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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: How do you transition in and out of playing WoW?
by Andrew Ross 
Nov 3rd 2011 at 8:00AM
We all know it: Other games are coming. We say it'll be what we're sticking with this time, but after a few days, weeks, months, or maybe years, we end up back in WoW. The question is, what do you do before you leave?
For me, I go with friends. It's what always brings me back to WoW anyway. We go as a guild usually, maybe bring some server mates, but we don't quit cold turkey (and maybe that's our problem!). We still play WoW a bit, to make sure the guild doesn't die and so others can chip in, but after awhile, we find ourselves back in WoW, sometimes bringing a few new friends with us.
I know other people who just quietly leave, play a new game, and then server/faction/name change as a way of not having to face their old contacts again (unless they decide to contact a few choice ones). Some just don't think about it but have talked about a new game for months and hit it up, then come back because they missed something about WoW.
What do you do? Plan things out, escape WoW duties, or just take a short vacation into a new world?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
vocenoctum Nov 3rd 2011 11:40AM
Because of scheduling conflicts (I'm always busy thursday which is apparently a central raiding day for lots of guilds), I was in a casual guild. They tried a couple raid teams, but people just didn't take it seriously and turn-over equaled no raids. I didn't join the guild to raid anyway so no biggie. I was bored, so I did as you and went to another server where I had a couple alts (main server is full of level 85's).
So I'd log in to my "mains", run (increasingly boring) dailies, do my transmutes, run a (increasingly frustrating and unfun) dungeon or two, chitchat if folks were online, then head over to the alts. Leveling alts and such was fun, trying out new stuff (leveled from 60-70 mostly through BG's).
After Blizzcon, I decided the game wasn't going to get better for me. The advancement path was going nowhere and the feel of the game was just going downhill. They highlight things that I don't want and talk about things I did like as being in need of change.
So with my decision to leave the game (my 6month sub expired on oct 26th, coincidentally enough), I planned to grab some more screenshots of my favorites, park them somewhere sentimental and say good buy to guildies. In the end though, I realized that I hadn't really seen half the guildies I was friendly with in a week or so while alt-playing. The main couple of folks that were good reliable types that were friendly and knowledgeable? One had left last month, another was demoted for not being online for 20+days and the rest hadn't been on in a while.
I had apparently already quit WoW without knowing it, so I just didn't sign on again.
Still like the setting, still interested in stuff happening, hence my presence here, but it's just not for me.
Kunikenwad! Nov 3rd 2011 8:35AM
I deactivated my account in May since I just simply wasn't having any fun. Said my goodbyes to both my raiding guilds and left the door open for a possible return with the new expansion. My only caveat was that I promised the guilds, my wife, and myself that I won't be raiding again.
I'll be transitioning to TOR once it comes out as that game just simply fits me better. MoP has my interest piqued; I may not try it out at launch but I'll probably pick it up a month or two later, once the fervor has died down.
When I do return to WoW, it'll be in a strictly ultra-casual fashion. I'll try out a panda, maybe make yet another shaman, and just consume content at a leisurely pace. I figure by the time MoP drops I'll be sorta burned out on TOR anyways and will be looking for something to fill my time for a bit.
Leland Ford Nov 3rd 2011 8:36AM
I don't really know how I am gonna deal with this, since I first started playing a few months before Wrath came out, there really hasn't been a game to really cause me to stray from WoW. Now with Diablo III coming (which WoW was my replacement for Diablo II) I might actually have to face this issue head on. At-least I will have Real-ID so if there is any guild business that needs done, I will still be available.
AdamAldaine Nov 3rd 2011 8:39AM
Me want. How do me get? (Do you know which file I can delete in order to get that one to display?)
AdamAldaine Nov 3rd 2011 8:40AM
GRR comment reply fail. This is to my earlier comment about how to get that Deathwing log-in screen to appear.
spac3rat Nov 3rd 2011 8:43AM
It's not possible to switch login screens. Sorry.
AdamAldaine Nov 3rd 2011 9:09AM
That's okay. Apology accepted.
Muse Nov 3rd 2011 8:41AM
I'd really like to know how to transition in. I haven't even managed to get comfortable with Cataclysm, almost all my alts (I was a dedicated altoholic in vanilla-wrath) are still sitting in the GY's where they spawned with no talents and no idea what to do with them. It's just some strange mental block that's made me go "uhh, whut?" whenever I look at the character selection screen.
Tim Nov 3rd 2011 8:45AM
I have a buddy who bought a new computer that CAN play WoW. Now he's gonna start and I just quit. Dammit. I told myself I wouldn't come back until MoP came out as I got myself ready to play Star Wars: TOR. Now, I might be resubbing to play with my new friend and an old one who hadn't unsubbed yet. Ah well, maybe I'll see it anew in my friends eyes.
Popezaren Nov 3rd 2011 8:45AM
I guess I really don't transition so much as get busy with other RL issues.
I continue to play to a much lesser degree, however. Usually just gathering on various characters on the train ride into and away from work.
My friends usually are what trigger the amount of time I play as they return to playing WoW.
CapnSkillet Nov 3rd 2011 9:00AM
I have been playing games with the same guild for about 8 years now. We started with Shadowbane and then transitioned into WoW. We have also played other games along the way, none of which replaced WoW but offered a reprieve. We will play Diablo 3 together and probably the next MMO after WoW dies. They are good friends. I go where they go. If everyone decided to quit WoW and play Star Wars or something else, I would most likely also quit WoW and play whatever they play. We are not the best players in the world, usually not downing the newest tier of raids until very late in the patch if at all. But I don't play WoW for the achievements or loot. I play for the friendship and fun of cooperating to meet a goal.
jealouspirate Nov 3rd 2011 9:04AM
I just drift in and out. I leave without saying a word and return someday like nothing nothing ever happened. My guild always greets me with a nice `welcome back!`. They`re great like that. I don`t raid or schedule events, so I`m never letting anyone down in that sense.
With Skyrim SO close (omgomgomg), TOR and the Diablo 3 I think I feel one of my WoW breaks will be in the near future...
Mofogo Nov 3rd 2011 9:08AM
I went on a cruise in mid summer and had no desire to login after that. I didn't. I didn't bother telling my guild b/c honestly they weren't worth telling. Raids weren't making and they would only always take their top 10 and never really sub. They didn't know if I could be in the top group since we never got a shot and thus no loot or even rep. Nice ppl but I had no connection.
ravyncat Nov 3rd 2011 9:08AM
I generally only play on weekends anyway...so I don't stop playing.
I will still log on to hang with my friends on Friday and Saturday. :)
Any other games will get played during the week...but to be honest I am not really a gamer. *shrug* I play Plants Vs. Zombies and Zelda and that is it.
Generally if I take time off it is to read or to catch up on my writing.
Demeternoth Nov 3rd 2011 9:15AM
I took a short vacation earlier this year but came back on a on an FTP account and whaddaya know I've resubbed. My playstyle has changed but I still enjoy it. I missed the /g chat and the silliness of my friends in Azeroth.
Damn It Warcraft! I just can't quit you!
Bloodfurnace Dalvengyr Nov 3rd 2011 9:19AM
I started playing in the summer of '07. But I never really got serious until like ... March of '08. I quit for my first time June '10. At that point, Icecrown was really the only thing to raid or do, and I had done it so much that I could probably recite every bosses speech lol. Also my favorite guild broke up, and at that point there wasn't enough to keep me around. So one day, I just stopped. I came back later and hopped servers a few months after cata came out.
logandawson43 Nov 3rd 2011 9:18AM
I usually just loose motivation to play, then after awhile I remember all the good times I had and I'm dying to play again :P It usually happens when I start having to quest again to get to the level cap... It's the best way I enjoy leveling in games but sometimes I just loose that spark.
babywhiz Nov 3rd 2011 9:24AM
When I first saw this topic, I thought it meant what you do right before you log in and what you do right after.
When I get home from work, I change into my night clothes, and hop on mumble, then hop on the game.
After raid (12:30 am my time), I log off the game, log off mumble and roll out of my chair, into my bed.
What's this 'taking a break from WoW' that people keep talking about >.<
etherlithium Nov 3rd 2011 9:32AM
Through the latter end of tBC and Wrath I ran a really patchwork raid schedule because of my dissertation. The evolving Wrath model really worked for me insofar as I could grind HCs etc to gear up to minimum spec for raids, so even though I effectively skipped TotC entirely I could come back for ICC without too much trouble. I always let the GMs know I was likely to take the breaks, and never committed to raid for less than three months, always doing my return by the book (re-trial status in guild) and giving them 14 days' notice on the breaks I was taking. Downed everything except Algalon, damn Firefighter.
Nobag Nov 3rd 2011 9:34AM
The last two times I took a 3 month break from wow I just logged off as normal saying "nite" to everyone and then not logging in again until I felt it was time to come back. Some people are surprised at the return other just go about their business as usual. I think that's when you know who your real efriends are...
Although the idea of faction/server/name changing is appealing for a fresh start....