World of Warcraft™

*******DO NOT POST IN THIS THREAD. POST YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN THREAD********

^ Is that big enough?

If you're giving advice or answering these threads, see guidelines at the end of this guide.

I'm a regular poster on this forum, and one of the most common threads is the classic "I don't know what class/race to be" thread. The main problem with these threads is that the original poster often doesn't give readers enough information to make any suggestions. Help us out, and we'll try to help you :)

This is a guide on how to write a detailed "Help me find a class/race" thread. This is not a guide on how to find the right class/race...just on how to ask for help about it.

Both sections here can have some gray area, so don't be afraid to give us more information. It's just that veteran WoW players usually know a bit more about the classes themselves so they have more background. They also know more terminology, so it's easier to interrogate them.

NEW ADDITION: ICE'S CLASS/RACE SPINNERS!
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/2969/classspinner.jpg

DIRECTIONS:
Use the questionnaire that applies to you. Do not use both. If you have leveled other characters (even if you're a newbie), make a note of them somewhere in your response. When responding, please do not bold/underline your answers. That just makes them very hard to read. Be sure to read the THINGS THAT DO NOT MATTER section before giving your responses.

THINGS THAT DO NOT MATTER:

Faction. All classes can be played on both factions.
Survivability. Seriously, you can live to hit the level cap. All classes have this.
PvP viability. Again, all classes have this. Doesn't matter unless you're twinking.
Raid/group desirability. The only reason you'd be refused from a group is because 1) you're undergeared/bad or 2) they have a lot of that class already. Everyone is viable - DPS are balanced, healers are balanced, tanks are balanced.
You want the "best" class/race combo. There isn't a best combo or a best class or a best race. It doesn't exist.
Most OP (overpowered) class. Blizzard changes the class balance so much that leveling something purely to be "overpowered" is a futile idea. By the time you hit level cap, the balance would have shifted. Right now there ISN'T a super godly class anyway.
Most fun class. I want a bumper sticker that says "Fun is subjective." What I think is fun might not be your cup of tea, so making a good suggestion for you based on "fun" isn't going to be accurate.

Use this chart:
low Impact on Performance high
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
class gear skill
spec


IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE GAME AND HAVE NEVER PLAYED:
---> OR HAVE NOT REACHED LEVEL 60 YET

Do you want to have a permanent pet? Is a temporary one okay with you? Or does it not matter if you have a pet?

Are you partial to cloth wearers or do you want a little more bulk in your armor?

What have you played in other games before? Maybe you played a caster in another game and liked it, or have a fondness for barbarians/warriors. WoW might have a rough equivalent for you!

Do you want to be able to heal yourself and others, or are you okay with lacking those spells?

Which is your preference: attacking enemies from a distance or being up in their faces?

Are you the sneaky type or do you take pleasure ripping out internal organs as a greeting right off the bat?

Do you want to be on the front lines with a shield or watching over your group to keep them safe?

Will you be leveling with a friend or mostly on your own? If you're doing it with a friend, what are they planning to level, or have they not decided yet?

Have you read about classes at all yet? If so, what stands out as interesting to you? Have you tried any classes already?

Are you interested in the lore or story of Warcraft? Some classes have a lot of easily-absorbed lore while others are a little "less detailed" in their history.

Interested in roleplaying at all? This goes with the previous question, but some races/classes are easier to roleplay as a newbie than others (with lots of history to adhere to).

Do any of the races stick out to you as being attractive? Not every race can be every class, so if you have an early favorite (or if you really dislike one in particular) this can narrow things down.