to know what your stat priorities are regardless of how you get your gear. Does a rogue want +str or +agi? That's a pretty basic one you NEED to know the answer to if you want to raid as a rogue. Is +spirit better than mp5? That ones a bit more esoteric. Think you can handle it? You're ready for a wowblog then.

Basically, if you aren't sure what stats to stack, ask someone. Then ask someone else. Once you get 3 people saying the same thing you're USUALLY good to go.

Remember, we're talking pre-login here.

Now that we have the character stuff straight, let's look at the world of add-ons.

Add Ons

Some people roll with no add-ons. That's all fine and dandy. Some add-ons, however, give information to the other players in your raid and THEY want you to have the add-on if for no other reason.

A threat meter is just such an add-on and everyone really should have one. I recommend Omen. Even if you don't have the Omen window open, you will be sending your threat info to the rest of the raid which can be very beneficial. It's also good to learn how to read Omen so you don't get aggro and die. Dying is not good.

Many people live by Deadly Boss Mods. I don't really care either way. I can't say it's ever saved my life. It certainly is convenient though. Most of the time, it tells you things you should already notice. But in a raid there's a lot of things going on--sometimes you WANT something screaming at you.

This next add-on is HUGE for me--as my guild will tell you. If you are any class that can remove any sort of debuff you NEED to get Decursive and learn how to use it. The classes I'm speaking of are: Priest, Paladin, Druid, Mage, Shaman (Felhunter Locks get a reprise--if we see you rolling with it we know you're leet). Please please please if you saw your class listed get Decursive and learn to use it.

Ventrilo is a VOIP client that allows voice communication while in game. Most guilds use it. Download it and figure out how to use it.

Those are the "main" add-ons you should be looking at. Once you get comofortable with them the other add-on choices are basically personal preference.

There are add-ons for specific classes and specific roles. Clique is a very cool add-on for healers. Healbot I hear does something similar. Totemus used to come standard with Shaman.

Xperl and Pitbull are cool GUI add-ons that make certain things much easier.

These are all things you can do before you even sign on to give your first raid a higher chance of being a success--or if it's a failure less people can blame you.

TIME TO LOG IN!

Now you're ready to go! Go where?

Remember those stats you learned how to prioritize? Now you need to get your gear enchanted and gemmed with them! But wait, I have this crappy chest piece I'll be upgrading once ______ drops it for me. Too bad! Enchant the crappy one. You never know when ____ will be nice.

Slots that can get enchanted:

Head (by means of a Glyph you get at Revered rep--there's some pre-BC head enchants as well)
Shoulder (by means of Scryer/Aldor Honored rep)
Back
Chest
Wrist
Hand
Leg (by means of Leatherworking or Tailor)
Feet
Rings (but only if you're an enchanter yourself)
1H Weapon
2H Weapon
Shield

Any of those items you have--ALL of them should be enchanted before raiding. But I have crappy gear!?!?! So enchant it with a cheap version--no biggie. What's important is that you're boosting your stats even if it's the cheap version. But the mats are so expensive!?!?! What did you do with all those greens that dropped while you were leveling them? Find an enchanter and have them break them!

What's a socket and what do I do with it? You put gems in it. Does it have to match color? No. Should I make it match color? Only if you want the socket bonus. Most socket bonuses are pretty negligible. USUALLY you're better stacking a stat you want then trying to juggle colors. Green gems are available VERY cheap. Get them until you get gear you're going to know will stick around. And yes, you can socket over a gem.

OK, I'm totally enchanted/gemmed properly (properly is important--don't be that enchancement Shaman with +int gems). Time for consumables. Cosumables come mainly in the form of food, elixirs, flasks, weapon buffs, potions, bandages, etc.

There is a TON of buff food out there. The mats come from the stuff you kill. If it's white, keep it. Have a cook cook it up for you. There's melee buff food, spell dmg buff food, stamina food, healing food, etc. Find the one that matches your role and get some. For a night of raiding you'll want a 20 stack. Possibly more if you die a LOT.

Elixirs are pretty sweet. They are USUALLY a better buff than flasks. So I shoot for two Elixirs. You can have a guardian and a battle. Learn which ones are best for you. Just make sure one is guardian and one is battle. Unless you're an herbalist, you'll need to buy the mats. Then find an alchemist.

Flasks have one advantage over elixirs--if you die they are still on you. No need to re-flask. On nights when you die a lot this could save you a TON of money.

Weapon buffs are sharpening/weightstones, and oils. If you have a Shaman dropping Windfury Totem and you're melee--forget it. Rogue with poison? Nevermind. However, everyone else should roll with something. Melee will use sharpening stones or weight stones depending on the weapon. Casters Mana Oil or Wizard Oil depending on roll.

Potions and the like come in many forms. Mana and Health pots everyone knows about. At least have some of them. Tanks are better off with Stoneshield or Ironshield potions. Nightmare seeds, those dark runes or whatever, Warlock healthstones. . . all these are on separate timers. Separate timers is good. Two minutes is a LOOONG wait when one healers down and the boss is only at 30%.

Have at least a stack of 20 bandages. You DID level up first aid, right?

A pretty good rule for consumables is--have the basics covered. You'll learn the intricacies as you go.