beggars
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New Age of Wushu trailer highlights game's eight schools
One of the first major decisions a player comes to in the free-to-play martial arts sandbox Age of Wushu is which of the eight different schools to join. Have a penchant for panhandling? Perhaps you'd prefer the Beggars. Maybe the muses inspire you; then Scholars would be the best bet. Or if you prefer poisons, you'd fit in with the Tangmen. If none of those tickle your fancy, you can belong to the Wudang, Royal Guards, Wanderer's Valley, Emei, or Shaolin. Still undecided? Snail Games has released a trailer of the schools, giving players get a glimpse of each one. Take a peek after the cut.
Age of Wushu invites you to be a beggar
MMO players are definitely used to being recruited to fill heroic roles, but what about jumping into the shoes of a street bum? That doesn't happen as often. Don't tell that to Age of Wushu, however, as this contrarian sandbox is looking to make an entire class out of martial arts panhandling. That's right: One of the classes in the game is the Beggar. This isn't your average drunk wino (well, not too drunk); the Beggars are tough as nails and can go toe-to-toe with the best of the rich kids. Beggars fight in a similar fashion to the Drunken Master style, using booze to fuel their flexible attacks and witty comebacks. The class relies mostly on hands and feet to do damage, although the occasional quarterstaff is wielded as well. Go slumming with the Beggars in a video after the break!
Free for All: Are MMO transients bad for the industry?
I hate downtown Dallas. When I was a kid, it used to be the place to go. We would drive several hours to see a punk rock show, stare at the cool people we didn't have in Oklahoma, and then drive back. Back then, Dallas was a paradise. Now that I am older and have played in bands for nearly 24 years, I realize Dallas is a pit. I hated playing the clubs there. One of the major issues that the city has run into is what to do about all of the homeless people. I hate to sound like a jerk, but right now you can't go into downtown Dallas without being asked for change a dozen times or asked to "look at this spider bite." (This did happen to me once, and it it was nasty-looking.) Despite my attitude of understanding for people in all sorts of situations, I still wonder what a city is supposed to do with a constant influx of people, people who do not reside permanently in the city yet continue to pass through? You can't tax them. MMO gamers who enjoy multiple games are often talked about as though they are the pitiful homeless. While I can see some parallels, I think that such a judgment is not only insensitive but the opposite of the truth. Let's look at the variables past the cut.
The Daily Grind: Why do they beg?
In just about every MMO you play, you'll find one. They crowd around auction houses, inns, and pretty much any place where players like to concentrate in large numbers. Some like to whisper, some ask in local, some beg in trade, some yell to the entire zone - but they're essentially all the same - they want you to give them your money. Most of the time, the request is made via broken, crappy English (at least we think it's English) that would be best left on a cell phone - if that. Sure, they get money sometimes, but they also get put on permanent ignore, yelled at, cursed at, spat at, and more. So why do you think they do it? Just trying to get cash easily, or are they getting some enjoyment out of annoying the hell out of other players? Why do you think people /beg?
Breakfast Topic: Do you give to beggars?
My favorite beggar plea is when they ask for "spare" cash. Like there is the concept of extra change jingling in your pocket in-game. My usual answer to any beggar is "Of course not", but when I'm feeling verbose I'll give advice as to where a good place to quest is for his or her level.The Spousal Unit has been known to happily say that he will give the beggar 10 gold. All the beggar has to do is meet him in front of the bank in 10 minutes. Then 9 minutes later, he logs off. The tenacious ones will actually add him to their Friends List and bug him the next time he's on. He is willing to string them along as long as they are willing to keep trying.Just like Gold Sellers are only around because people are willing to buy, beggars only keep begging because people are willing to give them money.Yesterday I asked why beggars beg. Today I want to know, do you give to beggars? If not, what do you say when you turn them down?
Breakfast Topic: Why do beggars beg?
Lately, my bank alt has been encountering beggars in Orgrimmar. This confuses me because there has never been a better time to make money at any level. Sure, level 70s can do their Daily Quests and easily make 100 gold in less than an hour. But even lowbies can get in on the action. If you can herb, Swiftthistle brings a nice price on the AH. Is mining your thing? Copper bars and low end gems are snapped up on the AH by people leveling up Jewelcrafting, Engineering and Blacksmithing. Do you just kill humanoids? Well then, Wool Cloth has always been profitable for bringing up First Aid, Tailoring and factions in the major cities.Though, honestly, going out and questing for half an hour at any level will get you enough money to buy supplies and pay for repair bills. So I just don't get it. Isn't playing the game more interesting than standing around asking for other people's money?I am really baffled here. Do you beg and if so, why? If not, why do you think people beg?
Charity for beggars, or lack thereof
I like to think that maybe it's because I'm special (but it probably happens to everyone who has a 70)-- periodically ingame, I'll get tells from lowbies, asking either for mount money, or to run them through an instance. I've made it a habit to laugh and politely decline (this is not a hard game, and they can play it themselves). But this post on Livejournal made me reconsider the question of why I should or shouldn't help beggars.Fordarkness tells the story of his mother selling some furniture that she was asking $500 for $25 to help out a couple who'd been going through some rough times, and he says that it seems like a good idea to help beggars out when you believe they genuinely need it. I've never begged for money or powerleveling (although I have begged same-level guildies to tank or heal an instance for me, I'll readily admit), but, like Fordarkness, I have been gifted money by friends who saw how close I was to my first mount.Of course, guildies are a different situation-- I'll give them anything they need, because I figure you might as well show loyalty to someone besides yourself. As for beggars, though, I've never helped them, and unless they take an effort to show my why they actually need what they're asking for, I'll keep it that way. Have you ever felt the need to make a lowbie's day and gift them that mount money or run them through that instance? Or does a tell from someone you don't know asking for something automatically add them to your ignore list?Update: Right after I finished writing this article, reader Preacherman23 sent us this elegant solution: one player puts 50g in the trade window of a beggar... and then just goes afk for an hour or so.
