Breakfast Topic: How far did you expect to take WoW?
by Brandon Torres 
Sep 2nd 2010 at 8:00AM
I want to share with you all a story. Once upon a time, there was a WoW noob who was known as Donaldserrot the human warrior. I'm pretty sure the only thing he did right was Brewfest. But he had fun, at least until he either grouped up with other players (who made fun of his gear) or went to the Outland (where the mobs showed him how bad his gear was).
It was at this time that Donald reached the end. There wasn't much more he could do as he was, and he didn't have the desire to fix things, so he retired. At that time, a new WoW nooblet showed up. Donhorn was different and decided to try to learn more about not just his druidic class but also his tauren history. He knew of the trials Donaldserrot had gone through and knew that in order to go the distance, he'd need to train.
This is just a brief history of my own mindset playing this game for the past two years, and it shows something about what I wanted from this game: to go as far as I could. I always figured I'd never be a raider. I'd just quest till 80, then do whatever till the next expansion came out. And I figured I'd never even see the Lich King -- at least until the next expansion and level boost made him soloable. Like Rocky, I didn't see my own potential; I didn't know I could go that distance. Now, my guild and I are sitting in his throne room staring the Lich King in the face, like Apollo and Rocky before their epic battle, and only one thing is going through my mind: "You have to go the distance with this bum; you have to."
What was your mindset when you started playing? Did you think you would go the distance? Everyone has a different distance they strive for; what's yours?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Larísa Sep 2nd 2010 8:05AM
Wouldn't it be appropriate to give creds to Tim Howgego who made tha map over the WoW community? Just saying.
Gamer am I Sep 2nd 2010 8:08AM
Click on the map and you'll see that his name is there.
Oakewise Sep 2nd 2010 1:42PM
Tim Howgego does get the credit if you look to the original article which first shows the map.
Larísa Sep 2nd 2010 8:28AM
Yeah, but only in the linked-to post. I think they should reprint his name when they use the image agin in this post. Tim is a great thinker and deserves recognition for his job.
Josin Sep 2nd 2010 8:33AM
Welcome to the internet, where every image is reused without proper credit. It's been 20+ years. Get over it. Move on.
Dril Sep 2nd 2010 8:40AM
So, what, Josin, because it's the internet we can't ask for people to get attributed for their work. It's not like:
a) he did it for free and it'd be nice if people credited him with it since you don't have to pay for it, or
b) the writers here get PAID for writing so they could at least link it in the underfoot image.
Not everyone is a wanker like you. Get over yourself.
Josin Sep 2nd 2010 8:57AM
Namecalling on the internet. I'm so very insulted.
My point is: unless you are the copyright holder of an image, you have no claim to ask for proper attribution. (Blizzard uses the same reasoning on trademarked character names.) Complaining about it just makes you look like a whiny fanboy, sticking their nose into business that clearly isn't their own.
Also, as you said, the artist did the work for free, with no request for credit or remuneration. That the blog writers here get paid is irrelevant to the discussion. Would it be a nice thing to credit him? Sure. But acting indignant because they didn't is silly.
Keith Sep 2nd 2010 9:21AM
a reply to Josin:
http://timhowgego.com/legal/
To be fair, he's pretty explicitly stated here exactly what's fair and how his content can be used. And it would seem Brandon/an editor has since noticed and added an attribution to the image.
WoW.com is a large commercial operation, it's not inappropriate to suggest they give credit, and they clearly don't have a problem with doing so.
Josin Sep 2nd 2010 9:36AM
Then I stand corrected. Clearly he DOES want credit.
(Also, why does everyone downrate a dissenting voice? Good grief people... you can't be totally oblivious that the internet is full of copyright violations. Half the memes you quote ad nauseum are based on materials improperly used by 4chan.)
el Sep 2nd 2010 9:56AM
To clarify: My, erm, other me is generally relaxed about reuse of content, unless it is blatant profiteering, which this isn't. Technically this maps "creative reuse" anyway. There are links back for anyone interested, which is adequate attribution.
Larísa Sep 2nd 2010 10:02AM
Cheers Tim! As long as you're happy I'm fine too. But it didn't hurt to put out your name on the image, which they have done now. I'm pleased to see they're listening and hopefully they'll remember to give credits right from the start next time. Which they actually do most of the time. Wow.com is pretty good at giving link love and proper credits most of the time these days.
By the way... long time no posting Tim! Would love to see some more of you work! Maybe you could do some kind of follow-up to the map analysis? It's been a while. Is it still the same, is something a-changing in the community? Food for thought.
Donhorn Sep 2nd 2010 2:55PM
The reason I didn't give credit for the map is cause I didn't originally use it, I used a video about Rocky, but it looks like they didn't keep it. :(
http://donaldserrot.webs.com/apps/blog/show/4653957-going-the-distance
Article posted on my blog with the video.
Joeb Sep 2nd 2010 8:13AM
I remember when I hit 70 in BC. It was my first maxed leveled character and I had no idea what to do next. I just looked at the screen and asked myself "Is that it?".
Dreamstorm Sep 2nd 2010 8:55AM
THIS ^
I was already in a social raiding guild when I hit 70 and I literally asked on guild chat (or vent, can't remember): "So, what do I do now?"
Ik had my first Karazhan run a few days later.
cedric.roland Sep 2nd 2010 9:07AM
Similar experience: me and my SO reached lvl 70 on our hunter/rogue team (which was a re-try of a hunter/rogue combo that we gave up on at around lvl 40 (back in vanilla) and realized "ok, now what?". We knew we were more PvE-oriented, and realised that we'd have a hell of a time finding a group for 5-mans, let alone raids. Besides, most guild on the server had raid nights in the week, something we couldn't afford.
Our idea? We made up a priest and pally we leveled AGAIN to 70 (in half the time), luckily stumbled on another playder intending to make a weekend-only raiding guild, and went on our merry way!
Babaloo Sep 2nd 2010 9:36AM
Lol, when I got to level 80, I had no idea what to do. So I took a moment out of my time in the Storm Peaks to go back to Dalaran and ask what to do next in the Trade chat. Amazingly, I got some pretty nice answers and help. I was a total noob back then. ;D
Qot Sep 2nd 2010 9:42AM
"I just looked at the screen and asked myself "Is that it?"."
I just looked at the screen and said "Where'd my XP bar go?"
Hiwa Sep 2nd 2010 10:34AM
I was trying to fill the many hours I had being a physically disabled person in a northern Wisconsin town in the middle of winter. When you literally can't leave the house for days at a time, it's vital that you know how to entertain yourself. I was already an avid reader, I hate the television, and how many games of cribbage and backgammon can you play before you want to throw the sets out the window?
So my teenage daughter told me about this newfangled 'WoW' and convinced me to get us a copy for Christmas. Almost 4 years and 5 80s later, that's all she wrote.
Sinthar Sep 2nd 2010 8:17AM
Well I nearly didnt go the distance - and that was just on this article ;)
Really though, when I joined, I was excited. This was the best of all RPG themes - a graphical MUD. My friend who got me to sign up - was already lvl 30 (and this was his 2nd time around on the game), so I concentrated, and quested my little heart out. There was no 'mindset' (some would argue thats cos i have no mind tho), just a burning desire to catch up with my friend. I did so at lvl 42, and ended up waiting for him for over two weeks before we went to outlands together. At this point, the leveling guild i was in, folded, leaving me (as a two week old member) as the GM and oldest member. I left quickly as the ones that were left, were the 'do this for me', 'give me x gold for my ' etc etc. Then I joined my current guild, who helped me become their 3rd raiding mage, this quickly became the only raiding mage. There was never a time when I thought I wouldnt do it, the only factor was time. In fact I think there isnt an 'end' for my toons. With some love and thought - and time and effort - any toon could be a LK killer.
As to never seeing the LK before you could solo it.....ROFL. You seem to bump into him ever other corner when you start in Northrend
Komiroya Sep 2nd 2010 8:18AM
I made my warlock 5years ago with the intention of being a pvp god. Over the years that has changed in a good way. When I started I was young and eager for conflict, now my warlock is the den mother(general caretaker) for my alts and any of my friends who would like to play wow. The pvp force is still there but not as prominent. For my alts it's a different story but for my lock it's been a long, and strange trip.