The Price is First (But is it Right?)

It is strange what can happen in just a week, even in a fantasy world inhabited by Panda's and blue space goats who fight alongside brilliant men who are typically found in your backyard. This time last week we were all eagerly awaiting the release of Mists. It turns out some of us were awaiting it more than others.

The Beta for Mists was unique in comparison to previous editions for upcoming expansions. This time around the number of participants was hugely increased thanks to Blizzard's Annual Pass which for a subscription commitment of 12 months, players were guaranteed access to Mists Beta servers. I applaud the move as both a wise business decision and a factor in improving the release product which found its way into our virtual lives not five days ago.

It did provide another benefit for a select group of players. With the introduction of each expansion there has always been a leveling race; players would compete in an annual (sometimes biannual) race to reach the level cap first and claim the glory of a Feat of Strength. Previously, a select few lucky enough to gain invites to Beta were at a huge advantage in being able to plan their leveling route and highlight which methods were more effective than others. Those that did not have Beta access were going in almost blind and it made for some unbalanced races. It did however make for some absolutely brilliant competition on servers where nobody interested in racing for the realm first titles got Beta access... the races were longer, more unpredictable and thrilling.

What gives me the right to make such a claim? Well, unless you've stalked me in-game or spent a little long searching my armory profile, then you wouldn't know that I was once a successful leveler. If I depart from strictly Saurfang events for a brief moment, then I remember back to the release of Wrath of the Lich King. At that stage <Ajantis> was still on the server of Aman'thul and our beloved home of Saurfang was at that stage unborn. With the release of Wrath, I logged in three hours after servers opened and casually started making my way through the first few zones. I quickly gained momentum and halfway through 72 I decided to make a go of it.

To my advantage was the obvious fact that very few people had attained Wrath Beta access and the simple reality that in leveling to 80 it was going to take significantly longer than it did to get to 90 in Mists (the five extra levels helped, but the general effort required was more). I ended up taking a 6 hour sleep on the first night and made it to 80 mid way through the 3rd day of release. I lost realm first by a good 6 hours to a Paladin who nobody ever heard of again (a dedicated leveler who had no real interest in the long term game). Back in Wrath (for those who were not playing the game then) they had realm first achievements for specific races (before race change was enabled) and I managed to get the one for the Forsaken. It was a fun time and I enjoyed myself but there were substantial differences between my approach and the one taken by many this week on Saurfang. I quested the entire way and was far from 'hardcore' in my efforts. I did no research and made no attempt to exploit. It was good, old fashioned and very naive.

So, getting back to Saurfang and the events of Tuesday release, the server first titles all went within a very short time frame. The amount of experience needed to level was in my opinion far too low. Coupled with the amount of intensive research put into the race by some players, the levels fell with little fanfare or credible resistance.

I had initially planned to do an interview with the first player on the server to reach level 90, but I rapidly changed my thinking upon reading this thread and having a few conversations with well placed individuals in-game. I have been deep in thought about how to approach the whole controversial affair, and if I even want too.

Eventually I decided I wanted to address a few points, but on topics not already covered by others. So, here are my views on the subject

• On playing to the "spirit of the game". The final word is that the achievements earned by some of the first to reach 90 will remain with them. The method in which they reached their goal is ultimately okay within the game rules, due to the basic fact that Blizzard have deemed their particular strategy permissible. While I don't wish to take a particular side and say that what was done was 'cheating' or simply 'immoral', I also don't agree with the adage of 'winning at all costs'. Of far more interest to me is the attitude of the players to this game; it means very different things to very different people. Are we to remember ourselves and each other for the achievements we gained, or the manner in which we scaled the heights themselves? Either way, we are concerned with the opinons of others and we are forever subject to individual taste and fickleness alike

• On the "pride of the server" notion. Reading through the thread on the Realm Forums, there is one thing that is undeniable; there is feeling and passion amongst the top players on the server. Oh boy is there some feeling! Raiding has not yet begun in earnest and already the gauntlet has been laid down. For now the interactions are mostly amicable but there is a real sense of competition about and it will be interesting to see if the varying approaches to the levelling race are continued in the raiding scene.

So, things didn't turn out as planned for many people and there will be a bitter taste in the mouths of some for months to come. While most will turn the page and focus on far more important aspirations, I guarantee that the perceived injustices of the last week will continue to stoke the fires of some players well into the foreseeable future.

What an interesting time to be a Saurfangian.