First, create an account. It works straight away. Then there are two ways to play.

1. The Draeqetha launcher (easiest)

Once your account is approved, My Account has a button to download the launcher (Windows 10 or 11, about 3 MB). Sign in to it with your account and it downloads and installs the game (about 17 GB) plus any of the optional HD texture and model packs you pick (3.4 GB), keeps everything up to date, and points the game at the realm for you. Already have a 3.3.5a client? Point the launcher at its folder instead and it won't download the game again.

"Windows protected your PC"? The first time you run the installer, Windows SmartScreen may show this warning. It appears because the launcher isn't signed with a paid code-signing certificate yet, so Windows doesn't recognise the publisher — not because anything was found in it. We build the launcher ourselves, on our own servers, from our own source code, and it only connects to draeqetha.com. Choose More info, then Run anyway. Signing it, so the warning goes away, is on our list.

2. Your own 3.3.5a client

Point your 3.3.5a (12340) client at the realm by editing Data/enUS/realmlist.wtf so it reads:

set realmlist realm.draeqetha.com

If the client has connected somewhere before, it also remembers the address in WTF/Config.wtf — that file wins, so change SET realmList there too. Then log in with your account name and password.

Most of the characters you'll meet are bots — they quest, grind, group up and chat on their own. They are marked as such on the who's online page rather than passed off as people.

Any bot near your level will join your group if you /invite it. Once it's in, it takes orders typed in party chat (or whispered, for just one bot):

summon

Brings your bots to you, anywhere in the world, dungeons included. A dead bot is revived on arrival as long as you're out of combat.

Dungeons

No command needed: a few seconds after you enter a dungeon or raid, any bot in your group that didn't come in with you (left behind, dead, or skipped by the Dungeon Finder) is revived and brought to you. That includes running back in after a wipe.

follow / stay

Follow you, or hold position.

maintenance

Learns new spells and talents, repairs, and restocks consumables. Bots in a group don't do this on their own, so run it every few levels. Bots you invite only (see below).

autogear

Upgrades the bot's equipment for its level. Bots you invite only.

Your own characters

You can bring one of your other characters along under AI control with .playerbots bot add <name>, one at a time, and level the two together. Its gear, spells, talents and skills stay exactly as you leave them; maintenance and autogear don't apply to your own characters.