WoWWiki

Wikis are the blogs of 2006. Properly supported and updated, they can be one of the best sources of information second only to a good Google search. They are great for subjects that require databases but provide a much friendlier front end than sites that simply put you in front of a search box.

Nearly two years after release, various sites still strive to be the best information source for World of Warcraft, the massive (and I do mean massive) online RPG based on Blizzard’s uber-popular Warcraft franchise.

One of the best online sites for quick one to two click information for WoW is the official WoWWiki. For anyone that has used Wikipedia (is there anyone that hasn’t?), it provides an extremely easy to use tool for just about anything WoW-worthy. Need a recipe for those Volcanic Shoulders? How about where to find sungrass? Maybe you would like a map for The Deadmines? Check WoWWiki.

One of the best features of the wiki technology is how things are hyperlinked. If you’ve used a CD-based encyclopedia, common terms are clickable and those that require their own pages will have one. For example, with quests on WoWWiki, you can search on the quest title and a page will display. Links within the page for that particular quest include information pertinent to that quest (NPCs you need to visit, locations, etc). These links take you to pages with information on those topics specifically.

Yes, the other database driven sites do this too, but wikis tend to load faster since they are simply Web pages, which means you arrive at the information faster. As information changes, the wiki pages get updated by moderators. Since the pages are visible to everyone on the planet, data can easily be validated by players so that everything is as factual as possible.

In particular, their character chart is of interest, especially if you are trying to figure out what type of class/race to play.

Another excellent area is their Burning Crusade pages, with constantly updated information on the first official expansion.

Be sure to check out our new World of Warcraft page for links to excellent WoW resources.