World of Warcraft(R) Official Strategy Guide

Rating:
Summary: Game is not released but strategy is already for sale
Review: Any strategy guide is only good for a tough problems that you face in the game. I can't believe someone would need this during first few weeks playing this game.

Plus, there is nothing like solving hard puzzles/quests on your own! You will be proud when you did this on your own.

Enjoy this great game.

Rating:
Summary: Got It, Read It... It's Great!
Review: Buy this guide!

Preface: Not one to read the directions when doing ANY project, I'd rather open up a package, pull out all the parts and pretend that I can turn it into something recognizable on my own. And having been savagely disappointed with previous gaming guides (of the online variety - UO or DAoC...), I figured this purchase was up in the air to unlikely. The philosophical posts on praise/objection for these guide books points out these issues.

"Will I really need to know the armor class of level 2 cloth gloves?"

"Just how many times do I need to see the same artwork that came in the game's press release packet, inserted between size 40 text?"

"Will I purchase the guide now, only to use online websites for the information I need later?"

"A 'veteran' online gamer of some years, will I bypass the first 50 pages just to get to a few weapon/spell damage tables in the middle somewhere?"

Were just a few of the questions I asked myself when considering the WoW guide. At the glowing recommendations of my friends, I unconvincedly picked up the only copy from a Sam Goody on my lunch break. My discovery...? WOW!

The Bradygames WoW Guide is unquestionably the best online game book buy ever. And in answering my previous questions:

I may not need level 2 cloth gloves for very long, but I am sure when it comes time to find level 52 gauntlets, or craft them myself, I won't have to bug the "general" chatters asking about them for an hour.

The guide is a feast for the eyes! Full color pages, well-organized (color) charts, detailed (color) maps, original artwork, amusing comic strips illustrating the chapter topics, and in-game screenshots sprinkled throughout the book make it a pleasure to look at. Plus, and unlike other guides I've read, the font size is relatively small because there's so much quality information to present (not trying to cram size-28 useless information between large pictures, headings and tables). The language is both helpful and interesting, with plenty of annecdotal referencing.

While I was too impatient to wait, there is a binder version of the guide that you register online with access to updates that you can print out and replace old materials with. Not sure how that will work out, it's nice to think that they have the future in mind. And I doubt that the maps, and majority of the information will change much over time. Most likely, more content will simply be added later. Regardless, having seen what's in the book now, it's worth getting as it stands.

Again, having played nearly all the big online games already (in release or beta form) the terminology and concepts usually provided for newbies are pretty much "old hat". And in other guides, it was annoying to find half the book devoted to "strategies" like "click on monsters to fight them" and other fluff. This World of Warcraft Guide, is totally different. Even introductory chapter is interesting. And in full color, with lots of amusing images, and explanations, the first 5 pages are worth the first 50+ pages of other guides.

And those are just a few of the perks...

Basically, I have to thank Bradygames for putting together such a quality product. It's glaringly obvious that a lot of time and resources went into the making of the book.

And for anyone buying the retail version of the game, you know you'll be spending hours on end exploring the game, hunting monsters, crafting equipment, and having fun. If you think about how much time you'll spend playing the game, the time you'll save and more knowledge you'll have of the world will make the $25 for the Bradygames guide absolutely worth it!

Rating:
Summary: Could be very useful
Review: First, let me state two things:

1) I have not seen the book because it hasn't yet been published. This means that I can't speak to how well this strategy guide will cover the needs beyond what the description above has to say.
2) I played the beta like a wild man for the last two weeks, so know the game pretty well. I have also read the game manual. This means that I know what a good strategy guide should have.

Now to be fair, I usually hate strategy guides. This is especially true for MMORPG games, where the regular updates can quickly leave a strategy guide in the dust. On top of that flaw, I'm the kind of person who really enjoys finding and figuring things out for myself. That's part of the fun of the RPG genre. So I really don't want to know things like maps, quest-giver locations, or more detailed quest information except in the most extreme circumstances where my friends and I can't figure things out for ourselves.

Yet despite all of that, I'm planning to buy this guide.

WoW has a system whereby you gain levels upon reaching a certain level of experience. The level takes effect immediately in terms of hit points, mana, damage output, etc. But you don't learn new skills until you go to a trainer and buy the skill that you want from a list. The information given to you at time of purchase is pretty sketchy, and money is a very precious commodity in this game (especially true for classes like Warlocks who must train mutliple pets in addition to themselves). In fact, for Warlock pets, all you see ahead of purchase is the name of the book that teaches the new skill to your pet, the skill's level, and its price. You don't find out anything else about that skill until you've spent your money and trained the pet. And unfortunately, the game manual completely lacks any descriptions for skills. Obviously, this can make it hard to plan a character very well, and easy to make mistakes along the way. It's a place where the strategy guide is a must-have.

Another thing about WoW is its crafting and trade system. I never thought I'd hear myself say this about any MMORPG, but WoW has made crafting fun. It's also rewarding because you routinely make items that are better than what you could buy in shops at your level. Join a guild with members from all the different professions, and your entire group benefits by sharing materials and product with one another. Alternatively, create items for sale to stores or other players via the trade channel or auction house. You can make a very tidy profit on some of thse items! But again, the game manual and engine are sorely lacking in information that would help make this system a lot more fun. For one thing, there's nothing that tells what raw materials can be made by certain professions and which can only be purchased (or for how much). In addition, although the game does show you what a recip produces before you purchase it (this piece of armor has X amount of protection and Y + Z attributes), you don't know what is necessary for raw materials until you've purchased the recipe. You also don't know how much an item made by that recipe would sell for in stores, which means that you have to buy the recipe and use resources to make an item before you can find out if there's any profit in it or not. For example, you can use the same exact materials to make two sets of shoulder pads at a profit of 40 copper each, or a single pair of pants with a profit of 5 silver -- but without a good guide to explain these things, you'll be doing a lot of hit or miss experimentation to find out things that in the real world would be common knowledge in the trade.

So even if you're someone like me who loves the exploration and discovery aspect of an RPG and usually decries strategy guides, this is one guide that will certainly make your life more enjoyable. WoW has an economy where copper is common, silver is uncommon, and gold is rare. By the time my principle character had reached level 25, I'd had more than a single gold piece in my purse only four or five times. My friends had similar experiences. This guide will help you save precious coppers and avoid costly mistakes.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty darn useful
Review: Having played WoW for a week and a half without this compendium I'd have to tell you this book is gold. But if you're the kind of guy who likes to do things on his own, like me, you won't like it. Basically it saves you some time but it doesn't bring the same satisfaction as discovering a city/region or a quest by yourself. It's like giving a grown man a ball and telling him to put it in the round hole. Easy! Also most of the information in this book you can find online for free but it's a nice addition if you like to take it easy and have everything you need in a single spot. If I was creating a game, I wouldn't release the strategy guide until later so people who buy it see what they missed in the game and start over. Just my little evil point of view.

Rating:
Summary: It Does the Job.
Review: I've seen this thing and it's a tome. Thick, but thick with useful stuff. From quest locations to race/class combos to trade skill guides, this is a pretty nice buy even for an MMORPG Strat Guide (which are typically useless). It's got a good sense of humor and is peppered throughout with little tips to get you on your feet and keep you there (Fishermen: when fishing in a monster-heavy area, don't forget to switch back to your actual weapon before defending yourself!)
I say to buy this thing if you're like me and hate having to search an entire town to figure out if they have a forge or not or just hate yelling to others for help and spamming the chat bar. Plus, it doesn't hurt to become a font of WoW knowldge for all of your in-game friends to draw upon.

Rating:
Summary: Best "Add-On" Guide I've Ever Bought
Review: If you're reading this most likely you've bought these types of guides before and been underwhelmed (mostly). It's not that they aren't a little bit helpful, you just wonder why they didn't include that extra stuff in the manual rather than make you shell out 15-20 bucks again for it. Now many games cost $55 and don't even have a printed manual (thank you Microsoft.)

Well, World of Warcraft (fabulous game - get it) does have a very good manual -- it's just that the game is so deep and so full of detail, there really needed to be a book like this.

And the book is huge, colorful and full of quality. The paper is nice and shiny, the inks are perfect and there are tons of illustrations. I took it to work to show a friend and he was blown away.

I would usually qualify those types of people who would need this book and who wouldn't but in this case I can't think of a single kind of player who wouldn't get at least something out of this book.

From maps of all the lands, interviews with developers, interviews and tips from beta testers, pages on each race and class, top ten lists, charts charts and more charts, essays on good conduct -- it really goes on and on.

The typeface, though, is EXTREMELY small. Those with eye problems might have a bit of a strain. Frankly if this book had a normal typesize it would easily have filled 800 pages. As it is it is over 400.

If Amazon let me I would give it a 4.5 star rating because I felt a few things were a bit underexplained and frankly it is a bit confusing for a pure beginner as many terms are mentioned as important without telling you exactly how to do something. I find myself constantly flipping back and forth trying to figure some things out.

So, if you need a step by step -- this ain't it and it really isn't out there anywhere else even online. If you are somewhat comfortable with the genre the guide is immensely helpful.

The more expensive version even comes with online updates you can download in PDFs. Not that is cool!

If you play World of Warcraft you should get this. Period.

Rating:
Summary: IM
Review: Im betting myself and all yu people out ther, you will need this book if you get WOW.


bye.



Rating:
Summary: I never knew a strategy guide could be so gorgeous!! A++
Review: My wildest expectations have been surpassed with this guide - it's FANTASTIC! The layout, pictures, details, explanations, maps, hints, etc...it's all there. Such a well done manual with an easy-to-use index system. All maps are numbered telling you what lies in that number. The spell categories and damages are in easy-to-read and understand tables.

In know this review is short, but it doesn't need be long. The book is TERRIFIC. The information will take your game to a higher level and it's well worth every penny.

I think Brady Games outdid themselves here! Nice job!