About the Bloggers: Mark Crump
Twice a week, our writers will tell you more about themselves, and let you get to know them and the characters they play a little better. Click here to read more About the Bloggers.
What do you do for WoW Insider?
It seems I spend about as much time convincing the leads that I'll start blogging more any day now, really. Seriously, when I topic comes to mind I write about it. I like tossing out ideas for discussion. I've also recently resurrected Ask WoW Insider from the grave.
What's your main right now?
A level 70 Night Elf Hunter. I had no idea they were as ezmode as they are -- I just missed the creature handler from Star Wars Galaxies.
For the Horde or Glory to the Alliance?
Alliance, obviously. My story is the usual one where I had a friend on the server so I rolled there. Naturally, she didn't make it out of her starter month. Once I got over the feeling of abandonment with the help of a wonderful shrink in the Mage's Tower I was fine. I actually had two characters around the same level: the hunter and an Undead priest. When I decided to level up I flipped a coin and the priest lost. I'm still working on him as an alt, though.
Favorite thing to do in Azeroth?
While it's an old saying, I like helping out my guildies. I'm in probably the best guild I've been in, in any game (and that's dating back to 1999). As fun as getting loot is for myself, I love seeing friends get it more.
What's the best instance in the game?
Karazhan. I like the different bosses and the fact that everyone that goes gets something, even if it's badges. My second favorite is Shadow Lab, since my first try through there was six hours of epic fail. After that it's been a breeze.
What's the number one thing Blizzard could do better?
Treat their customers better. There's times when I think the border on old-school SOE levels of attitude. I'd also like them to at least pay lip service to the issues they are having with hacking. I know keyloggers and the like are technically not their problem, but they've got a tool, the Warden, that they claim helps stop cheats and keylogging. It's about as effective as a plunger in a backed-up sewage treatment plant.
I'd also like a 10-man instance in between Karazhan and ZA. From what I've read, there's too much of a difficulty ramp between KZ and ZA. I'd love a 10-man progression with lesser loot than the 25-mans for guilds that want to focus on that.
I want a pony, too.
When I'm not playing WoW, I'm...
Writing, most likely. I write full-time and WoW Insider and Massively are small parts of my writing output. In between writing and WoW I try and spend time with my wife.
If you had 10 more hours to play every week, what would you spend them doing?
The honest answer is probably not play, and work on personal writing instead. I'd probably research some stuff in-game for articles that I keep having troubles finding the time to do because guildies call in favors. Writing is my passion, and I love playing WoW, but writing about WoW is like eating doughnuts fresh from the fryer.
