Breakfast Topic: Different states of rest
by Lesley Smith 
Jul 9th 2009 at 8:00AM
While I was reading Adam's piece on the patches of yesteryear, I discovered something I didn't know. You need to understand that I missed the beta phase and didn't even know WoW existed, so I never really looked into how the game has changed for the better. So, I was fascinated to learn that during the beta it wasn't just normal or rested XP but fatigued and exhausted as well. While no longer in the game, I think it's a really interesting idea. Indeed it's something which would make WoW a lot more interesting and also make sure people didn't play for 12 hours straight. Perhaps when you first log on, you'd be rested and fresh from your nap in an inn. After a couple of scuffles you'd be normal (as in the game now) but as you did battle with critters and mobs this would change. Perhaps if you did too many battles you'd become fatigued as your armor degraded and then, if you died too much, exhausted and forced to nip to town for a stiff drink and repairs.
While normal and rested XP have always been the boon and bane of the leveling toon, do you think a system like this would work? Would it make WoW a little more challenging, even for folks at the level cap (sans experience gain of course)? Did you play WoW when Patch 0.6 was released, what did you think of the differing levels of XP? Do you think something like this should be returned to the game?
Filed under: Patches, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
x0bcm0x Jul 9th 2009 8:07AM
absolutely not. sounds rubbish.
Gerhute Jul 9th 2009 8:06AM
No. Besides, it wouldn't keep people from playing 12 hours a day, they'd just switch to an alt.
Jesse Jul 9th 2009 8:28AM
exactly this. this would simply cause an altsplosion amongst those who wish to play for 12 hours straight.
Jon Do Jul 9th 2009 8:29AM
My main is level 80.
What do I care about rest?
Jon Do Jul 9th 2009 8:53AM
And a point of information on the article:
"While no longer in the game..."
This never even made it to live.
In .07 it was nerfed way back, and in 0.8 the 'rested' we now use was put in place.
Blizzard's reasoning at the time:
"The changes to the Rest State have been made with the understanding that most players will be in the Normal experience tier most of the time. The Rested tier is primarily intended for players that take a day or more off from playing or are very casual with their play schedules. This has enabled us to greatly reduce the experience necessary for all players to level regardless of which rest state tier they play under."
This was in keeping with a WoW design trend that proved very popular - don't punish the player.
Therefore: No XP penalties of any kind, and no XP loss for any reason.
Steven Jul 9th 2009 12:43PM
This one is easy. If a player played for 12 hours and didn't get as much exp, he would stop playing or switch to an alt. Why would Blizz want something like that? "You play our game too much, no more exp for you!"
Arashikou Jul 9th 2009 1:47PM
I thought that this was actually the intent. Players who want to play 12 hours a day would start alts and be leveling more toons at once, playing them sequentially when the current one burns out. Players who only want to play a little would be only leveling one toon, playing him his allotted time each day and then doing something else. But the difference is that that one casual toon would reach endgame at roughly the same time as the hardcore player's five; there would just be only one of him.
...In theory. Obviously, if the time to regenerate rested is less than 24 hours - Time Spent Exhausting Oneself, then the hardcore is going to probably RETURN to a character once they're rested again while the casual player is still off dreaming of tomorrow's adventure. So I doubt this worked this way in practice.
Friday_Knight Jul 9th 2009 3:56PM
Yeah let's penalize our players for liking the game too much.
That sounds like a brilliant idea.
It was a stupid idea and I'm glad it never made it past beta.
Axolotl Jul 9th 2009 8:08AM
This would be a bad thing for players who like to solo most of the time, so I think it wouldn't work.
If they did implement something like this, then full rested should be gotten faster than the 10 days it takes now
Arashikou Jul 9th 2009 1:41PM
You're in luck! According to the patch 0.6 notes, starting from completely exhausted, it would take only 8 hours of being logged out in an inn to go all the way up to fully rested.
Mac Jul 9th 2009 8:10AM
It would work if you didn't have to level your toon very high, but since WoW has moved on to a 80 level cap and later beyond it would take forever to level a toon that high while fighting the different forms of rested. So WoW back then yeah not a bad idea but todays WoW it is just obsolete.
Neyssa Jul 9th 2009 8:14AM
Yes, especially for raids. It really is YOU being tired, not your character, and it happens naturally. But in a high-adrenaline situation you just dont pay attention to your body's needs, like step away from computer, do not stare at the monitor, call back your mom after 2 hours. But it is very hard to do in raid/party, so I would force people to sit down for 10 minutes.
It would be like the campfire, the buff would last for 2 hours, it should be strong so you feel forced to take it, but it requires you to sit around that fire for 10 min. I can imagine heroes in a dungeon, sitting down after a bosskill / attempts, just eating, storytelling, and filling up.
Atsuko Jul 9th 2009 8:24AM
"I can imagine heroes in a dungeon, sitting down after a bosskill / attempts, just eating, storytelling, and filling up. "
I like that idea. I'd imagine it would be pretty cool to have to relax a little around a campfire with your 10 man group. I'm not sure how many people raid on RP servers, but this kinda brings that image to mind. You've just slain X boss for whatever reason, and you and your fellow adventurers sit around a fire for a quick drink and some roasted meat.
Pexxle -=Silver Hand (RP)=- Jul 9th 2009 10:47AM
Agreed
Atsuko makes a great description as well, but Unfortunately, Raiding is more of a job than it is RPish. Just the sheer amount of time it takes for "clearing/completing" one is enough.
I do wish at times, Inns, Taverns etc. would have more people filling it up, socializing rather than the ocassional AFK persons on an RP server.
Just Me Jul 9th 2009 4:18PM
I don't know what kind of iron-plated bladders your raid guild has, but we already have these after the last boss of the section breaks. It called "I need caffeine and to pee before I explode".
Amapele Jul 9th 2009 8:12AM
I'm not sure something like this would prevent people from playing 12 hours a day, as one person said people would probably just go to an alt or they could do something like go into bgs where rest has no positive or negative effect or sit in a city and work on a profession or something. The game has too many facets to it to change just one thing and expect people to be able to put a cap on their game play. It's what makes it so addicting to begin with!
Cyanea Jul 9th 2009 8:12AM
No.
1:It's a game.
2:I pay for it.
I want to be able to play it on my schedule. While I've never played for eight hours straight in one sitting before, I feel that if I should ever want to...I should have the option without negative consequences. Like I said.
Cyanea Jul 9th 2009 8:13AM
"Like I said, I pay for it."
Totally need to stop commenting on things before coffee. Ugh.
Conrad Jul 9th 2009 8:18AM
/agree
While I think the idea is interesting and more realistic, I also think it would make the game a lot less fun, and when it comes down to real vs. fun, I'm going to side with fun every time.
RogueJedi86 Jul 9th 2009 3:25PM
"1. It's a game.
2. I pay for it."
That doesn't mean you get whatever you want. People have tried playing the "I pay a monthly fee" card to force Blizzard to do things, it rarely(if ever) works. I get your reasoning, but the reason you gave is the childish excuse that people always throw out. I pay a monthly fee, where's my flying mounts in pre-BC/LK Azeroth?!