When Wow comes to an End.

[Theleb]

Before anyone starts to gasp, and wonder if you can indeed beat Wow by killing Arthas....

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/commu...llery.html#185

.....I'm afraid this is only a little personal anecdote (perhaps with a modicum of light venting) and ultimately its only my tenure in Wow that is coming to an end.

Around 2 and a half years ago, a friend of mine was consistently raving about this MMORPG he was playing called (yeah, you guessed it) World of Warcraft. I was peripherally aware of Wow being involved in the RPG community for many years and of that particular age that went to school back at the dawn of the Gaming Age™ so from the aspect of a PC gamer, and Roleplayer I was immediately interested enough to play when he threw me a free pass.

I didn't start playing until Decemeber '05 and initially generated an Undead Warlock on an PvP server. I levelled the ugly little dude to 30, and then was persuaded to start a rogue in my friends guild on Shadowsong EU PvE. Well life on a PvP realm was hard without a guild so the chance to join a bunch of like-minded folks seemed a good offer and I threw myself into hitting 60 while trying to see as much of the scenery as I could on the way.

I forget exactly how long it took (stopping to smell the flowers offers a much richer levelling experience than merely flying through content so it wasn't in any way "fast") but I arrived at 60 in Silithus and proceeded to PvP/PvE as much as possible. The whole "gearing up" process took longer back then but eventually I had a mix of quality gear (a mixture of PvP armour, ZG rewards, instance drops and some craftables) and I stood on the brink of running MC (the guild had been running it for a while and since around level 52 I had been providing consumables for the tanks as I was fully of the belief that it was a guild effort so I assisted folks where I could with potions/buff food).

Well, we dutifully went through the learning process in MC but before we got to Geddon the guild and I parted ways through my dissillusionment with the way things were run and I found myself PvPing more heavily (having already established a friendship with most of the active PvP community).
I went through a bit of a lull (started my Warlock as a level 29 pvp twink) but I found the time to run myseflt through Maraudon a couple of times (Nature resistance gear!!), raid with an alliance, and generally gear myself up for the next step into a "Proper" raiding guild.

Amazingly, I was accepted and spent the next few months farming BWL, while progressing in AQ40 and then taking a few random stabs atNaxxramas. Again, I found myself relied upon as not only a source of reliably insane DPS but Potions and Consumables - I was only too happy to help out those in need because I was only too aware some people were suffering financially due to the constraints of heavy RL commitments but before long I grew increasingly frustrated with the Guild Leader (he was subsequently replaced with someone more reasonable) and the lack of progress in content we should have been able to beat.

Given that TBurning Crusade wasn't very far away I decided I would make the switch to PvP full time and while throwing an application to the #2 alliance guild on the server kept me amused for a while, I never expected to hear anything from them - PvP would have been enough to keep me occupied and I anticipated speed-levelling to 70 where I would make some applications to other guilds on the basis of us all having roughly the same gear!

Unexpectedly, I was accepted into this guild and the last few months of "Classic" Wow was spent learning/farming Naxxramas, making new friends and generally finding out what real endgame raiding was about.

Well, TBurning Crusade hit and I was one of the first 70's on the server and as such was part of the "first choice" team when Karazhan was progress content - we cleared Karazhan, Gruul, Magtheridon, Kazzak and Doomwalker (still providing pots, consumables, and being ever-ready to lend a hand) and were just starting SSC before RL intervened and I told the guild I needed to take a short break from raiding but would be back before very long. I also left instructions to contact me in case I was needed before then as I spent a lot of time on TS it would have been the work of a moment to communicate. I spent any spare time on my Warlock farming so that I would have the cash/consumables for raiding on my rogue so imagine my surpise when I was guildkicked without any warning.

I made the switch to Warlock at exactly this point because the Rogue class no longer had any mysteries for me to unravel and I needed a fresh challenge.

Again, I threw myself into PvP with some of my friends , and reached 1900+ rating in S1, while managing to hit 2k in S2 (this is on Cyclone and those were amongst the higher ratings at the time). I took up tailoring to grab the FSW set, ran what instances I could and eventually heard my old guild were looking for a reliable Warlock (I had always gone to extremes with preperation, comsumables, and tactics - it showed in my DPS as on one particular Magtheridon kill I was 150k ahead of the next nearest player).

A word here about the GL - He's a great player, and an excellent strategist but lacks in people skills in the same manner as Hannibal Lector. Players are tools to be used to bolster his own ego and he's the single most abusively unpleasant person it has ever been my misfortune to encounter....but that said he respected my abilities and offered me a place....

I refused - I couldn't on principle rejoin a guild where his mannerisms and offensive nature were accepted and I still hoped that I would be able to find somewhere that not only could I push into endgame content, but I would find a certain "meeting of minds". To cut a long story short, after a couple of months I rejoined my first raid alliance and helped them in clearing SSC/3/4 TK.

Again, I found myself going the "extra mile" in terms of preperation and planning - not to mention spending a not inconsequential amount of gold in gathering FR gear when they needed a Leo tank at short notice, as well as respeccing back and forth to fulfil that role, compounded by strider kiting and tank buffing (yes, I was the token affliction Warlock). Well...things were still not all that great because there was an "inner council" in this alliance who permitted a great deal of slack in preperation (Players with T5 legs that lacked gems or enchants for example) and yet wanted to progress into MH/BT.

Of course this didn't sit well with me, and as RL is currently giving me a bit of a hard time I made the decision to first of all sit out, and then leave the alliance just before they killed Kael (all my ranting about group compositions, raid comsumables and appropriate gearing paid off by all accounts).

So here I am. I hopped on the back of a Kael kill with friends so I am attuned/geared to raid in MH (as Rage is such a walkover I'm sure BT would follow immediately) but there are no guilds on the server looking for a Warlock. Not one. Not to mention the fact my rogues gear is quite shoddy and of course....there are around 11 million rogues on Shadowsong....

I have a reasonably geared (SSC/TK level) resto shaman but in all honesty while I "could" raid with Her I don't enjoy healing enough to do it "seriously" and it would mean another round of attunements/gearing up/looking for a guild....a lot of hard work simply to satify my desire to see MH/BT.....and for those that haven't healed 25-man content its actually so stressful as to remove the enjoyment (Well, from my pov at least).

Sure...2.4 is coming but I'm in a guild that consists of myself, as well as my alts and as such I have very few ways of reliably earning badges (Don't mention PuGs - the few that form are composed of those like me who don't have the contacts to maintain reliable groups)....and of course....there are no spaces for Warlocks in the guilds that could reasonable enter BT/MH when the attunements are lifted because DPS classes are incredibly over-populated.

So I've decided to quit - there are some RL issues that are having an impact right now but if I felt there was any feasible way of getting back to the kind of game I enjoy I'd take the time to at least make the effort....sadly, I can't see any real chances of raiding until Wrath of the Lich King and the increased desperation is making me fractous and argumentative with friends who are lucky enough to be in the position I would have been in were it not for my principles - Farming T6 for SWP, gearing alts up through T5/T6 to pass the time.

(Perhaps the greatest Irony here is that I have always found the time to help others from my first day in a guild, through to the endgame raiding....from a few spare herbs or potions right up to the point of farming Primals, then donating them free of charge to tanks, along with some gold to cover repairs. Perhaps I'm of an older, more trusting generation but my altruism has gone sadly unnoticed and unrewarded for the most part - its left a very bitter taste in my mouth).

This isn't intended as a "whine" post, its merely intended to give the only online community I have any real contact with a background as to why I won't be posting much (if at all) in the future, and to extend my thanks to them for providing me with the information I needed to play a Warlock effectively.

Sincerely, Thank You.

I hope to be able to spare the time (actually, I hope I still have the means) to post in the future (even if its only peripherally) but I'd like to share a couple of thoughts with you before signing off;

Don't let opportunities pass you by. You can never tell when the next time you'll get the chance to play or live as you would like to.

Principles are a wonderful thing to possess but please, don't make my mistake and let them get in the way of what you want. Sometimes you must make short-term compromises in order to reach long-term goals.

Help others - be altruistic. A kind word costs nothing, a few pixels are only moments of your time....but don't forget to help yourself. Gratitude has a short lifespan and some people will conveniently forget they ever helped you.

Finally....this is a wonderful resource, and a great community. Akasha has done a great job over the years and it only needs a little assistance from everyone else to maintain the Den's high standards...so respect each other,
show some tolerance for each others opinion's and take a moment of your time to help show people around.

Peace.

[Vaell]

Theleb, mate in some strange way I feel a connection with you. When I read your posts I get a real sense of the person behind them, and it's a person that I like. If it's not too narcissistic (probably is but.. lol), you remind me a little of me.

You seem like the kind of person that tries to see as much good as possible from as many different angles and will defend those that seem to get a raw deal, or who have voice that isn't often heard. Social justice would sum it up.

I identified with much of what you describe when dealing with others, being generous, taking time to help, though I have yet to see the content you have. All too many times I've found myself completely agreeing with what you post, and more often than not, we paraphrase each other in what we say.

You're a top bloke. Needless to say you will be missed by many. I know Akasha is an advocate of your style and conduct here.

It's late, I'm tired and really didn't expect this post. I'll catch up with this tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

I know we'd love to hear from you, so please check in from time to time just to say hi or whatever.

Peace to you, friend.

/salute

[snackereen]

Originally Posted by Theleb

Help others - be altruistic. A kind word costs nothing, a few pixels are only moments of your time....

Finally....this is a wonderful resource, and a great community. Akasha has done a great job over the years and it only needs a little assistance from everyone else to maintain the Den's high standards...so respect each other,
show some tolerance for each others opinion's and take a moment of your time to help show people around.

Peace.

One of the best ways to describe what it SHOULD be all about.

So true Theleb and I deeply regret you are leaving as one of the very contributing valuable members.

[Pervlock]

drats, thats to bad,

in the short time i have been actively reading these forums, and especially a few weeks before and since i became a registered member, your posts made quite a positive impact on me and my char. You are one of the dilligent posters here that actually made me subscribe
Very sorry to see you leave, hope you come back in full / come pass by to even say high.

[Darkzor]

a big salute to you man
the whole community is feeling sad that your leaving but i understand you
come back sometimes to say "hi" or something like that, we're rly gonna miss you

[SavageBT]

Buy a keyed horde shadow priest, transfer to Khaz and come raid with us
No seriously, do so.

[Theleb]

Lack of money is a key reason for me stopping Savage - or I would love to

Vaell - you know, content is a funny thing - it changes people. I certainly changed a little since I started playing because Wow is like a relationship with a significant other (ok, this is a tenuous analogy at best, but bear with me...)

If you're content to stay friends/not treat Wow too seriously then any setbacks you might suffer aren't the end of the world, and any advancements, while pleasing, aren't a highpoint in your life....if you stray away from your friend for whatever reasonthen you can move right along to the next phase in your life and essentiall any impact the game/relationship has on your life is minimal.

The more involved you become, the more content you see, the more profoud the impact from the ups and downs and increasingly (or at least in my experience) this is the start of the diminishing returns. I marked this down as the start of my real raiding life where the commitments I had to make in order to perform at my best started to eat into spare time....where normally I would take the time to visit friends, hit the cinema, take a walk or do anything else way from the PC, I found myself hitting spreadsheets, farming endless gold for repairs, and reviewing tactics for bosses we were struggling on.

It had an effect on my personality. Perhaps only in little ways but I'm normally a really easy-going person. I've seen enough of life to take most things in my stride but the little arguments that started for no good reason (I'm sure you've seen them a thousand times in groups/raids/guilds), all the little digs and petty one-upmanship started to grind me down.....and increasingly (I'm also quite competitive - I have a sporting background) I found myself reacting rather strongly to the negative aspects of the game.

We're all emotional human beings inside these sacks of mostly water and the more investment we have in a situation the more highly charged an emotional response will be - the highs are higher (Woooot!! In your FACE C'thun!!) the lows are lower (I got WHAT?) and It really did feel like being in serious relationship - I guess that in terms of time and money invested it doesn't fall far short for some people!

By the time I got kicked from my "best" guild I had, in all honesty, become quite addicted to Wow and just like a failing relationship I worked ever harder to try to retrieve some measure of self-worth, to prevent it failing altogether but ultimately I was undone by the simple fact that it was hard to reconcile my princples when weighing them in the balance against a game. Sure, I PvP'd, I raided, I had a lot of contacts and even some friends but the "rush" wasn't there. I felt like I deserved more from the game and I just couldn't intellectually or emotionally accept the fact that my progression wasn't halted by ability, but by class choice and in some cases sheer bad luck.

I think I have a point to make somewhere amongst the rambling anecdotes and simply it's this: if you ever get to the point where Wow has an impact that great on your life its time for you to reasses your priorities.

I don't mean you should stop playing, leave your current guild or go casual...but I do think that you need to sit back and think about what you're doing. It might be that you're one of the people that can stay ino one guild and never care about the next step beyond treating Wow as a game and enjoying yourself - thats a truly wonderful place to be. You might be one of those (like myself) who constantly had to push to see the next "level" of Wow and were happiest raiding with friends....now that sounds elitist and its not meant to be.

There are many levels to play Wow on and it just happens that I enjoyed the endgame with what have transpired to be decent people. That doesn't in any way, shape of form denigrate the efforts of those who enjoy Wow at any other level, in any other way - the key is that you DO enjoy Wow but know when to take a step back - just like a relationship Wow can be a beautiful experience but they don't work out for everyone in the same way that not everyone can be happy playing Wow.....and some people use Wow in the same way that they would use a particularly beautiful partner - for self-aggrandisation. All the idiots on their bear mounts with their T6 who feel that their participation in endgame content somehow makes their opinions more valid and also allows them to treat other people like dirt seem to be hollow shells, and the only way they can find fulfillment in their existance is to demean others.

Ever seen a flame war? Wondered why they start, or why the people display such negative attitudes? Ever considered that some of this agression might be due to sheer frustration with the game, perhaps that the person in question has some RL issues that might be affecting them?

Its easy to flame - but I have more respect for those that take the time to consider the bigger picture and remember that behind the words is another human being.

Would I go back to raiding if I could? Yes, definately - I'm a stronger person than previously and I'm more aware of the "social tempo" to a lot of guilds but its not going to happen and ultimately that makes me a quite sad. Its easy to forget the good times over the last couple of years and view it as time wasted rather than trying to focus on the lesson's I've learnt so I have to hope that some distance gives me perspective.

[Vaell]

I don't think anyone would consider you elitist. You're too broadminded and possess much empathy.

Principles can be costly, both in wow and RL. I waged (an ironic word in the context) a war on money in my youth. I didn't like how the need for it changed people. I was too young and blinkered to realise that it's just an exchange of energy. I was too caught up with living in London, chasing my dream of being a musician and sleeping on people's couches... I can laugh now, but my principles cost me dearly then. However, I reacted honestly according to my circumstances, outlook and experience; and thats what anyone does really. But that was RL, wow shouldn't be taken to that extreme.

The thing that makes this game matter, be it life or wow, is other people. If it was a one player RPG, like Morrowind was (I loved that game) then these ties and interactions wouldn't exist. But as it stands it is a microcosm of society, in fact it *is* a society and many of the things that would burden us in life can burden us in wow if we treated it as seriously. Some people seemingly treat it *more* seriously, forget that we are all people underneath our pixels and we become tools for progression, or a lever to bolster other's self worth.

What's your game?

Not just a soundbite from the recent wow ads, but actually affirmation that this game can be enjoyed on a multitude of levels. My sister got into wow and became hooked on rolling alts and RPing with a handful of friends. I met my current GF through wow (you talk about significant others!), because I rerolled BE and took up JC. I was giving away copper rings with +1 int (w00t) and we struck up a conversation and have been playing (both in game and out) together ever since. We pace our leveling and we ding at *exactly* the same time. It's damn cute and wouldn't have it any other way.

Progress is slow for me, but like you said about taking your time, smelling flowers; I've enjoyed wow more this time. Rushing to 70 before left me feeling a little empty. I left my old guild on my old character as they were too busy whining about getting enough people keyed for Kara, but wouldn't actually get groups organised to get people keyed / geared. My ideas of being in a large guild and end game got crushed and it was upsetting. This was my time. and perhaps I was taking it too seriously, in a relative way back then. I'm a casual now and I'm proud and happy to be a "scrub" in a scrub guild with some RL mates that enjoy the game for and with eachother.

Damn, I don't want to hijack your thread or for it to sound like I'm having a ball in wow, while you are quitting. I'm just responding to the confessional nature of your posts. I think if more people with your mentality played the game would be more fun for all. But then that's utopia, or another dangerous road if everyone was the same.

In contrast to SavageBT's request of you buying a SPriest, if you ever felt like rolling an alt for fun on a different server Scarshield Legion (Horde!) would be a better place for you, and I'd be really happy to see you there.

I know you have thought long and hard about this and I doubt that anyone could convince you otherwise; and really it's not my intention. I just want you to know how much we think of you.

[Theleb]

Damn dude, I spent a time in my youth with aspirations of being a Musician - two peas in a pod?

To be honest, if anything I ever post provokes thought I think thats a great thing so don't worry about derailing anything - personal anecdotes about other people's time in Wow are certainly valuable when we're trying to do a little soul-searching and perhaps even a little self-discovery.....our attitudes about Wow certainly aren't by way of being a revelation but you know....some people won't have thought in those terms.

If even one person read this, and they realise a few facts about Wow or Life than thats all good - hopefully while taking the time to be honest with myself or you wonderful other people there's a certain air of community that transcends the initial media which bought it about - Wow IS a "community" game...and of course those community units go on to experience the same trials and tribulations that any other community would.

[Vaell]

Originally Posted by Theleb

Damn dude, I spent a time in my youth with aspirations of being a Musician - two peas in a pod?

Haha. I guess so. Played bass, got pretty far with it in terms of record company interest but kept wiping on the Boss at 5% (lol) - That was another massive time sink for me, where other areas of my life suffered. And yes, interpersonal relationships there were part of it's downfall.

Anyway, I'm gonna back out of this thread for a bit 'cos I don't want others to think that they are intruding in a private convo...

*steps aside gracefully and watches from the sidelines*