Twink Experiment
As a guild we like to do stuff together. Heroics are beyond boring at this point, and while raid nights are a blast, we still like to do stuff when we aren't raiding. A couple of guys had this idea of making Twinks. The 39 Bracket is apparently thriving on the Nightfall battle group, and they've invited anyone who wants to join them to level a toon and 'twink' it.
I was never really interested in twinking before. I didn't think it would be much fun to fight people who had little chance of putting up a fight. But now that Blizzard has set up a system to separate Twinks from non Twinks, I think it could be interesting. Apparently, in the 39 Bracket on Nightfall you get to know your cross server allies and enemies. Reputations and rivalries are formed, and the PVP is unlike what we see at the level cap. It's almost like the 39s Bracket is the Developers goal for Cataclysm PVP. Players have large health pools and the game is a little slower than at 80 where the pressure of Season 8 DoT classes is ridiculous and teams put out unhealable damage. Twinks also can last across expansions and are a great activity during that downtime right between expansions.
So the challenge now is to pick a toon and twink it out. I might start to ramble a bit here, but stay with me.
There are 10 classes in WoW. Death Knights are already out because they start at 55 and this is for a 39 Twink. So we have nine contenders. Warlocks are also out because I flat out refuse to play one. I don't like the whole demon pet thing, sorry. I’m sure they are a blast to play. Okay, down to 8. Despite my best efforts, I have never had fun leveling a Priest, so that's out. I really have no desire to level a Druid, or Paladin again. Those classes are amazing at high levels but they are rough to level. Now we're making headway, down to 5. Rogue is another class that I've tried to level, but haven’t enjoyed.
Our four finalists are Hunter, Warrior, Mage, and Shaman. I hated spamming Heroic Strike on my Warrior, and the stance dancing required for PVP is a major turn off.
That leaves Mage, Hunter, and Shaman.
I already have a Level 80 Hunter, so I know I enjoy leveling and playing the class. I've been playing a Hunter long enough to know how to chain trap and jump shot. That should serve me well in Battelgrounds. There is one other person already leveling a Hunter in our group. Apparently, as a Twink you need to go Engineering and that seems like a natural fit for the Hunter class. I’ve heard Hunters do well in 39s and that you’re pet can put some real pressure on people. Of the 3 toons, the Hunter has the longest way to go.
Mages are fun and have a ton of CC, but from what I've heard they have trouble with mana management and survivability. There is also the small issue that two people in our group already are working on mages. It would mean more competition for those rare twink drops you need to farm, but those guys level faster than I do so I'll be behind anyway. They can hate me when whatever they farmed for drops for me the first time. I’d be concerned about our groups balance with 3 mages espeically when we want to do Warsong Gulch. I know these guys level faster than I do so I’ll be the least geared/ready of the 3 mages when I get there.
I've heard Shamans aren't great in the 39 Bracket. They don't have any instant heals, and Enchance is too dependant on procs. I could make him Elemental but I think the only damage spell you have at that level is Lightning Bolt. Again not instant, and I fear it could be boring playing a turret. No one else is working on a Shaman in the group and I like being somewhat unique. He's also got the shortest trip from where he is now to level 39.
The group wants me to 'play what I enjoy' which is great but doesn't really help me much right now. I'm enjoying all 3, but then again I'm one of those weird people with the 'likes to quest' gene. It's hard to say what class I'll enjoy in PVP as the PVP experience is very different from the PVE one, and the twink 39 is a unique experience unto itself. Most of the articles I've found online for Twinking are at least a year old and I'm not sure what, if anything, has changed since those posts and guides have bee written.
I know 39 isn’t quite the commitment that 60, or 80 is, but it’s still a good chunk of time. I need to decide on one toon and stick with it.
So Fireballs, Guns, or Totems?
If any of you guys has advice, suggestions, or comments, I'd love to hear them.
I was never really interested in twinking before. I didn't think it would be much fun to fight people who had little chance of putting up a fight. But now that Blizzard has set up a system to separate Twinks from non Twinks, I think it could be interesting. Apparently, in the 39 Bracket on Nightfall you get to know your cross server allies and enemies. Reputations and rivalries are formed, and the PVP is unlike what we see at the level cap. It's almost like the 39s Bracket is the Developers goal for Cataclysm PVP. Players have large health pools and the game is a little slower than at 80 where the pressure of Season 8 DoT classes is ridiculous and teams put out unhealable damage. Twinks also can last across expansions and are a great activity during that downtime right between expansions.
So the challenge now is to pick a toon and twink it out. I might start to ramble a bit here, but stay with me.
There are 10 classes in WoW. Death Knights are already out because they start at 55 and this is for a 39 Twink. So we have nine contenders. Warlocks are also out because I flat out refuse to play one. I don't like the whole demon pet thing, sorry. I’m sure they are a blast to play. Okay, down to 8. Despite my best efforts, I have never had fun leveling a Priest, so that's out. I really have no desire to level a Druid, or Paladin again. Those classes are amazing at high levels but they are rough to level. Now we're making headway, down to 5. Rogue is another class that I've tried to level, but haven’t enjoyed.
Our four finalists are Hunter, Warrior, Mage, and Shaman. I hated spamming Heroic Strike on my Warrior, and the stance dancing required for PVP is a major turn off.
That leaves Mage, Hunter, and Shaman.
I already have a Level 80 Hunter, so I know I enjoy leveling and playing the class. I've been playing a Hunter long enough to know how to chain trap and jump shot. That should serve me well in Battelgrounds. There is one other person already leveling a Hunter in our group. Apparently, as a Twink you need to go Engineering and that seems like a natural fit for the Hunter class. I’ve heard Hunters do well in 39s and that you’re pet can put some real pressure on people. Of the 3 toons, the Hunter has the longest way to go.
Mages are fun and have a ton of CC, but from what I've heard they have trouble with mana management and survivability. There is also the small issue that two people in our group already are working on mages. It would mean more competition for those rare twink drops you need to farm, but those guys level faster than I do so I'll be behind anyway. They can hate me when whatever they farmed for drops for me the first time. I’d be concerned about our groups balance with 3 mages espeically when we want to do Warsong Gulch. I know these guys level faster than I do so I’ll be the least geared/ready of the 3 mages when I get there.
I've heard Shamans aren't great in the 39 Bracket. They don't have any instant heals, and Enchance is too dependant on procs. I could make him Elemental but I think the only damage spell you have at that level is Lightning Bolt. Again not instant, and I fear it could be boring playing a turret. No one else is working on a Shaman in the group and I like being somewhat unique. He's also got the shortest trip from where he is now to level 39.
The group wants me to 'play what I enjoy' which is great but doesn't really help me much right now. I'm enjoying all 3, but then again I'm one of those weird people with the 'likes to quest' gene. It's hard to say what class I'll enjoy in PVP as the PVP experience is very different from the PVE one, and the twink 39 is a unique experience unto itself. Most of the articles I've found online for Twinking are at least a year old and I'm not sure what, if anything, has changed since those posts and guides have bee written.
I know 39 isn’t quite the commitment that 60, or 80 is, but it’s still a good chunk of time. I need to decide on one toon and stick with it.
So Fireballs, Guns, or Totems?
If any of you guys has advice, suggestions, or comments, I'd love to hear them.
Comments
a twink at level 39 kinda misses out on a lot of key talent/abilities :(
as such:
- a warrior won't be able to have mortal :(, but...
- hunters can go for aimed shot! :) though personal preference would be to go with beast mastery spec, free stun ftw from intimidation, heh.
- as for shamans, windfury is the main reason i leveled a shaman, especially in pre-BC when shamans could potentially 1 shot people =\ at that level i believe it could be possible, grab a nice big 2 hander and windfury people to death :)
- for mages i'm rather clueless as i've yet to level one, but from impressions of mages i've come across, their life seems to be rather on the low side and currently in wow, would be dependent on +spell power gear just to boost the output of their abilities unlike other classes (enhancement shamans, hunters and warriors) where its simple stat dependent (agility,strength)
based on the above, i would suggest either going with an enhancement shaman and/or hunter =)
Yes, it's proc dependent. Yes, you might absolutely destroy someone the first time you meet them on the battlefield, and you might get rolled the next time...but that makes for good stories!
Also...Totems! Split second situational usage at its finest....the misuse of which will I'm sure lead to good stories. :-)
As a potential tie-breaker, since you like questing (as I do), the 15 minute Astral Recall is really nice for that.
I don't much care for the class overall, I never had one higher than 39 so I don't know what they're like at end-game, and I also never cared for leveling them.
However, as a 39 twink rogues can be VERY fun. That is, unless one has stunlocked you and your head is currently bashing the keyboard as you wait for the spirit healer to rez again.
It might be a pain to get there, but if you don't plan on taking it past 39, your endgame isn't even 40 levels (kind of like taking a DK from 55-80).
Just a thought....
I have played several brackets and IMO 39s are the most fun. I almost transferred to Nightfall to play them... the community seems great.
Hunters are good at 39.
My flavor of choice was disc priest. You are correct in that priests are a bitch an a half to level, and very painful. However, disc priest PVP from about 29 to 39 is AMAZINGLY fun.
- MCing people off the edge of a roof or cliff
- Manaburn!
- FEAR!
- Dispels!
- Obviously, heals.
- Very strong bubbles with stacked SP
I loved it!
Anyways, otherwise, my vote would be shammy - I had several friends who played ridiculously good shammies.
A well played mage at 39 will be a CC machine, but kind of a glass cannon when it comes to damage.
Combine that with a knowledge of how to actually play the class and make use of your utility, and you'll be unstoppable.
Myself, I'm leveling my old level 19 warlock twink to be my 39 twink. It is so much fun. I understand the demon thing, but it is just a game after all.
Anyway, the class I probably despise the most in twink play is the hunter. Playing a warlock, it can be so hard to deal with or take down a well-played, well-twinked hunter.
It should be a blast when we're all 39s! Hopefully, we're running around pwning! :)
I know we have one other person going Hunter. I think it's Shad.
Should I go with Balanced Heartseekers (PVE ones with Agi/Hit/AP) or Sharpened Scarlet Kris (PVP with Stam/Resil/AP), or maybe one of each?
:)
I've always wanted to twink out a rogue and do this.
I'd recommend you talk to Boston.