I heart Boomkins

Back into the swing

Posted Sep 19, 2008 by Liliana

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So on Sunday night I did the unthinkable.

I re-activated my WoW account. It had been de-activated since November of 2007, holy ***!

I wasn't in any great rush to play, I let the updates run and cleared my Interface folder since i knew the addons were ancient and useless now.

Once it was all done, I logged in, I'd forgotten what server all my characters were on, I remembered Aman'Thul but the queue to get in was too long so I checked Jubei'Thos and was greeted with a queue, I was already getting frustrated and hadn't even started playing yet!

I gave a deep sigh and tried Frostmourne, thank god because I was about ready to throw something at the computer, I logged in to my highest character on that server - a 21 BE Priest which I had left neglected in the middle of Orgrimmar.

I was greeted with the same harsh ugly environment, obscene general chat "OMG SOME1 MOAN FOR ME PLZ?!!" and feeling of 'what now?', it was like I never left.

I decided to pick up where I had left off, if only I can remember what that was...

I checked through the quest log, so many quests, some half finished and I didn't even know where to start, not to mention I’d forgotten all my class skills and abilities and how and when to properly use them.

I decided the best bet was to finish off a grind kill quest to get back into the swing of things and it all came back to me.

This is what makes WoW successful. The ability to pick up things in an instant no matter how long you leave them for.

I completed the quest and logged out; I didn't want to burn myself out immediately.

A few days later on Maintenance night I logged in to play again, (those are the nights Eli has Jiu Jitsu so I get some peace and quiet!) and as did a gathering quest in STV someone asked me to group with them, now in the past I would have rolled my eyes and rejected this fool who invited without asking but I thought, No - accept and go with the flow.

And I had a blast! Myself and another Shaman blitzed easily through the mobs and had a laugh along the way before being kicked off the server when it went down for maintenance.

I logged off feeling like I’d actually achieved something even if it didn't mean leveling up.

So here's where I think I went wrong previously and what I vow to not let ruin my WoW experience this time around.

  • STAY AWAY FROM THE FORUMS! - All the whining and bitching, nerf class X and Class Y is useless and underpowered QQ

Reading the forums daily made me HATE the community, it made me doubt the classes i had chosen to play time and time again and it overall made me hate the game. Eventually you learn that the people posting on the forums are actually the minority, the majority are actually playing the game and enjoying it.

  • STOP LOOKING AT THE XP BAR - I've been playing the game since launch and did not level up my first 60 till just a few days before BC had just been released, I figured I was being left out in all the guild activities because everyone else had rushed to 70 and had multiple 60's at least. This is what burned me out the most! Doing the whole "Just one more level!" every game session got old, fast. This is what drove me to quit. I've decided to go back to my old ways and take my time, so what if I want to explore and have Moonkin dance-offs outside Ironforge? Let ME, I'm paying to play my game, not someone else’s.
  • STAY AWAY FROM GAME GUIDES - same as above, i got caught up on the "quickest" way to get things done in order to catch up with everyone else. This was very draining, looking up strats on youtube, downloading pay guides off torrent sites etc. No More! I'm going to do it my way, so what if i get lost looking for a quest? Its part of the game, exploration is great; you get to see things others have rushed right by.
  • SIMPLIFY ADDONS - Do not spend so much time researching "essential" addons, stick to what you NEED. This also starts to detract from the overall game experience when you become dependant on addons.
  • DONT BE A SNOB! - So what if the guy who is inviting you to run ZF TpES LieK ThIZ, give them a chance! I took a blind invite the other night to help some poor lowbie out like the above and they were ever so grateful, now they make a point of saying Hi to me every time I log on, which I think is nice :)
  • DON'T GET CAUGHT UP TRYING TO GET INTO A GUILD - Don't force myself to meet impossible standards, don't respec my class to fit into a slot and definitely don't become just 'another number' to a guild list. People will see you for the friendly and capable player that you are and spread the word - there will be plenty of invites!
  • STOP CREATING ALTS! - Sometimes alts are a good way to refresh the game, e.g. Creating an Alliance Priest when your Horde Warrior is getting a bit tedious but for the love of god, I need to stop making alts all over the place! This causes serious burn out!
  • HELP OUT LOWBIES - I know we all get tired of the begging for gold, for runs, for mats, well for everything really! But there are some serious requests for help out there that can be fulfilled and in turn will create a good name for you and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

I know that when I reached 70 I did not have the time to raid at all, I train in Capoeira two nights a week and have a lot of other commitments, I managed to see the inside of Kara once! But that doesn't bother me because I know what my limitations are.

So another good way to give back is to GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO HELP OUT. I was going through STV the other night when a lowbie asked for page 11, which I happened to have, since he was at the top of the map and I was near Booty Bay, I took the pages over to him (I'd get there quicker since I had a mount anyway) because I didn't want him to get ganked coming to me either.

This guy was so grateful that he could now finish his chapters and level up, he was astounded that I’d gone out of my way for him like that. It pays to be nice, especially seeing as it's not the norm these days with all the higher levels too busy with raids or arena.

So following the above, the past few days I've really enjoyed playing again, I've leveled my Druid alt from 45-47 and had some fun along the way and hopefully if I can stick to my new 'rules' I'll be around for a lot longer!

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  • ahzeel said 
    Fri, Nov 14 2008 8:02 PM ()

    Glad I randomly came by this article... it’s probably stopped me going back to WoW at least for the moment... The advice is exactly what I needed but for my Warhammer Account. I haven't been enjoying it lately and your post has made me see why and how I can change things! I can relate to every single item listed.

    Thanks!

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  • Kody said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    It's great to hear you're back and having fun! I too started playing again recently, and have enjoyed what little time I've actually had to play. :)

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Hey Kody! Great to hear from you :)
    Yeah, it's always good when you can come back to a game with a new perspective and enjoy it.

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  • clokverkorange said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    I agree with almost all your "do's and don'ts". The only one I would offer a rebuttal on is "stop creating alts"...alts can be a good way NOT to burn out. I have a 65 shaman, a 60ish druid, a 70 hunter, priest, warlock, and paladin, and I love playing them all equally. If I can't find a group or a raid on one character, I swap out and do something else for a while. I think one of the things that causes major player burnout is that the "powergamers" basically run the game. Certain class/spec combos can sit in /lfg all day long and not find a group because they are an "off spec".

    Also, making "rules" for your play is another thing that I notice burns a lot of people out. the more "rules" you add for yourself, the less it becomes a game and the more it becomes work. I log in every day with no set plan as to what I'm going to do or even what character I'm going to do it on. I'm not saying I "know it all", but I notice I get burned out a lot less than my other more "hardcore" friends.

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    I completely agree, like i said previously, Alts are a great to keep the game fresh if you're creating alts different to your main. What i was doing was creating similar alts, my main is a mage and I'd create a caster on a different realm just to keep up with friends who'd move around, so in the end i never stuck with them and i was making a TON of them!
    I definitely agree about certain specs being left out in the cold when it comes to LFG, i know I'd get groups in a heartbeat if i was a restoration druid but that's not the game i want to play :)

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  • Dezztinee said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Great post, I am a noob myself, so most of the talk in trade I dont understand. When I ask people for help, most of the time they are mean, so I have learned to just play alone and ask my boyfriend for help from time to time, if I really need it. Thanks for the advice it is useful.

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    It's a shame to hear people aren't being very nice towards you :(

    I find it's a lot better to ask for general help outside of a major city. Ie Your current leveling area because people are more likely to respond to particular quest help there and if any higher levels happen to be around in the lower level areas you're almost guaranteed a better response from them.

    I can remember the countless times I've iddled around Goldshire Inn on my 70 mage just making some bags for the newer characters or at Westfall for general help.

    I find it ironic that people can be so downright stubborn in helping each other out in an MMO, why not hook up your xbox and play a single player game if that's their attitude?

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  • Stukka said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    This is a great blog and its true. I recently re activated my account and transferred a player of mine to a pve server with a friend. I have never played pve before and its definately a better experience for me so far. I have been so close to dying from a few mobs being on me and out of no where an ally (yes im horde) will come and stun it or aggro it off of me. And since we cant chat we exchange some /wave and whatnot. It really is nice to see some nice people in an mmo rather than stuck up people only in for something if they get gold or it benefits them in some way shape or form.

    Your list is very good ive decided to add a few of ur ideas to some of my own and its really helping the game seem more "fresh" if u know what i mean.

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  • Kazard said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Casual blog for the casual player, its nice.

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  • RAZIM said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    I find that playing the game as many of the classes helps to understand the in/outs of those classes and allows you to work better with groups when you have a concept of what the other classes are dealing with.

    Also, maybe your first choice in class wasn't necessarily your best and you don't quite enjoy that hunter as much anymore.

    I think as far as alts go, try to have 1 home server otherwise you lose yourself in so many communities. You can always toss your alt a bit of allowance to go have fun and get skills,etc.

    I agree that you shouldn't make your change character to conform to a class standard spec. We're not all drones so we shouldn't act like in in game. Your spec is your personality. Don't just become a #(AP/Spell DMG,etc.) with a certain gear set.

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  • GalacticPT said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Thanks for the advice. I actually also reactivated my account recently, started a new character and I think I'll follow your tips. :)

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  • bowlerdude said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    I am new to this game so I do need some help please......what addons should I download and how do I install them to the game
    Thanks for your help

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Hey Bowlerdude,

    Since you are new to the game i would not be worried about addons just yet, get a feel for the game's mechanics first.
    For example, i wouldn't recommend HealBot or healing addons until you've grouped a fair bit and healed without the assistance of addons so you begin to get your timing and mana conservation tactics down to where it becomes gospel.

    I can't say what addons to download because i don't know your playstyle/class or needs in the game.
    Are you heavily into PvP or questing? Do you simply want to change the overall appearance of the UI?
    Without that sort of information i can't really advise you on anything particular however, I'll let you in on a few of my few 'essentials'.

    * ArkInventory
    This replaces all my bags and makes it one big bag on the screen, you can also sort the slots in the bag to be organised into quest items, reagents and equipment to show them separately from all your other junk. Very handy addon.
    There are other similar addons out there that do the same thing, such as Bagnon and OneBag, it's just a matter of preference and compatibility with other addons.

    * Auctioneer
    Keep track of the market and how much your items are worth or how much you should sell something for.

    * Carbonite Quest
    This is a replacement for map and quest tracking, it shows you on the map all available quest NPC's and turn in's available to you, also tracks the distance to your quest objectives and offers "GPS" styled navigation help.
    I would not recommend it for a first time player as it takes out some of the fun of exploring and discovery.

    * Quartz
    Playing as a caster on an Oceanic server this is a must for me, it is a cast bar replacement which calculates your latency so you can keep casting with efficiency and no more "THIS SPELL IS NOT READY" message that makes me want to stab my eyes out.

    * Grid
    Whether you are heavily into raiding or a casual who hits up BG's every weekend, this is a must for efficiency and saves your screen from becoming clutter.
    I currently play on a 19" screen at max resolution so this is extremely important to have a clean and uncluttered UI.
    This addon is also awesome when used with Clique if you are a healer as it allows you to simply click and heal.

    If you want a complete aesthetic overhaul then i couldn't recommend SpartanUI more, it is currently still in Beta so it does have a few bugs to be ironed out but i love it!

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Sorry forgot to mention, to install your addons you unzip the file you have downloaded and select the directory where WoW is installed.

    So eg. C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft, in here you need to look for the interface folder and inside that there shoulld be one called addons.
    C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Interface\Addons

    This is where your downloaded addons go.

    To enable them, log in to your game, at the character select screen there will be a button on your bottom left hand corner.

    Make sure all the addons you want to use are selected!

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  • lonebull said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    This is very true. You have a good veiw on WOW. thanks thas was a great read I am glad I took the time to view it.
    Brett

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  • Berethor said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    "I know that when I reached 70 I did not have the time to raid at all, I train in Capoeira two nights a week and have a lot of other commitments"

    Hey nice you restarted to play, but I think that if you dont have the opportunity to go raiding due to your rl you loose the real essence of this game. 25 ppl raids is the goal every wow player should reach. I play in a european server and I saw hundreds of players giving up the game cause they couldnt go raiding with their guilds. Anyway rl is much more important!

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  • bowlerdude said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Thanks for your help

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    I've been lucky enough to enjoy all the pre-BC raids so i have experienced that side of the game and loved every minute of it.
    However now, like I've mentioned, I know what my limitations are due to r/l commitments and have chosen to concentrate on other things which I've previously overlooked such as the social aspect of the game as well as PvP.
    But i do understand what you're saying, Raids are a big part of the game as they delve right into the story and lore of what the game is all about but at the same time, it's not for everyone.
    Personally i find raiding to cause extreme burn out on this game, it's just a matter of finding a balance that suits your playstyle.

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  • Berethor said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    As the main parts of wow players I also have my duties to finish off in rl, but in spite of this Im able to find a couple of evenings per week to go raiding with my guild. Im not an hardcore player or a casual player I only found the right compromise between rl and game life. My guild is a medium-high level guild and the leaders organize 5 raids per week but we are not forced at all to partecipate to all of them. We are absolutely free not to join to any raid for a period of time as joining to all in a week. This is the best way to lead a guild obtaining a nice progress towards the end game leaving us our space for private life at the same time.
    PvP is pretty good as aspect of this game, but the emotions you could feel killing a boss for the first time with your guild after many tries is another thing... not comparable to completing an arena set armor doing pvp for example.
    Im sure you already know these sensations having done all the pre BC raids. Probably when you reach level 70 with your character your playstyle change. Leveling is different, you are much more limited compared with a 70 level character.
    Anyway the important thing is that you enjoy playing this game whether the time you can dedicate to it.
    Cheers! :-)

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  • Liliana said 
    Fri, Jun 13 2008 12:50 AM ()

    Thanks :)

    Finding the right guild plays a major part in having an enjoyable time in end-game, no doubt abou that!

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