Distractions

Video games have been my kryptonite for years.

I need to write more, it’s a struggle of mine. But more so lately than usual, I was distracted by World of Warcraft. Their newest expansion just released, and unfortunately for me, I’ve been locked in, knocking quests out like the hero of Azeroth that I am.

Digressing a little, but not detouring, one of the things that keeps re-captivating me is the lore in WoW. The game itself is fun, don’t get me wrong, and I’m competitive. I enjoy the PvE and PvP (that’s player-versus-enemy and player-versus-player for you non-gamers) aspects of the game, and usually do them both fairly well. I’m no chart-topper, but I’m not half bad either.

I’ve mained (that means I’ve mostly played; stay with me here) a Paladin since Burning Crusade (the first expansion for the game). As a Paladin, I’m a champion of the Light (a power made of literal light, and the opposite and nemesis of the Void) and I play the class as a healer. And you’d better believe that I’m a good one at that. I have a tendency to play the class I am all the way through and through. By that I mean that when I played a Blood Elf Paladin, I just couldn’t find it in myself to senselessly slaughter Alliance players. Now that I play for the Alliance, I don’t really have a problem with killing the Horde. But there’s an in-universe reason for that… no spoilers. Cough Teldrassil Cough.

Spoilers ahead, you can use your mouse to highlight the text to read. This expansion has brought about the change in the game that it’s been missing; for two expansions or better, the Alliance and the Horde have been facing off against a greater threat, and have set aside their differences for peace. Finally, after years of crap, they’re facing off at each other again. It only required the leader of the Horde to burn down a ten-thousand year old, or older, world tree full of innocent men, women, and children. We (the Alliance) turned the attack on their city of Lordaeron, and the crazy leader of the Horde, Sylvanas, blew up her own city in a vain attempt to kill the High King of the Alliance. Then. THEN! When you get to a city called Brennadem (sp), the Horde bombs a city full of innocents. I’m so happy I changed to the Alliance, I can’t even begin to tell you.

But honestly, the game does more than just scratch a story-related itch for me. It also manages to bring together a social aspect of life that I don’t get a whole lot of. Nowadays, I work eight to seven, five days a week and have very little time for any socializing aside from that which I give my family. Not a problem, I just find my digital friends and carry on. That too will have to come to an eventual pause, because I will have to return to more consistent writing on my blog and my book.

Write Right now, though, I’m going to go try to get max level so that my warrior-buddy doesn’t complain any more about not having a dedicated healer.

Hold tight, everyone, I won’t be gone too long.

Photo by Redd Angelo on Unsplash