Breakfast Topic: A change of pace
by Zach Yonzon 
Apr 1st 2009 at 8:00AM
As soon as she was up and about again (thankfully), of course, she was right back on top of her game, commandeering the Auction House, performing her usual daily quests, and raiding left and right. In some ways, getting back into Azeroth was theraputic for her (the Inheritance Cycle has been put back on hold). On the other hand, just a few days out of the game and I found it hard to get back into my groove. I've only played one Battleground since we got back from the hospital, one game of Wintergrasp, and not a single Arena match.
Actually, I'd found myself spending more of my online time tending to a virtual pet and lately, a virtual restaurant. I guess being so frazzled over the love of my life made me want to relax a little bit, and I don't want to get into the adrenaline-raising tedium of smashing heads just yet. Maybe later.
How about you guys? How do you find getting back into the game after a short (or long) break? Do you get right back into the action (like my wife) or do you dilly-dally (like me)? When our lives force us to take a short break or change of pace, how do you get your groove back?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Riz Apr 1st 2009 8:06AM
WoW is just a game, treat it as such. It's not a job & shouldn't feel like one.
If styff in WoW stresses you out, makes you mad, etc ... step away from the computer.
Void Apr 1st 2009 8:18AM
Thats not that easy of a thing to do though for most people
Radiophonic Apr 1st 2009 9:14AM
@Riz
Sadly, to many it's an addiction (as demonstrated in this post). Taking "time off" for some will literally cause people to show signs of stress and withdrawal. Sad facts.
What got me to curb the intake of WoW was the number of poor changes that have been made to the game as well as my class; the drug got bad and I lessened my intake. So, my break was induced by the pusher. Thanks (or no thanks) Blizzard.
@Zach
Getting back into the game? Thinking back, getting back into the game after not playing for a few days (or weeks) was always fairly easy, I mean c'mon, WoW isn't rocket science. Dealing with other players, now that's a little more on-par with rocket science. Nonetheless, I'm going off-topic.
When one says they "need a break" from something, there's a good indication that there's a negative aspect about what they're doing. Warcraft, and all gaming, is a hobby and should be treated as so. Of course, I'm sure you were prepared to get some flack for the "taking a break" phrase. ;) Perhaps an article on game addiction is on par? lol
Lambform Apr 1st 2009 11:45AM
I've been without WOW for a couple months, and have found that it hasn't affected me that much at all. I was never a hardcore player but hit my fair share of the virtual celestial body many of us call home. At first i found it really slowed down my days without wow.
Having to find other means of entertainment was a bit daunting at first. But keeping up to date with the wow news ( 3.1 changes etc.) and chatting with mates about it made me realize all the more that if wow ceases to be a source of entertainment, by all means, try another game, try no games. I found that this has made me enjoy wow all the more now that i have come back to it :D
Ps. Lambform is real i asked jeeves.
Riz Apr 1st 2009 8:07AM
stuff*
Damn it, barely 8am and I've already made a typo
Karilyn Apr 1st 2009 8:10AM
Sometimes I like taking a break for a change of pace, something different.
Which usually winds up meaning Flash arcade-like games or traditional console or handheld videogames.
Part of it makes me appreciate WoW more. Just outta the sheer quantity of things to do in WoW.
I don't really find it hard to get back into the groove of WoW though. If anything, I find WoW sucks me back in.
Clint Apr 1st 2009 8:10AM
I goof around after coming back from breaks, no matter the length most of the time. I don't like all the frantic bustling around so I'll log in and check my mail, check my bank out and see if I have stuff in it that I shouldn't have. Hit up the repair guy and check on my supplies and then I'll start getting back into things.
Delshay Dethecus US Apr 1st 2009 8:20AM
I find it easy to get back into things. Like the above poster, WoW is a game. It's my Hobby and the way I relax after work, sometimes it does feel like a job, and that's when I take a few days, or weeks off. Although taking more then that really hurts your gear (unless fully geared) and it starts to feel like a job again when you have to play catch up.
But yes WoW is a GAME, it's fun but please take breaks now and again. Summer is almost here, I will have fishing, camping, bonfires and my motorcycle to take up some of the time. Thats what I love about WoW, it's always right there waiting for you to return.
Briggs Apr 1st 2009 8:24AM
I took a forced month off from WoW when my subscription ran out and I was short on cash. When I came back, I dived right back in where I'd left off. My guild was great about it. The day I came back I was welcomed into an Eye of Eternity Heroic run which we easily beat. Since, I've filled out my full Tier 7.5 set and picked up a lot of best in slot gear for my Hunter. (Mmm, Envoy, Black Ice...)
rzlq Apr 1st 2009 8:26AM
hell yeah. and i thought it was just me :).
every time i take a break from wow, i feel strangely reluctant to dive in again. it's nothing to do with reasoning or addiction or whatever, it's just that - the game suddenly seems stupid, the graphics ugly, the content daft, my presence in it pointless... then, somehow, a metaphorical creepy claw gets a grip on me, then two, three, four and on i go running BGs, instances, auction houses and grind spots like in the old days :)). weird.
Greenman Apr 1st 2009 8:28AM
I read three books on my RL vacation over the previous two weeks. After returning to WoW, I've logged in to raid nights, and otherwise decided that spending more time with my library was a better way to spend the other 5 nights of the week. Ulduar will be here soon enough, and then we'll see if it has anything to hold my attention again. Endless dailies and/or trying to pug my alts is not doing it anymore.
Undome Apr 1st 2009 8:38AM
Strange that this should come up. I work in theatre, and am just finishing up a short run (two weeks) of a show. The run hasn't been stressful, but the process of putting it together and teching it was. I quit WoW except for my two-night-a-week raids once we started putting it up, and raiding stopped altogether about a month ago, maybe longer...and now I find that I'm not sure if I can go back at all. It's been like a vacation from work, as you said. I logged in last night when my guild was raiding...but when I got DCed, I just shrugged and went to get something to eat, and then fooled around on the internet for a while, got some work done, did some thinking. Life feels a lot easier without the stress of having to be home in time for raid, of having to be ready and on time and spend the rest of my evenings getting ready to raid. Sure, I love the people, but...I have friends IRL, too. I think the forced break from WoW really reminded me of that - and I think I may not be going back for some time, yet.
rosencratz Apr 1st 2009 8:44AM
I log in once-twice a week for raiding essentially so it's pretty easy to get back into my groove to be honest.
David B Apr 1st 2009 8:45AM
Whoa. What mod do you use to get your screen to look like that?
Aigarius Apr 1st 2009 8:46AM
Get a laptop and WiFi. Something like Dell M1710 runs WoW brilliantly.
Salome Apr 1st 2009 8:46AM
The thing I find with WOW is the more you play it, the more you want to play it.
If I am forced to take a break for a few days (by that I mean if I amon holiday or having a busy time at work, not that I am physicallypulled away from the screen), I quite often come back and quitehappily don't log on at all for a few more days.
When at last I do log on, just to do a few little things, the nextday I am itching to get back into it all.
Its WOW fever.
http://parttimepriest.blogspot.com
George Apr 1st 2009 8:59AM
Since I'm in a raiding guild (25s), it sometimes gets pretty stressing so I wait a little and cool off, take my time just like you said and then get back on the game.. Would get right on the game if it wasn't so stressing at times = 25s...
Birdfall Apr 1st 2009 9:08AM
I trade between Sims and WoW (I enjoy the aspects in WoW that remind me of Sims, oddly enough), but after a nice long Sims break I always come back and throw myself into WoW again. I find that WoW allows me to complete goals while Sims is an inevitable continuous process. So while I love my breaks, I always come back to WoW from them with renewed vigor.
Radiophonic Apr 1st 2009 9:20AM
I play Sims as well. Sims are more intelligent than WoW players at times. Sadly, I can't "Ask To Leave" -> "Everyone" in Azeroth when other players get annoying. :P
Birdfall Apr 1st 2009 9:21AM
LOL
XD That would be nice.