Breakfast Topic: Failing to succeed
by Elizabeth Harper 
Apr 27th 2007 at 8:00AM
Over at Kill Ten Rats, Zubon has brought up an interesting point about failure. So you're the best tank, or the best rogue, or the best mage you can be. You've played this role game after game -- the class names have changed, but your playstyle hasn't. Says Zubon:
You are stuck in your comfort zone. You need to go out there and fail. Try a lot of things. A lot. You will be lousy at most of them and you will do dumb things. But a few of them will really work for you.
What do you think? Are you stuck in a rut in the gaming world? Maybe it's time to go out and try your hand at a new alt!
[Fan art by Astrid Hansen]
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aaeen Apr 27th 2007 8:33AM
I can understand this. I've been in MMORPGs since DAoC and I've always played the scout/hunter class. I don't know what it is, I just can't bring myself to change how I play. I like standing back, going pew pew, before I have to engage in melee. I like sending in my pet to add that extra dps. I've tried all the other classes and while I've had some fun with a priest, none of the other classes appeal to my gaming needs.
Maybe I'm the weirdo in the group, but I feel that your toon is an extension of ones self; and for me, myself, and I, give me a bow and a pet and let me blast you from afar.
Sylythn Apr 27th 2007 2:42PM
Actually - I ran into this right when I started playing WoW. I always play rogue characters in RPGs, so my first character was a Gnome Rogue. But when my co-workers wanted to start a Horde-side guild, I wanted to try something new...I'd also played ranger characters before, but I'd tried hunter and didn't really like it. So on a whim, I played a warlock. I always hated casters - so many spells, so much management, and so little survivability - but I ended up in love with the warlock, and now he's my main 70 while my rogue got deleted after 4 months sitting at 34. I have a paladin now too - and that's kind of breaking out of the mold for me as well, I didn't used to like warrior/paladin type classes - they were always too 'simple'.
Lunada Apr 27th 2007 8:44AM
What in this world says u must stay with the same general toons uve created before? Sure people have comfort zones but only by experiencing new ways of playing will u ever figure those out. For example, my first toon was a druid, and at the time hated it; rerolled a warrior played him til 56; then rerolled a druid and figure out i loved it. Now i never would have figure out that had i stuck with the warrior. Yeah i love the druid and believe its the best class for me, but im not goin to simply never roll another class cause of the change in playing style. Exploring my options and expanding my knowledge and abilities(not just in games) is what i love to do. U cant be afraid of change especially in something as trivial as video games.
Aaeen Apr 27th 2007 8:49AM
@2
I totally agree with your standpoint, but in all honesty, no other class has ever given me that fuzzy feeling inside, that magic feeling of accomplishment. Yes, there is a comfort zone. Yes, you should explore every aspect of a game, especially because it is just a "game" (except for those sponsored teams...jerks :P). In the end we're all human, save for CGFs, and we must do what makes us happy. If you don't, you're doomed to a life that's incomplete.
MacAllah Apr 27th 2007 8:51AM
While in most FPSes I've prefered the "run and gun" type of play over the "sneak and stealth" type... in WoW I've never much been attracted to Rogues, either.
I rolled one to make an Alliance twink (and fight the power!) and I found I enjoyed it a lot.
Furthermore, my main is a Priest. I was the main healer for my guild at level 60, but haver since (post-TBC) stuck to shadow.
I think EVERYONE who plays WoW should try 2 of the 3 roles (tank/DPS/healer) because you won't know ANYTHING about aggro until you do. As a healer I could tell if the tank was doing enough for me to heal him properly and as a DPSer I can tell if other members in my party are aggroing too much, too quickly.
I think overall you'll become a better player on your main if you try out an alt. "Walk a mile in his shoes..." kinda stuff.
Twinny Apr 27th 2007 9:03AM
if i wanted to feel like i failed i would level a holy priest to 70.
Mad Cow Apr 27th 2007 9:19AM
I tend to play hybrid classes ... because like myself, I'm good at a great many things but not excellent in any given one. So for WoW I ended up with a pally and a druid and love playing both. In other games I've played hunters/archers ... I hate only being able to heal or cast ... so priests/mages are a no go for me. I did have fun with a warlock until 50ish ... but now he's my enchant mule after blizz nerfed my level 5 mule.
Matt Apr 27th 2007 9:29AM
I have several alts, but none are over level 17. the reason for this is that every time I play on them, I think of how much I want to go back to my mage and knock out some quests or run an instance or farm for a rare pattern. I happened to get lucky and love the first character I rolled.
brent Apr 27th 2007 9:31AM
"Walk a mile in his shoes..." kinda stuff.
Agree with MacAllah 100%.
If you play a healing class you'll never blame a healer again for a wipe unless its blatent, just as you'll never downplay a "meat shield" once you see the depth of controlling aggro.
plus its fun =) each alt is like a buddy.
Toolio Apr 27th 2007 9:35AM
Okay, here's the conundrum... What if a player already suck at everything? Is it time for them to cease sucking, or just try sucking harder?
Zinger Apr 27th 2007 9:37AM
At the end of the day, all classes are the same ol' sh*t. You kill stuff over and over, using the same ol' sequence of attacks (for example- PW: Shield, Mind Blast, SW: Pain, Mind Flay (1x or 2x), wand wand wand, spirit tap, repeat). All classes get boring after a while, but that unexplainable attraction to ding 70 keeps us going with mains, alts, boyfriends' toons, etc.
And yes...the "walk a mile in his shoes" thing is absolutely correct. DPS-happy newb mages can learn a lot by rolling a raiding Protection Warrior.
chaz Apr 27th 2007 9:38AM
If it wasn't for people trying new things we'd never have that wonderful Hunter-Misdirection-Kill-Gold-Beggar trick that. I loved that.
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/03/20/forum-post-of-the-day-beggars-will-be-shot-on-sight/
jaydlawii Apr 27th 2007 10:10AM
@4 I think overall you'll become a better player on your main if you try out an alt. "Walk a mile in his shoes..." kinda stuff.
I totaly agree. I may be what most would consider a reroller, but that is primarily because i wan to know what evereyones job is and the abilities that they bring to the table. I remember my first time as a warrior in the stockades, i would charge the mob that a rogue just sapped not knowing that he sapped him. so i wouldn't embarras myself again, i figure it's would be good for me to know what each class does. I rolled everything and most made it to lvl 25 before i decommissioned them. Shaman druid and mage didn't last that long though couldn't get into the totem thing, the starting are for NE while it looks nice it is boring (druid) and i hated taking a drink after every fight (mage).
My original was a lock if i didn't reroll i would never found out the enjoyment of being a warrior, even though we get beat up in every aspect of the game. (take the most shots, repairs $$$, mount$$, and the time it takes to level is crazy compared to the distance dps classes)i guess that i enjoy being punished.
Sorcefire Apr 27th 2007 11:20AM
IMO, playing a toon that you consider your "comfort zone" is partially because it is a reflection of traits or roles you yourself a comfortable with.
Some of use will definitely try new roles and classes, but will always find ourselves drawn back to those we are comfortable with. I prefer to play a pally mainly because I enjoy the support role and diversity of the class, which should be pretty obvious if he's my only level 70.
I have, in fact, rolled a number of different classes and leveled them up to their mid-20s and occasionally mid-40s, but just lost interest after their play style started to become evident. Not to mention I almost always play Alliance and can't bring myself to play Horde at all.
Geo Lara Apr 27th 2007 12:02PM
To piggy back what #4 said. I wish all higher level fire mages would play a warrior or feral druid. It's hard to hold aggro when a 2-3k crit fireball is shot off right before my second sunder armor. Only to have them gripe why I couldn't keep the big bad trash mob off them.
Scruffy Apr 27th 2007 12:12PM
I'm in a rut and failing to succeed.
Drops just aren't happening in my favor unless it's something I can't use and /rolls always favors the other clothies.
Funny how it seemed to have been this way since spec'ing shadow. I mean, I know Blizz wants us to heal but c'mon....
Ken Lydell Apr 28th 2007 2:44PM
My experience observing others at solo and group play in Outland leads me to believe that most players stick with a subset of skill combinations that worked for them when they were in their forties. We all have standard attack drills that we use repetitively in tactical situations that are repetitive.
Dealing with the unexpected or the unusually difficult tactical problem is the hallmark of the superior player. However, many players seem to have difficulty in quickly improvising a quick and effective response in situations that threaten to go very badly for them or their group. Their bag of tricks is much smaller than it should be and this appears to be the result of a failure to experiment with all of their class skills in order to master them. Many experiments will fail but some will yield tactical combinations that can save the day.
I still have much to learn and master in playing my L61 hunter. There are shots and shot combinations I have not yet tried because my working set of skill combinations has thus far proven to be extraordinarily successful. I need to experiment more and fail more often if I am to improve my game.
Samidare May 3rd 2007 2:17PM
I've been playing for years. But have only played EQ and WoW. But I always tried different classes just to see how they work(to at least a min of level 40). It keeps the game fresher and improves your skill over all in group, raids, and soloing. When you are used to playing one way with a rog...you have to look at every fight differently when playing a class like a hunter, shaman or priest. Each class has its strengths and weaknesses and can't react the same way to the situation.
PVP wise, knowing this first hand does nothing but make you a better player. It also gives you the advantage over someone who doesn't have that knowledge.
And to piggy back even more on #4. I mainly played dps classes(60+ mages, hunter and rog). Forget playing a tank and dealing with having to keep aggro. Play a healer and deal with keeping everyone alive while the tank and mage play aggro ping pong. My main is now a resto shaman, and I despise aggro pullers more then tanks do.
"Not sure how you pulled aggro huh? maybe that combusto-trinket-pyro crit did it?"
I think everyone should have to walk a mile in another classes shoes.
Chadwick Apr 27th 2007 12:31PM
@14 and others..
I love my mage, but the altaholic in me had go play a hunter, warrior, druid, and a holy priest. Having a good understanding of other classes is very good for a players soul. Its not for everyone, but I think it will help you in your main roll (me:mage). I definitely do hold back only because I know how much a pain keeping aggro is while playing my warrior. And I also tend to watch out for my self so the priest doesn't have to.
Bradley Nash Apr 27th 2007 1:31PM
@7 - I'm in the same boat as you are. The first toon I rolled was a warlock and love playing him over all my alts. But I realized early on that the best way to really learn how my class interacts and works best with other classes is to play the other ones. So I now have a level 48 lock and alts in every other class except Shaman all between 10 and 20, which even though isn't high enough level to really know the class its a start and I plan on leveling them quite a bit. I just feel guilty sometime when my main has been sitting at 48 for a few weeks