Breakfast Topic: How do you let off steam?

We've all had those nights. Whether it's an obnoxious PUG from the Dungeon Finder, a string of losses in battlegrounds or the arena, a comment setting off a drama storm in guild chat, or a night of wiping on a raid boss you should have on farm ... Every once in a while, you're going to have an incident in the game that will put you in a bad mood.
We had a few of these this week. Our normal 10-man raid group had been stirred up by some people not being able to raid, and we had to take some newer players to kill Cho'gall who didn't know the fight. After three or four wipes on a boss that we typically kill in one shot, it became clear that it wasn't going to happen. Our fill-in tanks were undergeared, we didn't have strong enough AOE to deal with adds, and single-target damage on the boss was lacking. It also only took three or four wipes for our disc priest to start getting snippy in Vent, and he's usually such a joy to talk to anyway. /sarcasm
By the time we had disbanded for the night, I'd gotten pretty worked up myself, and I needed to blow some steam before logging and going to bed. So what's a blood elf to do when he's ticked off? I switched over to my night elf druid and took to the skies. Above the rooftops of Stormwind, I picked a direction, turned off my interface, and just let the proverbial wind carry me away. I soared over Ironforge, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, and all the way up to Tirisfal Glades. Over mountains and cliffs, down between the trees of the jungle, and skimming along the waters of the coast, just taking in the sights and sounds of Azeroth and taking my mind off the frustrating night of wipes and personality clashes in Vent. Eventually, I made my way through the dark portal and over to Nagrand and Blade's Edge before finally landing in Shattrath and logging for the night, much more relaxed than I had been 20 minutes earlier.
Frustration is a reality of any activity that requires interaction with other people, and WoW is no different. Whether you're hardcore or casual, someone at some point is going to push your buttons. So what do you do about it? Do you gather a few friends and steamroll a raid boss from a previous expansion? Do you queue up for a random unrated battleground and devastate the opposing team? Or do you just wander around?
Filed under: Druid, Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
MusedMoose Jun 4th 2011 8:04AM
When WoW frustrates me, I just log off. The game's supposed to be fun, and when it stops being fun, it's time to stop playing, even if just for the day. Reading a good book for a while will usually help me relax and feel better. ^_^
Having said that, I like the idea of turning off the UI and just flying over Azeroth for a while. I can see why that would be very calming.
pandaba Jun 4th 2011 12:28PM
Don't just turn off your UI. Zoom into first person view. You wouldn't think it would make that much difference but it does.
SamLowry Jun 5th 2011 1:37AM
I agree with logging off when I'm frustrated with WoW. I've been logged off for several weeks now and it's amazing how much time I have to do things I've been putting off until "later".
On a related note, while I was chatting with a co-worker about WoW on the sales floor, a customer came up to us and out of the blue said "Cataclysm killed that game!"
Luis Alluren Jun 5th 2011 4:16AM
I did the same, as in log off for a few weeks (almost 6 months more precisely)-- came back with a totally different attitude and nor only will never let myself get upset with rude people but also the surfboard or the drum kit will always have my preference... And if you're beating the shit out of those drums every day for a couple hours I'd say after that there isn't much that will upset you when your playing...
mtnawesome Jun 10th 2011 9:30PM
whenever I'd get stressed, i'd hop on my level 1 human on moon guard and annoy all the ERPers in goldshire. works wonders on your mood.
Erie Jun 4th 2011 8:14AM
I punch that dragon in the face. P-p-punch!
tejor Jun 4th 2011 8:16AM
As a holy priest, I switch to shadow spec and que up as a DPS in order to blow off steam. Inbetween instances, I fly about on my nether wing drake doing random archeology things. It is not only relaxing, but reminds me just how nice it is to be a healing class.
elizabeththomson20 Jun 4th 2011 8:16AM
I usually either...
-Log off completely
-Hug a pillow (and talk to the little voices in my head :P)
-Level an alt on either another server or just an unknown alt
-Rant about it on a site I visit quite a lot (they have a thread on their forums for it)
If they don't work then I'll log off my laptop completely and go out for some air. If it's night then I'll go on youtube and watch some Psychadelic Snake walkthrough :P (http://www.youtube.com/user/pyschadelicsnake for those interested, he's really funny)
Fdaapprovedd Jun 4th 2011 2:13PM
"HELL YEA!"
I never see it coming, makes me crack up everytime
razion Jun 4th 2011 8:16AM
For those times I find myself frustrated, I either go and level an alt on a different realm, or play another game entirely. I'm able to chat with different people and enjoy my time differently, and can put aside whatever happened earlier... at least until my head's clear enough to deal with it properly in a calm, decisive manner. Time is the best medicine, but some times having something to take your mind off it works well, too.
Vani Jun 4th 2011 8:36AM
I turn on my music and focus on the song (usually lady gaga) while I do something that is timeconsuming like fishing and archaeology.
MusedMoose Jun 4th 2011 8:38AM
It's amazing how many things Lady Gaga can help with. ^_^
Dekota Jun 4th 2011 10:32AM
Same here!
Listening to Poker Face while getting 'The Explorer' achievement was the only way I could keep from pulling my hair out xD (This was before Cata. no flying in old world!)
If you have epic ground speed, the stride of the zulitan tiger mount is almost in perfect sync with the beat of that song. xD
ratmaggot Jun 4th 2011 8:36AM
I tank a heroic and don't keep my mouth shut. Aggression therapy.
GabeCo Jun 4th 2011 8:50AM
that may help you, but your bringing 4 other people down just to lift yourself up.
thpthpthp1 Jun 4th 2011 8:53AM
Go! Go! Racist Tank!
Adrianne Jun 4th 2011 10:52AM
Wait. Since when is dps or a healer a race?
Anyway, if you are into aggression therapy, try pvp instead. That way you aren't turning into *that* tank.
vegetto375 Jun 4th 2011 8:49AM
Usually I just queue for a low level reg (mostly blackrock caverns) and just run thru the instance killing everything in sight, taking my frustration on mobs. At the same time I help a group of lower level players have and easier time on a run by having a good geared tank.
But for when i just cant take to play the game cause I'm getting dc'ed or is lagging or just not enjoying it, I close my game laptop turn to my other laptop put my headphones on and watch some anime for a few hours.
Cobalt Jun 4th 2011 8:51AM
I jump.
And jump.
And jump.
And jump.
And jump again.
And jump once more.
Until I can jump no more.
Maccabeus Jun 4th 2011 1:23PM
Jump, ima jumpy-jump. and I jump jump jump and I jump jump jump.