World of Warcraft: Forever is now live, and Blizzard has put out a launch-day overview of what players will see when they first log in. It sits alongside modern WoW and Classic as a permanent option. The story is set after Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core, and takes you across the original continents up to level 60.
Your first choices: preset, ruleset and name
The first login asks you to pick an Experience Preset, before you choose a Ruleset. You only see this screen once.
- Classic: Standard Definition character models, quest points of interest and objective blobs off, one-bag off, transmog off, camera-turning keybinds and a Classic screen UI layout.
- Enhanced: High Definition models, quest markers on, one-bag on, transmog on, strafe movement on the keybinds and a centralized UI layout.
Blizzard suggests Enhanced if you are unsure. Neither preset locks you in, because individual settings can be changed later under Game Menu > Options. Each new character can also use either HD or SD models and animations, which is cosmetic only and can be changed at a Barbershop.
There is no traditional realm selection. You pick a Ruleset instead, which acts as a broad player ecosystem rather than a single realm:
- Normal: adventuring and monsters, with PvP at your own discretion.
- PvP: you are almost always at risk of attack from opposing players.
- Roleplay: strict naming and behavior rules.
- Roleplay PvP: the same rules, with the constant PvP risk.
A Hardcore ruleset will arrive sometime after launch. Names also change: each character gets a two-part name that is unique within a region.
Zones, races and systems
Forever adds new and reimagined zones in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, with more than 1,000 new quests across levels 1 to 60. Named destinations include Mount Hyjal, Shen’dralas, the Riverglades and Zephras Isle. The Riverglades alone offer over 150 new quests covering much of the mid-30s to mid-40s. Zephras Isle is the level 1 to 12 starting area for the new Skyborne race.
The Skyborne can join either faction. Horde players choose Windshapers, who can become Shaman, and Alliance players choose High-Order Skyborne, who can become Mages. Other newly available combinations include Orc Mages, Troll Warlocks, Undead Paladins, Human Hunters, Gnome Priests and Dwarf Shamans.
Several systems come with launch:
- Camping: the Cooking profession’s Basic Campfire becomes a shared campsite. Up to three players can each add one profession-crafted Camp Feature, and you need to sit or craft there for at least a minute to get the benefits.
- Legacy System: account-wide horizontal progression built on Legacy Challenges, Perks and Rewards. Blizzard says every advantage can be unlocked on a single character.
- Gamepad support: refined targeting, casting, looting and menu navigation.
- Discord: account linking and guild chat mirroring, in both modern WoW and Forever.
Dungeons, raids and PvP
Nine new five-player dungeons cover levels 13 through 60. The first three raids, Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair, open to level 60 players on December 9. For PvP, a new 15 versus 15 battleground on the Darkspear Islands pits the Darkspear Raiders against the Theramore Expeditionary Force over strategic footholds and a central flag.
Blizzard is also pointing newcomers and returning players to a Portal Room Discord server for finding a community.
Source: World of Warcraft official news.
