10 Years 10 Questions

I heard about the Godmother of Faff's 10 Ten Years, 10 Questions survey a few days ago, but haven't sat down to actually answer them until now. I believe Godmother intends to use the responses to put together an Alternative Chat show very close to the anniversary of WoW. But several other bloggers have posted their answers now, and I shall follow suit.

Why did you start playing World of Warcraft?
I had a friend who played religiously, and he spent a lot of time talking about it. I wasn't really interested until he came over one day and insisted that I install it (using his disks and a friend-key). I had subscribed by the end the week.

What was the first ever character you rolled?

My first character was a Dwarf Hunter named Oakheart. I believe I got him into the 40s, but not before he'd become one of several characters I roled ("rolling" is something munchkins do with dice. I play characters) as I found classes and quest lines I preferred to play.

Which factors determined your faction choice in game?
Initially, I played Alliance because my friend's main character was a gnome. I eventually created at least one of every race and class, and both factions. I continued to receive more social support on the Alliance side after he started playing different hours due to a job change. That's not to say Horde players are unfriendly, but I never put down any real roots on that side.

What has been your most memorable moment in Warcraft and why?
I'm not really sure. The first time my namesake, Rowanblaze, the priest felt truly powerful? Stepping through the Dark Portal for the first time—several months after the Burning Crusade was released? My first flying mount? Achieving "A Long Strange Trip" and getting my violet proto-drake? Really, there are a lot of memories when I stop to think. Many moments—like "smokin' and jokin'" during raids—run together.

What is your favourite aspect of the game and has this always been the case?
I've always loved questing and leveling. A major reason for my altoholism stems from the rested XP bonus and the fact that I wanted to play, but wanted to keep that bonus. So I would rest my stable of characters. The practice of switching from one character to another each session allowed me to go through a wide variety of different zones and quest stories, and I rarely got bored in those first few years. I was always a little miffed that "Lore Master" was not an account-wide achievement.

Do you have an area in game that you always return to?

Stolen from MMOGC

This doesn't really apply to me, since I haven't really played for a few years. In trying to think of my favorite places, I came up with a laundry list of zones. I tend to favor naturalistic forests and grasslands. Grizzly Hills, Nagrand, Elwynn Forest, Mulgore, Eversong Woods. I also like spooky areas, especially those dominated by the Forsaken.

How long have you /played and has that been continuous?
I am honestly not sure how much total /played time I have between all my characters. I played almost daily, it seemed, from late June of 2006, until January of 2009, when my account was hacked. I played semi-regularly after that, interspersed with new MMOs, until finally fully unsubscribing from WoW in the fall of 2011.

Admit it: do you read quest text or not?
I almost always read the quest test in WoW. It did not occur to me to do otherwise.

Are there any regrets from your time in game?
I don't think there's anything I regret, precisely. I continued playing it past the time I really enjoyed it, out of a sense of loyalty to friends who were still interested.

What effects has Warcraft had on your life outside gaming?
For me, Warcraft was a "Dark Portal" to a broader gaming hobby. I have started blogging and writing fiction, formed friendships, and strengthened my relationship with my bride through WoW and MMORPGs.

We're halfway through Blaugust! It's not too late to join. Breeze on over to Belghast's Blaugust Initiative Page on Anook and let him know you're there. It may even mean a small windfall for you, as Belghast has prizes prepared for high achievers.

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