It's been a week since the big patch was released and it looks like everyone has settled in and adjusted, I know I have. I admit to missing a few abilities, but by and large it looks like most of what was weeded out was not important; the few missing spells were ones I rarely, if ever, used, and, while I haven't noticed any difference with my Warlock, most classes are reporting major power buffs.
I still haven't played my hunter, but I did give my Paladin a couple runs at the headless horseman and I really notice the streamlined interface there; again fewer spells, but the ones I'm left with make more sense and I feel like I'm getting a more complete play with that toon.
The biggest problems I have found have been around the dungeons, getting in and out is more problematic and disconnects, although becoming rarer, still plague the busier instances. Having said that though I'm very impressed with how people are handling the disconnects, some frustration, but no unwarranted rudeness towards players getting punted. In several cases I have still been part of the group when I got logged back in. Exiting an instance to find I am no longer mounted on a flying mount are a bit harder to deal with, repairing epic gear is expensive!
Although the initial shock was a little overwhelming I think things have worked out well in Azeroth. Change is always hard to deal with and is usually met with heavy resistance, so it's often better to use the band-aid method that 4.0.1 used, everyone says "Ouch, that hurt" but then realizes they're at least as well off as they were before, and, in some cases, better.
Blizzard released patch 4.0.1 yesterday, introducing major, sweeping, changes to the game; consider it a foreshadow of what's coming to Azeroth when Cataclysm comes out. I got the patch installed and ran a few instances and did a little questing last night (gotta do my dailies) to see how things are going and thought I'd share some thoughts.
Not surprisingly I heard a lot of complaints about everything, many people summing up their thoughts with the phrase "Blizz has wrecked WoW!". Do I think Blizz has wrecked WoW? In a word, no, but I do share the general feeling of frustration over what has happened with some of the class changes. What it boils down to? I now have to relearn how to play my class.
My main is an Affliction Warlock who I have lovingly brought from a level 1 nobody to a level 80 powerhouse over the last 6 months and it's difficult to see that essentially thrown out the window and replaced with something I don't quite understand. What happened to my spells? What they left me with has changed drastically, they plain threw away a few of them, and they gave me a couple I don't fully understand. I'm really not looking forward to logging in with my Hunter or Paladin and dealing with the mess created for them.
Talent points? Let's forget the money I spent respeccing her talents to tweak her DPS, that was my choice, but in the new system, they are not nearly as customizable, way fewer points to assign and for some reason I no longer either generate or require soul shards. Not a bad thing as shard management was always a bit of work, but it gave playing the 'lock another facet that I enjoyed. I want to change demon's? Fine, but I need someone's soul to sacrifice first. Soul Burn loses a bit of something when you no longer need a piece of someone's soul to use it. The new glyph system is kind of cool, but again it takes something away from the game when you allow people to retain the knowledge after changing glyphs.
I could go on, but I think that sums up most of the frustration, it sums up mine anyway. Am I going to quit playing WoW because of this? No, I'm not, and I honestly don't think it's going to chase many other people away either; definitely a few will leave, but they were probably looking for an excuse to quit playing anyway. I can actually see this generating more interest in the game and bringing and keeping more players, which equals more money for Blizzard and, by proxy, more money and better content. The changes have, by and large, simplified the RPG aspect of the game and distilled it to a point that more people can recognize and manage; not exactly what I was looking for, but I'll learn to manage.
It's easy to be angry about change but being easy doesn't make it right. At the end of the day this is simply a game and it's time to learn a few new rules.
A few things to note, you’ll want to collect some money along the way to make sure you have enough for everything. Also, make sure to eat as needed and save when you can. This walkthrough will give you 10 of the 12 achievements in the game and is made with a level one starter character in mind. Remember to kill as many zombies as you can and you should be at level 5 by the time you face Jed.
Start with achievement #1-A Taste of Things to Come (Create a combo weapon). After the opening cutscene you will be standing in the safehouse workshop; pick up the box of nails and set it on the workbench, then pick up the bat and combine, you’ve now got weapon #1-Spiked Bat.
Start on 2-A Bigger Taste … (Create all combo weapons, 9 of them) by going into the back store room (with ladder for roof access) and pick up the bucket against the wall. Go back into the garage and pick up a drill from the shelves, take them to the workbench and combine, you’ve now made weapon #2- Drill Bucket. Go through the back door and grab the whiskey bottle of the ground, carry on through the shed into the street for the next cutscene.
On the street run straight across to the abandoned watch shop and pick up the Kayak Paddle along the side. Now head back to the street and continue down away from the safehouse keeping your eye open for the newspaper on the ground, it’ll be on the street close to the sidewalk, just past the Sheriff’s office, when you see it pick it up. Move down the street until you see the casino on the left hand side of the street, go inside and smash the slot machines picking up all the cash you see.
Once outside the casino keep going down the street until you see the hardware store, just past the Bowling Alley on the right hand side of the street. Go past the store and head into the workshop on its side, you should still have your whiskey and newspaper so go to the workbench and combine them, you’ve now got weapon #3-Molotov Cocktail (there should be a group of zombies outside the doors so throw it at them to bump your kills). Now head back into the hardware store and grab a chainsaw; take this back in the workshop and combine it with your kayak paddle, you’ve now got weapon #4-Paddlesaw. Now continue down the street, you’ll hit a cutscene as you approach the abandoned cars and end up on top of the tanker.
When you have control again jump down and hack your way into the quarantine area (the Chainsaw paddle will be handy here) until you get to the ambulance, examining it will trigger yet another cutscene.
Now that you’re in control again you’ll have a dose of Zombrex and a container with a broken bike in it, grab the container and push it down the street to the safehouse, this thing actually makes a decent weapon and you might be able to get achievement #3-Zombie Hunter (killing 100 zombies) by the time you get to the safe house; if you don’t it’s no sweat there’s lots of time and zombies left, 100 isn’t many. Once back in the safe house you’ll get one more cutscene at the end of which you’ll have a list of parts you need. Only two of them can be stored in Inventory Slots, and one of those won’t show up till near the end of the day so it’ll take a bit of running to grab them.
Before leaving grab the box of nails on the floor and the Propane tank from beside the car in the garage for weapon #5-Improvised IED (crushing weapon and explosive). Go outside the safehouse (through yet another cutscene, this one demonstrating the Queen) and you will now start working on achievement #4-Still Creek Savior (rescue all survivors, 10 of them).
Immediately across from the safehouse you will see Dick, an old man, perched on a van. Go past him and find a Queen, there are a lot of them around, but in a pinch there is always one pestering a female zombie under the marquee in front of the casino. Once you’ve got a queen run back to the van, jump on top and smash the jar; once the zombies are gone Dick will ask for an escort to his pawnshop, it’s just down the street and will unlock the first door for achievement #5-Locksmith (unlock all doors in town, 4 of them). Go inside and chat with Dick, he’ll want to sell you a clue for the whereabouts of some bike parts and although they will be there even if you don’t buy the clue you’ll need to pay him for at least one to get achievement #6-Clueless No More (buy a clue from Dick, $1000.00). He’ll tell you to find a key for a shed that has some parts in it, the key being in the Hotel across the street; you’ll also need to get the wheel from him, but if you’re starting fresh you might not have enough money ($5000), and even if you do you’ll want to get it later as it can’t be inventoried and will tie you up carrying it back by itself.
When you exit the pawnshop run across the street and loot the casino again, then come out and investigate the shooting you’re hearing. Run around to the back alley behind the casino, jump on the dumpster, then to the awning on the building in front of you, then around front and on top of the building to meet Bob, this games version of Otis. You’ll ask him to come back to the safehouse, he’ll tell you he can’t leave without his daughter, but he’ll help you out from this location when he can. One last thing, grab a bottle of beer for later.
At this point do not drop down to the ground, instead run to the back of the roof and jump to the next building. Go over the railing, inside the building, and around the corner to the back room. Inside there will be one zombie and a key in the corner; kill the zombie, grab the key, and head back out the way you came.
Once outside go back over the railing and leap across the alley to the lower ledge on the far side, not the way you already came. Climb the ledge on top of the building, cross to the far right hand corner, and grab the Construction helmet; now go across the front of the building and drop to the ledge on the building to your left, this is the Sporting Goods Shop. Run across the awning, climb up on the roof, run across to the trapdoor and drop through. Go out the front door, unlocking door 2 in your Locksmith achievement, and go across the street to the bar beside the gas station.
Inside you will meet Gemini and Fausto, talking to them will get Gemini to join quickly, but Fausto will require 2 drinks before he’ll leave, give him any combination of beer and /or whiskey and once he’s puked he’ll join you. Move out the bar towards the gas station and angle towards the gas pumps where you can grab the gas can (a little tip here, mixing a hot dog and a soda in a blender will give you a Repulse buff, keeping zombies away for a short time) . You might want to have a Queen handy to clear the area as the zombies can get thick here. Keep on moving to the safehouse door and make sure Fausto and Gemini are right behind you when you enter. Once inside Gemini will give you $15000 for your efforts.
Go inside the workshop and with your gas can in your hands examine the bike, this will give you achievement #7-Part Way There (bring back one bike part). Before leaving put your construction helmet on the work bench and get your beer out of inventory, combining them will give you weapon #6-Foamdome (not a weapon, but a food item that allows you to stack multiple beer in one slot). Leave and head out down the street toward the Bowling Alley.
Just before the Bowling Alley there is a dumpster against a fence, jump on top of it, and then over the fence. Now move down the Back Alley, stopping by the benches to grab the spray-paint can off the ground, and go through the door on the building at the end. You are now inside the Sheriff’s office, stop and grab a shotgun from the counter and go through the front door, unlocking door #3 for the Locksmith achievement. Move across town to the bar where you found the survivors and get the pitchfork from behind the front door.
Go through the back door of the bar, in the kitchen, and in the next door over, into the department store; then move through the back doors of this building also, into the parking lot. Keep going along the back of the store and into the workshop around the corner and combine your pitchfork and shotgun for weapon #7-Boomstick (great crowd control). Now go around the corner of the workshop, grab a pylon, and go back to the workshop; combine the pylon with the spray-paint can for Weapon #8- Airhorn (kind of cool, but weak weapon).
Leave the workshop, go around the corner toward the theater, and go inside. Once here take a minute to loot the slots, then head into the theater, past the curtained screen, and open the back door, opening locked door #3 for achievement #5-Locksmith. Kill the few zombies in the alley and grab the engine against the wall. This is a good time to head for the safehouse as your hands are full.
Once inside the safehouse Gemini will be crying in the junkyard, talk to her and she’ll ask you to retrieve her gems she abandoned “at the roadblock” (they’re actually in plain sights when you get there). Leave the safe house and head toward the hardware store, the shed is on the far side of the lot beside it. Open the locked door with your key and get achievement #5-Locksmith. Run your forks back to the safehouse and come back out.
Head back down to the quarantine area to get the jewels, but just before entering the quarantine area turn into the last alley, by the abandoned cars, and move down the alley until you get to the end; once there you’ll see a car battery on top of a dumpster, grab it and head back to the workshop beside the hardware store; set it on the bench, go in the store, grab a leaf rake, head back to the workshop and combine them to make weapon #9-Electric Rake (this will be very handy in the quarantine area), and you’ve just got achievement #2-A Bigger Taste … (all combo weapons created). Now use your rake to clear the zombies out and get the gems at the roadblock, the gems are on the passenger side of a yellow car with the doors missing. Run these back to the safehouse to deliver the gems (you’ll get a $15000 reward) and come back out for the next rescue.
Once you’re outside again Bob will flag you down and tell you about a couple of pretty girls in the bowling alley you should help. Jump down, loot the casino, and go to the bowling alley where you will meet Nikki and Tia; they’ll refuse to go anyplace until you look for their friend Sharon in the Quarantine area. Leave the alley and head toward the quarantine area.
Move down the road to the quarantine area and go to the back tent on the right hand side, you’ll hear Sharon calling for help. You’ll need to give her your dose of Zombrex to get her to come and you’ll have to carry her, but once you get back to the bowling alley the other two girls will come to the safehouse quickly.
Head back out and go for your bike handlebars. By this time Archie and Jason should have spawned behind the department store so you can either head directly there or talk to Bob when he flags you over, either way stop at the Sporting Goods store and pick up a broadsword to give to Jason; a queen will also help speed things up. Go through the department store out the backdoors and clear the zombies off the boys (queen works great here) then talk to Jason, he’ll ask for a sword and allow you to trade the handlebars for it. Once he has the sword both boys will join you so head back to the safehouse to deliver the handlebars.
Only thing left to do until 7:00 is run to the pawnshop and pick up the wheel and a dose of Zombrex for Katey (between looting the slots and Gemini’s reward you should have plenty of cash) In the safehouse drop the wheel at the bike to fix it and get achievement #8 Ready to Ride. At this time it’s largely a waiting game, depending on how fast you did everything else, you have a bit of time to hang out in town, sample some food mixes and make sure you got all your kills for 3-Zombie Hunter, (I’d also suggest picking up an assault rifle for dealing with Jed) just make sure you’re close to Bob at 7:00 for the next cutscene.
After the zombie cutscene Bob will want to talk to you again as he’s finally seen his daughter in the Sporting Goods store (she will not spawn until you talk to Bob, so don’t waste your time). After talking to Bob go to the store and talk to Darcie, who won’t leave without her dad; go back up top, talk to Bob, he’ll now join and follow you to her, after which she will also join and allow you to take them back to the safe house, giving you achievement #4-Still Creek Savior (rescue all survivors). I suggest making sure you have a sword for the coming fight as well and this is your last real chance to get one.
Back in the safe house I would suggest topping your health up and grabbing a spare jug of orange juice. Now go back in the garage and give Katey her Zombrex, triggering a cutscene that introduces Jed, the one psychopath in the game. Jed wants to kill Katey because she’s going become a zombie and you have to protect her. The fight isn’t too bad, empty the assault rifle into him, drink the juice after he hits you a few times, and then finish him with the sword. He goes down and you get achievement #9 Chop Shop.
With Jed out of the way you can now get on your bike and leave town. Examining your bike will trigger a cutscene with Chuck leaving the garage and being intercepted by the army. This leads to a chase out of town that, ends in achievement #10-We Ride to Fortune City.
The other two Small Town, Deep Pockets (Spend $100,000) at the pawnshop and Zombie Exterminator (Kill 1000 zombies) and can easily be cleaned up in a subsequent playthrough as the money spent is cumulative between gameplays and if you have nothing else to do, killing 1000 zombies is easy to do.
