So, I play World of Warcraft. I recently decided to make a bit of in-game cash. The easiest time to make money, or lose it, is in a time of great upheaval. In this way I timed my entry to the market well with the shattering patch and the release of Cataclysm starting off some crazy, hazy weeks of auction fun and games.
For a period I became a changed man. I got my full 'team' of profession monkeys to level 80 in time for the changes. I researched and read tidbits of information here and there online. I put some principles into practice.
Foolishly, I got serious about in-game gold.
The goblin in me took over.
First he got the money, then he got the power, then he lost his sensibilities. My bank alt character swaggered like Montana himself.
He locked down guild bank permissions (in a friends only guild - they lol'ed). He flipped some bargains. He dressed above his level (24) and cracked trade chat one liners above his station.
He was a mastermind! Or so he thought.
Do you remember that scene in The Usual Suspects where Agent Kujan realises he's been fed the lines he wanted to hear just so he'd part with something he didn't even know was hugely important?
Bank alt does, and that's how he thought he made people feel after he pulled some of his 'smooth moves'.
When he told them he only had 7k gold for that BoE Epic they wanted to sell, he held his hands steady and his gaze open and trustworthy. Successful, he walked with a limp to the auction house and that limp simply *vanished* as he listed the BoE right back up there for 17k (and sold it).
His actions reeked of hubris. It wasn't long before he wascocky. He could turn anything purple into mountains of gold. He took a sensibly raised 60k and halved it. As he strutted his way to the Auctioneer, bags bustling with purple shirts, pantaloons and belt-thingys, the market turned.
Karma, like a huge whale rolling through the oceans, pulled him into it's wake. The karma-whale swallows purples like they were motes of air (in a market overrun with motes of air) in a shaft of sunlight.
The rest of my humble troupe of digital avatars have yet to recover from the bank alt's actions but they remember and together we hold strong against his will. Against his overbearing, maniacal vision of a future where he, and he only, sells items in the AH. To himself. Making endless profit.
Together we remember to spend money on things, equip the occasional BoE with a carefree laugh, chase puppies and never make 'the bottom line' the end goal of our gaming evening.
The greatest trick my bank alt ever pulled, was convincing the world that fun doesn't exist... and like that *poof* he's gone.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Derbarbar
Derbarbar is my new warrior in World of Warcraft. He's only little, level 8 so far. His future however, is painted large with fist-like brushes, blood as paint and the whole World of Warcraft as his canvas.
Let me tell you why Derbarbar excites me so.
I'm a serial alt creator. I have 2 85's (this will increase :S), 3 more at 80-81 ready to join the 85's, a 61 and a handful of 50 -> downward characters. Most of these are on one server to facilitate my gold gathering needs.
With this amount of 'experience' in game you'd think I had no interest in starting more characters, that the world around was dull and lifeless to me.
Well Blizzard, those wily foxes, anticipated this with Cata and rejigged the old world. So folks can play through with shining tears in their new character's eyes. They did a fine job I must say.
This wasn't enough for me however. I've still to try out the Worgen or Goblin starting zones (contrasting with the Draenei and Bloodelf and Deathknight starting areas of previous expansion - I was all over those) or new quests in the world because I had, until recently, yet to find the inspiration for a new character.
One night after work last week, I downloaded and watched Conan the Barbarian. A rush of memories came back to me. As his chronicler says in the intro: he wishes to tell you of a time of 'high adventure'.
And I remembered.
This type of adventure, for me, was what an MMO was all about. It's what fantasy games and novels are all about. I'll confess in the rush to 80 (five times) and 85 (twice so far) I've forgotten why I played games in the first place.
My new Orc Warrior, was dubbed 'Derbarbar' (official German translation - Conan Der Barbar) in honour. He is symbolic of the perennial soul of adventure sprouting to life inside me once more.
Upon login and logout he greets the guild with a roar and says farewell in a similar fashion. Like a Lion trying to ask directions.
He tears flowers from the soil and ore from the earth to trade with corrupt city officials for sharper weapons and heavier armour. He is incapable of creating, but adept in the art of destruction.
He does not loot for he has no time for the shiny accoutrements of life. He is a national noise... and he hates treasure.
He buys items from the auction house only to tear them from his mailbox and destroy them - such is his lust for destruction... and hatred for treasure that you cannot hit an enemy with.
He is played with the Conan the Barbarian track looping endlessly in the background, every shaking step with which he pulls the world behind him on the way to his goal is purposeful.
Animal-like he knows no self doubt, no pity, no remorse. Only the moment, only the kill.
His is a world of instant flavours, smells, sounds, sensations of touch and sight and these senses spend 90% of the time marinating in the blood of his enemies.
Personally I can't wait to P(ick) U(p) G(roup) a few instances and get accused of 'RP lol? WTF WARRIOR?!!' as I pull the whole of an instance, nude, with a mighty axe, my 'roar macro' answering them in kind.
A character is a life. They need a backstory. Whether you believe in the great lord 'RP' or not, I assure you that for the majority of players he will make a new character stand out, become something, nay someone you have to play now and then.
Enough 'now and then' playing will get you a new character at 60, and by then you're practically level capped already. It'd be rude not to get the next 25 levels.
Derbarbar will meet you there.
Let me tell you why Derbarbar excites me so.
I'm a serial alt creator. I have 2 85's (this will increase :S), 3 more at 80-81 ready to join the 85's, a 61 and a handful of 50 -> downward characters. Most of these are on one server to facilitate my gold gathering needs.
With this amount of 'experience' in game you'd think I had no interest in starting more characters, that the world around was dull and lifeless to me.
Well Blizzard, those wily foxes, anticipated this with Cata and rejigged the old world. So folks can play through with shining tears in their new character's eyes. They did a fine job I must say.
This wasn't enough for me however. I've still to try out the Worgen or Goblin starting zones (contrasting with the Draenei and Bloodelf and Deathknight starting areas of previous expansion - I was all over those) or new quests in the world because I had, until recently, yet to find the inspiration for a new character.
One night after work last week, I downloaded and watched Conan the Barbarian. A rush of memories came back to me. As his chronicler says in the intro: he wishes to tell you of a time of 'high adventure'.
And I remembered.
This type of adventure, for me, was what an MMO was all about. It's what fantasy games and novels are all about. I'll confess in the rush to 80 (five times) and 85 (twice so far) I've forgotten why I played games in the first place.
My new Orc Warrior, was dubbed 'Derbarbar' (official German translation - Conan Der Barbar) in honour. He is symbolic of the perennial soul of adventure sprouting to life inside me once more.
Upon login and logout he greets the guild with a roar and says farewell in a similar fashion. Like a Lion trying to ask directions.
He tears flowers from the soil and ore from the earth to trade with corrupt city officials for sharper weapons and heavier armour. He is incapable of creating, but adept in the art of destruction.
He does not loot for he has no time for the shiny accoutrements of life. He is a national noise... and he hates treasure.
He buys items from the auction house only to tear them from his mailbox and destroy them - such is his lust for destruction... and hatred for treasure that you cannot hit an enemy with.
He is played with the Conan the Barbarian track looping endlessly in the background, every shaking step with which he pulls the world behind him on the way to his goal is purposeful.
Animal-like he knows no self doubt, no pity, no remorse. Only the moment, only the kill.
His is a world of instant flavours, smells, sounds, sensations of touch and sight and these senses spend 90% of the time marinating in the blood of his enemies.
Personally I can't wait to P(ick) U(p) G(roup) a few instances and get accused of 'RP lol? WTF WARRIOR?!!' as I pull the whole of an instance, nude, with a mighty axe, my 'roar macro' answering them in kind.
A character is a life. They need a backstory. Whether you believe in the great lord 'RP' or not, I assure you that for the majority of players he will make a new character stand out, become something, nay someone you have to play now and then.
Enough 'now and then' playing will get you a new character at 60, and by then you're practically level capped already. It'd be rude not to get the next 25 levels.
Derbarbar will meet you there.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
The Daily Grind: Even Astronauts Need Hobbies
Gerty: Hello, Sam.
Sam, is everything OK? Sam: Yeah!Yeah, we had a fight. Me and the other guy, the other...
He's very angry, you know?<Moon>
You know what he did?
He flipped my entire model over!
You know how much work I put into that thing?
Gerty: 938 hours.
Sam: 938 hours. Yeah, exactly.
938 hours... really?
Sometimes similarities between 'life' and 'mmo' are impressed upon me. More often I consider the differences.
Anyone can be a success in an mmo. It just requires time, a little common sense, and an immunity to numbing grinds, to time sinks.
You will make a success of yourself, however you measure it, in an online game. They're designed this way. That's why you keep coming back. The ultimate feel good society, everyone can sit on top. No one feels they're supporting the lifestyles of those above them.
The NPCs are the only true working classes. Dependent, like us, on acts of God to grant them immunity from the horrible realities of their daily lives.
This digital success, free to all (or at a reasonable pay-to-play price plan), is not achievement in 'the real world'. The real world is where we must succeed within the framework constructed for us. That much society is very clear on.
All gamers feel that lance, comprised of the condensed social judgements of non-gamers against gamers, pierce their heart. Maybe they've indulged in a marathon gaming session or opted to game instead of complete another essential task.
Shortly afterwards, that individual will feel like they've short changed themselves. They'll think, 'enough is enough'.
"Think of all the things I could be doing..."
Few games document how much time you've spent 'within' them. Net. Total. Those that do let you see the guilty tips of sinful icebergs. They hint at hours, days, months wasted within false worlds.
"200 days played over all characters?! I could be an astronaut, a physicist, I could learn to play the Banjolaylay - hell ALL OF THOSE THINGS - in that amount of time!"
Study the gamer now, as he meets this crisis of the soul. It's a re-emergence of the greatest gift to mankind - the curse that plagues us alone - 'hope'. Hope that with just enough hours, with time, anything is possible. Dreams will be realised. The game has shown him just how much 'idle' time he has at his disposal. Now he'll use this reservoir for (his own) good!
I don't share this hope. You might say I've always gamed so much because I don't value the lost time. I don't honestly believe there's anything I or anyone else can do to truly change their lot in lives with that spare time alone. I'm not a hopeless pessimist but I put my faith in other things.
That spare time would be transferred. You'd either be drinking and socialising on additional occasions, watching TV or DVDs more or doing something else to let off steam more. Another 'hobby' (by which we mean a casual pursuit - nothing important, like say, a job) to while away the precious free hours you have between work shifts and regenerating sleep.
'But!' I hear you cry, 'I could use those copious hours to learn something. Something useful. Anything that benefits me beyond my computer screen'.
You could! But watch out - this 'useful activity that gives you a material benefit' could become a second job. Society will love you then.
Trying to find a new flowchart for this process we call 'living', trying to find an approach that puts you at the centre, is like struggling to stay afloat in the ocean.
You know there must be a better way if you just try; a different stroke; a way to hold yourself; better technique. Problem is you have to focus all your energy in just the next stroke that works because otherwise you'll go under.
'Mr. Einhorn, I was thinking, what if I worked on a horse instead of the chair today. I'd get more done and cut down on time looking around as I'd be so high I'd command a good viewpoint of the office. I'd be happier, I'd probably need less breaks and-', 'Shut up Avary! I need those reports by 2pm!!'
Even that example contains more excitement than usual.
What about testing and stretching the possibilities of life with a model? Yeah! Every animal does this. When a young animal practices or experiments it's called 'play'. If you read a book you're testing the veracity of the alternate reality, a model of ours, presented by the storyteller.
And here is where my faith lies. The power of story.
Our ancestors fought, uphill, to land us in a world where there is such a thing as 'free time'. Stories were and still are the main filler in this free time.
Increasingly we experience daily stories through play. We play with more complex models and with ages that advance onward and onward. Ask any late 20's gentleman for his most amusing gaming story from the past week and he'll quickly oblige.
The world is your oyster but no one will tell you how to open it. Not directly.
And lo, circular in fashion, games return. Games as stories. Not just games but all art; all media; all methods by which we grind our free time into segments for easier consumption; all these tools that the powers that be permit for us to forget that we're mere pawns, point toward other, sneaky ways. Ways to open that oyster. Wisdom is passed on, hidden and immortal, in never-ending story form.
The philosophers; the writers; the film makers; the songwriters; the singers; our bards, are not removed from us. They are us. They encapsulate their truth in their works and some (the lesser) sell it to us, they mean no harm, they must fund their place in society just like us.
Some (the greater) give it away when they can. They have 'risen' and think nothing of giving their greatest discoveries away for free for sheer love for humanity. Sadly these are the people who meet with 'unfortunate accidents', who are 'discredited', who die before their time, impoverished and appreciated later.
Little lessons surround us in story form and sometimes it takes them a long time to sink in. When they do it's worth it. Enjoy whatever you do in the moment. Don't think about time as an investment. Experience stories, tall tales and adventure. Play and allow yourself to laugh a bit like you did once, before you got all srs bsns on us.
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