So with Cataclysm soon aproaching, this is a good time to talk about some pre-Cata checklists so we can be prepared and ready to go on the launch day. The real trick will be to get ahead of the crowded starter area's as soon as possible, so lets have a look to see what we can do now to give us the edge:
- Empty your bags - Try to get the biggest bags you can afford, and only take with you the essentials.
- Flasks, Potions & Food - The enhancements from these buffs really adds up fast and reduces downtime.
- Have a good leveling spec - It might sound obvious, but a good raiding or PvP spec doesn't necessarily mean its a good leveling spec.
- Have your Hearthstone set to Stormwind/Orgrimmar - The portals in Dalaran are being removed, and you can only reach the new starting area's(Hyjal & Vashj'ir) from Stormwind or Orgrimmar.
- Cap your Justice/Honor points (4000) - I cannot stress how useful this is! As soon as you hit 85, you can immediately buy 3-4 pieces of lvl85 gear from the respective vendors.
That should be a great starting point. Some people will recommend saving up a bunch of daily quests and handing them in, giving an exp advantage. This isn't a bad idea, however I found this to be inefficient simply because Cataclysm quests give ALOT more exp compared to Northrend. The time spent handing those quests in and Hearthstoning back to your main city will probably be better spent getting to Hyjal/Vashj'ir and pumping out the quests there.
