How To Start Playing WOW – Part 1

After you have chosen what race and class you want to play eagerness is probably now hitting boiling point as you cannot wait to get started. Remember before you click to enter the world this is your last chance if your not happy with your name, class, race and look. If you want to change something just delete the character and start the creation again. If your happy with your selection then you are ready to go.

Click to enter the world and enjoy the cutscene.

Depending on what you chose will decide on where you start. Alliance starting zones are: Dun Morogh – Dwarves and Gnomes Elwynn Forest – Humans Teldrassil – Night Elves Azuremyst Isle – Draenei Horde starting zones are: Tirisfal Glades – The Forsaken Durotar – Orcs and Trolls Mulgore – Taurens Eversong Woods – Blood Elves

Getting Started

When you enter your first starting zone you will see various characters and even other players. Have a little run around the camp to get used to your keys but don’t stray to far. There is now a choice for you and that’s how to setup your layout. You can either use the Blizzard User Interface (UI) or you can download new ones from popular sites like Curse.com. I would suggest for your first character to use the Blizzard UI so that you get used to the game and the character you’ll be playing with. Addons can be installed at any time and do provide more funtionality and more information so they could overwhlem you when your just getting started. I will cover more about WOW addons in another page later.

You will notice above certain non-player characters (NPC’s) a yellow exclamation mark. This indicates this NPC has a quest for you. Upon completing the quest the NPC will show a yellow question mark. These are also indicated on your minimap (the small map in the top right corner of your screen by default – not addon controlled).
If the exclamation mark is grey, this means you are not quite high enough in your level to pick it up.

Knowing Your Target

When you first start these zones as a new player you may see different colours when you mouse over various targets.

The general ones you see are: Green – Friendly to you Yellow – Neutral to you Red – Unfriendly and will attack you

Targets which are green can often be helpful to you in some way. Mouse over the target and if you see a little scroll icon click the right mouse button to begin your interaction.
If a target is yellow, then you will either be able to attack it as it’s a mobile object (Mob) or do nothing as a neutral non-player character (NPC) will not interact with you.
Should the target be red then you only have to move within a close proximity for it to start attacking you.

Ready To Go!!

Okay so you have your character, your in the starting zone based on the chosen class.

You have had a little run around to get used to the keys and you understand the different targets; who is beneficial to you and what to attack. You will start with basic abilities so learn how to activate them by reading the spell information in your spellbook. Press ‘P’ on your keyboard to open your spellbook. The spellbook is pretty straightforward – the spells/abilities are listed on the left and the various tabs to switch between the different types are on the right.

Spend a few minutes reading these until you understand what they do and how to activate them.

Since you start with the basic necessities and money theres no equipment to get at this point so lets go kill your first mob.
Pick your target based on the quest you have picked up and activate any abilities that will help you, these are usually ones that last a few minutes.
If you have a ranged attack then pick a suitable spot as far away as the ability will allow and still use i.e. maximum range. If your ability is melee i.e. close quarters combat then you will need to be as close as you can to the mob.

As the first few mobs are neutral you will need to start the combat by either casting the spell, do this by clicking on it with your mouse, or right click the target (click the actual mob and not the frame) to begin melee.

Did you win?? Nevertheless, congratulations you have just performed your first combat with your new character.

Try this a few more times until you feel comfortable with your characters abilities, then progress with more quests.

Good luck.