The Queue: Insomnia

Hi, It’s The Queue again. I’m up late writing it because I can’t sleep. Ask me questions, I try and give you answers.

Yes, I’m excited about the new dinosaur they found in Alberta. I’m always excited about new dinosaurs when they find them.

Onward and upward.

Since I don’t play a warlock, I’m not sure if these are new warlock pets for players or just for NPC’s in Hellfire Citadel. But what I’ve seen of them looks pretty cool to me. They look more detailed and more sinister. I’m kind of sad my Zhar’doom won’t actually look like the felpuppy any more, though.

That’s interesting because in that case your raid group was far from the saviors of anything. You were to be the destroyers of everything – your every step through Northrend was stage managed by a monster who wanted more than anything to prove that anyone would have become a monster like he did if put into a similar situation. I still remember Arthas’ arrival in Zul’Drak and his sparing you for your ‘amusing betrayal’ – of course it turned out that he really spared you in hopes that you’d reach ICC and end up a member of his unholy legions, but there’s a plaintive nature to Arthas’ desperation. Over and over again we see evidence that Arthas just needs to be right – that everything he did from the Culling of Stratholme on is the step by step actions of a former man who takes the actions he does because to stop would be to admit he was wrong, and he can’t do that.

He tries to break Tirion and Bolvar because, as paladins, they’re the greatest insult to his ego – if they refuse to break, then he could have refused, too. And that would mean he’d been wrong, and he couldn’t accept that – everything he did had to be done. That’s always fascinated me about Arthas, but at the same time it made ICC a little disappointing. Yes, of course it was always going to be all about him, but there’s something about getting to actually be the hero I enjoy.

Speaking solely for myself, no, I don’t get disappointed by that.

Comments are just one way to gauge if your work is getting to people. Some topics are controversial and people will react strongly to them, and immediately want to comment. Others aren’t. And it also depends on the piece in question – KYL’s tend to do okay on comments vs. warrior columns, the Queue is always a comment extravaganza, while if I write something, say, about flight in game I expect way more comments than if I write about archaeology. I also know sometimes my take on an issue may cause more or less comments. If I agree with the majority on an issue, they may not bother commenting.

Overall, if I get a lot of comments, great. If I don’t, I don’t.

Honestly, your guess is as good as mine, but I’d enjoy getting dropped onto a hostile area (continent, world, etc) with minimal support from back home, making allies and exploring a new place. No one knows who I am, no one cares, and I prove myself a hero through new deeds. No more Commander, no more in charge of a garrison, but instead the captain of a pirate ship, perhaps.

Honestly? No.

Frankly I don’t want to hear from them just telling me this is how the game is now, because I can tell how the game is now by playing it. I want them to communicate with me when there’s a reason to do so – rules are changing, patches are coming, something more than ‘well, it’s been six months, here’s us talking about the game’.

I really don’t feel like it helps to be told the general state of the game in this fashion.

Now, I would like it that if and when they do communicate, that it is forthright and informative. I think it’s fair to expect and even demand that.

Man, I really need some sleep. See y’all next week. Be nice to Anne and leave lots of questions for tomorrow.