0025hrs

Wanted to start fresh and play a pacifist character in World of Warcraft.

Goals:

1.  No killing mobs.

2.  XP will be earned including, but not limited to, the following ways:

• Herbalism
• Mining
• Archaeology
• Rested XP bonus
• Exploration
• Non kill quests including holiday events
• Pet battles (I guess it is finally time to play WoW Pokemon)

3.  No equiping weapons.  Guess I'll be looking forward to off-hand items.

4.  Fresh RP server - no other characters for support.



Chapter 1: "The First 18 20 Copper are the Hardest"

So, I start out on the Feathermoon RP server and create a Night Elf Druid named Amicabal.  It's a play-on-words for "Amicable" which is a synonym for peaceful, how you should be when you are trying to be a Pacifist.  Since Shadowglen is already open on the map, I head out to Dolanaar.  I pass up the guy that gives you a "bring this to that guy in Dolanaar" quest but it is too high level for me.  I remind myself to come back later for it.

Staying on the beaten path, I reach Dolanaar and find my first good quest, "The Emerald Dreamcatcher".  The reward is 1 silver and some experience.  Hell yeah!  That will pay for picking up Herbalism and Mining off the bat.  I then remember that the Dreamcatcher is surrounded by Furbolgs.  Not feeling like dying, I decide to head to Stormwind City where I know there are 3 starter quests that should get me the 18 copper I need to pick up both professions.

I take the requisite boat ride over to the human capital.  Getting off at Stormwind Harbor and huffing it over to the Trade District, I realize just how much I miss flying mounts.  Hell, any mount would be awesome right now, even Travel Form.  Discovering Stormwind City gives me 55xp.  I'm about halfway to level 2.  Then I discover the Cathedral.  Rats, no xp.  Discovered:  The Canals.  No XP.  This is annoying.  I recollect that when I stepped off the boat I discovered Stormwind Harbor, but no xp there either.

Finally, 1st SW quest, "Package for Thurman", 130xp, no money?  Hmmm....  2nd SW quest, "Harlan Needs a Resupply", only 85xp, but 17 copper!  Whoohoo!!!!  Herbalism will be my 1st profession as herb nodes are far more plentiful than ore nodes.  I'm 1 copper short of buying Mining.  3rd SW quest, "Wine Shop Advert", 130xp and a bottle of Dalaran Noir.  Game.  Set.  Match.

Turning in the 3rd quest, I realize that the quest also gave me 150 Stormwind Reputation points.  "How come they don't list that on the list of rewards when you first get the quest?"  After 10+ years, no one has thought to do that?  Selling the bottle of Dalaran Noir nets me 12 copper.  Selling my starter weapon, Handcrafted Staff, nets me another 4 copper.  I am so relieved I can actually start earning xp besides just through exploration.

On my way to turn in the 1st quest, I pick up Herbalism as it is on the way and realize that it costs 10 copper, not the anticipated 9 copper.  I have never been stressed out over mere pennies, but how crucial they are at the beginning of the game.  Turning in the quest,

"Ding!"

I'm level 2.  My mind starts wandering about the next immediate steps I need to take.  "I should pick up the Mining and Herbalism tools.  I can't wait until level 5 to pick up Cooking and Fishing.  Those dailies will sure come in handy.I can't wait to have enough stuff to throw on the AH and really start making money"  .  Well, gotta make the xp from the gathering professions worth it, so I log out for the night to accumulate rested xp bonus in Stormwind.

Next time, we figure out just how frustrating it is to avoid all the mobs.  Oh yeah, and more running.