Breakfast topic: Putting the magic back in WoW
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Jul 2nd 2007 at 8:06AM
These are dark days for me in the World of Warcraft. Lately, when my guild is lining up for raids, I've been nowhere to be found -- instead, I'm playing other games or going to movies or discovering that Long Island Iced Teas can make the world a happier albeit blurrier place. My guild is progressing quite well, my paladin is almost 70, but somehow, WoW has lost its magic for me right now.
This has happened before, and is usually cured by taking a break from the game. But this time I'll put the question to you, readers: When you find yourself losing interest in WoW, how do you rekindle the flames? Reroll on a different server? Roleplay? PVP? Is taking time off the only cure?
Filed under: Virtual selves, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
solidsnake13 Jul 2nd 2007 8:11AM
Yeah. I'm normally just playing other games or just chilling out online when I take breaks from World of Warcraft.
Mystical Parrot Jul 2nd 2007 8:11AM
definitely time to start playing something else for a while, outside is also a good replacement to wow.
Just something different really
JD Jul 2nd 2007 8:14AM
Recently had the same thing happen to me.
BELF Warlock hit 70.... Guild Disbanded.....
Rerolled Mage on another server for a fresh go round.
Sure I'll go back to the 70... In time....
HalcyonGT Jul 2nd 2007 8:14AM
I knew my interest in WoW was gonna fade the minute summer rolled into town. I can't justify sitting indoors for hours in front of a monitor when its sooo nice outside. Road trips to baseball games, Six Flags parks, BBQ's, girls in swimsuits....
Mathew Jul 2nd 2007 8:15AM
I believe that there are plenty of alternative activities in WoW, with faction progression, trade skilling, recipe collecting, and just rare knickknacks to find to usually keep one busy. But there's nothing wrong with taking some time off either. It's never fun to burn yourself out on something, and perhaps a month or two will give your guild the chance to move on to more interesting and challenging content. And there's always future expansions to look forward to.
Tagor Jul 2nd 2007 8:35AM
Watch Arrested Development, GOB is my hero!
Sarah Jul 2nd 2007 8:36AM
I get kinda ADD with WoW alot. I go through spurts with playing everyday for a week and really enjoying it and then I'll sign on and just find myself standing in Ironforge spinning in a circle for an hour while I talk to friends (using WoW like a glorified AIM).
Usually there are three things that help me:
1. Take a break. Honestly even just a week can help.
2. Make a new character. It breaks up the monotony of doing the same thing all the time.
3. Set a goal. Most of the time when I get bored it's because I don't have a clear goal to look forward to. Is there an item you always wanted to have? Need money for that flying mount? How about you just always wanted to collect every mini pet in the game? That always throws some excitement back into it for me.
Thesian Jul 2nd 2007 8:48AM
I usually drop a trade skill and level a new one up... I can't say I would recommend it though.
Besides that doing something else is the best thing to do. Don't try and force it on yourself. If your not interested in coming back you will find a new hobby and in the long run that's probably a good thing.
chaz Jul 2nd 2007 8:56AM
What I do is take some days/weeks off, then talk to my RL gamer friends about what they are currently doing in Azeroth. We make plans to do things together in-game, that always brings me back.
When someone says, "I've got a level 10 priest I'm trying to level," I think, "I'll roll a warrior and catch up and we can run RFC together." I'm a sucker for rolling new characters with a group.
Naaruminded Jul 2nd 2007 9:04AM
It's difficult, because so much of the "neat" parts of the game can become a grind.
Want that Talbuk mount? See you in the Ogre caves for 2000 kills. Unlocking the Consortium boss in Mana Tombs? Enjoy hunting for 5 keys 5 times. Even that fun Firefly pet is kill 20 bogflare needlers, rinse, repeat.
Raids are great, and always different. It's just a shame that there always only seems to be one path when it comes to anything repuation or drop oriented: grind it out. That saps my enjoyment of the game quicker than anything.
FireStar Jul 2nd 2007 9:10AM
Having lots of alts helps, because it increases the number of goals you have. Goals are what keeps you driven in the game, that is if you're mainly a soloer. However, you don't need to rekindle anything. it's ok to go to the movies and stuff. they won't delete your characters and you can always come back. i already did it once.
potatowedge Jul 2nd 2007 9:57AM
I was getting frustrated recently, so I did two things:
First, I rerolled on a non-PVP server. It's a lot less frustrating when you're not constantly getting ganked.
Second: I took up calligraphy. Now I've got something else to level that gets me away from the screen for a few hours at a time. As much as I love WoW, I can't do it all day, every day. I need distractions that get me away from this computer contraption!
Iamnotalie Jul 2nd 2007 9:59AM
I just read the WoW forums for a few "nerf locks" posts. This is usually enough to motivate me to start the BG destruction.
Aurendar Jul 2nd 2007 10:08AM
I am currently in one of these god-awful ruts. Many members of my guild are now actively running Karazhan, I'm still trying to get keyed, the help isn't there blah... blah....blah....
You know how it goes.
What do I do? Well besides stepping away for the computer which definitely works, I jumped ship and headed over to the enemy! Yep. I rolled an undead mage! I don't know about everyone else but I get tired of running through the same ole' Northshire Abby, Bloodmyst Isle or Dun Morogh starting areas. Running a level 1 through Brill was an invigorating experience!!
Haven't had that much fun in a LONG time! I'm actually liking my undead mage!
spicytuna Jul 2nd 2007 10:17AM
Here's a crazy idea! If you're not a professional wow blogger, just try quitting. If it's lost it's magic, it's lost it's magic for a reason.
Forcing yourself to try to find the 'magic' of a game is silly.
James Jul 2nd 2007 10:27AM
I am sorta at a stopping point with WoW right now. My account got hacked, I lost a ton of loots I had been saving, and my toons gear got vendored I guess. The thing that hurt the most was all the Shadowcloth I had saved up to make my Frozen Shadoweave robe, and all the bolts of imbued netherweave to get to 375 tailoring. But anyways, I am looking for a WoW replacement. I lost too much to try and replace.
Andrew Herron Jul 2nd 2007 10:59AM
A break is the only thing that does it for me.
Unfortunately, I decided not to raid in TBC and after burning out to get my epic mount I'm over a month into this break without any hint of the normal "time to return to WoW" signs.
I think I might've kicked it for good.
Joe Kelly Jul 2nd 2007 11:17AM
I played from launch for a couple months, got bored, left. Came back again a year later to help out a friend who wanted to try the game. He went hardcore raider so I got bored again and quit. Over a year later, I'm now playing again because my GF plays. It's all about having good people to play with for me. If those go away, so do I.
cynthias Jul 2nd 2007 11:52AM
I left my dead-end guild.
Pingmeister Jul 2nd 2007 11:27AM
I have lots of alts each with different game goals. SO far this has worked well for me so that I can switch focus and actually be excited when I return to an older character.