I couldn’t help it. If I didn’t read newsgroups and Warcraft forums, I would have been fine.

So, I’ve started a Blood Elf Paladin. There are a billion people running around that I can see just from where I’ve landed with my level 1 noob.

I’ve heard estimates that there’ll be lvl 60 BEPally’s within a week, but I know it’ll take me WAAAAY longer to get there.

[time passes]

Zul’jin is now having stability problems, now that it’s prime time, so I’ll write about my experiences with Burning Crusade so far.

My Pally is level 5 now. I found it a little challenging with all of the competition for mobs early on, because as a Paladin I have to get right up to a beast before I can lay my first hit on it, whereas Priests, Mages and Hunters are running about that could lay in a shot over my shoulder. I’m pleased to say that I didn’t run into that, despite the high number of peope running around, so while I had to be quick on the draw, it wasn’t that bad.

The first thing I noticed about the normal quest progression was that by the time I got to level 2 and was able to train at my Pally trainer, I already had a wee scant bit of money, without having sold anything at a vendor, and was thus able to train my level 2 skill without going through the loop I hit with both Undead and Troll newbie toons - find trainer, try to train, realize I don’t have money, leave trainer, go find vendor, sell greys, go back to trainer, train. It was very nice.

The quests themselves were pretty standard, and playing a Pally was just fine so far. I partied up with a guildless hunter for one quest, but I took off shortly afterwards, as I’m not really looking to make any “pals” yet. Call me a loner.

So, yah, I played my new toon up to level 5 and then moved over to my other toons to do the standard alt-mail-checks and some basic socializing.

I also dusted off my 60 Hunter, and headed over to Swamp of Sorrows, then south into Blasted Lands and jumped in glee as I ran past a whole bunch of people hanging around the portal. I jumped in, and shortly after that the world crashed.

And came up.

And crashed.

And came up.

And crashed.

Hee hee, network load on a release day is incomprehensible, and I know the Blizz folks are pulling a lot of long hours, and many have already been pulling long hours for weeks or months. I personally don’t mind the downtime right now, I’m sure it’ll be a lot more stable in a few days (in time for the weekend? :) ).