(I figure since I already wrote about a Linux Conundrum, I might as well write about the WoW one also.)
When I was blogging about World of Warcraft I had the honor of becoming a very visible member of the WoW-blogging-community. When I stopped blogging about WoW, I didn’t want to remove myself from that community entirely, because I had made so many friends there. So I still talk pretty frequently to other bloggers, or people who used to comment on my blog. One of the side effects of this is that “Are you going to play WoW again”, “When are you going to play WoW again”, and “Do you miss WoW” are questions I hear very, very frequently.
So here’s the scoop:
I don’t know if I’m going to play WoW again– leaning toward yes but no promises.
I don’t know when I’m going to play WoW again. Leaning toward “Cataclysm” (or the Pre-Cata world events) but no promises.
Do I miss WoW? Of course I do. But not really in the way an addict misses her fix. I won’t deny I was, at one point, pretty addicted to the game, but that was then and this is now. No, I miss it in more of a nostalgic way. A “man, remember when I used to run around Westfall collecting Red Defias Bandanas and that was the only thing that mattered?” way, or a “Man, remember 30s-bracket Arathi Basin?” way.
As such, when I do feel the WoW urge, it is almost invariably an urge to play a low-level toon. Like my warlock, or one of my other lowbies. I really have felt no desire to return to my 80s or to raid. In a way, I feel as though I’ve closed the book on their stories, but that there are still chapters to be written for my other characters.
Now I know what you may be thinking. You may be thinking, “Well, why don’t you just go back to WoW and play your lowbies?” Mainly because it becomes a matter of worth. At this point in my life I would have time to log in maybe three or four hours a week. And for me, three or four hours a week isn’t really worth the $15 a month. Especially because I’m broke.
And before you offer to pay for my subscription, I already have people lining up at the door offering to do so, including my own parents. But I have turned them all down because I still think I have other things to focus on right now– like artwork, or like editing a certain novel of mine.
That’s not to say I haven’t had moments of weakness or cheated a little. Some of my friends/relatives have let me dink around on their toons on occasion, just for fun. And it’s hard sometimes when exciting new WoW news spreads through Twitter or the blogosphere like a forest fire. But for the most part, I do still consider myself “Done with WoW”. For the time being, at least.
So, that is that.
All that said– Tawyn’s “story” may feel over to me, but her legacy lives on. She’ll always be a part of me, I think.
wow misses you.
that being said, come cataclysm, i’m forming an all gnome raiding group. you must join. you can be a healer.
I admire you in a lot of ways. Your steely resolve not to play is something i wish i had at the moment. I have had the feeling of going through the motions for a few months now. I often find myself thinking “i should pack it in” but when i have those moments they are immediately follow by “what would i do instead” moments. I’m afraid the alternative for me is lots of TV watching and not a lot else.
I have a feeling that TV watching will become a lot more attractive the more time rolls on.
My vote goes towards the Pre-Cataclysm events. Who would be crazy enough to miss participating in retaking Gnomeregan and the Echo Isles?
“. Iām afraid the alternative for me is lots of TV watching and not a lot else.”
this! being a fairly anti-social mofo, wow actually is a better alternative to “not wow” at this point for me.
that’s sad.
To play or not to play is your own choice. When my current card runs out in May I’ll be taking some time off as well. What I miss is your take on the game via your blog. I got addicted to reading stuff that could make me a better player as well as make me laugh out loud. I guess my drug-of-choice is people, not WoW…
It’s funny; I feel the same way about my first toon, a little gnome rogue named Ellyjobell. I named her after my longstanding D&D gnome rogue. Even though I abandoned her as soon as I hit 70, then raided a couple years on my paladin, Renault, I always kept a soft spot for Elly.
A few months ago, I retired Ren, due to a bad case of healing burn out. I put the game aside for a little while, and then last week I picked up Elly again. It feels kind of nice to come full circle.
I don’t think I will go back to a heavy raiding schedule, but one or two evenings a week has been fun. I’ve figured out that knowing how to heal a fight and how to DPS one are two very diffrent things.
You’ll come back.
Everyone does.
Man.. does this post EVER hit home.
Thank you Pike. You have ALWAYS been an awesome ambassador for the game and continue to be so afterwards.
Thank you for always finding a way to teach me that lesson.
-Brig
This really hits home with me as well, although as a current player that doesn’t have time to play, but is still logging in for an hour a week or so.
So I guess that I am looking through the same pane of glass, but looking at it from the other direction.
The pull of lowbies is very much alive with me. The rational part of me says to level an alt when Cata hits. The world will be different, and I am sure that I will ohhh and ahhh plenty, but there is something comforting and fuzzy about vanilla. Like wondering if someone cleaned out the Defias for you during the escort quest. It just is a thrill, even after the tenth time doing the quest line.
So this is a long-winded way of getting to my suggestion. Play again. I say this because Cata is going to change everything, and running through the mines in Ellowyn is fun, and pretty soon you won’t be able to do it the same way-ever.
You don’t have to play all the time. Make time to get what you need to get done.
But.
Play.
Pike. You know that screen shot is all wrong. You left Tawyn in Kara. Guntitan still hasn’t found her, yet. He is still trying to run away from the big bad wolf yelling, “Tawyn where are you? I got beer and hotcakes.” Hitodama is holding Spiced Mammoth Treats for Tux.
Good post. I’m currently having just as much fun on my lvl19 Hunter in Frostheim’s WHU guild as i am on my main………and I just did the Defias traitor escort quest and DM yesterday. First time in years I have been there as a “non-80” š
To thyself be true Pike
I’m in about the same boat. Only, instead of quitting WoW, I rerolled.
In my mind, Xanthelei is going to die fighting the Lich King. His story started on Argus, rolled through the war on Draenor, was picked up during Burning Crusade, and will end with Wrath. Partly, I figure 25,000 years, give or take, is a long enough life; partly, I can’t put him through yet another world exploding under him. It also helps that I’m a bit tired of playing on a normal server doing nothing but dailies and raiding. <.<
Kyrem is Xanthelei's legacy. Not only is there a tie to Kyrem the Blood Knight ICly, but I rolled Kyrem directly after deciding to reroll. ICly, Xanth changed how Ky thinks about others, not just the Alliance, and OOCly Xanth has changed how I approach the game. All that's really left for Xanth is to write the story.
Your legacy is in the people who've read you AotH blog and think fondly of Kara every time they remember the blog. š (Netherspite FTW!)
Hey Pike,
This is funny because I’m in the same boat as you. Some kids in my chemistry lab group play wow and whenever we do projects we always talk about wow. It makes me want to go back soooo badly. I’m seriously torn over this issue. I’ll probably go back for cataclysm for a bit but hopefully i dont get sucked into it again like I was before. Maybe only light raiding and mainly focus on PvP (going horde this time probably going to make a troll hunter. yea! BM PvP ftw). In the meantime, Dragon Age: Origins Awakening, Bioshock, Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect 2 will keep me company for a while. Maybe Fallout 3 will join in when I’m able to get some money hehe.
Best of luck in resisting the dark side =D
This hits home. I just spent about 3 weeks on business and away from the game. Now that I’m back – the urge to play is still there – but the actual act of logging in seems to happen less and less. I still have all the goals I’d like to achieve and there are things I’d still love to do – but short of Cataclysm and a keen interest in seeing the changes – I get the feeling that a page has been turned.