WoW Mom! An interview with the newest newbie on the block
by Amanda Dean 
Mar 3rd 2008 at 9:00AM
I got a call from my mom on Friday night that she was having an emergency and needed me to call. It turns out the emergency was that she bought World of Warcraft and needed some instruction on how to play. Since I was at work, I told her to get started by reading up a bit on the WoW Rookie until I could spend a little more time with her. I was excited and somewhat terrified. I really hope she likes it and doesn't get too frustrated the first week.
My mom isn't what you would call a gamer. I'm not going to tell you how old she is, but she could tell you where she was when Kennedy was assassinated. She's a master Euchre player and a wiz at Scrabble. Her video gaming experience is limited to Bejeweled and online versions of card games. She used to love me watch play Tetris, but would respond like the controller was made of lava when I tried to hand it to her. I invited her to join Dungeons and Dragons sessions, but she always declined.
I moved 2,000 miles from my native
I've often suggested that my mom give WoW a try. In the following interview I found out why she finally decided to play the game. I also wanted to find out more her perspective as a brand new video game player.
What made you decide to join the 10 million other WoW players?
My reasons for joining the wow community are many and varied. I am a life long sci-fi and fantasy fan and playing in a world where some of those things come in to play has a lot of appeal. Also being relatively newly divorced, I find myself with time to do things just because I enjoy them. Also my roommate has been an RPG player for a long time, it looked like fun. I chose WOW specifically because my daughter speaks that language and I wanted to be able to understand and relate to what she was talking about. The final push came from listening to a WOW Insider podcast. These people were having too much fun to resist.
What was your expectation of the game?
My expectation of the game is an escape from the day-to-day realities of life. It does that remarkably well, drawing me into a whole other world that has very little to do with my real life and responsibilities.
What races and classes did you consider?
My first thought was Paladin or Druid because in most of my many books they are the most powerful and noble people. I also gave some thought to Mage for the same reasons.
What did you pick and why?
I finally settled on an Undead Warlock mostly because of the reading I did on WOW insider Rookie posts and some encouragement from my daughter. After I met the Imp it was all over. I love that little guy!
Did WoW meet your expectations?
So far it has been a lot of fun but also exhausting. In my personal world that's a good thing.
What's been the hardest part of playing wow?
The hardest part of WOW for me is controlling movements with the mouse and watching all around at the same time. I have a neuromuscular disorder so my fine motor control is not what it should be. Hopefully all of that will come with time and practice.
What's been the best?
The best part are the hours I get to spend online with my daughter, totally forgetting about the outside world and wandering around killing things. There is also a great sense of accomplishment in finishing a task and receiving the rewards.
At this point, what are your goals in the game?
My goals in the game are to continually improve and someday be able to hold my own anywhere against anyone.
Do you feel like the printed materials are adequate for getting started in the game?
Absolutely, I read most of the books that came with the game learning much about the lay of the land and a little about what I have to do to be successful. There is so much information out there. I think they do a good job. Especially telling me that everybody started somewhere and probably made at least some of the same mistakes.
To benefit all rookies all over, we write a "WoW Rookie" column, what are some things that you would like to know more about?
Everything I have read is encouraging and always reminding me to have fun with it. Rookies like me need to know that its okay and it will come. I think WOW Insider does a wonderful job of that.
It has been fun and frustrating. You may notice a dearth of posts from me over the last couple of days. That's because I've been taking some time to show her around. The hardest part so far has been teaching her how to move. I'm amazed at what I've taken for granted in the game. Apparently I had just as much trouble when I was new. I had her roll with me on my PvP server so that once she gets into the contested areas I can guard her with one of my 70s.
In seven hours, we almost made it to level eight. It's hard sometimes to remember that it's a game, not a race. I'm used to tearing through the levels and know where all the quests are. I have to give her some time and space to learn on her own and make a few mistakes. I want to help her and teach her, but not too much. She'll come out all the stronger for it in the end.
There is so much to tell her about the game, that sometimes I run out of words and I know she's overwhelmed at some points. For the life of me I don't seem to be able to explain an aggro radius. She also has some trouble turning to face a monster that's attacking her. I sincerely hope and believe that playing video games will help to reverse some of the fine-motor skill damage that has been done by her Multiple Schlerosis. One of these days I know I'll be staring up at her at the end of a duel.
Mom will be reading this. So, dear readers, do you have any advice for Azeroth's newest n00b?
Filed under: How-tos, Virtual selves, Leveling, Classes, Interviews
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
LostOne Mar 3rd 2008 9:12AM
I think it's awesome your mom joined the game. One of my college buddies raids with his mom, I think she has more 70s than either of us at this point (benefits of her being retired and getting 40 more hours of playtime a week than we get ;))
Sometimes I think I should get my mother into the game, but then her cats would starve to death (she has an addictive personality), and if she knew how much time I spent in the game she'd probably nag me to death.
llart Mar 3rd 2008 9:13AM
Welcome to the addiction :)
From one mom to another lol
Trakand Mar 3rd 2008 9:20AM
Wow, I wish my mom would play WoW. Having said that, I think that getting family members involved in WoW is a great idea. I can see it being a problem in a hardcore raiding guild, but to just have fun and spend time with family you may or may not see on a regular basis is great. I've tried on multiple occassions to get both my mom and my sister to play video games with me, neither are very interested (though I did recently get them into Guitar Hero).
As for advice, I'm a relative noob to World of Warcraft too, having got the game for christmas, and all I can say is be patient. I came from playing other MMOs where I was end game and well geared, and then coming in fresh to a game where the majority of the player population has been endgame for over a year or possibly multiple years is tough. I have almost 250 hours on my first character and I'm level 53. It'll just take you a long time to get to endgame. But don't forget to read the quests as you get them, Blizzard did an amazing job of including lots of lore and comedy into the quests, and thats one of the main reasons I've enjoyed leveling in a new MMO that I am sadly very behind in.
Arnold Mar 3rd 2008 9:23AM
Just have fun with it.
Enjoy!
torrents Mar 3rd 2008 8:05PM
my dad plays wow! but your mom SWEET
Carolyn Mar 3rd 2008 9:32AM
Welcome to the game! I am a mom too! :)
kevan Mar 3rd 2008 9:36AM
A brilliant man once said, "Guys! When things look bad you can't just give up on the World... of Warcraft... "
Welcome to WoW.
Enjoy and take your time!
Kieron Mar 3rd 2008 9:47AM
I've gotten my brother's into the game and i can understand what your talking about Amanda, about not wanting to overwhelming them and wanting to show them everything but then again not wanting to ruin their own experience.
And I think the best advice i can offer to you mother is that, to have fun (thats the reason why your there) and that at one stage of everyone's life in the game (and out) they're a noob - don't worry it'll come with time.
Welcome to the game ;)
Def Wolf Mar 3rd 2008 9:46AM
Welcome to many wonderful hours of playing WoW with your daughter!! My oldest daughter moved away 5 years ago and got me into playing WoW last June. I also was not a gamer but have found I love this game!! We play together most every night while being on the phone with each other at the same time. The two of us are able to share many adventures and laughs this way.
Cailleach Mar 3rd 2008 10:20AM
Def Wolf, I suggest you get one of the free VoIP clients like Teamspeak, or even use the ingame chat. It'll save TONS on your phone bill!
OK, I just realized, it may not be a long distance phone call from you to her. If so, my apologies.
Cynra Mar 3rd 2008 10:29AM
Or Skype! Before my guild invested in a Vent server, we used Skype for free group conferences in five-mans. It works just like a phone, but it's mostly free and works really well. While I'm played WoW while on the phone before, the hassle of juggling a cell/phone, pressing keys, and moving my mouse just isn't conducive to playing the game; get a headset and see how much easier - and less costly - it becomes!
Aticus Mar 3rd 2008 11:03AM
Well, if they play together at night, maybe they just have free nights and weekend plans on their cell phone. That's how my girlfriend and I community through WoW. Plus, if they have verizon, it'll be free to the both of them. I'm sure other carriers also use the same in-calling plan.
-Aticus, http://www.paladintales.blogspot.com
Jopernikus Mar 3rd 2008 9:50AM
About the word Noob. In my understandning noobs are not the same as newbies or rookies. One major difference is that noobs they just want to know and have everything for free and all the help they can get. Newbies and rookies, like all of us have been, want to *learn* and *understand*. Noobs also try hard to look like they understand by using hard to understand acronyms and other jibberish.
So in short: Don't call you mom (or anyone else that does'nt deserve it) a noob, but a rookie or newbie.
From a Dad ;-)
Calaf Mar 3rd 2008 12:01PM
Good Article.
I certainly could never convince anyone in my family to play WoW. But my family is a little too serious for their own good. More than anything i am boggled by the fact that you started her on a PVP server. I found my time on a pvp server to be mildly nightmareish. For someone with motor skills issues and a tendency to get overwhelmed.. i would have suggested a PvE server. But i understand that she wants to play with her daughter.
Amengeb Mar 3rd 2008 9:58AM
Welcome to your new drug.
I think its great your mother plays. I play with my father and have experienced alor of the things you mentioned here. He has since topped out and has managed to grind out season 2 Arena and T4 gear.
A reader above was 110% right as raiding with parents will be your biggest challenge. Most players do not understand the dynamic of family play and loyalty over the raid worship. Get ready by helping her in 5 mans early. Aggro is easier explained by showing her the things that can go wrong.
On another note, my girlfriend told me since I play the game, she wanted to play with me. So now I find myself in the same situation as you. It does not seem to be your mother only as she has some issues facing the targets, but has tremendous satisfaction completing tasks.
I used this as an excuse to start my third "serious" toon (Tauren drood with a cute name to match hers) and lever with her. The great thing about it is getting rares is as easy as farming with multiple 70's to help. That alone has helped out her survival and understandign of what she will be one day.
I can hear her on Vent, "OMG! you killed all those at once and didn't die!" (RFD just isn't as hard as it looks at 26.)
To that I get to encourage her that her drood will be just as big and strong one day.
So enjoy your time with your family. After all, real people care about the people behind the pixels, and what better place to start that with family.
Khanmora Mar 3rd 2008 9:57AM
You didn't have to say you were from Michigan, the euchre part gave it away ;)
I had my mom try out WoW a few months ago, she had the same problems with facing and movement but was doing better after a couple of weeks. She just did the trial account and decided she didn't have enough time to really justify the monthly fee (even though I offered to pay it for her :P).
I was also a complete newb when I started this, my husband got me playing it at first and the best thing he probably did for me was leave me alone :) My guild was really helpful and I'm one of those, if I can't look it up it's not worth knowing kind of people so, so he pointed me in the direction of online resources (at the time all we had was thottbot and alla was just starting, I shudder now at thinking of using those) and then let me have at it.
Be persistent, don't be afraid to ask someone how they are doing something (that's how I learned how to swim and autorun hehe), and the time will just fly by.
Khanmora Mar 3rd 2008 9:59AM
P.S. One of the most addictive parts of this game for me was the lore. Read the quests and the chatboxes with various NPCs, some of it is really interesting.
matt Mar 3rd 2008 10:08AM
I'm in a similar situation.
For the longest time, my girlfriend couldn't understand why I enjoyed the game so much. To my surprise, she decided to buy her own copy while we were out shopping this weekend... Two hours of downloading patches later, she's up and running with her brand new druid. She started enjoying the game instantly and now we have one more past time in common and I had a lot of fun showing her how to play.
Also, it gave me a good excuse to start a new alt so I could help her level. =P
anonymoose Mar 3rd 2008 10:16AM
Some suggestions I have--when I first started I couldn't navigate my way around inside buildings. Turn off the mouse controller so that your mom can be a strict keyboard turner--eventually she will get it so you can turn that back on. Also, minimize the number of quests that involve navigating indoors!
The other thing I thought I would throw out--there is nothing wrong with making multiple lowbies so she can check out different class functions and races. I had some young guys from my workplace get me started with wow (yes I'm a mom). I didn't enjoy most of the dps classes they started me with, including hunter and lock.
When I began playing a priest I finally discovered I like healing. Today I have multiple 70s, one of which is a priest.
The other thought I had--and who knows where your mom is at on this--I didn't really like playing horde when I was first starting out. I found I much preferred playing Alliance. No, that wasn't based on any intelligent understanding of the racial traits, it was just my preferrence at the time.
Today of course I do find myself appreciating those horde racials a whole lot more!
Cynra Mar 3rd 2008 10:34AM
WoW is a family/friend social event around my parents' house. Two of my three siblings play the game, so I occasionally log onto their server (my old server before I switched) to say hi and see what is going on. Many of my friends from college play, so it's an opportunity to interact with one another without the hassle of going from one side of the country to the other just to hang out. And, thankfully, my significant other plays just as much as I do, even going as far as to be in the same raid group together.
Getting the parental units into the fun will be impossible. My dear mother is close to being a technophobe, though we did manage to get her onto the 'net to become an avid eBayer. My father won't play games that don't involve a hockey stick.