I met a handsome fellow at a convention recently and instead of falling back on the tired old “do you come here often” sort of conversation starter, I brought up World of Warcraft. Yes, that’s how I roll. And it worked, because he immediately asked me my class and level. “Warrior, 45,” I replied as ruggedly as possible. Thank the fates I told the truth, because he immediately whipped out his iPhone and plugged my details into an app that allows access to the WoW database of players. “Hm,” he muttered, examining my stats. “This your only character?” And I knew from his tone and subtext exactly what he meant. For someone who’s been playing as long as I have, having one character at level 45 is pretty pathetic. My “cool geek” cover was blown. I was revealed as merely a casual WoW player, a pretender. In that moment of dismissal, my blood boiled and my brain went into overdrive. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill; as God as my witness, I’ll never be out-geeked again!” (More…)
In my WoW heyday, I was playing several hours a day, sometimes late into the night. I was zooming through levels and questing and grouping like a pro. Then…well…life sort of got in the way, like it always does, when you just want to be a full-time fanboy. I suddenly had more social commitments, a busier travel and work schedule, plus the time-consuming, yet lovable responsibilities of this site. Before I knew it, my hunky warrior was benched, and life in Azeroth was passing him (and me) by. Even my one-time WoW gal pal, who protected my loincloth-clad butt on a nightly basis, moved on to the advanced adventures and pleasures of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Meanwhile, I’ve yet to make it to The Burning Crusade, which was the 2007 expansion.
As my virtual life began to fade away, I considered pulling the plug altogether and keeping my $14.99 a month. But never one to give up without a fight, I stumbled upon a solution. Perhaps I should rephrase that. Never one to give up without finding an easy way out, I stumbled upon a solution. Pay someone else to do it! Believe it or not, there are companies out there who will take over your WoW character and “power-level up” to whatever rank and stat you want. For a mere $80, I could carry on with my real-world responsibilities while someone else took my character on his various adventures and boosted his experience. It was a very tempting offer with an almost Parent Trap-like allure. Once my toon was standing tall again, we’d switch back, and I could hold my virtual head high once more.
I don’t have an angel and devil on my shoulder, as much as I have two devils of varying degrees of malfeasance. The lesser of the two evils advising me said, “It’s not cheating. Not really. It’s like reading CliffsNotes. You can always go back and read the whole book later.” True, I thought. Though, I never did go back and read Little Dorrit. But, good lord, it was Little Dorrit! “Just do it. Plus, once you’re at a higher level, you can be more helpful to people just starting out.” Ohhhh. So, really, it would be highly noble of me to accelerate my standing, because then I’d be helping others! Like Mother Teresa sleeping her way to the top of her religious order! Everyone wins! I had made up my mind. I was going to cheat.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, or at least seen The Simpsons parody, but it’s funny how quickly a good (though totally dishonest) idea can begin to haunt you, quiet little doubts that soon turn into thunderous recriminations. What if my friends find out? What if I meet a guy at a convention and tell him I’m a level 80 and he starts quizzing me about specific quests and dungeon runs? I’ll be exposed as a fraud! Is that better than just admitting that I’m stuck at level 45 and that I spend all my blacksmithing money on cute warrior clothes? Who would find out? People always find out. Who would even care? It’s just WoW. It’s not like I’m a politician taking bribes. But I am a public figure and people trust me. No, they don’t! That’s just something I made up in the press release for the site. What would King Varian Wrynn do? I don’t know! I haven’t gotten that far in the game!
What would my scantily-clad heroic warrior do? He…would keep fighting.
Is it possible that my little pixelated creation has more moral fortitude than his creator? Well, of course. And that’s as it should be. If I were suddenly dropped into the world of Azeroth, I doubt I’d immediately take up a sword and go questing. More likely I’d cry a lot and hide in the inn where it’s safe or maybe try to get a job at the bank. I suppose that’s why I like World of Warcraft. It’s an escape to a world where you can be and do things beyond reality. And that is why I will most likely keep playing, on my own, aided only by the kindness of strangers and their avatars, even if it takes me the next 20 years to move past level 45. All this building of character through building a character is making me queasy. Maybe I should just log on and beat up some level 44s.
First I second the For the Horde! Yes I too have cheated some, buying a bunch of gold to make my cute blood elf in to a Azerothian hunter stud. And yes it is bitter. I have learned my lesson and encourage people to just have fun at the game itself, and don’t let the “newbe haters” get to you as there will always be someone better or with more time. Good for you in saying no to the quick way up.
Oh no! How did Blizzard know you weren’t you? Maybe they were tracking the IP addresses of the power leveling employees? Blizzard should just sell levels! That would make all of this a lot easier.
medayo 07/07/2009 06:52 pm
I too once had that overwhelming desire to raise my character through power leveling. I payed for my mage to get power leveled and don’t you know it? Blizz found out and suspended my account. I got off suspension and hopped on to my mage and was disheartened cause I felt detached from my once lovable rotting undead friend. He had different clothes and he played differently. He went from a lovable warm fire casting boyfriend to a cold, distant, ice wielding booty call.
I started a new character and took my sweet time with my brand spanking new undead warrior. It took forever but I got him to 80. I know his ins and outs and it feels good to know I personally taught him how to wield two big swords.
From my experience power leveling just left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt guilty every time I played my power leveled character and I was no longer enthusiastic to play him.
Oh btw: For the Horde!
arklight 07/07/2009 11:16 am
lol…that is great! Being a fellow player of Wow as well, I found this to be funny. I have only been playing a month or two and know if I spent more time at it, I would be a lot higher. I found that my favorite and easiest toon is the HUNTER.
Sex, Lies and Power Leveling
By Chance
July 07, 2009 at 1:03AM EDT
I met a handsome fellow at a convention recently and instead of falling back on the tired old “do you come here often” sort of conversation starter, I brought up World of Warcraft. Yes, that’s how I roll. And it worked, because he immediately asked me my class and level. “Warrior, 45,” I replied as ruggedly as possible. Thank the fates I told the truth, because he immediately whipped out his iPhone and plugged my details into an app that allows access to the WoW database of players. “Hm,” he muttered, examining my stats. “This your only character?” And I knew from his tone and subtext exactly what he meant. For someone who’s been playing as long as I have, having one character at level 45 is pretty pathetic. My “cool geek” cover was blown. I was revealed as merely a casual WoW player, a pretender. In that moment of dismissal, my blood boiled and my brain went into overdrive. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill; as God as my witness, I’ll never be out-geeked again!” (More…)
In my WoW heyday, I was playing several hours a day, sometimes late into the night. I was zooming through levels and questing and grouping like a pro. Then…well…life sort of got in the way, like it always does, when you just want to be a full-time fanboy. I suddenly had more social commitments, a busier travel and work schedule, plus the time-consuming, yet lovable responsibilities of this site. Before I knew it, my hunky warrior was benched, and life in Azeroth was passing him (and me) by. Even my one-time WoW gal pal, who protected my loincloth-clad butt on a nightly basis, moved on to the advanced adventures and pleasures of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Meanwhile, I’ve yet to make it to The Burning Crusade, which was the 2007 expansion.
As my virtual life began to fade away, I considered pulling the plug altogether and keeping my $14.99 a month. But never one to give up without a fight, I stumbled upon a solution. Perhaps I should rephrase that. Never one to give up without finding an easy way out, I stumbled upon a solution. Pay someone else to do it! Believe it or not, there are companies out there who will take over your WoW character and “power-level up” to whatever rank and stat you want. For a mere $80, I could carry on with my real-world responsibilities while someone else took my character on his various adventures and boosted his experience. It was a very tempting offer with an almost Parent Trap-like allure. Once my toon was standing tall again, we’d switch back, and I could hold my virtual head high once more.
I don’t have an angel and devil on my shoulder, as much as I have two devils of varying degrees of malfeasance. The lesser of the two evils advising me said, “It’s not cheating. Not really. It’s like reading CliffsNotes. You can always go back and read the whole book later.” True, I thought. Though, I never did go back and read Little Dorrit. But, good lord, it was Little Dorrit! “Just do it. Plus, once you’re at a higher level, you can be more helpful to people just starting out.” Ohhhh. So, really, it would be highly noble of me to accelerate my standing, because then I’d be helping others! Like Mother Teresa sleeping her way to the top of her religious order! Everyone wins! I had made up my mind. I was going to cheat.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, or at least seen The Simpsons parody, but it’s funny how quickly a good (though totally dishonest) idea can begin to haunt you, quiet little doubts that soon turn into thunderous recriminations. What if my friends find out? What if I meet a guy at a convention and tell him I’m a level 80 and he starts quizzing me about specific quests and dungeon runs? I’ll be exposed as a fraud! Is that better than just admitting that I’m stuck at level 45 and that I spend all my blacksmithing money on cute warrior clothes? Who would find out? People always find out. Who would even care? It’s just WoW. It’s not like I’m a politician taking bribes. But I am a public figure and people trust me. No, they don’t! That’s just something I made up in the press release for the site. What would King Varian Wrynn do? I don’t know! I haven’t gotten that far in the game!
What would my scantily-clad heroic warrior do? He…would keep fighting.
Is it possible that my little pixelated creation has more moral fortitude than his creator? Well, of course. And that’s as it should be. If I were suddenly dropped into the world of Azeroth, I doubt I’d immediately take up a sword and go questing. More likely I’d cry a lot and hide in the inn where it’s safe or maybe try to get a job at the bank. I suppose that’s why I like World of Warcraft. It’s an escape to a world where you can be and do things beyond reality. And that is why I will most likely keep playing, on my own, aided only by the kindness of strangers and their avatars, even if it takes me the next 20 years to move past level 45. All this building of character through building a character is making me queasy. Maybe I should just log on and beat up some level 44s.
For the Alliance!
Previous Comments
Buying gold seems like a good idea. I hate spending three days mining mythril in the Badlands just so I can buy stuff.
First I second the For the Horde! Yes I too have cheated some, buying a bunch of gold to make my cute blood elf in to a Azerothian hunter stud. And yes it is bitter. I have learned my lesson and encourage people to just have fun at the game itself, and don’t let the “newbe haters” get to you as there will always be someone better or with more time. Good for you in saying no to the quick way up.
Oh no! How did Blizzard know you weren’t you? Maybe they were tracking the IP addresses of the power leveling employees? Blizzard should just sell levels! That would make all of this a lot easier.
I too once had that overwhelming desire to raise my character through power leveling. I payed for my mage to get power leveled and don’t you know it? Blizz found out and suspended my account. I got off suspension and hopped on to my mage and was disheartened cause I felt detached from my once lovable rotting undead friend. He had different clothes and he played differently. He went from a lovable warm fire casting boyfriend to a cold, distant, ice wielding booty call.
I started a new character and took my sweet time with my brand spanking new undead warrior. It took forever but I got him to 80. I know his ins and outs and it feels good to know I personally taught him how to wield two big swords.
From my experience power leveling just left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt guilty every time I played my power leveled character and I was no longer enthusiastic to play him.
Oh btw: For the Horde!
lol…that is great! Being a fellow player of Wow as well, I found this to be funny. I have only been playing a month or two and know if I spent more time at it, I would be a lot higher. I found that my favorite and easiest toon is the HUNTER.
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