My boyfriend set the game up on my computer, and I played for the first time over the weekend. I made it to level 4 yesterday. Luckily, I have friends that are high levels that are giving me tips and lots of good stuff. :)

I am an undead mage named Violaceous. (Look it up.) We play in realm Gorgonnash (not sure of the spelling).

Who's out there? I'd love to add more friends to my list.

I played for almost two years. I am on a break right now, but my boyfriend is still addicted. I will probably reactivate my account in June.

I am glad you are on the Horde side :)

Sowwy, I'm in the Guild Wars camp, no WoW here... object to having to pay a fee to play on top of already paying for the game...

I'm not paying, the BF is. :D I've never heard of Guild Wars. :unsure:

Be careful with that game. It's highly addictive and has ruined more than one marriage/friendship. I know that sounds over the top, but unfortunately, it is true. My husband is addicted, but has weaned himself back to where he's playing less, he does pretty well, he only plays after the kids are in bed and cut himself off at midnight - and only raids 3 times a week. It's a horrible game and has had some horrible consequences for some. I'm lucky. He has some control over his addiction.

Google wow addiction or gaming addiction. Unfortunately, I've learned a lot about it over the past few years.

A good place to start is http://www.wowdetox.com/ - it'll at least make you smile. I know you just started playing it. Just be careful.

Yes, I think the game is evil and so is Blizzard for some of their practices that perpetuate these people to get so addicted that their lives suffer.

So, I've said it. You can all yell at me now for crossing the line. LOL ;)

The BF has played for a couple of years now. I don't see him being so addicted he can't stop. He plays when the mood strikes him, and has no trouble turning it off if I ask him to, for dinner or whatever. *shrug*

I'm not worried about me. I have too many other things I have to do, I don't have time to get addicted. :lol: I only decided to start because I got tired of watching over his shoulder.

So, anyway.....who wants to post here that's actually playing WoW???? :lol:

I'm not playing WOW, but I play Pirates of the Carribean online... Because, let's face it, any game that lets you see Johnny Depp can't be that bad...


They have a free version, and a paid version ($9.95/month)... So if anyone wants to hang out with Captain Sparrow and I :popcorn:, my name is Nell Seascarlett and I'm a level 15 pirate--no particular server preference.

Good luck with WOW...
I'm curious to see what people look like in their various online games...

Anyone brave enough to post a picture of their character?


Arrgh! :pirate:

My apologies, just giving some experience from another perspective... I'll go away again... LOL

I play WOW. My alliance characters are on Alleria and Horde characters are on Aggramar. My highest levels are - Daphine - Human Warrior 37 and Thurisaza - Troll Hunter 28.

I'm curious, what Blizzard practices do you think perpetuate the addiction? And this is just curiosity, not mad at your position or anything. Don't want to be misunderstood here :)

I play the game and enjoy it, but I'm old enough to know that when something else is way more important, then it is way more important. I don't not do other things I want to do just to play the game (although I am looking more forward to retirement :giggle: - more time for WOW)

Kathy ---

Note: I'm not saying that everyone that plays has a problem, but as any addict - that will admit that they are - the more information and knowledge you have, the better. Tom has to watch himself even now to make sure he's not getting in to deep and I do watch his playing so I know what's going on. It CAN become an addiction. I was only saying to watch for signs. It's easy, as most will admit, to fall into it heavily.

So, then...

Okay... I was going to just delete my responses because I don't want to bring down this "happy" topic, but since Kathy asked, I decided to ask an addict. This is what my husband had to say. Keep in mind, I'm copying and pasting what he said. He is not nearly as bad as he once was. He still plays, but now runs his own guild where they have set rules that are on the low end of guilds from what I've seen. We don't always agree on his playing, but after 15 years of marriage, I think we both have the lines of communication open enough that we can talk about it. When he gets bad again, I mention it. If he snaps at me, I know he's getting too deep again and try to approach him when it's safer *laugh*. Most of the time, I can make jokes about it and he can too.

Tom says: Well, to tell you the truth, Blizzard is utilizing human (especially male) tendencies to keep people playing.
Tom says: See if this sounds familiar:
Tom says: Work hard, make money,buy stuff, improve at what your doing, worker harder, make more money,buy better stuff, improve at what your doing, ....
Tom says: Its the American Cycle
But, a lot of people let themselves get stuck in a rut. They can't/won't improve themselves in real life.
Tom says: Sooo...they do it in a virtual one where there is no "glass ceiling" to hold them back. Everyone is created equal
Tom says: So, instead of improving themselves IRL, they do it online
Tom says: and the more they improve online, the more they WANT to improve online
Tom says: Also: a lot of the physical barriers to forming relationships are removed.
Tom says: It is easier to make "friends" with other people online. Also to impress those same people
Tom says: Lastly: a lot of people do it to get away from a problem.
Tom says: (this is just an example from the past, nothing currently relevant) We've had fights (especially over WoW) that made me play MORE instead of having the affect of me playing less.
Tom says: Why? Because I was "escaping" from the problem. Did it help? No, but it got my mind off the real issue.

Candy says: Okay, so where is this Blizzard's fault? What are they doing to perpetuate the problem? (and no, it just pissed me off more) LOL
Tom says: If you want a reason to blame blizzard, it is because there is no way to "win"
Tom says: It is a constant "grind": You get better gear,to kill bigger monsters, to get better gear
Tom says: And if you get the best? Blizzard can always make something else
Tom says: And of course, it is becoming obvious to people that this is now just a "cash cow"
Tom says: They aren't even making new graphics for the game. They are just reusing the same old models for critters, weapons, and armor and just tacking on a new name
Tom says: Now for me lately, it hasn't been about the "game" at all so much as about the people. Some how I ended up being Guild Leader. It is quite the rush to lead a small "company" of 100 people.

Candy says: Here's an interesting question for you. Do you truly believe that people can play the game without being addicted, knowing that you still do have a little addiction problem to do it? I've read experts that say 40% of WoW players are addicts. Do you think it's higher? Can 60% truly stop any time that they want?
Tom says: hahahahaha. SUUUUUURE they can
Tom says: I would say that 100% of my guild is addicted to one degree or another
Tom says: I'm probably one of the least addicted if that is any indication
Tom says: But then, you have to understand one other thing: Blizzard isn't the only one "feeding the addiction" the other players are too.

Candy says: Interesting, because from what I've seen over the years, your guild has the lowest requirements. You guys only raid 3 times per week, right? and you don't require daily stuff?
Tom says: Well, Blue (that is the guild name) is what I call a "Casual Hardcore" guild. We don't have requirements (Robert and I put our foot down on that)
Tom says: We have 3 "Raid Nights" a week that are run by Robert or myself.
Tom says: The rest of the week is completely optional
Tomsays: They do whatever they want
Candy says: including, oh, I dunno, having dinner with their families for a change? LOL
Tom says: Of course, a lot of them do the smaller raids
Tom says: I don't do the 10 man stuff..only the 25 man stuff
Tom says: but the rest of the guild likes the smaller stuff, so they do it when I'm not online.
Tom says: We've got a group that does 10 man stuff from Saturday morning to Sunday night
Tom says: They are the worst though...haha, most of Blue eats dinner at a table.
Tom says: That is why we start late
Tom says: ... back to the Blizzard question... They have invented the perfect game. An alternate reality where you WILL succeed if only you put in the time and effort. However, they have made it so you cannot win: you get to 60, they raise the level cap to 70. You get the best tier 3 armor, they introduced tier 4,5,6. You "win" the arena season, they reset the score and make you earn your title all over again.

Then I asked why these addicts seem to move away from RL friendships so quickly...
Tom says: Ok, lets look at it from the really "Hardcore" point of view, and not mine
Tom says: Which is more important: The 25 people you spend 40-80 hours a week with and help each other succeed. Or the 3 or 4 people you see a few hours a day and each have their own agendas?

Some links if anyone wants to read more:
http://www.olganonboard.org/

http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2006/08/08/wor...ayers_addicted/
About the above, he had to say:
Tom says: Oh, btw: This lady you Stumbled me is full of crap.
Tom says: She misses the whole point of WHY it is addicting
Tom says: Adrenalin is an addictive drug produced by your body.
Tom says: it is the reason why atheles keep going long after their prime is past
Tom says: It is also one of the same things that keep gamers playing.
Tom says: Why are gamers addicted and yet sports fanatics are not? Because their are more gamers. Gaming is available to everyone, while sports has long been an "elitest" field

It is an interesting topic, I don't think you're bad for bringing it up. Hubby and I are lucky, we don't have any kids, and we like playing the game together (not WOW but Guild Wars, which is a similar game, just a different company, but the same kind of belong to a guild, kill monsters to gain experience, buy better stuff to move up in the game etc.) so no matter how much time we're spending we're not neglecting children or anything like that. Sleep, yes, but not kiddos! LOL!

We've got a solid group of people that are on there almost all the time I ever look in. My own addiction has gone in phases lately, and there was a point where I was on the game all the time I was home. but again, I wasn't shirking RL duties other than housework, because husband was either at home playing with me, or still at work, such is our sad modern existence! LOL! But then lately I've gone a week or so with just looking in real quick every once in a while to see if a friend was online, and not even playing.

I would say there is also a pressure on those who are in the top ranks to stay there, and that requires constantly staying on top of things, which requires a lot more time than I have, or am willing to give it, but some people are completely sucked in to that.

I'm just resigned to never being the best of the best, or even the best of the worst! LMAO!

It's one of those things that at times I found myself wondering what did I do before I played this game all time? and I also wonder, the people that do have kids, and I know some of our guildies do, it does seem like they're neglecting family duties to play. But what if instead they're just sitting in front of the TV unwinding after work and still not paying attention to the kids, what's the difference? :shrug:

I think you can take it too far, I think I have on occasion, but never dangerously so, mostly just stupidly so in the "wow, I'm gonna feel that tomorrow, why in the world did I stay up that late" way! :lol:

I would honestly totally play both if WoW didn't require a monthly payment. But I've met a good group of people that I wouldn't have otherwise known, so in a way it's comparable to my Bookcrossing activity, ya know?

Oh, definitely, I have my own addictions as well. Food and books, namely. I do have a limit on the book thing. If they don't fit on the shelves I have available, I have to get rid of some or stop getting more. The food thing, well, I blame my mother (and Tom who can cook... omg, can he cook!) LOL ;)

But yeah... it's hard. I do feel lucky that he is more aware of it and came out of it. I have a very dear friend whose husband is a complete and utter addict. He ignores her, their child, his work, everything. It's really sad.

Some of my boyfriend's friends play all the time. They have multiple lvl 70 toons and every now and then, they call him when he is at my house to play arena with him.
My boyfriend is not so bad. We used to play together, but I don't have any 70s. I have a 65 blood elf mage and a 63 orc warlock on the Deathwing realm. I have gone through addictive periods, but I just stop playing when it gets like that. I am trying to read more now :)

I play, too! Well, I try to, but I have school and bookrings and kids to feed and work :lol: I really don't get a lot of time to play. We make it a family thing: both the boys have accounts, too, and we all play together sometimes. We have also all gone several months without playing. I've been playing on and off for just under 2 yrs. My highest level character is a level 53 Orc Shaman named IndigoKong on Draka. I also have a level forty-something Dranei Priest named Anael (the e has the two dots above it... I can't find the character map on this computer, sorry) on Eldre'Thalus. I'd be willing to start a lowbie on another server if all we WoWers wanted to get together and play together sometimes, but I really don't get a lot of time while I'm in school (I'll have more time as soon as summer vacation starts for me). My fiance runs a guild on both our servers, but it's just a little guild made up of friends we know in real life, or family members (like our boys, or my kid sister and her boyfriend). We mostly just help eachother with crafting materials, etc, and completing quests that are difficult for solo players. We're not huge into raids or PVP or whatever.

I've heard of the WoW addiction before, but have not really encountered it in anyone I know in real life. I believe it can happen, though. A person could become addicted emotionally to almost anything, they say. Tom's explainations make sense.

For me personally, though, I get a lot more enjoyment and satisfaction out of bookcrossing/bookobsessing, so WoW will never topple my "addiction" to books! :giggle:

Nevermind. :blush: Yikes.

Argh!! :angry: Hijacked thread!
Is there anyone I can add to my friends list??????? :unsure:

Nyaaah nyaaah, no one wants to be friends with Kellie!! :razz: :tease: :silly: :spin:

Thanks CandieB for your answer.

Blizzard has found a way to keep making money, that is for sure. As addictions go, there are a lot worse. But still addiction is addiction. But I don't think everyone who plays is addicted just like I don't think that anyone who drinks an occassional beer is an alcoholic.

I think there is a lot of pros and cons on both sides. And I'm not cutting down either side. I know if I played as much when my children were small as I do now that they are all grown, we'd have been in trouble. But I'm of an age that no one really cares cause they aren't around.

Because I realize the potentially addictive nature of the game, I would not buy it for a child or even a college student. But I don't regret my purchasing it for me :)

I'll go over and make a character on whatever server you on if you want. Which would actually be good cause we be closer to same level and could quest together. I don't have any characters on Goshdarn are whatever server you said.

A funny the husband found... thought it was good for this discussion!

http://www.comics.com/comics/workingdaze/a...33780080414.jpg

I had a level 40-something night elf druid for a while, and a few other low level characters I played to mix things up. I stopped playing after I broke up with my fiance, but it was a fun game. I'd be happy to come over to your server if I ever get the urge to play again. :)

I made a new toon on your realm. Mu name is Lucrece--undead warlock!

Funny story -

A dog trainer I know was annoyed that her husband was still playing one of the games (I think World of Warcraft?) an hour after he'd said he was getting off. So she went to her computer and printed off a skull and crossbones on a piece of paper (a really bad sign in the game) and then quietly stood behind his chair holding the paper over her head until he turned around and saw her. He logged off. Instantly.

:rofl:

Ok, I just went over and made an undead warrior - Boadicca. Will try to level her up a bit tonight. Let me know when you girls will be on and we'll go do some serious questing :lol:

I don't play on your realm, but I've got a bunch of characters including two level 70's on Runetotem. Both my husband and I play, and we enjoy playing together.

I've just created a Tauren Druid named Palomino. Everyone who has already replied in this post, I have added you to my friends list. Maybe I'll see y'all around.

I think I've added everyone here that's listed a name. I've tried to add everyone to each of my characters' lists.


Just to reiterate, in case anyone doesn't have my alts:


Gorgonash (US server)
Violaceous (main) - undead mage
Browncoat (alt) - troll priest (don't like him much, but I wanted the name, LOL)
Amarah (alt) ---> I just created her yesterday. She's a blood elf rogue. The BF created a blood elf at the same time, and we're going to do all the quests together. :)

Aman'Thul (Oceanic)
Aquinnah - night elf druid


I hit level 20 on my main yesterday! :bananadance: My buddies took me into my first instance and kicked ass for me so I could just lag behind and then loot like crazy. Ah, to have high level friends. LOL :)

gratz on dinging 20! that's awesome. Yeah, it's really handy to have higher level friends, even if it's just a couple of levels, 'cause it makes all the difference in being able to do an instance when you're still the right level to wear the green/blue drops :lol: To have someone who already has a profession trained up so they can make bags (if they're a tailor) or potions or whatever... comes in handy for sure!

Yeah, it was great. Mabuna is a level 70, Rotgutts (my BF) is a 46 (and a priest, so he heals everyone) and Frank is somewhere in the sixties. I got all the chests and any major drops. I picked up some awesome new armor along the way. :)

If it wasn't for my level aggro'ing the bad guys, technically they all could have walked through SFK completely unharmed. But then again, if it wasn't for me, there would have been no need for them to be there in the first place! LOL :lol:

Some Alliance idiot found my BF sitting <AFK> last night out in the boonies somewhere and attacked and killed him! :angry: G came back to his computer and he was dead! He isn't sure what level the guy was, but he thinks he was quite a bit lower, in the 20's somewhere (G is a level 46) because he checked the combat log and the guy had to beat on him quite a bit before he died.

G was lucky enough to be wandering around and ran into the guy again so chased after him (the guy tried to run away but G has a horse and caught up) and then G kicked his butt and cannabilized him! :rofl: Now his ass is grass anytime G or any of his guild run into him. This guy has made an enemy.

A fair fight is a fair fight, but don't take aim on someone <AFK>, even if you can. That's just uncool. :angry2:



And speaking of Alliance...I was out in the Barrens last night, near the Crossroads; it had just been attacked, so I was being really cautious. I ran into an Alliance player on Gold Road. He was high enough of a level that there were only ?? showing. . . I stopped, then made a beeline the other direction 'cause I didn't want him trying anything with me (he probably would have killed me with one hit). Figuring he would have just went on his merry way, I was surprised to actually have the this guy's toon run up to mine and wave; then he patted me, waved goodbye, said farewell, and ran off. I thought that was kinda cool. He could have just completely ignored me. :shrug:

I was wondering how the Alliance are on the server. My last server they were a bunch of idiots, always coming to Tarren Mill and killing everyone. I'm going to try and get my toon up this weekend.

They were attacking a lot last night. A couple times at the Crossroads, Ratchet, another place I can't recall the name of...there was a guy I needed to see for a quest in the Stonetalon Mountains, and when I got there, they had killed him! :angry2: I had to wait around for him to rez.

From what I could get from the local chat, it was only 2 or 3 alliance guys doing the attacking, but they were high 60's and one level 70, so those that were there didn't have much of a chance.

Yesterday my BF (Horde) was in Ratchet and ended up being SURROUNDED by Alliance (not sure why they were all there, probably planning an attack). Of course, they couldn't touch him, but it was pretty funny. He kept typing in emotes: spitting on them, talking about something smelling, etc. I just told him that all they were doing was committing his name and guild to memory for the next time they run into him (or any of the guild members) in the right area they'll try to kill us!

And for the record, in the middle of Razerfen Kraul last night, I leveled 26. w00t!



Edited to fix my level above...but I did level 27 last night. :)

You're cracking me up Kel! Actually the troubles that you're talking about is one reason I like Guild Wars over WOW, not that I've tried it, but just hearing that the other players can come demolish your stuff/person/NPC's is a real turn off for me. the next version of Guild Wars is coming out in a year or 2 and I REALLY hope they don't go that direction.

In GW there's PVP where the players beat up on each other, and the PVE where you get your own instance of the world every time you go out of the cities and no one can interfere with you. I like that a LOT better than what I've heard described!

You can play either way--PVP or PVE. PVP is fun because it makes the game more interesting and you get to kill the Alliance!! I am not leveling as fast as Kel, but I'm making a bunch of gold. The economy on that realm is crazy!

The Alliance can't beat me up unless I'm in their territory or contested territory. I haven't had any trouble yet.


I wouldn't want my own instance every time I entered the world. That would be boring. Part of the fun is interacting with other players, like the time I was in an area and xallroyx ran by and waved at me. :)

Not if you're an introvert! And don't want to deal with people taking your stuff! And I can party up with whoever I want in that instance, it's just that once you go out of the city, other players can't interfere with your game, like killing the person that you need to talk to before you get there. I just haven't liked the things I've heard about how it's set up, but it's probably like everything, you don't really know until you try it.

Stupid Alliance.

Yesterday I was wandering around Thousand Needles (I hate freaking Thousand Needles) and I was killed TWICE by a freaking Alliance player. I think it might have been the same guy, too. The first time I was hearthstoning out, and had but a smidge left to go on my bar, and this guy just came out of nowhere and got me with one smack. Another Horde player had been chasing him, but turned back and was kind enough to rez me, and then even stayed and waited there with me until I hearthstoned out safely. Later, I had climbed up to a high point to stop so I could look up a quest, and while I was sitting there, another guy came by and killed me before I even had a chance to react. THIS time he hung around but I didn't release my spirit right away. He obviously was waiting for me to rez so he could kill me again. My BF wasn't far away so he flew into the area and found me, rez'd me himself, then found the guy that killed me and killed him. Ah, sweet justice. LMAO