Breakfast Topic: Has Warcraft inspired you?
by Alex Ziebart 
Aug 16th 2008 at 8:00AM
Warcraft has been a couple of things to me, besides a game. One, I've met a lot of really, really good friends while playing WoW. Some of them are friends I will probably still have quite a few years from now, after WoW is long gone. Two, it has been a bit of an inspiration. Not that big, worldview-changing kind of inspiration, but the kind that makes you stand up and go do things.The things I've done vary from simple to quite a bit larger. There's the mundane inspirations, like doing a little bit of creative writing (and the writing I do here) but I've written before, so it was more an outlet rather than something completely new. It definitely has inspired quite a bit of writing though, as well as RP as part of that. I've never ever been into comics before, though, and never really had a drive to try them, but I do read the Warcraft comics now, and will probably read the Ashbringer one as well. I still can't say I read a ton of comics, I probably never will, but at least I'm open to giving good ones a whirl nowadays. Maybe you all have some recommendations for me, eh?
Then, going back to the 'meeting friends' bit, I've met a fair amount of raid and guild mates in person now, and will definitely be meeting more come BlizzCon in October. We've formed some pretty strong bonds, and I really wish I could hang out with those people more in person. Elizabeth W. has echoed this one with me, we've both traveled pretty far to meet some great people.
WoW Insider has shown off quite a bit that players have been inspired to do, from crafts to art to uh, military training. Has WoW inspired anything in you guys? Just trying something new, or maybe something a little more substantial?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aegis Aug 16th 2008 8:22AM
I used to do quite some graphic design in my free time, I was really progressing, but it kinda stopped when I started WoW. So for me it has more stopped my creativity then it inspired me.
Jamal Aug 16th 2008 8:32AM
It has inspired me with my music, since i am a composer. It has given me many ideas for movies as well, which i like to do for fun.
Rihlsul Aug 16th 2008 9:15AM
I've learned a ton about leadership being a GL for 2 years (enough so that being a peon at work is chafing these days). I've also learned a lot about web technologies (for our site) that I might not have bothered otherwise.
peter Aug 17th 2008 5:42PM
Echo that. You learn a lot about making a group/group effort last (which is what a functioning guild is) when you are an officer, and especially as a guild leader. If nothing else because you are certain to run into wackos who end up causing trouble.
Zoombag Aug 16th 2008 9:21AM
For me (and I suspect many others), WoW has been a great escape from the drudgery of normal work/life. When nothing is going well at work, I can come home, bang out a few quests, and go to bed feeling that at least something was accomplished, even if they are purely imaginary deeds.
I would be curious as to how other people treat their Toons. My Main acts like I do in real life, especially with regard to gold (I'm a miser). Others in my Guild with less gold, also don't save in the real world either.
Raze Aug 16th 2008 9:30AM
The trolls and their lore have inspired me to do more research on African culture, hoodoo, and voodoo. That's about it.
Tamrisa Aug 16th 2008 10:54AM
I have met many wonderful people, but most important i met my husband 4 years ago through WoW.
Hoggersbud Aug 16th 2008 11:15AM
Wait, WOW was supposed to inspire me? So far it's just stolen whatever vestige of a life I had before it came out.
But that's ok, my life sucked anyhow.
Darque Aug 16th 2008 12:00PM
I've added WoW characters to my art repertoire since beginning to play.
Taytayflan Aug 16th 2008 12:40PM
I'm starting to write a story, involving a revolution, now that I have a medium I can film it with.
Merge Aug 16th 2008 12:58PM
I can't say I've honestly been inspired by the game. I Enjoy the game, Made some good friends.
OOH I know it inspired me to give a crap about blogs, because of the tasty info about new versions of the game.
*taps the ol veins on the wrist* oh gods, yaaaaah tell me about the Hunter camouflage ability again...it..it keeps me goin....it makes the darkness not hurt so much *twitches and collapses.*
*the coroners report would later tell of his passing due to a needle full of Way too good of wow insider news*
Cyanea Aug 16th 2008 1:00PM
It's inspired me to write. I've built up a story around my three "mains".
Barnister Aug 16th 2008 3:02PM
Nope, didn't inspire anything in me. For me its just a game nothing more. I don't dwell too deep in games. I play 'em to relax not to write thesis about it or theorycraft the heck out of it (like elitistjerk).
To each his/her own!
Jim Aug 16th 2008 3:35PM
When I started playing I could dunk, I was working on a stained glass portfolio, and was really getting into painting.
Now I have 4 70s, don't play basketball and my art supplies are in the garage, though my kids get them out sometimes. So, no.
jaenicoll Aug 16th 2008 9:42PM
lol I use to be a Dive Master, wind surfer and traveller. Now I play WoW. This is my story.
Mullinator Aug 16th 2008 10:38PM
I have been slowly creating a fantasy world filled with stories for the last few years. I use Tolkein as a model and guide for how to do this but I use Warcraft and a few other RPG games to experiment and see for myself what kind of stories work and what kind of atmosphere I like to create.
I don't use the stories from these games. I emulate the feel and atmosphere I feel best suits any given story in my own fantasy world.
So yes Warcraft has inspired me. Numerous times in fact.
Taco Aug 17th 2008 7:36PM
Inspiration?
It's more of the case that people use wow as an escape from real life. It's sad but from my experience, the more hard core the player the more un-accomplished they are in real life.
It's really sad but I'm one of those people.