keeping-up-with-the-joneses
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Breakfast Topic: Do you struggle to keep up with the Wrynns?
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. While in the World of Warcraft, even the casual player can see that many things in real life carry over into Azeroth. Although a few of these traits are actually beneficial to gameplay, there are a few similarities that may or may not have a negative effect on the society and economy in game. While getting your feet wet in the first few levels, the last thing on a person's mind are epic items, rare gems and being flashy. Once some players hit a certain level (this level is different for everyone), they start focusing less on their enjoyment while in the game and direct their attention to gearing up. Anyone who plays the game can tell you that at one point or another, he has sat in Dalaran, Stormwind or any other city, for that matter, and laid eyes on a player running in circles on their Spectral Tiger or wielding their legendary mace. For me, I find that I get the most out of my gameplay by doing what I personally want and desire rather than trying to outdo someone else. I'd rather be happy with my white level sword hanging out in Goldshire than carrying a legendary sword and flaunting it in Dalaran while losing all sense of happiness. Are you happy with your quest rewards and other easily obtainable items and prefer being a "Loner Dottie, a Rebel," or do you yearn to keep up with the Wrynns, going the extra step to obtain an item that will make others swoon?
Goal!
Sometimes I find myself just standing around somewhere while lost in a deep conversation with a friend, perhaps wandering my character around in some pattern while I talk. It feels good to just let go of time, and immerse myself in that conversation.Some of my friends, however, would never do this, because they have solid goals that they always want to work towards achieving. Whether it's getting keyed for a high-level instance, attaining some new gear for fighting in PvP, or even just leveling up a new alt they like, many players seem to be in motion all the time. Sitting down to talk just doesn't feel productive, especially if they've reached the level cap and there's no such thing as rested experience anymore.Once, a friend of mine told me about his brother's 3 level 70 characters and several other characters getting close to 70. He said his brother is always doing something related to leveling or gear whenever he logs into the game. Sometimes I inspect someone I know, and as I mouse over their various epic items, I feel like I'm getting left behind, like maybe I should get busy like my friend's brother, doing something --anything -- to get farther along in the game. Something inside me says, "What do I need to do to get that item or level up that kind of alt? ... but wait a minute... How much do I really want that? Am I playing this game for the loot, or am I playing it for something else?"
