Breakfast Topic: Everything has flaws

By Matthew Rossi
I don't love everything about World of Warcraft, for a multitude of reasons. For one thing, I don't know if you know this, but I'm irascible. I'm very easily irritated. I get irritated by my own keybindings sometimes. I dislike the DPS/Tank/Healer tricycle upon which much of the game is built. When I tank, I often have to mute my mic so I can go on 20 minute swearing jags while I'm doing well. I still hate that as a warrior, I have to tank with a shield instead of a two hander or dual wielding two handers. I dislike running LFR and often can't make myself do it. I'm not fond of daily quests. My point being, despite these things I still play the game after eight years. Clearly I've found things to enjoy. That doesn't make the game perfect, and in fact, I'm not looking for perfection from it.

Over the course of the past five years, working for this site, I've seen flaws in the design come and go as the game itself has changed. Each expansion often gives me a sense of playing a new game, especially Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria. Sometimes that's not great — I disliked trying to run Cataclysm's launch heroic dungeons, for instance — and sometimes it is. In the end, what keeps me coming back isn't perfection, because there's no such animal, but rather the chance to relearn the game and make new discoveries. Mists has held my attention and interest because it feels like it personifies that sense of discovery. The new expansion smell hasn't worn off, doesn't even seem likely to any time soon.

So, let's vent. What vexes you in World of Warcraft? What are the flaws that give contrast to the triumphs? What do you hate about WoW, and are you crazy enough that what you hate can actually help you enjoy what you love?

Mists of Pandaria is here! The level cap has been raised to 90, many players have returned to Azeroth, and pet battles are taking the world by storm. Keep an eye out for all of the latest news, and check out our comprehensive guide to Mists of Pandaria for everything you'll ever need to know.

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