WoW is a game -- you're supposed to enjoy it
by David Bowers 
Dec 31st 2007 at 3:33PM
It's true that losing isn't fun, and whatever the reasons our side seems to be losing all the time seem quite outside of our control. That's hard no matter which faction you're in. But there is a thing we've all heard about growing up called "good sportsmanship." When we play competitive games with each other, the idea is that we're supposed to enjoy the actual playing of the game more than the winning or the losing. Indeed, as with anything in life, if you get too attached to the outcome of a particular endeavor, you are less likely to do well than one who plays for the love of the game itself.
I've been thinking about this lately because I myself don't want to log on to WoW only to feel like the game is like banging my head against the wall. It has helped a great deal to realize that whatever rewards we get are more like milestones along the path, not really an end in themselves. After all, if I play, it should be because I truly enjoy playing, not because I absolutely must posses some item that will be out of date in a few months no matter what I do. This realization has enabled me to pace myself, so that I don't allow long losing streaks to carry on for hours and ruin a good part of my day. If I'm losing a lot, I can stop and do other things, then come back to it another time with an entirely fresh set of allies and opponents -- and more importantly, a fresh desire to do my best and improve my skills. WoW is supposed to be fun; but if it isn't fun for you anymore -- whatever the reason -- then it's time to either change your approach or do something else.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tyler Jul 14th 2008 7:54AM
Don't whine about lack of healing. Healing in a battleground sucks. You get no KB's, no gratitude, you are targeted first and it is less fun.
So either stop whining, raise a healer, respec to healer or stop killing enemy healers and spread the word.
Scylloga Dec 31st 2007 3:41PM
On the subject of certain factions not winning a bg, right now in my Battlegroup the Horde cant pull together enough to win. I have a lvl 65 druid that with a healer can run the flag in wsg like nothing, but lately healer or even healing classes that will heal are non existant. It makes it so frustrating when you just really wanna win a bg to complete the daily quest and you lose 20 out of 21.
I will tell people complaining about not winning and how much we suck to just afk and let us enjoy the game how we want, even if it is losing every game.
RogueJedi86 Dec 31st 2007 4:32PM
Just a suggestion, but as a Druid, you ARE a healing class(or at least a class with healing capability). But you're DPSing, so you're part of the reason healing classes are non-existent. Switch to healing like nativebrown did, and you may see a few more wins. That's the miracle of Druid: when there's no one else healing, you can shift out to caster form and throw a few heals, then shift back to Kitty.
anonymoose Dec 31st 2007 5:00PM
Actually, I've watched incredibly well geared and skilled ferals turn the tide in BGs. While I appreciate the contributions of boomkins, honestly you are so hated by both factions (no clue why) that it's a waste of my mana to try to keep a boomkin alive.
Spacehyena Dec 31st 2007 5:26PM
Moose.. we boomkin are a big, easy target. ;) That, and the fact that balance druids can heal AND damage in fairly quick succession makes us a sizeable threat. Then again, bad balance druids that moonfire spam might be the greater source of moonkin hate. I bloody despise MF spammers, and my hunter always attempts to take them out ASAP.
My druid in BG's tries to stick to Tauren guise and heal as much as he can, only going boomkin to tackle Alliance one on one.
Theserene Dec 31st 2007 3:49PM
The last few AV runs I have done have had a wonderful holiday feel about them because...frankly we *knew* Horde were on a losing streak today so we were all content to just have a laugh.
Vort Dec 31st 2007 4:06PM
Sometimes there are cercumstanses which you or and entire BG team can over come.
For example, in my battle group AB matches are usually about 50/50 win loss. But during one two week period the Alliacnce was getting crushed 4 and 5 nodes to 1 or none. It wasn't becasue we were all L2P noobs, or gear or lack of communication. (Ok sometimes it was.)
What it was, for the matches I played over those two weeks, was there were no healers joining. Don't konw why, just wern't.
I don't care how good you are if you don't have any healers you'll be hard pressed to win anything.
Vort Dec 31st 2007 4:07PM
Sometimes there are cercumstanses which you or and entire BG team can not over come.
Edit ... added NOT to above sentence.
nativebrown Dec 31st 2007 4:16PM
i've recently respecced to resto and am having a blast in the BG's.
not only can i occupy about 3 alliance for a decent amount of time while they try to kill be but i can either get with the offense and prop them up by liberally spreading HoT's or let that tank destroy everything by keeping him topped off.
if i don't get focused on the O can just roll over everything. i'm not implying i'm a great healer, but it does make an incredible difference.
i'd strongly encourage druids to spend a little less time running around in cat form and a little more time healing in the BG's. your HoT's are incredible because even if you get stunned, or LoS gets broken, they keep on tickin'.
Heals and smart D win BG's in my opinion.
Leggomyaggro Dec 31st 2007 4:42PM
No doubt about that.. Good healing can turn the tide of a lot of skirmishes in the bg's.. win enough of those and you've won the match.
anonymoose Dec 31st 2007 5:00PM
I have 3 70s--a healing priest, a healing shaman, and a feral druid. When I pvp on these characters I run all of them as healers, yes even the feral.
If you want healers in your BGs make a point of defending them, always. One reason you may be seeing fewer healers in your pug BGs is because they've gotten tired of focus fire without support OR poorly played BGs and have found premades that offer the protection and cooperation needed for healers to offer their contributions in the BGs.
I can and do heal in PUG BGs, however the second I feel I am not working with a cooperative team OR a team that will not defend me, I AFK and wait for a premade.
Additionally, dispelling, cleansing and purging are huge contributions in your BGs--don't underestimate this.
rick gregory Dec 31st 2007 4:20PM
For me it's not the losing, it's the complete lack of trying to play well. For example, in AB people who just go run around and fight vs playing as a team. I've been in matches where we played well, came together as a team, communicated what was happening and went to help... and lost 2000-1900 or something like that. That was still fun.
It's the matches where no one talks, people don't call incoming, fight in the road and are clearly there just to kill players - where, in short, people DON'T play as a team - that drive me up the wall. Not because we lose, but because we don't play well.
Vitasoy Dec 31st 2007 4:35PM
Sounds like Blizz needs more Horde+Alliance-join-forces-but-not-be-able-to-communicate content
Eternalpayn Dec 31st 2007 4:40PM
Be careful what you wish for... We'll turn it into a gankfest.
blitzkrieg999 Dec 31st 2007 4:44PM
Sometimes I do need to remind myself that it is just a game. Often though, others remind me themselves. Last night was a great example. In a PUG WSG we were losing brilliantly, the raid leader was yelling at everyone non-stop for being useless. He even accused me of kill chasing while I was trying to get our flag back.
Instead of getting annoyed and adding more misery the game, I decided to (admittedly) be an asshole and spend the rest of the game mocking this guy. Had it been a close game, I'd have ignored him, but there wasn't a hope in hell of us even scoring. So instead I just enjoyed myself, as did most of my team, at the expense of a very angry individual.
Now that I think about it, perhaps HE needs to be reminded its just a game more than I do...
WeirdoKitty Dec 31st 2007 4:55PM
This last weekend I saw two people who said "let the other side 5-cap so this is over as soon as possible" in a perverse way to earn more marks. The logic was since we'll lose anyway, might as well get it over with as soon as possible.
I reported them for being AFK since they weren't helping, and put them on ignore. It's such a bad idea to ignore people in a battleground, but there was zero chance they would have something useful to say, like where the other side was attacking.
anonymoose Dec 31st 2007 5:09PM
Let's think about why we pvp--sure it's fun, and it's a source of improved gear to improve our performance in pvp. I propose we have 2 separate types of BGs, ones for people like you who don't care and are happy to spend your time there regardless of the circumstances. Then there should be BGs for people like me who are interested in pursuing some goals along with the pvp.
This isn't saying I am right and you are wrong--however, you deliberately reporting players afk who you know are at their keyboards is a flagrant abuse of the system. The fact that you do not disagree with what they are saying (and they are players like me, and I will tell you, THEY ARE CORRECT) does not justify your actions. If that is the kind of activity you are engaged in while you are "having fun" in your BGs then chances are I don't want to group with you if I can help it.
I have a blast in my BGs btw, and I don't AFK BGs--but I don't like wasting my time in bad situations. I also raid--it would be the equivalent of trying to clear Black Temple with people who want to show up in all greens and play around killing trash instead of tackling bosses.
anonymoose Dec 31st 2007 5:29PM
"They have their heart set on a particular PvP reward, and as soon as they have enough honor or marks, they will heartily abandon their fellow teammates to the sad task of losing to the Horde day in and day out."
I have to say in some regards I might agree with portions of your article but on others I don't. This game is designed by its very nature to be progressive; the only variables are exactly how much or how little you want to progress. The most obvious example of the progression is leveling--few of us stop at level 15 and say "I have arrived!" Even twinks have the goal of attaining a certain level and then begin decking their characters in the most amazing ways so they are at the pinnacle of capacity.
Gearing is also one of the modes of progression, and for those who engage in pve, raid content, attainment of heroics badges, rep rewards are another set of progression goals to shoot for. For those who pvp, betterment of skill (which incidentally is the same goal that pvers have) is part of why we pvp, but in order to better skill there comes a time when gearing must be paid attention to. In order to get better pvp gear to progress, one needs to pvp in order to attain the better gear.
In a nutshell that is a function and not an error of the game. So when someone like me comes along and decides I want to chase pvp gear piece xyz, you can imagine that I proceed as best I can to accomplish this goal. I manage to do this without talking trash in BGs at people who seem to lack skill and are completely opposed to following suggestions of those more experienced. I also greatly disliked being in PUG BGs with experienced pvpers who feel the need to insult and berate everyone and I take great delight in making fun of them until they shut up.
The fact of the matter is this--I am not obliged to suffer through BGs with people who will defy logic and do things that are not in the best interest of the BG team they are paired with, for better or for worse. If I suspect I am in for a rash of those (since it seems "better" players all tend to congregate during specific hours in different cross realm battle groups), I will wait for a better time of day or for premades.
The responses to your article seem to echo this bizarre notion that we all have endless time to waste to whatever end and no goals in mind. That's not true. Some of us are parents, employees, business owners, spouses, students, players living abroad who have to use internet cafes and only have limited time to play as a result and perhaps we dont' feel like wasting our time. That's perfectly fine.
This is completely different from whining in BGs or berating others. In a group of players with good attitude and willing to take some direction, I will stay even for a loss if it means folks newer at pvp can have a learning experience.
I can't tell you how many AVs of old I participated in (and I use that specific word because I do not afk cave chill in BGs) and watched experienced pullers berate new to AV hunters trying to pull the warmasters--when honestly if they had just said "OK I'm going to show you how to pull" it would have been so much better for the entire cross realm battle group.
Yes if you are berating people, time to get a life. If you are one of the not as goal oriented, mixing with the goal oriented, honestly you should be listening to us because we might teach you how to win, or at least get more honor out of your losses--if that's what you want.
But I don't have to stick around in the BGs after I get whatever I'm chasing, I don't owe you that. And for those that want to create an environment where your most experienced and best geared pvpers don't vanish--listen to our suggestions. If you get a BG flamer lashing out, do your level best to diffuse someone who yes, should probably unplug the computer and let the light of day be felt on their face again. Often just saying "Hey I'm newer, I'm open to suggestions, but the flaming makes it hard for me to pick up what you are trying to teach us," goes a long ways toward getting someone that over enthused about pvp to explain a strat you can use going forward.
Eternalpayn Dec 31st 2007 5:40PM
Speaking of BGs, I was just in a WSG match for 1 hour and it was still 0-0.
Golly, I hate Horde PvP. XD
Scott Dec 31st 2007 5:48PM
In response to the OP,
Battlegrounds aren't fun for the majority of PVE'rs and Arena'rs. The only fun I have in this game is in Arena, yet to compete in arena at the top end, you HAVE TOO grind full vindi's. Not even mentioning fresh 70's have to griend out full s1 + vindi + pvp trinket + battlemaster's.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater here. Just because people hate BG grinding for honor, doesnt mean we don't have fun in the game at all. It's a tedious, stupid, repetitive, boring grind that some of us have to endure to get to the fun parts of the game. Just like leveling to 70 is a stupid repetitive, boring grind for everyone I know.