Breakfast Topic: Putting on Your Game Face
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Jul 31st 2009 at 8:00AM
No matter what your playstyle or what you're doing in World of Warcraft, I'd say chances are you reach a point where you want to get down to business. It can be any number of things. Maybe you finally want to grind out Exalted with Warsong Gulch. Maybe your raid group is in dire need of a good clean boss kill. Maybe you just want to head to Silithus and grind out that Guardian of Cenarius title. Whatever the reason, you have a goal, you have a plan, and you are not going to stop until you get enough.
But one thing remains: You have to keep yourself focused on your goal. That's when you put on your game face, and that's when you have those little rituals that keep you pumped up and motivated.
For me, I generally start with the music. Under Pressure is a good place to start, then I move on to some properly awesome movie themes like Eye of the Tiger or You're the Best or even St. Elmo's Fire. Of course, if that isn't enough, it's time for the secret weapon. That's right, I pull out the Europe, and we get right into the Final Countdown (You know, typing this out, I find myself realizing that my music consists of an inordinately large amount of cheesy 80s rock. Maybe I should be worried about that. Nah, just kidding. It's awesome).
Once the music's on, that's when I really get down to business. And if the going really gets rough, I get out my rally hat: My Indiana Jones fedora. It never fails. Okay, sometimes it does fail, but I look cool while failing, which is what counts.
Anyhow, what about you? When you've set a goal and you're getting down to business in WoW, do you have any rituals or lucky items or anything else you use to help you get your game face on?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Alex Ziebart Jul 31st 2009 2:25AM
Danny, you are such a freaking nerd.
Daniel Whitcomb Jul 31st 2009 2:53AM
A freaking AWESOME nerd.
Blog five!
totemdeath Jul 31st 2009 8:13AM
While a bit off topic, everytime I do the King Dred fight in heroic Drak'theron, I must play 'Walk the Dinosaur' by Was not Was'
souvlaki Jul 31st 2009 8:57AM
And dirty... he mentioned twice "getting down to the business"
Robert M Jul 31st 2009 9:32AM
NERD POWER!
Loved all the references but you got my hope up for the Bob Knight Game face rant.
RetadinMan Jul 31st 2009 8:05AM
My goal? Reach 80 through the BG's on my main. How? BG Healing while listening to Notorious B.I.G, Del the Funkee Homosapien, and the Offspring.
Tes Jul 31st 2009 9:40AM
Having an 80 priest as my only 80, I salute your determination and ability to die repeatedly and gracefully.
... Or maybe you don't die as much in plate...
Oh so many clothie deaths!
John Jul 31st 2009 5:26PM
Not bad choices! For bg's I like hiphop, but lately I like "bullet bullet" by Uncle Murda, or some of the faster tracks by Ghostface on Supreme Clientele.
Or if I'm in a real mean mood, something like Anaal Nathrakh is good.
The Hammer Jul 31st 2009 8:10AM
Under Pressure is such an amazing song. Gets me every time.
Sleutel Jul 31st 2009 9:01AM
Psh, David Bowie totally ripped that bass line off from Vanilla Ice.
;P
Friday_Knight Jul 31st 2009 9:44AM
Oh no you di'n't.
Egrep Jul 31st 2009 11:04AM
The bass line to Under Pressure was written by the Queen bassist John Deacon, not Bowie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Pressure#Creation
Sorry to nitpick. ;)
Matt Jul 31st 2009 7:38PM
dood other way around
vanilla ice ripped off queen
muruler Jul 31st 2009 8:22AM
I Usually just go to the store and buy Monster Energy drink , drink 1 Liter of it.
Next up is the music , i put some hard music on , sometimes rap sometimes stuff like the final countdown. then i just sing fucking loud on the music and play for hoursl ol
Oteo Jul 31st 2009 9:59AM
I actually gagged when I read that you drink 1 liter of energy drinks...
wolfsterne Jul 31st 2009 8:22AM
My goal is to have one of every class and every race in the top top best gear exalted in everything and all the achievements done, my wife has the same goal only female version, considering how many hours we put in it's definitely doable.
Anderson Jul 31st 2009 8:25AM
If I have a Monster Energy drink, I'm the guy yelling "BIO PLEASE!!!!!" right in the middle of KT. I stick with my trusty can of trail mix and a diet A&W Root Beer. That fedora, Indiana Jones style is a great idea...I look terrible when I fail, perhaps that will tip the scales in my favor.
SarahTheGnome Jul 31st 2009 8:28AM
Always the same ritual.
Get cup, get 2 bottles milk, get cacao powder, get spoon, position on desk.
Get ashtray, get cigarettes (yeah sorry I smoke, no need to kill me, taking care of that myself), GET LIGHTER, nothing more annoying then having to stop for that.
Fedge doggies. I need to have them close to me so I can keep an eye on them without having to move away from my comp. One takes the chair next to mine, the other goes to lie on my feet (and constantly gets tangled in my wiring).
No music for me. I enjoy the ingame music funnily enough, that keeps me going.
Double check to see if I have everything, turn off my mobile phone, go.
Chris Jul 31st 2009 9:41AM
That reminds me of the time that I was doing Azjol-Nerub and my dog started throwing up right next to me. I was torn . . . but I finished the fight.
SarahTheGnome Jul 31st 2009 10:05AM
At the risk of getting downrated.... I have a confession to make.
The dog thing came into existence, when one day, they were downstairs and I was playing WoW upstairs. My big dog is a bit naughty, and my little one is well... not rebellious in any way.
So the big one sees a loaf of bread, and grabs it, the small dog will then attack the big dog, because the big dog is doing something wrong and the small dog WILL NOT HAVE IT!
So they get into a fight, but I was in a raid. I go downstairs, separate them, run back upstairs (this was during a boss fight and I was healing, not the perfect time) and continue.
The raid is done, I go downstairs to make dinner, my little dog walks with me and I notice he is bleeding. Seems one tooth penetrated his skin, just under his eye, and he needed surgery :(
So now I just never let them out of my sight. No injuries, no wipes, and they get candy if they are good. Everyone happy!