Starting World of Warcraft

The Start of My WoW Game

Currently, I am downloading the Retail version of WoW; even bought the midnight expansion! To be honest, I have played a bit of WoW before but it was hardcore classic, and I dropped it after maybe a week.

I’m not sure if I should start by looking at guides online or just try and learn everything as I go. I do know about MMO RPGs, so selecting a character, meaning race and class, is on the agenda.

Deciding Between Guides and Experimenting

Once again, I find myself unsure. An AOE (Area of Effect) type build would be good; I wonder if I could be an AOE tank. Enemies gravity to me while taking damage, and I just stand there and laugh with my huge battle axe.

I quickly ChatGPT this really quickly and see if that build is something I can make happen.

ChatGPT Recommendations

Blood Death Knight Tank

Everything comes to me, everything bleeds, I refuse to die, and the healer develops trust issues. -ChatGPT Disc

The output suggests that Gorefiend's Grasp is the centerpiece of the build. Actually, it continues:

• The build is known for having group utility: Death Grip & Gorefiend's Grasp.

Vengeance Demon Hunter

No description like the last one, but it says that it’s another AoE “Chaos tank with mobility, control, and self-healing.” A Whirl winding psychopath that spins around in circles holding either two massive “War Sickle” or the world’s tiniest toothpicks, which are actually extremely deadly weapons.

Self-Reflection

A bit off-topic but it’s neat to self-reflect and realize that typing my thoughts out truly does expand my thought process and I believe improves it as well. Like just now, before typing both those options out, I was leaning more towards the Blood Death Knight Tank, but after exploring the Vengeance Demon Hunter, I found myself liking the second option more.

Research on Vengeance Demon Hunter (VDH)

I did some more research for what I am going to shorten to VDH from now on as to save myself from typing it over and over. I also looked into 1-handed bladed weapon options:

Slicing or Cutting Focused Weapons

• Cutlass, Scimitar, Saber: Curved blades; for slicing attacks.
• Falchion and Kukri: Heavy chopping strikes (not suitable for the VDH build).

Additional Effective Options

• Machete and Bolo: Durable, powerful slashes.
• Katana: Precise, graceful cutting, despite being two-handed.

Google Search on 1-Handed Bladed Weapons

The search was for “1-handed bladed weapons that are used for slicing / ‘blending’ enemies.” Why does it recommend the Katana even though it’s known as a two-handed weapon? Interesting that it decided to list this, but it doesn’t affect me in any way.

VDH Abilities and Build

The output says that VDH is mobile, aggressive, and known for constantly throwing itself into danger. This seems to line up with my vision of dual-wielding battle-crazed psychopath. It also lists the way it tanks by mixing mobility, fire damage, self-healing, sigils, demon form, and AoE control.

Both of these strengthen my current thought routing to the VDH build as I can just imagine now running into a field full of bad dudes, devastating the ranks all while self-healing with what I assume is life-steal type abilities.

Useful Information

The output says that VDH uses weapons called “warglaives,” which look like giant sickles. Assuming and from what I do know about WoW, transmogs keep the item stats the same while adjusting the look of items.

Final Thoughts on VDH Build

Even more information: VDH is a tank spec but doesn’t feel slow. It feels more like jumping into the pack, lighting oneself on fire, chaining everything in place, exploding, healing from souls, then jumping away before anyone can file a complaint.

Since I am focusing on AoE psycho blender stuff, it listed abilities that closely match that style. The Sigil of Chains ability sounds very similar to an ability called “Profane Seal,” which is from the book series Defiance of the Fall, my all-time favorite LIT-RPG.

I was right about the life-steal stuff: Fel Devastation is a cone AoE that deals blast damage while healing myself. The ultimate of the build is called Metamorphosis and turns me into a huge badass demon.

VDH vs Blood Death Knight (BDDK)

The idea of a massive monster with tiny toothpicks isn’t super realistic but it’s fine. In either case, I think I can still make myself look like the vibe I’m going for.

Race Selection Suggestions

• Night Elf male Vengeance Demon Hunter: Taller and broader, gives more tank vibes.
• Blood Elf male Vengeance Demon Hunter: Sleek assassin type look.

The first option seems more suited for what I want to build.

Blood Death Knight (BDDK) Build

More stuff that makes this less than what I wanted: the BDDK is more agility, movement, and overall “Come this way so I can kill you.” While the other option of a Blood DK is more stand there and laugh while everything dies.

With the final output of having to move around, it sorta put a damper on my feelings of picking VDH, and now I’m leaning more towards BDDK.

Final Decision

I just had ChatGPT do an in-depth review of the Blood DK build with my design in mind… and man, I think I might go with Blood DK.

I really enjoy the idea holding down my enemies around me and causing damage while laughing away. The Blood DK feels a lot more like that than what VDH sounds like.

BDDK Abilities

BDDK is known as a “reactive tank,” this means that the player watches the health bar go down then slamming it back up, leading to an “I can’t die” feeling when played correctly but awful if for some reason you can’t get enough health.

Abilities of Blood DK match better to what I am looking for:

• Crowd Control: abilities to grab enemies, pull them in.
• Health regen ability that is based on the amount of damage you are taking.
• AoE damage abilities.
• For the weapon ability, there is one that summons a floating copy of your current weapon that helps you out.

Race Selection

Race selection is very broad so I won’t list them all. The two that look the most well suited are:

• Orc Blood DK
• Tauren Blood DK

Looking at the different models, I’m leaning towards the Tauren because it looks really cool.

In any case, taking everything in and after typing out all my options, I’m going to go with the Tauren Blood DK. As it more matches what play style I am going for.