Four-slot bags and fun in quests
Here's something new for the World of Warcraft players: 4-slot bags! Here's something even newer: Racial ability training quests.
I have mentioned in my first Blood Elf post, how great I found the idea of having a quest to train the new racial abilities: Mana Tap and Arcane Torrent. What I overlooked, was the reward for the quest.
I knew my Minimage somehow obtained a 4-slot bag, but I missed when and how did it happen. Now, when playing with Draenei character, I encountered a similar quest, this time training the ability named Gift of Naaru - a simple Heal-over-Time spell. The reward for the quest was indeed a 4-slot bag, an item soon to be discarded but very valuable during the first levels (when being able to afford even a 6-slot is out of question).
imago receiving a 4-slot bag as a quest rewardEveryone who ever played WoW knows how repetitive and boring the early quests can be. Kill 10 small boars. Kill 10 small panthers. Kill 10 slightly bigger boars. Kill 10 slightly bigger panthers...
The Burning Crusade does its best in addressing this issue. Just as with Blood Elves, Draenei starting quests all seem to have a purpose. You don't stop and ask yourself "why the hell am I killing these poor creatures?" - just because it all makes perfect sense. Well, also, because killing creatures is not the only thing you do.
Transmitter piece, guarded by Mutated Owlkin
The "4-slot bag" quest required me to find crash survivors and heal at least one of them. Then I was sent to collect pieces of equipment (transmitter I believe) stolen by Owlkins. Many of the Owlkins got mutated due to the radiation, so while looking for the pieces I had another mission - to inoculate the ones who were still ok against poisoning.
Volatile Mutation - bunny in disguise
Another series of quests got me killing Volatile Mutations - hideous little creatures hanging around some of the crystals. While killing them, I collected some samples which combined with some gathered plant allowed the alchemist to create the antidote reversing the effects of mutation. Upon completing the quest, NPCs had a little dialog and then administered the antidote to a caged monster - turning it into a panicked little bunny who immediately skipped away into the forest.
It seems that most of the quests are designed not only to provide your bare-naked character with some entry level gear, but also to help understanding and starting up different skills. Upon visiting the fisherman, you get handed a net, with which you are to fish Redfin Snappers. Most of the time you end up catching an Angry Murloc but the quest is fun and quick to complete. The reward for the quest is a brand new fishing rod and some bait.
imago, fishing with the net
There are tons of non-typical quests around Draenei area. I am not going to mention all, but just to name few more favorites:
There is one where you need to help a First Aid Trainer to cure a Night Elf. While you complete the quest successfully, the aid trainer fails to cure the patient and an Alchemist steps in, giving you another quest and introducing the concept of potions to the new players.
In another one, you need to learn how to interpret tribal Furblog symbols from a book and then you can read their totems.
imago, disguised as a tree
One of my favorite ones was the series in which I needed to collect a hollow tree trunk and some leaves, which the quest giver turned into a tree costume. Wearing the costume I had to sneak up on a meeting and discover the traitor in the Alliance camp. And it was a Gnome! I knew the little #%@&^@% could not be trusted!
Overall, playing Draenei is tons of fun. The only problem is, whenever I see a larger group of Human or Elf NPCs I tend to turn around and run... it always takes a while to realize this particular character is on Alliance side.
The Burning Crusade does its best in addressing this issue. Just as with Blood Elves, Draenei starting quests all seem to have a purpose. You don't stop and ask yourself "why the hell am I killing these poor creatures?" - just because it all makes perfect sense. Well, also, because killing creatures is not the only thing you do.
Transmitter piece, guarded by Mutated OwlkinThe "4-slot bag" quest required me to find crash survivors and heal at least one of them. Then I was sent to collect pieces of equipment (transmitter I believe) stolen by Owlkins. Many of the Owlkins got mutated due to the radiation, so while looking for the pieces I had another mission - to inoculate the ones who were still ok against poisoning.
Volatile Mutation - bunny in disguiseAnother series of quests got me killing Volatile Mutations - hideous little creatures hanging around some of the crystals. While killing them, I collected some samples which combined with some gathered plant allowed the alchemist to create the antidote reversing the effects of mutation. Upon completing the quest, NPCs had a little dialog and then administered the antidote to a caged monster - turning it into a panicked little bunny who immediately skipped away into the forest.
It seems that most of the quests are designed not only to provide your bare-naked character with some entry level gear, but also to help understanding and starting up different skills. Upon visiting the fisherman, you get handed a net, with which you are to fish Redfin Snappers. Most of the time you end up catching an Angry Murloc but the quest is fun and quick to complete. The reward for the quest is a brand new fishing rod and some bait.
imago, fishing with the netThere are tons of non-typical quests around Draenei area. I am not going to mention all, but just to name few more favorites:
There is one where you need to help a First Aid Trainer to cure a Night Elf. While you complete the quest successfully, the aid trainer fails to cure the patient and an Alchemist steps in, giving you another quest and introducing the concept of potions to the new players.
In another one, you need to learn how to interpret tribal Furblog symbols from a book and then you can read their totems.
imago, disguised as a treeOne of my favorite ones was the series in which I needed to collect a hollow tree trunk and some leaves, which the quest giver turned into a tree costume. Wearing the costume I had to sneak up on a meeting and discover the traitor in the Alliance camp. And it was a Gnome! I knew the little #%@&^@% could not be trusted!
Overall, playing Draenei is tons of fun. The only problem is, whenever I see a larger group of Human or Elf NPCs I tend to turn around and run... it always takes a while to realize this particular character is on Alliance side.
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