Frikkin Frak do Beta

I didn’t post it on here yet, but I got into the Cataclysm beta about a week ago on one of my accounts. I decided to spend time first with the Worgen. In addition, I wanted to play around with the new Hunter changes including the beginner experience.

So, I created a Worgen Hunter named Frikkin (why not?). It fits with my naming convention (all F’s) and goes well with the name I wanted to give my pet (and eventually did, you’ll notice if you see the screenshot), Frak. So, anyway.. I have now gotten through almost all of the initial Worgen starting experience, I believe, and I have to say that, any bugs aside, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had starting a new character. I think this even trumps the Death Knight starting zone and set of quests. I have heard that the Goblin one is even better, but I am thinking I might save that one until Cata goes live (we’ll see).

The feel of the zone is really great. The new landscape phasing is put to good use here too pretty early on. They did an amazing job with the storytelling and I hear that all throughout Cata you will want to start reading the quest text and paying attention to what NPCs have to say (maybe turn on chat bubbles? ). I did have issues with the last (I think) “main” quest bugging out on me, but I’m sure that will be fixed. I especially liked the guy with the checkerboard-cube hat (yeah, I know that is pretty common in the beta.. I was in WotLK beta too).

So, what about the Hunter changes? I’m not all that positive so far about the change to use Focus. I DO like not having mana anymore but I think the regen is just not right yet on the focus side. Of course, I am playing low level so that feeling might change as I progress/login to a high level hunter. The part where you get a pet early on is great, although you can’t control him/her. It basically just attacks whatever you are attacking. The only thing I find odd is that it doesn’t seem to explain what all the abilities are that you get at level 10 once you can control your pet, etc. They are the normal Hunter pet skills, but there is really no tutorial (unless I missed it) to teach you how to use them all (like feed pet, etc).

So far, I have not visited any old zones or new zones to check them out. I have been sequestered in the Worgen area. Additionally, addons are not enabled yet, so I have been playing with the stock UI (HORROR!). Amazingly enough, I can actually play with this thing.. Odd..   Ok. That’s all I have so far. Nothing really exciting on the LIVE wow front, although I did join a group on Fimlys that killed Algalon which was cool. Of course, we were all decked out in our ICC shinies, so it kinda felt like cheating.. Too Bad!  

Have a good one!