World of Warcraft™

Leveling this character without any outside support, I hit 25 and, of course, got the announcement that I had access to a new feature: Glyphs.

One slight problem - when I went to the AH to see what was available, I could find nothing suitable for a feral (cat) druid with a buyout price of less than 30g. Spending ~100+g for 3 glyphs would be well beyond my means and seems to be an entirely unreasonable price for someone who's trying to play by questing and even instancing. I looked at the AH on another server (since this character is on a low population server) and still 10g was the minimum for a useful glyph (and a set of 3 would appear to be well past 50.)

The question I have to ask is how a new player, who is following the quest lines and not farming, going to get glyphs? Are glyphs doomed to be a feature too many players just don't use because they can't afford them when they first get them and then forget about them? This would seem to be a big mismatch with the way Blizzard is introducing features to players - to have one that cannot be used without a farming grind or AH playing or a main to fund the alt.

(Perhaps one suggestion I could make would be for a class trainer to give you a set of 3 glyphs appropriate to your spec - but make these new, weaker glyphs - worth using but also worth replacing as soon as you can afford to.)

supply and demand

The benefit glyphs provide won't even be noticeable until you are min/maxing DPS at the max level. People leveled just fine without glyphs before.

Edit: Before, the slow ground mount was available at level 40. Few people got it at 40 back in vanilla. Just because you can get it doesn't mean u should be able to afford it.

At 80 I can buy that super expensive mammoth mount, doesn't mean I'm entitled to purchase it as soon as I hit max level.

forget about them unless you have an 80 for gold... people are unbelievably greedy

I agree with the above posters. The difference between glyph and not glyph is hardly noticeable while questing/doing dungeons. As a priest, Glyph of Penance goes for about 100g. Obviously a low level would have trouble with that unless they actually spent their time making money. Two seconds off a CD isn't game-breaking.

That being said, stacks of old world herbs sell for quite a large amount. A stack of peacebloom can net you 20g or more, and takes 10 minutes to farm. Might consider going that route or something similar if you really want to make your money as you go.

I think they should implement a level 25 class quest that gives you the option of a variety of glyphs for your class.. just enough to give you a feel for them.

They may not be game breaking, but if we are approaching it from the point of view of a completely new player.. and we should be... they do not know that. All they know is "Cool, Glyphs, how do I get them... no way I can afford that!!"

First off, they aren't game breaking.

Second, Blizzard can't control server-faction side economy. Some of my servers, glyphs are 50-100g. Others I play on, they're 5-10g because they have people who realize low levels want them, too.

Abilities still function without having a glyph attached btw

First off, they aren't game breaking.

Second, Blizzard can't control server-faction side economy. Some of my servers, glyphs are 50-100g. Others I play on, they're 5-10g because they have people who realize low levels want them, too.

Actually Blizzard could have controlled this inflation. They caused this by changing the Ink Trader in Dalaran to only trade for Cataclysm ink. Tied in with the fact that many herbs have been relocated and folks unsure where the best places to farm you have a massive inflation on herbs folks haven't used in quite a long time.

This is why I always thought Inscription seemed rather broken. It's the only profession that uses old world materials to create products for end game use.

glyphs are worthless pre80

Not really. A 10% damage buff on Mangle is pretty gigantic for a druid leveling as feral - it's easily the equivalent of leveling with several extra pieces of blue gear.

I havent been able to find a Mangle Glyph in the AH for weeks. Maybe tonight :)

To be honest, most of you missed the point. I too came across the announcement today on my Warrior alt, what he's trying to say is the Game makes a big deal of flashing it across your screen, saying you have access to glyphs. Said noobie then proceeds to the AH wondering what Glyphs their could be and is met with Glyphs of the appropriate level (25) with buyouts in excess of 75 gold each. Eventually the noobie will forget about Glyphs, and will lose out on some of the neat advantages some of them grant.

(Perhaps one suggestion I could make would be for a class trainer to give you a set of 3 glyphs appropriate to your spec - but make these new, weaker glyphs - worth using but also worth replacing as soon as you can afford to.)

I think that's actually a pretty kickass suggestion, and one I will bring up. I don't doubt it's something that's been thought of already, but may bear repeating. (repeating bear says *rawr*)

Really? Because I highly doubt anyone's thought of it before. I don't think it's game-breaking either way, but mad props to OP for coming up with it.


On a more general note, I don't really expect a new player is really supposed to be able to play the game at this point without help from a more experienced friend/tutor/individual. I think there's an entire idea buried there in the word "tutor", as well.

Makes me think I need to open my own little side market on the AH again.. 50s bid, 1g buy, for a whole range of low level glyphs.

I became a scribe to help guildies and friends, not for profit.

Plus there's something really RIGHT about being a full blood thirsty Death Knight and stopping to pick a flower.

It really is a shame when you do a glyph search and you find something like "Glyph of Unburdened Rebirth" go for 50g a pop.

The glyph market got turned on its head recently and that has driven prices way way up.
1 Glyphs got changed to learn once and you always have it. many high levels now want to get all the glyphs for their class so demand is very high
2 The ink seller that downgrades ink went from the plentiful ink of the sea to the not avalible cata equivelent. its not possible to buy low level inks with cheep materials now.
3 Low level glyphs are made with low lvl inks that can only be made with old world herbs. These are expensive because few if any farm them.

All told those 3 add up to very high prices for any glyphs that are not made with wrath inks. It will likely be after the new year before prices come back down but they will come down. Flying in azeroth will make the older herbs more convenient to gather so those prices will drop some. Cata herbs will be pricy at first but will drop in price after a month or two and it will be cost effective to downgrade ink agian all reduceing the price of low end glyphs.