Recap: Levels 1 - 50

Well there is alot more to say about the first 50 levels than what I have told in my individual postings. I wanted to save this until level 60 but I feel like writing now so here goes.

Blizzard has stated that changes to some zones are minor while others are major, and that nearly every zone has changed in some way. This holds true after my adventures in Kalimdor. I have leveled exclusively in Kalimdor on my Goblin at this point, skipping over Feralas & Desolace. I am saving Mulgore so I can test a Tauren Paladin through that zone only. I am saving Durotar and Nothern Barrens for a Troll Druid and will level through those two zones only. Finally, I will hit up an NE something to do Darkshore later.

As a Goblin I have been through the Goblin newbie zones (1-12), Azshara, Ashenvale, Stonetalon Mountains, Southern Barrens, Dustwallow Marshes, Thousand Needles & Tanaris.

One thing that Blizzard mentioned is that most of the original quests in the world remain intact. From what I have seen in Kalimdor that is not the case, 95% of the quests are new. However, the new quests are more exciting and offer more storyline than their previous predecessors. You come out of a zone knowing where you can/are going next and this eliminates the guesswork.

Every instance (to my knowledge) now has the relevant quest NPCs inside at the entrance so you no longer have to go and hunt them down.

At this point in beta it is too early to tell what classes will be stronger than others. Right now for Mages, Fire is the new Arcane and does well for leveling. For Warlocks, Destro is rediculously OP and I can count on 1 hand how many times I have had to sit down to eat/drink in the first 50 levels. For Priests, Holy remains a weak leveling alternative, and shadow is still recommended. Ret Paladins are still the preferred method of leveling and right now are incredibly OP in the higher levels. I witnessed a 44 Tauren Paladin hitting a 45 elite mob for 15% strikes in Gadgetzan, easily soloing it. Enhancement & Elemental shamans are amazing at the moment as well, and are rumored to be the most OP specs in Cataclysm.

There are still tons of bugs which is to be expected in early beta. I believe we have only had 2 invite phases thus far and the world is a lonely place especially at the higher 30-80 levels.

Northrend and Outland remain 100% untouched as I understand, and Goblins/Worgen are having trouble accepting some quests in those areas.

Thousand Needles

I arrived at Thousand Needles at level 41. It was truly the beginning of a thrilling experience, albeit was short lived as the area still has some bugs to work out.

I flew into a small post under attack by the Grim Totem Taurens at the Feralas - Thousand Needles border. I fought my way through them as per quest instructions and was then put on a canoe with a Tauren who could row like the dickens. The canoe took me to the remains of the Shimmering Flats where the Goblins and Gnomes have set up a barge.

Immediately I started quests that wound eventually allow me to get my own boat (an item usable only in Thousand Needles) that I could use anytime. After a few quests I was disappointed to discover that the boat is currently bugged. There was a temporary upside however, I was given a buff that allows me to breathe underwater and swim faster while in Thousand Needles. This buff however is also currently bugged, if you surfaced from the water a certain way.

Around Thousand Needles there is a ridge that you can use to travel around Thousand Needles. Occasionally the road will drop off forcing you into the water. Just North of the barge there is a small encampment where the Horde and Alliance are trying to outbid each other with the horsemen. This leads to a very interesting quest involving swimming through an underwater cave.

I finished off Thousand Needles by doing some exciting quests in Freewind Post involving fighting against the Grim Totem. There is some story there that I don't want to spoil. I left Thousand Needles for Tanaris at level 44.

Dustwallow

I will keep this portion short as not much has changed in Dustwallow. It could just be my imagination but there were a butt-ton of quests. Three quest hubs: Brackenwall Village, Tabetha's Cottage & Mudsprocket. You still enter Dustwallow from the same area as always.

The only significant change here is the road headed past Mudsprocket continues on into Thousand Needles. You also will see two high level npc's (one Horde, one Alliance) in the Mudsprocket Inn. The Horde NPC will give you a quest to be flown into Thousand Needles when your level is appropriate.

Nothing much to say about Dustwallow, but the next area (Thousand Needles) is where the most changes I have seen have taken place. Dustwallow lasted me until about level 40 before I finally took my flight to Thousand Needles...

Southern Barrens

My oh my how the Barrens have changed. That was immediately apparent as I took "The High Road" from Malaka'jin to Southern Barrens. I found myself on a narrow road with a cliff to my left overlooking the Alliance base.

You do a few quests here on the road to sabotage the Alliance efforts in Southern Barrens before heading into an oasis area called the Overgrowth. From what I have been able to see from alot of creatures so far in Cataclysm, many of them are capable of closing distances quickly by charging or pouncing. However, in Southern Barrens I got introduced to a few other new interesting tricks. When you kill one enemy, it sprouts tentacles every second all around it. These tentacles are kill-able and non-aggressive but make sure you beware of them when looting or you might right click one. Another was a flower that has a channeled ability where it whips back and forth quickly diminishing a caster's health.

After finishing up in the Overgrowth I made my way to Vendetta Point which is a small outpost at the Southern Barrens - Mulgore border. You will notice a large stone wall has been built on this border now, called the Great Gate. Taurajo has been overrun and destroyed.

From here I moved further South to Desolation Hold. Here the Alliance and Horde fighting gets stronger and you do some quests to fight off the Alliance.

I figured I was almost done here in the Barrens and for the most part I was correct. I was however refreshed to accept a quest where you finally destroy Bael Modan after doing some quests in there. You also continue the story of Manrik's wife here which I will not spoil for you. The Razorfen have encroached further into this area as the Southern Barrens - Thousand Needles border is heavily forested with brambles. You can no longer enter Thousand Needles this way unless you plan on taking a long, scary and dangerous dive into the water accompanied by a very, very long swim.

Southern Barrens lasted me until roughly level 33 before I moved on to

Dustwallow.

Stonetalon

When I arrived in Stonetalon Mountains via Ashenvale, it was clear things had changed. At the entrance there you do some quests for the Horde which are fighting the Alliance in Windshear Craig. On your arrival you are given a rank roughly equal to a PFC (Private First Class). As you quest through Stonetalon Mountains you gain rank, which allows you access to better rewards from the quartermaster located at Grom'gar Fortress (also located in Stonetalon Mountains).

After finishing a flurry of quests in Windshear Craig, you are sent to defend Malaka'jin. As you ride through you will notice that the Grimtotems have been defeated, which is part of a phase as later you will be fighting them again.

After defeating Malaka'jin, you are sent to Windshear Hold for a few quests. You then take a hot air balloon which is carrying a huge bomb to the Sludgewerks for another quest or two before finally coming to Cliffwalker Post. Cliffwalker Post is where the Stonetalon story culminates before the rank you have been working on is stripped from you and made worthless by the Warchief. (You still have it for getting things from the quartermaster though)

I won't spoil the story for you, but make sure you don't miss it and include this on your tour of Stonetalon! Stonetalon lasted me until roughly level 28 where I had a choice to go to Desolace or Southern Barrens. When I went to Desolace it had changed somewhat, but still had the gloomy, boring atmosphere as before so I decided to go to Southern Barrens.

Pictures left out for spoiler sake.

Ashenvale

From Azshara you hop onto a rider and fly to where the entrance from Northern Barrens to Ashenvale is. There you find the horde fighting the Night Elves at the border. After a few short quests, you are sent to Splinter Tree Post.

You do the quests in Splinter Tree Post, and you wind up at a tiny quest hub near the border to Azshara. Once you complete that, you are sent to another quest hub at a recently discovered volcano in Ashenvale, which has already erupted. There is another quest hub North-West of the volcano that has you bomb Astanaar and do some quests around the remains of the lake surrounding Astranaar.

Before you leave Ashenvale, be sure to hit up Zoram'gar, which is now a minor quest hub and outpost of the Horde. I made sure I hit up Blackfathon Deeps and solo'd it, managed to do it with relative ease and only 1 wipe getting all the quests completed for a 100% clear.

This area lasted me until about level 28. You are quickly shuffled off to Stonetalon Mountains which is where I headed next. Not alot of changes in Ashenvale however, mostly the new quest hubs, the Alliance & Horde fighting, the volcano and Astranaar.

Azshara

After my arrival in Orgrimmar, I was directed to several possible quest hubs. These included Northern Barrens & Azshara. Being as Azshara's level requirements have changed entirely, I made it my priority to skip Northern Barrens and headed straight to Azshara.

Azshara has definitely changed. Throughout Azshara you find Orcs and Night Elves fighting. The way to get around in Azshara is not really flight paths however, I found a lack of flight paths, the way you get around in Azshara is the Rocketway Exchange. This takes you to I believe it was 5 different quest hub areas. There are also 3-4 additional quest hub areas not available via the Rocketway Exchange of which half are connected by flight paths.

Azshara held me until roughly level 20-22 I can't remember which. It was a very fun and exciting new addition to the lowbie leveling. From here I made my way to Ashenvale...