As a lifelong gamer, WOW was a number of firsts for me. It was my first MMO, my first game with a lifespan >1 year, my first cooperative gaming effort with >8 people. I played it with the feverish dedication that many of you know all too well.
My guild was well organized and skilled. We were the second guild on Dalaran to clear MC, and the first to complete BWL. I was one of our primary tanks, and I loved my job. As a result my toon was purple head to toe in the latest fashions of the time. Like others, I began to lose interest when the thrill of conquest turned to the bickering of looters, which turned to the monotony of the grind. Eventually I hung my Helm of Wrath on the hook and retired.

After nearly 3 years WOW has become yet another first for me: the first game I have picked back up. I have decided to return to the game, largely due to the incessant prodding of a couple of my friends who have enthusiastically jumped back onto the wagon. I came to find a world that was a great deal larger in size and features, but not necessarily in content (I am withholding judgment for now).

I am not going to bore you with the cynical whining I assume has already found elsewhere on the interwebs (”You made simple quest items better than my epics? REALLY???”). However, I did feel it was worth mentioning that my character seems to be quite the curiosity for the majority of players I encounter.

The first thing that became clear is that the game clearly is no longer designed for my toon and his deprecated gear, as the quests for level 60-70 are very easy. The second is that most players who are level 60-70 have absolutely no idea how a level 60 toon can be epically equipped. The following is an excerpt of the first in-game conversation I had after logging in for the first time.

PLAYER - “A lvl 60 geared? WTF?”
ME - “I haven’t played in a couple of years.”
PLAYER - “No”
ME - “Ok then”
PLAYER - “Did u buy him?”
ME - “No I made him a long long time ago in an Ironforge far far away” (an attempt at levity)
PLAYER - “Do you want to tank ramps?”
ME - “No. I haven’t played in a couple years, so I could use a little time to get acclimated. What is ramps?”
PLAYER - “You have all that stuff and you don’t know ramps? You def bought it.”
ME - “Do you want to run BWL?”
PLAYER - “What is BWL?”
ME - “Exactly.”

Needless to say we aren’t exchanging Christmas cards.