| What do actress Cameron Diaz, comedian Dave | | | | you prefer. World of Warcraft offers two basic types |
| Chapelle, starship captain/lawyer William Shatner, | | | | of gameplay: Player vs. Environment and Player vs. |
| South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and | | | | Player. Player vs. Environment entails working together |
| former adult film star Jenna Jameson have in | | | | with other online players to battle monsters and |
| common? | | | | complete quests. And, as the name implies, Player vs. |
| They can all be found online, along with millions of other | | | | Player gameplay features battles between users. |
| enthusiasts, playing the massively multi-player online | | | | WoW features an in-game currency system that |
| role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft and | | | | allows characters to purchase new skills and |
| destroying the image of the stereotypical gamer geek. | | | | equipment. Quests are missions that usually reward |
| With such a large and dedicated fanbase, World of | | | | players with this in-game currency or experience |
| Warcraft has crossed over to the mainstream in a big | | | | points, allowing characters to advance. Typically, a |
| way. Although World of Warcraft (or WoW for short) | | | | non-player character (a character controlled by the |
| boasts a richly detailed playing environment (known as | | | | game as opposed to another gamer) will charge |
| Azeroth), storied history, and complex backstory, the | | | | players with a quest that might involve delivering a |
| uninitiated shouldn't feel intimidated. WoW is newbie | | | | special item to a designated location, locating a lost |
| friendly too, allowing newcomers to immerse | | | | artifact, or destroying specific monsters. It's common |
| themselves with ease. | | | | for one quest to lead directly into another quest on |
| World of Warcraft is a subscription game created by | | | | completion, generating much of the in-game story as |
| Blizzard entertainment in 2004 as a follow up to a | | | | the players interact with non-player characters. |
| series of other games set in the same shared | | | | The more successful your quests, the more your |
| universe. As a testament to its popularity, the Guinness | | | | character's in-game reputation grows. A higher |
| Book of World Records cites WoW as holding the | | | | reputation leads to more involved and rare quests for |
| largest share of the subscription MMORPG | | | | you and your guild which means the possibilities for |
| market--62 percent. In fact, it's so popular that it's | | | | gameplay constantly expand as you make your way |
| become the default MMORPG archetype. For a $15 | | | | through the world. Quests can become very involved, |
| monthly subscription fee, over 11 million players | | | | with epic adventures and storylines to rival blockbuster |
| worldwide assemble their user-created characters into | | | | movies. Your character may even be killed, only to |
| guilds and embark on adventures in this online realm of | | | | return as a ghost before finally being resurrected--if |
| swords and sorcery. | | | | anybody in your guild wields the proper skills for the |
| Character | | | | job. Many guilds choose to actively roleplay quests, |
| Obviously, you don't step into the World of Warcraft | | | | communicating only in character as a way to further |
| as yourself. Instead, you create your personal | | | | enrich experience. |
| avatar--your in-game character and persona--from a | | | | Player vs. Player |
| selection of various available races and classes. There | | | | While gamers can still battle each other on Player vs. |
| are two opposing forces in Azeroth, The Alliance and | | | | Environment servers, in most cases each party must |
| The Horde, and your character's race depends on | | | | agree to the challenge beforehand. However, on |
| which affiliation you choose. Alliance races include | | | | Player vs. Player servers, members of opposing |
| things like Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, Night Elves, and | | | | factions can attack each other at nearly any time, |
| Draenei (which are sort of giant humanoids with | | | | between questing and exploring dungeons. |
| hooves and tails). The Horde encompasses Orcs, | | | | For more intricate melees, characters can engage |
| Trolls, Blood Elves, Tauren (pseudo-minotaur monsters), | | | | each other via battlefield campaigns. As with quests, |
| and Forsaken (armies of the undead). Each WoW | | | | battlefield victories are rewarded with experience |
| race has its own special attributes. | | | | points and in-game currency, allowing characters to |
| Once you've chosen your avatar's race and | | | | grow and advance. |
| customized their look, it's time to select a character | | | | WoW Appeal |
| class. WoW features 10 different classes, although not | | | | The World of Warcraft has firmly found its way into |
| all classes are available to all races. Classes include | | | | pop culture at a level unseen since the heyday of Pac |
| things like Warrior, Warlock, Death Knight, Druid, Paladin, | | | | Man Fever. Comedy Central's popular South Park |
| Page, Priest, Hunter, Rogue, and Shaman. Each class | | | | featured an Emmy-winning, WoW-centric episode that |
| has its own specific talents, necessitating the need for | | | | was heavily animated with in-game footage. Felicia |
| a well-rounded guild (team) in order to conquer WoW's | | | | Day of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame created and |
| challenges. You can mix and match from over 50 | | | | starred in sitcom The Guild based on her own |
| available talents and skills when bringing your avatar to | | | | "addiction" to Warcraft. It's easy to see why the |
| life. You can also assign two professions to your | | | | appeal keeps spreading. |
| character, helping them further develop crucial abilities. | | | | As a newbie, once you join-up with the WoW |
| The Quest | | | | phenomenon, you'll be able to access beginners-only |
| Once you've created your character and joined up | | | | areas, designed to help you get acclimated as quickly |
| with a guild, it's time to decide what kind of adventure | | | | as possible. Thanks to the many kinds of assistance |
| you're seeking. The game features a variety of | | | | available in-game, as well as the support of an |
| locations (realms), each with its own individual | | | | extremely dedicated gaming community, you could be |
| opportunities for adventure. Your adventures in these | | | | making a name for yourself in Azeroth in no time at all. |
| realms are largely dictated by which type of gameplay | | | | |