What is Boosting in Season of Discovery?
Boosting in World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery refers to a service where an experienced player helps a less experienced one achieve an in-game goal faster than they could on their own. This practice has become a fixture in the MMO landscape, with the appeal amplified in SoD by its phased content and leveling system. The goal is typically to save time and effort by skipping the tedious grind and jumping straight to the more rewarding endgame content. Boosts can be delivered in a variety of ways, ranging from one-on-one assistance to large-scale group carries. Services are typically exchanged for in-game currency, though the line can be blurred with real-money trading (RMT), which is strictly against the rules.
Types of SoD Boosting Services
The market for SoD boosting is robust and covers nearly every aspect of the game. The different types of boosts cater to players who want to accelerate their progress in specific areas:
- Character Leveling: This is the most common form of boosting. An experienced player either guides a low-level character through dungeon runs or kills mobs efficiently, maximizing experience gains in a short timeframe. Some of the fastest methods during specific events, such as the Scourge Invasion, turn leveling into a rapid-fire grind.
- Rune Engraving: Season of Discovery's signature mechanic, runes, are often locked behind complex quests or hidden secrets. Boosters who know the requirements can help a player efficiently track down and unlock these powerful new abilities for their class.
- Raid and Dungeon Carries: This service allows a character to join a powerful, coordinated group to clear endgame content like Blackfathom Deeps or Gnomeregan. The character can earn valuable gear, achievements, and other rewards without needing to master the encounters themselves. For many players, it's the easiest way to get BiS (Best-in-Slot) items quickly.
- Profession Power-Leveling: Maxing out a profession can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor involving extensive material gathering and crafting. Boosters can farm all the necessary materials and level a profession to the current cap, unlocking endgame recipes and crafting options for the client.
- Gold Farming: Players with limited time can purchase gold-farming services to acquire in-game currency needed for mounts, consumables, or other purchases. This can be done by farming lucrative dungeons or auction house flipping.
Boost Methods: Self-Play (Carry) vs. Piloted (Account Share)
How a boost is delivered determines the level of safety and convenience for the customer. The two primary methods are self-play and piloted boosting.
| Feature | Self-Play (Carry) | Piloted (Account Share) |
|---|---|---|
| Involvement | The customer plays their own character, joining a group with the boosters. | The booster logs into the customer's account and plays on their behalf. |
| Account Security | Very High. No account information is shared. | Low. Sharing login information carries inherent risks like scams or hacks. |
| Convenience | Less convenient, as the customer must be present to play at a scheduled time. | Highly convenient, allowing the customer to be entirely hands-off. |
| Effort | Requires minimal effort from the customer (e.g., following the group). | No effort is required from the customer. |
| Blizzard Stance | Less likely to be actioned, as no account sharing occurs. | Higher risk of account action if detected, as account sharing violates the terms of service. |
Is Boosting in SoD Legit? Understanding Blizzard’s Stance
This is a critical point for any player considering these services. Blizzard's policy distinguishes between organized, cross-realm boosting and individual- or guild-based boosting for in-game gold.
- Allowed Boosting (for Gold): Selling dungeon, raid, or PvP carries for in-game gold is permitted, provided the service is advertised correctly. The advertisement must be made by a character who intends to participate in the activity, and it must be posted in the Trade (Services) chat channel on that realm.
- Prohibited Boosting (RMT): Selling boosts for real money is strictly against Blizzard's rules and can lead to severe penalties, including account bans. Receiving gold from a client who purchased it through RMT can also lead to account action for the booster, making it a risky transaction.
- Account Sharing Risk: While self-play carries are relatively safe from policy violations, piloted boosts involve account sharing, which is a clear violation of the terms of service. Blizzard has systems to detect multiple logins from different IP addresses, putting piloted accounts at risk. For more detailed information on prohibited in-game advertisements and services, players can refer to the official Blizzard Support article on In-Game Advertising.
The Pros and Cons of SoD Boosting
Like any accelerated path to success, boosting in SoD comes with clear advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Saves Time: The most significant benefit for many players is the time saved by skipping the grind. This allows them to engage with endgame content and social aspects more quickly.
- Overcomes Challenges: For players who struggle with specific raids, bosses, or rune quests, a boost provides a way to overcome these hurdles and still acquire the rewards.
- Efficient Progression: In a phased content release like SoD, staying ahead of the curve is important for many. Boosting allows players to keep up with the server's progression pace without an excessive time commitment.
Disadvantages:
- Risk of Account Action: While boosting for gold is allowed under specific conditions, navigating the nuances of Blizzard's policies can be difficult. Piloted boosts and receiving illicitly obtained gold both carry a risk of punitive action.
- Loss of Accomplishment: For many, the joy of an MMORPG comes from the journey and the satisfaction of earning rewards through personal effort. Boosting removes this sense of achievement.
- Security Concerns: Piloted boosting requires handing over personal account information, opening the door to potential theft, scams, or misuse of your account.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
So, does boosting work in SOD? The answer is a clear yes. It is an extremely effective and widely available method for players to accelerate their progress, acquire powerful gear, and save immense amounts of time. However, the question of whether it is a good idea is far more complex. While boosting for gold is sanctioned under specific rules, it still exists within a gray area that carries risks, especially regarding account security and the potential for involvement with RMT. Players must weigh the significant benefits—saving time and overcoming difficult content—against the substantial drawbacks, including the loss of personal achievement and the constant risk of violating the terms of service, particularly with piloted services. Ultimately, the decision depends on an individual's priorities in the game, but proceeding with full knowledge of the risks is essential.
