Partial break from raiding.
Well I've been playing World of Warcraft for almost a year now, raiding 'full time' (2 nights a week) for almost 6 months. In that time I've had a LOT of fun due in no small part to the group of people that I've been raiding with. Minor personality issues aside, it's a decent group of people all wanting to have a good time.
In my time with them, I've worked myself into a rather important (and possibly one of the most challenging) position in the raid, The Main Assist. It's my job to safe guard the raid and ensure that loose MOBs get tanked and don't squash our casters. As such they've begun to count on me to be there... however with Fest almost upon me I have to step back a hair with my involvement as the group raids Sundays and Mondays, and I will simply be physically unable to raid Sunday nights.
It's kind of funny, but I feel bad for leaving. I don't WANT to leave, but it's a simple matter of competing commitments.
There are tons of reasons (some of which I've elaborated on) that I don't want to go back to Fest; however what's frustrating is that anytime I voice that continuing to raid in WoW is one of them I get the response (from many including my wife) 'It's just a game, you shouldn't get so tied up in it.' Almost like I should feel bad for wanting to raid instead of participating at Fest.
Seriously though, what's the difference between playing a game with 39 other people online or dressing up in a costume with 300 other people and 'entertaining' patrons at fest? Is one somehow more socially redeeming in the grand scheme of things? If I were as tied up in Fest as some claim I am in raiding would it be more acceptable?
How about another hobby? Say paintball? What if I felt the need/want to get involved in Pro Paintball? Is this any better or worse than wanting to be part of a successful raiding group?
To me their both hobbies, one of which I happen to enjoy more than the other right now.
In my time with them, I've worked myself into a rather important (and possibly one of the most challenging) position in the raid, The Main Assist. It's my job to safe guard the raid and ensure that loose MOBs get tanked and don't squash our casters. As such they've begun to count on me to be there... however with Fest almost upon me I have to step back a hair with my involvement as the group raids Sundays and Mondays, and I will simply be physically unable to raid Sunday nights.
It's kind of funny, but I feel bad for leaving. I don't WANT to leave, but it's a simple matter of competing commitments.
There are tons of reasons (some of which I've elaborated on) that I don't want to go back to Fest; however what's frustrating is that anytime I voice that continuing to raid in WoW is one of them I get the response (from many including my wife) 'It's just a game, you shouldn't get so tied up in it.' Almost like I should feel bad for wanting to raid instead of participating at Fest.
Seriously though, what's the difference between playing a game with 39 other people online or dressing up in a costume with 300 other people and 'entertaining' patrons at fest? Is one somehow more socially redeeming in the grand scheme of things? If I were as tied up in Fest as some claim I am in raiding would it be more acceptable?
How about another hobby? Say paintball? What if I felt the need/want to get involved in Pro Paintball? Is this any better or worse than wanting to be part of a successful raiding group?
To me their both hobbies, one of which I happen to enjoy more than the other right now.