Breakfast Topic: Meeting other WoW folks in real life
by Krystalle Voecks 
May 2nd 2007 at 8:00AM
The other day while I was packing up after doing some research at my local library, a small group of people stopped me to ask what the stickers on my laptop were about. I replied that they were symbols from World of Warcraft. It turned out that several of the folks in the group were also WoW players – although they were all Alliance. One of the girls in the group happily told me all about her Night Elf Druid, and how her boyfriend had gotten her into WoW. She then followed up by noting that she was surprised to meet someone who played Horde out in real life. We chatted about WoW for a good ten to fifteen minutes, I told them about WoW Insider (because this place rocks) and then we all headed our separate ways.
With the sheer amount of merchandise now available, like t-shirts, book bags, and stickers, WoW players are making their presence known more and more in the real world. Have you ever worn or displayed something with a WoW reference on it and been stopped by other gamers or people asking about it? If you saw someone wearing a WoW shirt, what would you do? How about if they were of the opposing faction, as most of the group I was talking to were?
Personally, I think it was awesome to meet other gamers, no matter if they were of the opposing faction. After all, we're all just people out to have fun in Azeroth when it comes down to it. I also thought that it was really cool to hear (and remember) the excitement of someone new to the game, as well as sharing experiences with other people who have raided the same places I have.
That said, if you ever see a girl with multi-colored hair who has Horde stickers on her laptop (as seen above) feel free to pop over and say hello!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Breakfast Topics, Features
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brim May 2nd 2007 8:14AM
Hope I never walk into someone wearing a bloodelf shirt.... I mean ganking someone in real life?
Kirby1612 May 2nd 2007 8:17AM
I have that same horde sticker on my desktop and my laptop. I've been at the airport a few times with my parents when a few people always point it out. We talk about their character, my character, what server they play on, and some theorycrafting as well.
At school, I've met people who I would have never thought even played since I was wearing my stylish +20 Frost Resistance Hoodie. I've got more friends that play now that I know in real, and we even rerolled together just to have fun playing the game with each other. My friend even has the ! and ? hat from J!NX, so she gives out quests and rewards =D
I think its awesome to meet people that play WoW. To me, it doesnt really matter if its a teenager or an adult, because we can still talk about the game since we both understand it.
For the Horde!
Larawen May 2nd 2007 8:18AM
I usually wear a rogue pin on my lanyard at work. It becomes a conversation starter when people ask about it. I'm always happy to talk about WOW, unfortunately no one I work with plays the game.
Pin: http://www.jinx.com/scripts/details.asp?productID=769
Aaeen May 2nd 2007 8:24AM
Hrmmm...must find out where this multi-coloured hair female lives...must set something up... ;) lol
I believe WoW has the power to break any ice. I had been working at my job for two months doing IT stuff and kept to myself because every single person that works here has known each other for years. Sometimes it's hard to be the odd man out. But one day someone was talking about WoW and it just began from there. Now we all play alts together on a different server and have started a new guild. Can WoW cause world peace? I think so...
ben1778 May 2nd 2007 8:36AM
I have 2 pieces of JINX! gear myself that I like to wear out on occasion. I have the Venture Co. Union "work shirt" and the black BC shirt with Ill on it.
You'd be surprised how many Horde bartenders are out there! Free drinks for the horde apparently. :-)
Padfoot May 2nd 2007 8:57AM
I was waiting in line for pizza a couple months ago and a group of guys behind me were talking WoW. So, naturally, I ask them their server and mains, etc. and they're all NE hunters. And I'm telling you, I'm an incredibly nice person, but I'm also horde. For a split second, I think my disdain for their race/class was clear on my face... it's like I couldn't separate my in-game prejudices from the RL.
But they were incredibly nice and soon we were chatting about BC and it was all good. I love meeting WoW'ers in the RL, but I still like RL horde more than alliance... is that weird as hell? I can't help it.
freyjasfire May 2nd 2007 9:04AM
I was talking in my vent sever during an afk brake and 2 of the people in my raid group from the same city and one works for the same server now thats a small world
Brian Byrdsong May 2nd 2007 9:12AM
Yeah I had a custom baseball cap made with "For The Horde!" on the front and the horde patch with my server name and character name on the back. Got a few comments on it so far. There are a bunch of WoW folk out there. Go Blizzard!! (and rehab clinics for that...)
John May 2nd 2007 9:25AM
I am a guidance counselor at a high school - this is my first year (I'm 28) and I have a Horde pin up on my bulletin board - Ive had a few kids ask me if I play and we discuss.
Krystalle Voecks May 2nd 2007 9:26AM
Aaeen - So long as setting something up doesn't involve a pit trap or something similar... ;) Just kidding. Actually, keep an eye on the site in the upcoming months -- some interesting things are in the works. And that's all I'm gonna say about that right now. ;)
ben1778 - Hooray for free drinks!
Bryan Byrdsong - The hat sounds awesome. And who needs rehab? I'm just fine staying addicted. :D
Seraph May 2nd 2007 9:37AM
My best friend (whom I got to playing WoW) and I have gotten pegged twice out in public.
The first time, we were just talking and getting ready to see a movie when someone who was selling t-shirts comes up to asks us straight up if we are WoW players. When we confirm that we are, he turned back to his friend that he's working with and shouts out, "You were right! They do play!" We chatted for a bit about servers and characters. Needless to say everytime I see them out now, I stop and say hi.
The second time we actually were discussing WoW on the metro. A woman next to us looks up and says "Are you two talkign about WoW?" "Yes we are. Does your son or husband play?" "Actually, I have a Tauren Druid on *blah* server." Yeah, we were a little embarassed after that.
Ugata, Argent Dawn May 2nd 2007 9:40AM
Free drinks and girls with multi-colored hair!
Who wouldn't wanna roll horde!?
Elbows May 2nd 2007 9:42AM
When our company is trying to fill a programming position, my boss will usually ask me to go over resumes and then participate in the interview process to ask technical questions.
Web developers often list some websites that they've done work on so that you can see an example of their skills. As I was going over one of the resumes I checked out one of the websites and it turned out to be a guild website for WoW. After seeing that I totally wanted to hire the guy, to bad after interviewing him it turned out he wasn't qualified.
We did have a nice conversation about WoW though.
max.korovesis May 2nd 2007 10:13AM
Nothing makes me happier than meeting other WoW players in real life. Oddly enough, I had a similar experience while doing a BWL raid in the library (free hi-speed there). One of the librarians played, and he ended up staying an extra shift just to watch my raid xD
Aldarian May 2nd 2007 10:57AM
In feb a bunch from the guild 'Haven' on Azjol-Nerub EU met up in Amsterdam. Its really incredible to meet the people from your guild in real life.
http://jemimus.livejournal.com/36602.html
ME and a certain druid in the guild got on so well there, we are now together ;) Although we live in different contries! :p
Strongmark on Arthas May 2nd 2007 10:19AM
FOR THE ALLIANCE!
Our entire guild is friends together, but so far, no real life encounters with other WoW players. Sometimes my fiancee and I go out with other WoW players in the guild and we have some fun discussing it over ho fan (MMMMM *rubs belly*), but so far, there has yet to be any sort of encounter. I will definitely get myself a pin for my lanyard as well (yeah, I'm stealing the idea) and I want an alliance sticker for my laptop.
I love the hat idea!
Rorie May 2nd 2007 10:33AM
Just a few days ago my husband and I were in a Shattered Halls run. We got hungry and ordered a pizza. The pizza delivery guy came in, saw both our screens an his eyes lit up. We chatted a bit about toons and servers, he really looked like he wanted to stick around bad. (honestly, we just wanted to eat our pizza and get back to our run though!)
Rabbid May 2nd 2007 10:35AM
Multi colored hair? Horde?
/tar Krystalle /purr
Superbeef May 2nd 2007 11:01AM
"Multi colored hair? Horde?
/tar Krystalle /purr"
the correct responce is: "pics nao!"
Rainwizard May 2nd 2007 11:01AM
I gotta move or something. :(
No WoW RL lovin' here. I live in a small rural community (pop. 4000, there are SERVERS w/ more people than that) and no one there plays that I know of. Living in the country is not good for networking. I'm lucky just to have high-speed DSL >.<
At work, I get made fun of for my /small/ addiction, and I just take it, knowing that my 26 dr00d would pwn them. Ok, I'm an escapist too.
I got into WoW three years ago when I saw a random guy playing it in a DnD bookstore and I've wanted some ever since. I finally got it (note that it's 3 years later) and haven't regretted it.
/sigh
Well, maybe someday I'll meet others. Till then, I'll continue hanging out w/ my guildies and having fun bashing stuff.