WRUP: Sickness and heat

This week, I asked our intrepid WoW.com staff to tell us about their play experiences while sick. I don't know. It seemed appropriate; summer always seems like a great time to get sick. Even Sylvanas (above) is feeling a little under the weather, lately. I think it's probably the heat more than anything else. Going between insane summer weather and too-cold air conditioning is a recipe for feeling ill.
Let us know what you're playing this weekend, and what you do to beat the heat ... and the plague.
Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert): More of the beta -- and a highly expensive experiment on my copied main to test something concerning cat DPS. Ordinarily I'm one of the more tight-fisted players out there, but there's a lovely sense of financial freedom on the beta/PTR, where you can throw wads of cash at everything and not regret it in the morning. As for playing while sick, it depends on the nature of the illness. If I'm really not feeling well, I usually don't want to be near a computer at all; if it's something minor, I enjoy 5-mans and herbing.
Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey): I'll be working on various achievements this weekend, nothing too major -- and writing as always, of course. As for WoW when I'm sick ... well, it depends on how sick I am. I don't get sick often, so when I do I generally don't want to do anything at all, WoW included. If I'm a little sniffly? Probably something mindless like herb farming.
Amy Schley (@wowlawbringer): As one of the few on staff who hasn't gotten into the beta, I'll have to settle for running randoms and seeing if I can get into a PUG. Resto shaman, name is Russian for space goat, looking for raid. As for playing sick, I normally can't. If I'm so sick to make a difference, it's bad enough I can't really play at all. That said, if I want to try, I'll grab the hunter and his bear and play, confident that the bear will keep me alive enough.
Brian Wood (@frostheimwhu): Working more on a hunter video project and playing with my new moonlight strobes down in the studio. Illness usually just means that I play more poorly, though I can usually tolerate doing dull grinds when sick since my mind isn't really there, anyway.
Basil Berntsen (@outdps): How do I WoW when I'm sick? Harder.
C. Christian Moore (@thearenaguy): This weekend, I'll be able to get back to WoW from a two-month hiatus. I got into Cataclysm beta maybe two weeks ago, so that should eat up a large portion of my time. I haven't been sick in four or five years, so I wouldn't know how to answer the bonus question. Yay, I just realized the power of my immune system.
Chase Christian (@madsushi): I'm going to be working on getting some of my guys their Infusion quests done in ICC-25 this weekend and probably poking around in EVE some (just trying it out). As for playing sick, I usually resort to more typing and less yelling over Vent, though there's still plenty of yelling.
Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb): I'm moving at the end of the month, so I'm hoping to get a head start on cleaning and packing this weekend. I'll also be doing some Cataclysm testing. This time, it's blood tank leveling through Vashj'ir, I think. As far as playing while sick? Honestly, if I'm sick enough that I can't really concentrate, I'll probably just log off and try to sleep it off. If I can't sleep or I'm not feeling that bad, it's usually game on as normal. I can play through the pain, Coach! Just put me in!
Dawn Moore (@dawnwow): Seems I've always got something (as I do right now), so I've become quite a pro at raiding while ill. I only raid when sick, mind you. I figure it's more of an obligation activity than anything else. Dailies take a back seat when I'm under the weather, and I definitely don't BG or arena because with PvP, the alertness and communication needs to be there. For raiding, though, a laptop is what makes it possible, especially when you've got a fever so high you can't sit up. You just have to swap between rest and play. I'll sit up a little and be fully attentive during a boss, then take all of loot and trash to lay back and rest. I'll take an oral anesthetic spray or lozenge so I can respond in Vent when necessary. Lots of water nearby is a must. After raid is called, go back to sleep! If you're going to push yourself to keep with your raid schedule, you have to compensate for it by resting.
Eli Khoury (@Jagoex): For me, it'll be lots of Markus Shulz, DJ Tiësto and any other euphoria-inducing music that I can get my hands on. Yeah, I know they are not games, but they're still so totally worth playing all weekend long. When I'm sick, I don't WoW -- I watch movies instead.
Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen): This weekend I'm brushing up on my 16-bit skills with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game. It's the best $10 you'll spend all month. If you're too cheap, get the demo and just abuse the hell out of your free level. Go ahead. Do it. When I'm sick ... I dunno, I play pretty much the same as I do when I'm healthy. Just a lot more, because I'm home from work. Unless I'm, like, really sick. In which case I overdose on cough syrup, lay on my couch and have really messed-up dreams about light patterns and Pokémon.
Gregg Reece: I usually hop over to my pet projects when I'm sick. It might be a fresh paladin on a new server or a random alt I decided to play. This weekend I'm hoping to get more beta time. I'm also hoping that a new patch drops so I can play with the re-re-re-re-re-redesign of Holy Shield.
Joe Perez (@Lodurzj): Apartment hunting, and if I have some time, getting in some Cataclysm beta and some SC2 multiplayer. This past week I was actually sick, and as far as gaming while sick, I sucked it up and went to all my guild's raids. I just happened to log immediately after and crash hard. Unless it is really bad, that is generally what I do. Hot tea, Gatorade and sinus meds make for a loopy yet very fun raid officer sometimes
Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra): I'm actually knee-deep in cosplayers this weekend, as I'm attending a con as a vendor. I've got some important Cataclysm stuff to do, so I'll see if I can squeeze that in as well. As for gaming when I'm sick? I proceed as normal, although I take a keen interest in questing. I avoid randoms and raids and just take my time exploring and absorbing delicious, delicious lore.
Lisa Poisso (@emused): Cataclysm beta newbie areas for posts for WoW.com, plus exploring other Cataclysm nooks and crannies with my priest. When I'm sick, I run little errands (gathering herbs, fishing and cooking dailies, auction house sales) that make me feel productive and calm and in control while distracting me from the blech. Doesn't everyone do that?
Matt Low (@matticus): It's game day! I'll be playing at one of the Magic: The Gathering tournaments. Some Cataclysm beta will be in order. And Starcraft 2. WTB 2s partner. Why isn't this called WRUWatching? The Expendables comes out this weekend, doesn't it?
Mathew McCurley (@gomatgo): I have no idea what the weekend brings. A little WoW, a little RnR and general internety things. Working on my personal website, too. I need to get my resume and CV up on the real webernets.
Matthew Rossi (@matthewwrossi): Working on heroic LK, doing some beta and hopefully spending some downtime reconnecting with my tauren warrior before Cataclysm. I actually have chronic head and hand pain that I just play through. There's a large ganglion cyst on my right hand that makes using a mouse difficult, which I just have to ignore to tank. If you're curious. It's actually somewhat larger now and impedes my right hand's mobility quite a bit, but I compensate by being a surly bastard.
Matt Sampson (@binkenstein): Too much to write, not enough time to do it in (unless I completely stop playing WoW, but I've got to have priorities). Pondering having a long weekend when Civ V is released.
Michael Gray (@writegray): I'm playing the "make the floor level" game including some cement patch. As for sick? I've never been sick with nothing that didn't need more cowbell.
Rich Maloy (@stoneybaby): No quality time with the girlfriend this weekend ... she's busy. But that gives me more time to work on Big Crits (week 10 released on Friday). When I'm sick, I usually just mute my mic and go about my raiding. Only occassionally do I cancel my sign-up, and that only happens with a migraine.
Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel): Cataclysm. I want to play all the new race/class combos. Does that make me sick? Perhaps I only play WoW when I'm sick. Hmm ... Well, when I'm physically ill, I pick up a low-level alt and saunter around. Sometimes I craft and sometimes I explore and sometimes I quest. Then, I fall asleep in my comfy chair and wake up with a crick in my neck and a dead hero. Or an endless elevator ride. Or one of those people sitting right at the end of a flight path, names all jumbling together. Yeah. Good times.






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RedGuard Aug 14th 2010 6:14PM
Heh, Sylvanas has really grown! =P Also: That cyst looks nasty.
Zalvi24 Aug 14th 2010 6:19PM
this week i was just doing som............. "distracted by baby pool"
Spiraea Aug 14th 2010 6:24PM
I'm 6 bars from 80 on my Blood DK tank so I'll likely hit that today or tomorrow in between getting in some Mass Effect 2 which I JUST picked up a few days ago. For shame, I know but really enjoying it although not playing the first game is showing some bad side effects. As in, some of these characters I'm supposedly suppose to know.. I don't.
I heard that wouldn't be a problem but I can't help but feel that it is. I got the general overall story from the little video Bioware put together before the Mass Effect 2 demo of "Previously on Mass Effect" but when people I'm running into are all like, "Shepard! I can't believe it's you!"... I'm looking for the "...Who are you?" option that just isn't there :(
As for playing sick, if I'm not that bad off.. I'll do some quests and gathering. I try to avoid doing PUGs though because I don't think I'd have the patience to deal with people and wiping.
vanillabean Aug 14th 2010 6:31PM
Right now I am playing "finish that dang entry for the global writing contest". Anyone want to edit?
Due to health issues I am almost always sick. I have a condition called Fibromyalgia which can be very debilitating (lots of pain and fatigue to sum it up in a nutshell).
Until recently, I was stuck with console games on bad days and reading only on really bad days when getting out of bed isn't an option. Thanks to a spiffy new netbook, I can now play WoW even on those days. I can't raid on the netbook, but I do everything but. Not gonna let Fibro take away the things I enjoy.
Norai Aug 14th 2010 7:03PM
I understand completely. I don't have Fibro but I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. It's got basically the same outcome. WoW is on my desktop, but also on an el cheapo laptop I bought for the days I'm not feeling great. WoW is a great distraction.
Hiwa Aug 14th 2010 6:52PM
Working on Loremaster achievement on my warlock. I'm beating the heat by standing in a cold shower in bra and panties, getting soaking wet, then standing in front of the little window ac unit. When the undies dry and I start getting hot, I do it all over again.
Tim Aug 14th 2010 7:00PM
I've been playing sick and working and all that since March. No one knows what it is. Maybe my Pulmonary specialist will have a clue when I see him next. Anyway, been tryin to catch up on NCIS. Just finished season 2. My wife gasped at the conclusion. I already knew. Now some wow time and cooking dinner for her tonight.
Ramco Aug 14th 2010 7:10PM
Cataclysm Beta. Hell yeah.
Efrat Aug 14th 2010 7:18PM
I will be finally getting my red proto drake this weekend. I actually started playing WoW when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I was sick a lot and home quite a bit, so it helped to pass the time all while being steps from the bathroom.
Oni Stardust Aug 14th 2010 8:14PM
Trying to level my Horde Hunter so I can see The Battle For Undercity from that side of the fence before it gos away.
Also playing more Monster Rancher DS when I'm letting my computer rest. I'm loving that game. It plays a lot like the older Monster Ranchers on the Playstation and several old monster breed were brought back. So there's a lot of nostalgia.
Ausrael Aug 14th 2010 10:11PM
I've gotten the flu twice this summer, and both times I find myself AFK'ing out with my face in a pillow more than playing anything. When I do feel fine enough to sit up for several hours while under the weather, I'm usually levelling yet another alt.
alpha5099 Aug 14th 2010 10:43PM
I've been driving cross-country the last few days, and will be moving into my new place on Monday. God knows how long it'll take to have internet there. I managed to finish up Loremaster right before I started this road trip, so I'd probably move on to another of my achievement goals. Probably reputations. I'm pretty far into revered on both Cenarion reps, so that's probably number one. I'm also close on Timbermaw, and will probably then work on Sporregar for The Diplomat.
alpha5099 Aug 14th 2010 10:46PM
I've been driving cross-country the last few days, and will be moving into my new place on Monday. God knows how long it'll take to have internet there. I managed to finish up Loremaster right before I started this road trip, so I'd probably move on to another of my achievement goals. Probably reputations. I'm pretty far into revered on both Cenarion reps, so that's probably number one. I'm also close on Timbermaw, and will probably then work on Sporregar for The Diplomat.
Pothead Aug 15th 2010 2:10AM
Waiting for beta invites cata or dc universe online. U know for when I get sick *cough* *cough* hope they show up before I get the sniffles too.
/sneeze