With World of Warcraft: Cataclysm next on the agenda for Blizzard, it’s time to start thinking about preparing for the expansion . Too early, you say? Never! It’s never to early to start making plans.

With 3.3 and Icecrown and Arthas coming up, our hands will already be full, so getting a head start n preparing for Cataclysm won’t be a bad idea.

I plan to do many, many posts on Cataclysm preparations, so here starts the first.

New Classes

We will have several new classes to choose from, and the most intriguing to me are the classes being added to the existing races. Please vote in my classes polls in the sidebar to the right if you have a quick moment! This will help me in regards to what posts I should focus on.

The current (always subject to change) list of new classes available are:

Alliance

• Human – Hunter
• Dwarf – Mage, Shaman
• Night Elf – Mage
• Gnome – Priest
• Draenei – None
• Worgen - Death Knight, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior

Horde

• Orc - Mage
• Undead - Hunter
• Tauren - Paladin, Priest
• Troll - Druid
• Blood Elf - Warrior
• Goblin - Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior

With so many new combinations to choose from, it’s going to be hard for me personally to choose. However, having never done Horde before (at least all the way to max level), I think I may try a Tauren Paladin. We’ll see.

Gear Preparation

Now is the time to start looking for gear for your next Cataclysm toon. You will want to start buying now, before all the Auction House hawks (like myself) begin selling leveling gear for absurd amounts of gold.

Here are the list of key gear ranges you will want to start looking into:

• Level 1-10 starting gear
• Level 15-19 gear (especially shoulders)
• Level 25-29 gear (especially helms, shoulders)
• Level 37-39 gear
• Level 40 plate and mail armor for new paladins, warriors, hunters, and shaman
• Level 57-60 gear (when BC BoE gear becomes available)
• Level 67-70 gear (when WotLK gear becomes available)

Don’t get caught not having gear ready when Cataclysm launches. Starting now will allow plenty of time to scan the acution house to start completing sets.

Heirloom Gear

Heirloom Gear, which for Paladins can be found in my Paladins Heirloom Gear post, should also be ready to use when Cataclysm launches. Whether you spend emblems or Champion’s Seals, having at least the chest and shoulder pieces available should be top priority for a new toon. The 20% experience gain is huge.

Again, start saving now so you won’t be scrambling when Cataclysm launches.

Potions & Enchants

Get a good stock of any potions, flasks, or elixirs that will help you level. No need to go over the top with stocking up, but have just enough to where you won’t be lacking when the time comes around.

Also, get some enchants saved up for key pieces of gear. This includes weapon enchants, such as Crusader, and spell power.

Personally, the enchants I favor are stamina enchants, so I can take on more mobs and place myself in higher level zones. Chest (stats), boots, wrists, and pants (when available) usually all have max stamina enchants on them.

Bags

Self explanatory here, have at least 4 bags of 16 slots or more ready to go for your new toon.

Gold

Finally, you’ll want your new toon to be financially sound when starting out, so set aside some gold for them. My usually starting out funds for my new toons is 500g.

This allows for training costs to be met easily, as well as any purchases you may find yourself wanting to make, without having to switch to another toon to transfer funds. After all, that can just get annoying.

Be Prepared!

Ultimately, I feel it is important to get a head start so that leveling is as fun and as easy as possible when Cataclysm launches. Don’t get stuck with mediocre or no gear because you waited too long and cannot find any decently cheap gear in the auction house.

Start searching and saving now. I already have a wee toon set aside to keep all the gear I am saving for Cataclysm. Maybe some will say it’s too early, and maybe they’re right. Bu,t I know I’ll be ready when the expansion launches!