WRUP: Let's talk about privilege edition

In movies, you frequently hear about people expecting to get their one phone call. This is a myth. Phone calls are a privilege, and they work like absolutely everything else — if you prove that you can't behave yourself, you get that privilege taken away. The same goes for posting on forums, playing MMOs, or even getting to sit down and order a meal in Denny's. If you show the people in charge that you aren't able to handle the basic levels of responsibility required, then you lose the right to do any of the above.

Okay, you probably could never reach a point where Denny's wouldn't let you sit down and order, but it's possible in theory.

Anyway, now that our random opener is over, let's just move straight into WRUP without pretending that I have a segue. This week, we're talking about the same thing as every other week — what we'll be playing over the weekend. We also discuss what challenges we've added to games we play. So head on past the cut to see what we'll be up to, and let us know your plans in the comments!

Beau Hindman (@Beau_Hindman): I will be switching my Rise and Shiny game to A Mystical Land, so I will be dedicating a lot of time to that. I'll also be streaming some Vanguard on Saturday, and continuing to play Gods and Heroes. I want to get some time in on some DC Universe Online and do some more sailing in Wurm Online. After all that, I traded in that silly game Dungeon Siege III for four or so cheap shooters, games like Modern Warfare and Bioshock II. Dungeon Siege challenged me too much... I hate challenge in a console game. I save that stuff for MMOs.

The most drawn-out and detailed challenge I have ever added to my gaming was my "Immersion Project." Basically I made up a set of rules that dictated if my character rested, ate, or traveled. I made him only use realistic forms of chat and other restrictions. I still play that way when I have the time. In fact, so far in Gods and Heroes I have made my character walk everywhere and it does add on a dimension that you just won't get otherwise. We move too fast through our MMOs, and that's kind of sad considering how much work goes into them. I used to use a real life map as well, which I still use occasionally for Vanguard. I couldn't open the in-game map and got very lost a lot of the time. What ends up happening is that you memorize the landscape, or navigate by the sun or stars. Yep, some developer put real star movements into almost any game you can think of.

Brandon Felczer (@bfelczer): This weekend I will be working and spending time with family before they leave to go back home to Guam. Even though I will not be spending as much time as I normally do playing, I have no doubt that I will somehow make my way into the Star Trek Online universe to complete my dailies and participate in some PvP matches. I have been spending a lot of time doing ground PvP with all of the new changes so don't be surprised if you see my sniper rifle pop out from behind a box and target your face.

As far as adding challenges to game, I have used my own OCD to accomplish this. I have to have my toon's inventory perfect at all times — if something is out of place, I freak out and have to fix it right away. This becomes a constant struggle as I pick up loot and data samples. I try not to think about it and just leave it be, but I just can't. Feel free to let that show "Obsessed", know about this — I would totally go on it and have them film me so you can all see my craziness.

Eliot Lefebvre: This weekend will be spent in more preparation for moving to a new apartment, but other than that I'm going to be rocking some Warhammer Online (including a Massively warband organized from Choose My Adventure) and Final Fantasy XIV. I might fire up some Civilization V while I'm at it, I could use something soothing like that.

Most of the challenges I wind up posing to myself in MMOs are inadvertent consequences of roleplaying. I don't normally go for really ornate challenges otherwise, even in single-player games.

Jeremy Stratton (@Jeremy_Stratton): I'm going to pull a mini-vacation this weekend, but I'll try to get is some Perpetuum and Runes of Magic. I'm like a social butterfly with ADHD sometimes. I'm sure you're wondering what the heck that has to do with finding challenges, but it makes perfect sense. I just can't stick with one thing for very long, unless I force myself. And if I do that, to fight repetition, I'm usually purposefully trying out new things. I'm building a Rogue/Priest in Runes of Magic and putting predominantly Mage-statted gear on it while playing to my DoT strengths. I'm also equipping a wand and a hammer for some melee DPS. I'd call that a challenge.

Justin Olivetti (@Sypster): I've been working diligently on a new Burglar in Lord of the Rings Online, although I'm quite sure I'm going to make a lot of time to get back into RIFT after a week's vacation and a week's banning due to a hacked account.

I do weird challenges all the time. Once, in World of Warcraft, I was dead set on leveling a Warrior who used a staff. People yelled at me a lot, if I recall. That could have been a dream, too.

Patrick Mackey (@mackeypb): I'm playing the Mass Effect series (about 1/3 of the way into ME1)! I'm also leveling an alt in Champions Online, which has been a fairly new thing for me since I made my third level 40. Also playing Global Agenda a little bit.

I'm honestly sort of appalled by the bonus question. I don't inject artificial challenge into games. If the game isn't fun, it's not going to be more fun when I do a green armor/level 3 sword/no bottles run (which I've done, btw). I'm not the kind of person to do a "pacifist + no quest exp" grind just to add some sort of interest. If I've lost enjoyment in the game, I just stop playing it. Nostalgia often brings me back.

At the start of every weekend, we catch up with the Massively staff members 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!