Just got WoW up and running - couple of questions.

Jimbo Mahoney · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:07

Finally got my internet up and running so I can start playing WoW. Me and a couple of mates from work are all going to be starting over the next few weeks and we're really looking forward to it!

Anyway, I'm running a pretty decent rig (see sig) and was wondering if there are any patches to improve the graphics? I'm running 1600x1200, 6x FSAA, 16x AA, everything in-game maxed. No worries if not.

Second - quick question about my 'Unarmed' skill - I understand I need certain weapons to improve this skill? I haven't seen any yet (I'm only Level 6) as all the dealers near me are selling swords and axes and the like.

Er, that's it for now I think...

Tute · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:13

Unarmed is your unarmed skill - it's as simple as that. Some classes and enemies have the ability to disarm, making you fight with your fists for a few seconds. How much damage you do with your fists is determined by your unarmed skill.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, as not THAT many mobs disarm you, and only other warriors or rogues can.

Graphics wise, there's not a lot you can do except select highest resolution, move all sliders to the right, and set AA and AF as high as possible. WoW isn't a graphically intensive game.

JUMPURS · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:17

yeah i run everything max too at 1680 x 1050 and thats about as much as u can get out of it. Its very cartoony, it kind suits it.
if you want a very good looking MMO which your rig still wont get near full settings try EQ2 though lol

nichorob · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:26

Graphics engine is getting tired now, but dont forget its nearly 2 years old now.

Datamonkey · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:31

try editing the properties of the wow icon on your start bar, after all the path and file name put in -opengl

cripples my machine looks crisper though.

and i have a high spec machine

Roduga · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:31

Frank Butcher said:
Graphics engine is getting tired now, but dont forget its nearly 2 years old now.

It was out-of-date when it was released tbh.

JUMPURS · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:33

Frank Butcher said:
Graphics engine is getting tired now, but dont forget its nearly 2 years old now.

Even then it wasnt pushing any machines when it came out, and not futureproof in the slightest

Jono · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:59

Yeah, but isn't it meant to look like that, i.e. cartoony? I like it. I think it suits it really well.

It is horrible though - remember when BWL first came out and the engine was drawing all the dragons in the supression room while you were trying to take down razorgore and vael? (At least that's how I think how it was).

That said, I've nothing else to compare it to mmorpg-wise, other than the first EQ, which was back in 99/2000?

rotters · 30 Aug 2006 at 12:11

will the expansion pack have much better gfx engine? im hoping as now i have my x1900xt i want to push it.

rotters

Roduga · 30 Aug 2006 at 12:21

Jono said:
Yeah, but isn't it meant to look like that, i.e. cartoony? I like it. I think it suits it really well.

It is horrible though - remember when BWL first came out and the engine was drawing all the dragons in the supression room while you were trying to take down razorgore and vael? (At least that's how I think how it was).

That said, I've nothing else to compare it to mmorpg-wise, other than the first EQ, which was back in 99/2000?

When I first played it I was happy. It was very much gameplay over graphics. The reason I stopped was because I wasn't interested in doing the same run over and over, plus the graphics really do get to you. I felt I wanted something special, something that made me 'feel' there. Oblivion, on the other hand, lacked the gameplay but made you feel the environment.

Something between the two would be nice.

Edinho · 30 Aug 2006 at 12:25

rotters said:
will the expansion pack have much better gfx engine? im hoping as now i have my x1900xt i want to push it.

Nope far as i know the only graphic enhancement is a few more polygons in the new races. Hardly going the push an x1900xt.

ins0mn1ac · 30 Aug 2006 at 13:02

Jono said:
It is horrible though - remember when BWL first came out and the engine was drawing all the dragons in the supression room while you were trying to take down razorgore and vael? (At least that's how I think how it was).

That was pretty naff, especially since I played Rogue and people in the raid were like "OMG DEFUSE THE TRAP", more recently though there was a problem with Heigans room in Naxx - it was kinda like the floor in Onyxia style but super hard mode, very funny, needless to say the event has been totally scaled down.

Jimbo Mahoney · 30 Aug 2006 at 19:32

OK, now I want to do the *opposite*

Is there any way I can turn DOWN the details so my laptop with onboard gfx can run it better? (tbh I'm lucky it runs it at all!).

@ 800x600 min sliders, I get ~25 fps, and I'd like 40 ideally...

ins0mn1ac · 30 Aug 2006 at 20:47

Jimbo Mahoney said:
OK, now I want to do the *opposite*

Is there any way I can turn DOWN the details so my laptop with onboard gfx can run it better? (tbh I'm lucky it runs it at all!).

@ 800x600 min sliders, I get ~25 fps, and I'd like 40 ideally...

Ouch, try going to Ironforge

or Org, if your on the "other" side

Jimbo Mahoney · 30 Aug 2006 at 23:27

Another question:

What is the point in a guild? I can understand groups, but not guilds...

:confused:

ins0mn1ac · 30 Aug 2006 at 23:50

Jimbo Mahoney said:
Another question:

What is the point in a guild? I can understand groups, but not guilds...

whole point of WoW is to lvl up and defeat objects, at level 60 you'll soon become bored with "group" instances, guilds enable you to go further and raid, thats a 40man group, WoW has a couple of fun 40man's to keep the subscriptions rolling in!

ExRayTed · 31 Aug 2006 at 02:21

Jimbo Mahoney said:
Another question:

What is the point in a guild? I can understand groups, but not guilds...

Because pick-up groups suck once you hit the higher level instances which require a little skill to complete.For example I tried to get a 5 man group together for Blackrock Depths ( 55+ instance)..got 5 groups together and all 5 fell apart because people had to go 30 mins into it,argued with other party members and left or caused horrendous wipes (full group death) So all day and no group.

Plus there's the feeling of 'family' in good guilds so guildies help each other out.

To be honest there isn't any need to join a guild until you're 55+...as you're playing with friends questing should be easy.

Vixen · 1 Sep 2006 at 02:32

rotters said:
will the expansion pack have much better gfx engine? im hoping as now i have my x1900xt i want to push it.

rotters

I would hope not. It's not a single player game where you are limited to the number of npcs the computer can throw at you. I would hate to try and play the game with higher graphics, as the lag trying to draw other players in Orgrimmar or Ironforge would be unbearable.

Jokester · 1 Sep 2006 at 07:46

New PvE (Darkspear) and RP (Darkmoon Faire) servers are going up this afternoon, makes a nice place to start as there will be lots of players the same level as you.

Jokester

Indie · 1 Sep 2006 at 07:47

Vixen said:
I would hope not. It's not a single player game where you are limited to the number of npcs the computer can throw at you. I would hate to try and play the game with higher graphics, as the lag trying to draw other players in Orgrimmar or Ironforge would be unbearable.

its unbearable anyway