Blizzard's latest addition to the classic World of Warcraft experience, the Season of Discovery, has been out for a solid week, and the gaming community is buzzing with excitement. Players are actively uncovering new runes in real-time realms, navigating through crowded servers, witnessing class balancing in rapid order, and immersing themselves in a plethora of content. As the dust settles on this exciting first week, it's time to take a step back and reflect on some aspects that would have been beneficial to know pre-launch.

1. The Azerothian Commercial Authority and Jitar Supply and Logistics

One of the major additions to Season of Discovery is the introduction of new reputations: the Azerothian Commercial Authority for the Alliance and Jitar Supply and Logistics for the Horde. Attaining level six or above in these reputations grants players the opportunity to receive valuable WH Aid shipments from mobs or chests in the open world. These shipments come in two tiers, and players must fill them with specific items to maximize the rewards. The key is to be strategic about filling these supplies, as they are unique and necessitate a return to the Auction House for item procurement.

While Blizzard has made recent updates to make filled boxes non-unique, the process of collecting and filling WH Aid supplies remains a crucial aspect of character progression. Additionally, reaching Honored with these reputations unlocks specific class runes, making this grind a vital component for all players.

2. Realms and Faction Dynamics

In Season of Discovery, Blizzard is taking a novel approach to balance factions on certain Realms, particularly PvP ones. Many PvP Realms are currently locked for new character creation due to the overwhelming number of players. Faction-based restrictions come into play on these Realms, temporarily disabling character creation for the faction that begins to outnumber the other. This faction balance issue has predominantly affected Alliance players, given the historical preference for the Alliance faction in Vanilla WoW.

Moreover, the return of the vanilla design choice preventing characters of both factions on the same PvP realm poses an additional restriction. Players need to consider these factors when choosing their realms, keeping in mind the potential future impact on their gaming experience.

3. Professions and Crafting in Season of Discovery

Professions in Season of Discovery have undergone significant changes, with players only able to train up to the Journeyman level (150). The level needed to advance to Expert has been moved to 26, making the choice of professions a crucial decision. While there's no wrong answer, it's recommended to focus on gathering professions during the initial levels. Skinning, mining, or herbalism, combined with a crafting profession, can provide additional income, essential for filling reputation boxes and achieving other in-game goals.

Each profession offers unique benefits, and racials that increase profession skill further diversify the choices. Tailoring, blacksmithing, and leatherworking now offer ways to upgrade specific items to epic versions, providing players with valuable gear options.

4. Gold Generation and Dungeon Grinding

WoW Classic SoD Gold becomes less of a concern in Season of Discovery due to the bonus gold modifier at level 25. Once experience gain is converted into gold, players can amass a significant amount simply by completing quests. Dungeon grinding becomes a viable strategy for both leveling and accumulating gold. Rare items obtained in dungeons can be valuable, and with the eventual level cap increase, dungeon grinding may become a lucrative activity.

Players are encouraged to save quests for level cap to maximize bonus gold, creating a substantial gold reserve for future endeavors. This approach aligns with the anticipation of an increased level cap, where dungeon grinding may surpass questing in terms of gold generation.

5. Dungeon Content: Endgame Before Level 25

The endgame in Season of Discovery begins earlier than expected, with dungeons around level 20 dropping items that remain relevant well into raiding content. Whaling Caverns, Deadmines, and Shadow Fang Keep become key dungeons for farming gear, and participating in these dungeons provides an opportunity to stockpile quests for bonus gold.

Players are advised to take advantage of the active dungeon groups forming during the early levels, as the gear acquired can be a game-changer. Rare items from these dungeons may last until players reach higher-level raid content, emphasizing the significance of dungeon grinding.

6. Valuable Items: Fish Oil, Iridescent Pearls, Spider Silk, and More

Certain items gain higher value in Season of Discovery due to their role in endgame crafting for powerful gear or as essential components for specific quests. Fish oil, iridescent pearls, spider silk, lesser moonstone, and materials for bronze bars, such as tin, iron, and copper ore, become highly sought after. Players are urged to refrain from vendoring these items and instead capitalize on their increased value by selling or stockpiling them for future use.

7. Strategic Hearthstone Placement

Choosing the location for your hearthstone becomes crucial in Season of Discovery, especially considering the level cap and the proximity to raid content. For Alliance players, being close to Kalor can be advantageous for raid accessibility. Additionally, completing a specific quest in Oine grants the ability to teleport directly from Oine to BFD (Blackfathom Deeps), streamlining the process for Alliance players.

Horde players in Orar are well-situated, being close to raid content and having access to Zeppelins for longer journeys. The strategic placement of hearthstones can significantly enhance convenience for players as they navigate the world and engage in various activities.

In conclusion, Season of Discovery has brought a wealth of new content and challenges to Classic WoW. As players continue to explore and uncover the secrets of this season, the tips provided above can serve as a guide for those starting their journey or looking to optimize their gameplay. Whether delving into reputations, managing professions, or strategically placing hearthstones, understanding these aspects can contribute to a more enjoyable and successful experience in World of Warcraft. So, gear up, explore, and may your adventure in Azeroth be truly legendary!

MMOexp WoW Classic SoD Team