Summary
- WoW's beginner experience evolved to Exile's Reach, which is great for end-game focus but lacks in lore and can confuse new players.
- Racial starting zones set the scene well, diving into lore and faction dynamics, offering a slower exploration pace for solo players.
- WoW needs to clarify Exile's Reach as a quick intro for end-game, while recommending racial/class starting zones for lore enthusiasts.
For all games, the most vital moment is when a player first steps through the door. The introductory stage can make or break the experience, especially for MMOs like World of Warcraft, which are initially free to play. This game needs a newbie to stick around and consider whether they want a subscription, so their experience is crucial to the title's success.
World of Warcraft’ s beginner experience has shifted dramatically over the years to accommodate newer generations, and it changed once more with the release of Shadowlands. Exile’s Reach became the latest go-to zone for those without experience, as it takes great care to teach players everything they’ll need to prepare for the end-game.
Exile's Reach Is Great For End-Game Focused Players
That being said, Exile’s Reach has had its fair share of criticism. New players, having chosen their race and class, can pick between this new zone or the older starting experience unique to their race or class. This can be confusing, as players pretty much have to choose between knowing how to play the game and knowing the lore surrounding their character.
Exile’s Reach is an enjoyable first experience, having a closed storyline that spits the player out at a reasonable level, from which they can choose to begin their journey in any of WoW’s previous expansions. However, the one area in which Exile’s Reach falls tragically short is the lore.
WoW's Racial Starting Zones Are Excellent At Setting the Scene
The original racial starting zones, including their revamped Cataclysm versions, do an excellent job of setting the scene. They establish who the player is and what’s important to them, as well as the role they’ll play in the world of Azeroth. It shows how faction tension will largely define their experience going forward, but that ultimately, they’ll fight for the greater good. These starting zones also lead the player seamlessly into the surrounding areas, slowly expanding the world as they go.
Why Exile's Reach Can Fall Short For New Players
Unfortunately, Exile’s Reach can never be revisited once completed, and can inadvertently throw players into the deep end. Many new players will finish Exile’s Reach and suddenly find themselves questing through Battle for Azeroth’s zones, embroiled in a faction war they know nothing about. It becomes difficult for veteran players to appreciate the scope of World of Warcraft’s two decades of content, and how confusing it can be at first glance.
The new player experience has to be welcoming and simple while teasing an entire universe of fun to explore. Players also have lots of different reasons to try World of Warcraft. Their friends may have convinced them to play, or perhaps they’ve fled from another MMO and hope WoW can give them the adventure they want. Exile’s Reach is an adequate introduction to the game’s experience, but it fails to engage players on the lore and questing aspects.
How World of Warcraft Can Fix the Problem
As a way to mediate this, World of Warcraft needs to be candid about the differences between the two starter experiences. Exile’s Reach should be shown as being a quicker, more dynamic introduction that teaches players the basics and how to jump right into the endgame experience as soon as possible. It’s the better choice for those using a character boost or who intend to level up as quickly as they can to play with their friends.
For players who aren’t as interested in raiding or PvP, the original racial or class starter zones are recommended. These are for players who prefer a solo experience and are happy to take their time soaking up the fantasy and exploration of the game. The best among these are the worgen racial starting zone of Gilneas, and the demon hunter or death knight class introductions.
All things considered, there’s a place for both Exile’s Reach and the racial starting zones. The simplest and best way to integrate them well would be to inform players of the function each one serves and let newbies pick which one suits them best. It can seem a daunting task to welcome new generations into such an enormous and complex MMORPG, but World of Warcraft can be an incredible experience that takes its players on the ride of their lives.
- Released
- August 26, 2024
- Base Game
- World of Warcraft
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
WHERE TO PLAY
In this opening chapter of The Worldsoul Saga, you’ll journey through never-before-seen subterranean worlds filled with hidden wonders and lurking perils, down to the dark depths of the Nerubian empire, where the inscrutable Harbinger of the Void has gathered her arachnid forces to bring Azeroth to its knees.
