Can New WoW Players Use Chromie Time? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is no, new World of Warcraft (WoW) players cannot immediately access Chromie Time. This system, designed to allow players to level through older expansions, has specific prerequisites. It is not available to brand-new accounts that have not met the necessary conditions. Let’s delve into why that is and what new players need to do to unlock this feature.
Understanding Chromie Time
Chromie Time is a feature introduced in World of Warcraft that allows players to level characters through past expansion content. It scales the chosen expansion’s content to the player’s level, enabling them to experience a particular story arc and dungeons of their preference rather than being railroaded into the current expansion’s narrative. This gives players a lot more choice in their leveling experience and allows them to explore various parts of Azeroth.
However, this freedom isn’t granted to everyone immediately. It’s primarily aimed at players who have already experienced the game’s core leveling experience and are looking for a fresh way to bring alts (alternate characters) through the ranks.
Why Can’t New Players Access Chromie Time?
The primary reason new players cannot use Chromie Time is to ensure they get a guided introduction to World of Warcraft. Upon creating a new account, players are routed through Exile’s Reach, a starting zone designed to teach fundamental game mechanics. Following Exile’s Reach, they are then directed towards Battle for Azeroth (BFA) content. This is designed to introduce new players to the current state of the game’s storyline.
This initial journey is not optional. New accounts must complete this guided path to level 50 before other options open up. The purpose of this forced playthrough is to familiarize the player with the current game systems, introduce key characters, and get them up to speed with the current state of Azeroth. It prevents overwhelming new players with too many choices and paths initially.
Essentially, Chromie Time is considered a reward and an alternative leveling option for seasoned players, and it requires you to have at least one character that has completed the initial level progression. Think of it as a feature meant to enhance replayability rather than a primary leveling method for newcomers.
How to Unlock Chromie Time as a New Player
Once a player has leveled at least one character to level 50 through the default Battle for Azeroth leveling experience, they can begin using Chromie Time on new characters.
While historically this was level 50, it now means reaching level 60 if you are using the default content path which leads to Dragonflight.
Here is a summary of the steps:
- Create your first character: Begin your journey by creating a character and going through the Exile’s Reach tutorial.
- Complete the BFA intro: Once out of Exile’s Reach, you will be directed to do the intro quest to Battle for Azeroth in either Boralus (Alliance) or Zuldazar (Horde).
- Level to 50 (or 60): You will need to continue in the BFA content until reaching the level requirement.
- Use a Dracthyr character: A Dracthyr character starts at level 58 and you only need to get 2 levels (about 20-30 minutes) in order to unlock Chromie Time for all your other characters.
- Create a new character: Once a character has reached the level threshold, other characters on the same account can speak with Chromie in Stormwind (Alliance) or Orgrimmar (Horde) to begin a Chromie Time campaign.
After meeting these requirements, your alt characters will have the option of choosing to level through any of the previously released expansion content, scaling all of the levels of the zones and dungeons to the character’s level, until the player is ready to move into the current expansions content in Dragonflight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chromie Time
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to new players and Chromie Time:
1. Can I use Chromie Time on my starter account?
No, starter accounts (trial accounts) do not have access to Chromie Time. The starter experience focuses on basic introduction. Full account access is required to experience Chromie Time.
2. Do I need to purchase the latest expansion to use Chromie Time?
You are able to use Chromie Time even if you do not own the latest expansion. You will, however, need to purchase it to level past 60, so you can continue to current content when desired.
3. What level does Chromie Time now go to?
Chromie Time now scales from levels 10 to 60. Players can choose their desired expansion and level within it until 60.
4. Can I level without Chromie Time?
Yes, leveling without Chromie Time is still possible. However, zones will not scale to 60, and you might out-level them faster.
5. Is Chromie Time worth it?
Yes, Chromie Time is a fantastic way to experience past expansion content and to level up alts in a more enjoyable way. It allows you to level through the zones and dungeons that you enjoy the most, it’s therefore highly recommended for players who have already done the regular leveling path.
6. Where is Chromie located?
Chromie is located in Stormwind City for the Alliance and Orgrimmar for the Horde.
7. Can I change my Chromie Time choice?
Yes, you can return to Chromie at any time in your main city and choose a new expansion. You can also opt out of Chromie Time entirely.
8. Do I need to complete all the storylines within a chosen Chromie Time expansion?
No, you do not need to complete the entirety of an expansion storyline in Chromie Time. You are free to move between zones and expansions as you see fit.
9. What happens if I reach level 60 in Chromie Time?
Once you reach level 60 in Chromie Time, you will be directed towards current content. You will now start to experience the Dragonflight expansion.
10. Can I play with friends who are not using Chromie Time?
Generally, players in Chromie Time will be phased out from those who are not using it. You can play with friends in Chromie Time if they are in the same time-walking expansion as you.
11. What happens if I want to level with a friend as a new player?
New players must complete the mandatory BFA content. If you are playing with another player who has already completed the introduction phase, it is best if they create a new character, and do the same Battle For Azeroth content with you, until you reach level 50 or 60, at which point you will both be able to unlock Chromie Time and play together in the expansion of your choosing.
12. Can I return to BFA after reaching level 50?
Yes, after reaching level 50 (or 60) you can still play BFA content. However, you will be able to access all the other expansions via Chromie Time.
13. Is WoW difficult for new players?
WoW is designed to be relatively new-player friendly. However, there’s a lot of content to learn, so it can be overwhelming at first. Be sure to follow the introductions given and seek assistance from other players if you need to.
14. Which class is best for new players?
Classes like Druid, Paladin, and Monk are often recommended for new players due to their versatility and relatively straightforward mechanics.
15. Can I use a Dracthyr character to immediately unlock Chromie Time?
Yes! Because the Dracthyr character starts at level 58, you can level up to 60 quickly and unlock Chromie Time for all characters on that account!
Conclusion
While Chromie Time isn’t immediately available for brand new World of Warcraft players, it’s an excellent feature that becomes available after completing the initial leveling introduction. New players should focus on the guided Battle for Azeroth experience until they reach level 50 or 60 to unlock this feature. This ensures they have a solid understanding of core game mechanics before delving into more choices provided by the Chromie Time system. Once the requirement is met, a whole new world of leveling experiences opens up, allowing you to explore and experience the expansions that you wish to play!