20170228: the return, part 2

The Return. Comments on changes, part 2.

Characters, Antonidas Realm, 2016-1228 to 2017-0216

Character	Class	Sub-Class	Level	Sub-Class	Level	Armor Level
Kronoszero	Druid	Balance	37	Balance	38	n/a
Kronosten	Priest	Discipline	53	Discipline	56	n/a
Kronosnine	Warlock	Affliction	64	Affliction	66	n/a
Chronosnine	Mage	Fire	86	Fire	86	n/a
Chronosone	Warrior	Arms	86	Arms	86	n/a
Plutozero	Hunter	Marksmanship	85	Marksmanship	86	n/a
Chronosten	Death Knight	Blood	86	Unholy	92	565
Kronosone	Paladin	Retribution	34	Retribution	100	648

For the Realm Uldum, same period:

Character	Class	Sub-Class	Level	Sub-Class	Level	Armor Level
Kronoshunter	Hunter	Marksmanship	52	Marksmanship	54	n/a
Chronosmage	Mage	Fire	86	Fire	88	n/a
Chronospriest	Priest	Discipline	90	Discipline	93	542
Chronoslock	Warlock	Affliction	90	Destruction	96	541
Chronosmonk	Monk	Mistweaver	90	Windwalker	95	550
Chronosdruid	Druid	Restoration	90	Balance	98	550
Chronoslycan	Death Knight	Blood	90	Unholy	100	596
Chronosmwone	Monk	Mistweaver	90	Mistweaver	102	696
Chronosdh	Demon Hunter	dne	98	Havoc	101	683

Qualitative changes:

1. New planet: Draenor; new player levels 91 to 100; new regions and many new quests
1. Moonshadow Valley--levels 90-92
2. Tanaan Jungle--level 100
3. Gorgrand--levels 92-94
4. Frostfire Ridge--90-92
5. Spires of Arak--96-98
6. Talador--levels 94-96
7. Nagrand--levels 98-100


2. Transition Activity: Pandaria expansion to Warlords of Draenor expansion
1. My level 90 characters from 2013 started my 2017 experience with this.
2. As part of a quest with Khadgar at the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands/Eastern Kingdoms/Azeroth...
3. ...go through the gate to Tanaan Jungle on Draenor
4. Dozens of quests.  One gets improved armor and lots of XP.
5. Shift to garrison site in Northern Shadowmoon Valley.
6. Continue the quest for armour until one can quest easily and use LFG for dungeons.
7. All that once fine 476, 483, 522 level armour from Pandaria raids and reputation: replace all of it.  You will need an average of around 520 just to get started on WoD dungeons.
8. Professions: if you were 600/600 before, you are nowhere now.  Start doing quests, killing monsters, and finding the right professions merchants.  Instead of trainers, most professions upgrades come from dropped scrolls that allow you to learn levels 601-700.


3. Alternate Transitions: Demon Hunters and straight to level 100 upgrades
1. Demon hunters start at level 98 and have an alternate route (through 75+ quests) to start in the Battle Isles.
2. In the Antonidas Realm, I used the Blizzard gadget (obtained by buying digital version of the Legion expansion) to promote my retribution Paladin from 34 directly to 100.
3. Demon hunters are heroic characters that have excellent armour and weapons.  Their quest line provides further excellent armour choices.  The skill set gets a nice workout during the 75+ quests.  Gliding is a nice borrow from Guild Wars II, and the eye-beams are fun for mass destruction of enemies.  Demon hunters start with average armour level at 660.  After the 75 or so quests, my Havoc (DPS) DH had armour level 683.
4. In similar fashion, the Paladin upgrade forced me to re-learn the typical Paladin skills. The initial new level 100 armour was rather nice as well.


4. Garrisons:
1. Do a few initial quests to get to Shadowmoon Valley, then build the first stage of your personal garrison (fort).  Upgrading the fort and getting new followers continues through level 100.
2. Get a new hearthstone for the garrison in addition to the original hearthstone.
3. Get your own fishing daily quests.
4. Get your own mining daily quests.
5. Get your own herbalism daily quests...all the harvesting sources.
6. Keep building as your accumulate garrison resources, gold, and followers.  Send your followers on garrison missions to level them up and get occasional armour rewards.
7. Cooperate with other parts of the Alliance (or Horde) to fight the Iron Horde.
8. Build (option) your own bank.
9. Build (option) your own auction house.


5. Transition from WoD (Warlords of Draenor) to Legion.
1. I have only four level 100+ (100, 100, 101, 102) characters, so my experience here is limited, to say the least.
2. WoD ends at level 100.  At level 98, WoD characters can start the Legion quests, which often yield armor fit for Legion environment.  Newfangled armour starts showing up at the Auction House at levels like 685 and 715.  Levels 98 to 101 are great for upgrading your average armor score.  Do the main quests.
3. Early on, a level 98+ character gets a quest that allows witnessing Dalaran's move to the Battle Isles.  In addition, one gets a third hearthstone, used only for returning to the new Dalaran, which is mildly re-designed from the old one.  In addition, one gets quests that enable flight paths from new Dalaran to the Battle Isles.