by Missy Sally
Hello, my name is Miss Sally, and like many first-wave World of Warcraft players, I am a recovering WoW addict. This is my sad, sad tale of returning to a desolate WoWscape after many years away. If you are one of the nostalgic WoW players of yore who long for the golden days of the game, you’ll feel my pain.
Up until just after the Wrath of the Lich King came out, WoW was my escapist fantasy, and for a couple of years after college, it was my social life. Time went by, I got a real life and WoW lost its luster. It seems I wasn’t alone in losing interest in the game as Blizzard rolled out expansions, patches and major gameplay changes. The game got too easy. The raid schedules became too demanding. It was no longer about the journey, but about getting to the end game and one-upping your guild mates.
Up until just after the Wrath of the Lich King came out, WoW was my escapist fantasy, and for a couple of years after college, it was my social life. Time went by, I got a real life and WoW lost its luster. It seems I wasn’t alone in losing interest in the game as Blizzard rolled out expansions, patches and major gameplay changes. The game got too easy. The raid schedules became too demanding. It was no longer about the journey, but about getting to the end game and one-upping your guild mates.
Of course, you can take the player out of Azeroth, but you can never take Azeroth
out of the player. Every once in a while, the fantasy calls me back. Last week I jumped back in and used my 10-day free trial of Warlords of Draenor. I only ended up playing about 5 of the 10 days, partly because life got in the way and partly because I got bored really fast.
Here’s my diary of my 5 days back in Azeroth.
out of the player. Every once in a while, the fantasy calls me back. Last week I jumped back in and used my 10-day free trial of Warlords of Draenor. I only ended up playing about 5 of the 10 days, partly because life got in the way and partly because I got bored really fast.
Here’s my diary of my 5 days back in Azeroth.
Day 1:
Friends on Facebook are discussing WoW. You've got mah attention! One extols the virtues of the Warlords of Draenor expansion, and beckons the former addicts back to the dark side. Why not. It’s been over 18 months since my last log-in. I’ll install the game and give the 10-day trial a go before I commit to $14 a month again. I’m practically tingling with excitement, like a young witch going back to Hogwarts after summer holidays. I soon discover the Warlords of Draenor content doesn't count for anything until you reach 90, but Blizzard doesn't offer you an automatic boost to 90 during the trial.
Say what? So I have less than 10 days to reach level 90 and try and make something of it?
Damn, I guess I’ll roll a Blood Elf Death Knight for a jump-start at level 55.
It sure feels good to be back!
Say what? So I have less than 10 days to reach level 90 and try and make something of it?
Damn, I guess I’ll roll a Blood Elf Death Knight for a jump-start at level 55.
It sure feels good to be back!
Day 2:
While I’m at it, I’ll check on some of my old characters. Yikes, it’s been so long, I don’t even know how to update them. Oh, and another shock, all the Auction Houses are even more inflated than when I left. I guess I’ll have to get my guys new gear the hard way, if I decide to renew my subscription.
Back to leveling the Death Knight. Some of the tools are new to me. I had to ask my brother what glyphs are for. Like, so embarrassing.
A little more running around Orgrimmar, trying to remember my way and feeling like the biggest n00b on the block. Only been in town for half an hour and I am already annoyed by the sexist jokes in Trade chat. I’m ready to GTFO of this cesspool of 13-year-old boys.
Back to leveling the Death Knight. Some of the tools are new to me. I had to ask my brother what glyphs are for. Like, so embarrassing.
A little more running around Orgrimmar, trying to remember my way and feeling like the biggest n00b on the block. Only been in town for half an hour and I am already annoyed by the sexist jokes in Trade chat. I’m ready to GTFO of this cesspool of 13-year-old boys.
Day 3:
Did I mention I have toon ADHD? I’m a serial leveler. I’m the hippie of heroes. I like
to stop and forage for Peacebloom, fish a little, start a naked dance party in Stormwind, and then kill some baddies. The Internets say Druids are a good class choice at the moment (when have they not rocked?). And the Night Elf starting zone is always so pretty!
Leveling my new Druid is predictably a breeze. I remember once more how badly they’ve nerfed everything in order to speed up leveling. I’m Wrath-blasting the Gnarlpines to death in 2 hits without a scratch. At least my starry-eyed nostalgia is making up for the disturbing lack of challenge.
to stop and forage for Peacebloom, fish a little, start a naked dance party in Stormwind, and then kill some baddies. The Internets say Druids are a good class choice at the moment (when have they not rocked?). And the Night Elf starting zone is always so pretty!
Leveling my new Druid is predictably a breeze. I remember once more how badly they’ve nerfed everything in order to speed up leveling. I’m Wrath-blasting the Gnarlpines to death in 2 hits without a scratch. At least my starry-eyed nostalgia is making up for the disturbing lack of challenge.
Day 4:
I begin asking myself why on Azeroth I chose a PvP server to level my Death Knight to 90 with such a short timeline. Alliance player attacks on the easy pickings Horde zone in the Hellfire Peninsula have stalled my quick progress. I can barely leave the inn without getting solidly ganked. I make a run for it into the wilderness and manage to massacre a few Fel Orcs before another dirty Alliance cheat stomps on my corpse. Ain’t nobody got time for this when I’m only level 58 and 4 days in to the trial!
I switch servers and finally revamp my beloved former main toon, my level 73 Human Frost Mage. She’s still pretty awesome, just neglected. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to be running around Dalaran in Lich-King era gear. I do some research, update her specs, and realize I have no idea what to do with her. I take her to the barber and spend 8g to update her ‘do, as one does, and prance over to the Darkmoon Faire for some fun ‘n games within the game.
I switch servers and finally revamp my beloved former main toon, my level 73 Human Frost Mage. She’s still pretty awesome, just neglected. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to be running around Dalaran in Lich-King era gear. I do some research, update her specs, and realize I have no idea what to do with her. I take her to the barber and spend 8g to update her ‘do, as one does, and prance over to the Darkmoon Faire for some fun ‘n games within the game.
Day 5:
I log on as my Death Knight early in the day. This is me trying to be sneaky and
outsmart the Alli jerks by logging in at an off-peak time. I leave the inn... and
immediately trip and fall onto a level ?? Alliance Rogue’s dagger.
Oh yeah, all the 13-year-old PvP lords are on summer vacation. Fml.
Forget these shenanigans. I’ll go play Druid on my RP server for a bit, thank you very much. It’s kind of fun to run around Darkshore in kitty form, making quick work of the corrupt bears, but I feel lonely.
The whole point of WoW is to be social, right? Or it used to be. Nowadays I hear you don’t even have to really talk to people to group up for dungeons and raids, so the interactions are dying. And the General Chat couldn’t be any more inane. For a little while I enjoy heckling two guys who are stalking a frustrated female player. Then I get bored again and abandon ship.
outsmart the Alli jerks by logging in at an off-peak time. I leave the inn... and
immediately trip and fall onto a level ?? Alliance Rogue’s dagger.
Oh yeah, all the 13-year-old PvP lords are on summer vacation. Fml.
Forget these shenanigans. I’ll go play Druid on my RP server for a bit, thank you very much. It’s kind of fun to run around Darkshore in kitty form, making quick work of the corrupt bears, but I feel lonely.
The whole point of WoW is to be social, right? Or it used to be. Nowadays I hear you don’t even have to really talk to people to group up for dungeons and raids, so the interactions are dying. And the General Chat couldn’t be any more inane. For a little while I enjoy heckling two guys who are stalking a frustrated female player. Then I get bored again and abandon ship.
Conclusion:
My 5 days back in Azeroth made me miss the old WoW more than ever.
It was an unsatisfying run without the former thrill of the challenge or any mature social interaction. If I had started from scratch and had taken the time to join a guild and get into the groove again, I probably would have enjoyed it for a little while. As things stand, the only way I’ll pay to play WoW again is if I have multiple friends to frolic with around Azeroth.
Anyone want to play?
Just kidding.
Maybe.
Let me know...
It was an unsatisfying run without the former thrill of the challenge or any mature social interaction. If I had started from scratch and had taken the time to join a guild and get into the groove again, I probably would have enjoyed it for a little while. As things stand, the only way I’ll pay to play WoW again is if I have multiple friends to frolic with around Azeroth.
Anyone want to play?
Just kidding.
Maybe.
Let me know...