WRUP: Sickness and heat

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as: WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

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.

The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!