Blizzard Alters Experience Gains For Levels 1-85

[Jackie Moon]

This isn't very surprising, but Blizzard wants you to move on to new expansions when you reach a certain level. And today Nethaera revealed a fairly significant alteration to the way players gain experience, based on your level and the content you're doing at the time.

This only affects NPCs that you kill; quest experience rewards will remain the same. Essentially, once you reach the maximum level for an expansion, all of the creatures involved in that expansion will only reward 10% of their normal experience values. So, at level 60 you'll need to move on to Burning Crusade content, level 70 for Wrath, and level 80 for Cataclysm.

Examples:

Level 60 or higher players get 10% normal experience for killing creatures in Azeroth (“Old world” content)
Level 70 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Burning Crusade creatures.
Level 80 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Lich King creatures.
Level 85 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Cataclysm creatures.

It sounds like this is in response to players grinding out additional levels in the older areas -- for one reason or another -- instead of moving on. Nethaera mentions the "ease" of content being a major factor in players sticking around after they've outgrown a zone. But then again, they're also missing out on a ton of great upgrades from quest rewards -- especially new characters -- so it's not exactly advantageous to keep grinding away in old areas anyway.

The change is a strange one, but maybe I'm just missing something that happened recently to bring it about.

[Garneth]

So does this mean my DK can skip Outlands 60-70?!?! W00T

[JD]

Oh wow, that's pretty cool

[Teivipest]

I think you need to re-read if you think its cool. This is a nerf if anything.

[Willzy]

This is a nerf. It is definitely NOT cool.
And how would this affect -60? This is only for L60's, 70's, 80's and 85's. The rest don't have to worry.

[ReidE96]

I think the intent is to avoid folk doing the usual expansion trick, and having a full quest log of high-exp quests ready to hand in the moment the new stuff hit, so they're instantly into the first level - or at least, very close to it - of the expansion. Unfair head start type stuff. Still don't get why they'd do it, though.

[Blinnk]

I guess this could help but it will be annoying.

[1337pyro]

I think the intent is to avoid folk doing the usual expansion trick, and having a full quest log of high-exp quests ready to hand in the moment the new stuff hit, so they're instantly into the first level - or at least, very close to it - of the expansion. Unfair head start type stuff. Still don't get why they'd do it, though.

but he said it doesnt effect quests, just mobs you kill...

[Zantas]

What about those of us that just do it for the fun/lore and still want a bit exp for it?