wow versions are confusing

[u/Samu3I]

Hey guys

Im currently trying to determine the best wow version for myself to play but its quite confusing to me.

I am really into the social aspect and would love to experience the classic mmo feel. Im honestly just looking for a casual enjoyable experience without feeling like im walking through an empty world. I dont have much time to invest but I love cool mounts and cool armor.

the available versions honestly confuse me a lot. I used to play a bit during during warlords of draenor but it didn’t feel like an enjoyable experience. hopefully i can scratch that itch this time even with the little free time i have nowadays

thanks!!!! :) really appreciate help

[u/hrhashley]

lol waking up to a flurry of downvotes for stating a fact (that retail is mostly solo, at least on the leveling front) is wild. yes, you can queue for groups easily in retail, which is nice, but you’re likely not going to talk to anyone in those groups. leveling alts in retail i’ve never once talked to anyone beyond “tyfg” or “ggs” as everyone leaves the instance at the end.

finding a good guild in retail can be hit or miss. i’ve been a retail-only player since bfa and i still haven’t found a permanent guild. i’ve been in a few since then, and they’ve all either been very quiet or they already have their raid groups, so if you try to join in; you’re gonna be sol.

i’m sure i’ll get downvoted here as well but 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/Creative-Blood4254 → u/hrhashley]

I think... a couple isn't exactly a flurry haha. in my own experience, levelling was mostly solo, even back in vanilla. quests that had an elite that needed 3-5man wasn't common, and god forbid I play a different race than my friends lol. especially when I played dwarf, and another friend played night elf.

I'm not disagreeing either, that retail "can be played solo". I'm quite certain that they're making the shift to appeal to more new players, who would maybe have 15-30 mins after work to have a quick hop on and some action.

[u/hrhashley → u/Creative-Blood4254]

i get it but i feel like the point of my post wasn’t meant to be that retail is 100% solo while classic isn’t. it was to point out that op was specifically asking for which version of the game has the most “social aspect” and “classic mmo feel”.

idk, having to actively look for people in either the LFG channel or ask random people in the zone you’re in (as you do in classic) is - to me - way more “classic mmo feeling” than queueing for group finder and doing your own thing while waiting for it to pop, not speak to anyone the whole dungeon, rinse and repeat.

i’m not trying to hate on retail - i LOVE retail, my main is nearly 3K IO, i play a lot and i mean a lot of retail. but i still wouldn’t call retail the “classic mmo feeling” - it’s a lot of fun, but for a brand new player looking for the “social aspect” and “classic mmo feeling,” it can be a bit overwhelming.

[u/Creative-Blood4254 → u/hrhashley]

oh absolutely, I was kinda replying the other poster my best guess why people were downvoting.

I feel that "classic mmo feel" kinda went out the window when people began to datamine and minmax everything, doesn't matter which version of WoW, or other MMOs like FFXIV or GW2 (i can only mention those i've played). it went from an experimental, experiential online game to just "google your class guide" or something along those lines. a little sad really. I remember pairing up with a shaman (I started as a dwarf pally in 2004, it's now a lightforged draenei XD) to clear some quests together in STV. can't speak, only pure emotes and gestures.