What keeps me playing WoW?

Something that Melk brought to my attention recently and to be honest, sometimes I do actually wonder what keeps, me playing.
I’m going to put this together into two parts, this being the first, the second I want to talk about end game stuff, raiding, guilds etc. I’m not going to go on too long, just want to add my thoughts on various points.

I guess a number of obvious reasons (to me) come to mind at first. Because I love the lore of Warcraft and because logging into such a massively multiplayer gateway with a character that I have created and invested so much time in, have made so many plans for, and have experienced so many things with, with so many different people, kind of makes me feel all fuzzy inside – yea I know that sounds really lame, but I don’t believe anyone who that denies that when they have played the game for so long and are still playing it today, and being established in a successful guild really helps! Because logging into such a wonderful gateway with this missing is not fulfilling – for me at least.

Everybody has their own reasons, which I’m sure change a lot... sometimes daily! But for me, because the game is so multifaceted, and because it involves at least two instantly definable separate meta games within a larger whole, these being:

• Levelling a character with intent on reaching level cap. Choosing two professions and reaching their respective level caps.

And

• Reaching level cap and switching your goals to maintain your character, become involved in gear progression and to be the best you can possibly be – this being the ultimate aim of the game (or this meta game)

My reasons for playing, and why I keep playing, are suited to each meta game respectively and not as one big whole. Simply because they are different.

Are yours? And if so, can you relate to what I’m writing here?

I level characters because I still love wandering around Azeroth, and remembering stuff I did with people I’ve only met through Warcraft and have had great times with. I level characters because I have a thing for female Dreanei. I level characters because I want a nice selection to choose from once WotLK hits. I level characters for my own little RP reasons. I level characters because I like the payoff. Basically there are many reasons that keep me playing, some more important than others.

Makes sense right? :-)

Shal (aka Sassha)