WoW, Casually: Introducing a column for the playtime-challenged
by Robin Torres 
Nov 2nd 2007 at 2:57AM
Each week, Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player who has 2 hours or less to play at a time.
I've got a lot on my plate. We are currently undergoing the reunion of the two long lost brothers. My toddler just turned into a preschooler. I've got this writing gig (yay!) and yarn to manipulate and all that real life routine stuff to do. I really don't have too much time to get my WoW fix in. So I go out of my way to optimize my WoW minutes and I know there are a lot of you out there like me.
This is the first of a new weekly column for those casual players who can only play for an hour or two at a time. I'll be including the parts of the event schedule that are casual-friendly and giving tips on how to squeeze the most fun out of your limited gaming time.
I've got a lot on my plate. We are currently undergoing the reunion of the two long lost brothers. My toddler just turned into a preschooler. I've got this writing gig (yay!) and yarn to manipulate and all that real life routine stuff to do. I really don't have too much time to get my WoW fix in. So I go out of my way to optimize my WoW minutes and I know there are a lot of you out there like me.
This is the first of a new weekly column for those casual players who can only play for an hour or two at a time. I'll be including the parts of the event schedule that are casual-friendly and giving tips on how to squeeze the most fun out of your limited gaming time.
This week, the Call to Arms is for Warsong Gulch. That means that from November 2nd (or midnight November 1st), until Tuesday, November 5th, the honor and rep gains from Warsong Gulch are increased. It also usually means that there are lots of people playing so queue times are down if they exist at all.
Battlegrounds in general and WSG in particular are great for casual players. You don't have to spend time looking for a group and you can get in via any big city, so travel time is usually just a hearthstone away. Because Warsong Gulch is only 10 players to a team, the queues are usually shorter than other BGs. The games tend to be pretty short, though I have found myself in some lengthy games due to some people purposely hiding with the flag. Also, you can start playing Warsong Gulch from level 10 which is great for those of us with altitis.
Next week the Darkmoon Faire is in Terrokar Forest. It's up from Monday, November 5th till the following Monday. If you've got the bank space, the Darkmoon Faire is a great place to turn in crafted bits and body parts you've been collecting over the month in return for rep and gear. If you are a leatherworker, blacksmith or engineer, your crafted goods can be turned in for tickets which can be redeemed for some very nice prizes. Or you could collect the drops off of mobs and turn those in for tickets as well. The drops that can be turned in are:
- Small Furry Paws
- Torn Bear Pelts
- Soft Bushy Tails
- Vibrant Plumes
- Evil Bat Eyes
- Glowing Scorpid Blood
In future weeks, along with casual-friendly events, I will be giving tips for the Fishing Tournament, maximizing your rest, managing your playtime, etc. I'll also be highlighting quests and activities that are good for gearing out your character on a time budget.
Until next week, may your WoW time be fun time.
Robin Torres plays World of Warcraft for fun and hopes you do, too.
Filed under: Events, PvP, Guides, WoW, Casually
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
wow4life Nov 2nd 2007 3:19AM
wewt, cant wait till i get my crusade trinket this monday
Kergguz Nov 2nd 2007 5:23AM
Aha- a column directed straight at guys like me. Thanks!
Andrew Nov 2nd 2007 6:28AM
This is fantastic - just what I've been waiting for. A column to help me maximize what little time I have to spend on Warcraft. Perfect!
Tyrannus Nov 2nd 2007 5:47AM
Perfect - for someone in the middle of buying a house, and crazy at work, this column sounds just the ticket. Looking forward to seeing it grow.
plixer Nov 2nd 2007 7:19AM
:D
Ghen Nov 2nd 2007 8:13AM
Hopefully you get your definition of casual straight. You seem obsessed.
Vestras Nov 2nd 2007 8:15AM
What are the turn ins/ammounts for LW based players?
Metaphyzxx Nov 2nd 2007 8:23AM
I SOOO LOVE YOU Robin. Been trying to figure out the Darkmoon Faire schedule since it came out... Got a bank full of bushy tails and furry paws...
I think this will be a much appreciated column for me, as I have strapped time as it is, and with the wee-one on the way... well...
Vestras Nov 2nd 2007 8:32AM
What are the turn ins/ammounts for LW based players?
Khanmora Nov 2nd 2007 9:16AM
You can find the gathering quests for all professions listed here:
http://www.goblinworkshop.com/darkmoon-faire.html
Baila Nov 26th 2007 7:27PM
wOOt! Great idea, Just what I need. Thanks!
ThorinII Nov 2nd 2007 11:18AM
EXCELLENT! (in best Monty Burns voice) Looking forward to hearing more from you Robin!
amasen Nov 2nd 2007 11:24AM
Too bad the darkmoon faire is still for level 60 players (at least all the gathering quests). The only level 70 content is a couple card decks...
As for WSG weekend, I pray you do get short games. I find as the weekend progresses the alliance get tired of losing so to be mean they turtle up the flag. What was normally a 15minute game now becomes a 1 hour game.
If you find yourself stuck in one of these games, ask a friend to invite you to a party and have him queue you guys for a new battleground (hrrm... does this still work, haven't tried this in a long while).
Next week, talk about daily's. In about 7 weeks of just doing daily's for about 30-45minutes a day I was able to get my epic mount and then my netherdrake (netherwing faction from neutral to honored is a horrible grind though)
Plethora Nov 2nd 2007 11:40AM
Fantastic! Thx bunches Robin. I'm still suffering WoW withdrawal since I got a new job and school started and I can now only play for any extended amount of time on the weekends. Hopefully this column will ease my transition to a full-fledged casual player =D
Green Armadillo Nov 2nd 2007 11:57AM
WSG is just about the worst BG out there for players with limited time commitment. You get zero bonus honor unless your PuG captures the flag, and the battleground has no time condition that guarantees it will end in a timely fashion. I'd recommend any other battleground over WSG, especially AV (until 2.3 hits anyway) since you can expect more bonus honor for losing AV than total honor for winning any other BG.
Smurk Nov 2nd 2007 1:30PM
WSG marks tend to be the hardest to get, though. At least in the 60+ bracket, I find it takes forever to even get into a game. This weekend will be different and I plan to take advantage.
Leyl Tyranas Nov 2nd 2007 2:01PM
Robin, I'm sorry to hear that you have Altitis. That's a very serious affliction.
I have a similar case myself; I'm an altoholic. I have a severe twinking problem.
Looking forward to seeing more on this topic - I'm more of the 'hardcore casual' type, which means most of my non-alt time is spent farming mats for raids 2 days a week (thank god for 2.3, or my paladin would need a new set of gear just to farm). :)
Kinetik Nov 2nd 2007 3:52PM
Awesome topic for a regular column - one or two hours is all I can manage, most days. Battlegrounds seems like a good way to control play time, also allowing my numerous alts time to accumulate rested XP for concentrated leveling sessions. (Jame's guide ftw!)
Paul Nov 2nd 2007 6:29PM
can anyone say whether playing in BGs has become less frustrating for non-twinks since the matching system patch?
Reid Nov 3rd 2007 12:07AM
I look forward to seeing more of this. I'm an adult player with obligations that come before gaming. We casual gamers who want to experience high end content should not be penalized as far as guild relations and raiding goes simply because we don't play enough. We just need to find others like us, when we have time, and try to work something out. Potentially we should lobby an appeal to Blizzard about resets. I don't believe it is possible to make it through a raid in one week, if you only play one day of that week. Just my prerogative, for what it's worth.