Is it possible to play WoW casually?

[MitchLeBlanc]

What do you think, is it? Why or why not?

[madd-hatter]

It really isn't.

I haven't played much but my brother tried to get me into it so he bought me a one month card. So... I played, and played, and played. After it expired, I intended on going to wal-mart to get another one but was held up for about a week or so because of school and extra activities. After the end of the week I was going to go get one until I realized that all I had done for the last month was play the stupid game. So... I haven't played it since and still pleased that I don't play it.

Besides... Diablo 3 is coming...

[12Iceman]

No.

Everyone I know who plays WoW plays it for 30+ hours a week and has tried quitting multiply times. That game sucks away your soul and never gives it back.

Honestly, I don't see the appeal. Leveling is incredibly boring (I gave up after level 8).

[CrowaX]

It's very possible. It all depends on if you are able to make your not get addicted, but the game is designed for any type of player. I used to play 6-10 hours a day every day for over year. After I got a full time job I played about 2 hours a day, 3 days a week for another year. Now I'm putting in about 4 hours a day 4 days a week with the new expansion.

**edit**

After looking at my sig and seeing the very high hours that I know I haven't been playing, I should add this: I was not factoring in the amazing log queue times on my realm since WOTLK came out :(

[12Iceman]

After looking at my sig and seeing the very high hours that I know I haven't been playing, I should add this: I was not factoring in the amazing log queue times on my realm since WOTLK came out :(

Denial. A classic sign of addiction.

[Raa]

It ABSOLUTELY is. And i'll challenge anyone that claims it isn't!

I've had my account for three (3) years. In that time i've /played just over seven (7) days. That's actual time in the game. 7 days.

Is it possible to play WoW casually? You bet. Grinding day upon day racing to get to level <X>? Stuff that! I've got other games to play, a business to run etc.

Sitting down to enjoy a few quests, chatting to mates or killing some Murlocs? Sure! I enjoy it - CASUALLY.

Most people that say "NO" are the addicts. (I said "most", not all, so don't flame me for that)

The question you really want to ask though : Is it economic? The answer is NO, and by a long way. ~$15/month just to play the occasional few days? You could pay $50 and get a game that would last just as long. So no, it's not worth it. Of course, value is in the eye of the beholder. I enjoy a bit of WoW, and although I pay a premium to do so, that is my choice.

So when anyone asks "Can WoW be played casually?" The answer is yes, but it's not cheap to do it.

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

It ABSOLUTELY is. And i'll challenge anyone that claims it isn't!

I've had my account for three (3) years. In that time i've /played just over seven (7) days. That's actual time in the game. 7 days.

Is it possible to play WoW casually? You bet. Grinding day upon day racing to get to level <X>? Stuff that! I've got other games to play, a business to run etc.

Sitting down to enjoy a few quests, chatting to mates or killing some Murlocs? Sure! I enjoy it - CASUALLY.

Most people that say "NO" are the addicts. (I said "most", not all, so don't flame me for that)

The question you really want to ask though : Is it economic? The answer is NO, and by a long way. ~$15/month just to play the occasional few days? You could pay $50 and get a game that would last just as long. So no, it's not worth it. Of course, value is in the eye of the beholder. I enjoy a bit of WoW, and although I pay a premium to do so, that is my choice.

So when anyone asks "Can WoW be played casually?" The answer is yes, but it's not cheap to do it.

I was going to comment before reading your whole post and I was going to say you really can't play it casually, unless you like to waste money. Sure you can go into the game when ever you want, do what you please, no worries. Though if you dont play each day of that 14.99 a month you pay, then its a waste and myself I don't have that kind of money to waste. It has always been my issue with continuing to play WOW. So I guess the answer is, Yes & No.

[Crompee]

It depends on your version of casual.

It is impossible to play the game casual and see the content (get to the most fun parts which everyone else is talking about).

To do PvE, You need to be able to give up 3nights a week minimum without fail all (or the vast majority) of the time. As, no PvE raid guild would want you or even if they do invite you.. you wont get to raid as more active members will get the priority on every raid.

There is a more casual approach in WotLK but it will fail again. We saw in TBC that the majority of 10man guilds who raid casually will just stop going to PvE content when it gets too hard (i.e. only 30% (if memory serves me right) of karazhan farming guilds actually went to ZA).

So.. Its basically this, If your version of casual is:

1. Only afew hours a month/week: Sure you can play but is it worth it? you're going to see little/no PvE content, you're going to hate PvP as everyone will severly outgear you, you're not going to be part of a nice community as your inactive, you're missing most of the fun of the game.

2. A few nights every week (3ish), then yes.. but you'll have to be abit lucky to get into a decent raiding guild and you'll have to spend all the time you can researching raids/gear itemization/dps(or healing/tank) rotations/etc so when a guild is recruiting, you have a shot of getting in.

3. Alot of nights every week.. then your not casual are you :p

[Shadrack]

I'm in total addiction mode right now because of the expansion :p. I've gone months playing it on the weekend for a few hours here and there and still enjoyed it either leveling an alt or a scheduled guild raid run. For awhile my commitment to wow was purely on a raid schedule. About 3-5 hours on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

It is really easy to get addicted to it and play it almost non stop for weeks at a time. If i'm in "addiction mode" like I am now, i would have a hard time forcing some kind of playtime regulation on myself. So be prepared for that too. If you have an addictive personality you might want to stay away.

[Blaine]

I voted no because I don't like their subscription model. I am a weird gamer who can start and stop playing games sporadically. Well I thought I was going to get back into wow and used a 30 day card, but only wound up using about 5 minutes of a single day. I know constant subscription models are all mostly the same, but I wish wow had a protection feature which would put your account on pause if you didn't log in for 15 consecutive days or so. Then at least you would still have half a month left if you used a card but didn't wind up playing the game.

[trag3dy]

It's very possible to play casually. I did for about 6 months. Playing for an hour or two a day, if that, sometimes 3 or 4 whenever I got of work earlier than expected. A little more on weekends. I never felt like I had to play just because I was paying for the game. And if you consider the 15 bucks your entertainment funds for the month then it's cheaper than going to a movie two or three times in a month.

So what it comes down to...if you are not concerned with the cost and are good at managing yourself and your time? Then yes, it's possible.

If you're not? Then no, it's not.

Also...as Crompee is trying to say, raiding is not the only objective for someone who is just interested in pve. Some people like doing quests, or just sitting around town chatting. And to say that you have to raid 3 nights a week and so and so forth...well, you CAN find a guild that is not to worried about progression. Before I quit I was in a casual raiding guild and we were doing ZA/Gruuls/Mags and attempting early Serpentshrine. So you can find guilds that do raid casually just don't expect to progress quickly.

[C++]

Obviously it is possible. Just depends on how much you get into it and how much self control you have.

[Redant751]

Nope, not a chance in hell. I could not play casually (once or twice a week) because of my friends who where also members of the same guild I was in. They always were asking me to come and Play/help with a mission or Quests.

This game is not set up for the casual player.

[perochan]

yes.

I like to play WoW but i always put RL first. if im bored, i play. if not, i always go out and hang out with my friends.

[-KJ]

Yeah, but you have to be able to control yourself. Keep things prioritized in life and in moderation.

[darkz]

it's either you accomplish something in life or accomplish something in wow.

when playing casually you can't beat those who play .. non-casually, so why play at all.

if you don't have a life worth living, start doing some hard drugs instead. disgraceful, but not as disgraceful as playing wow, imo.

[39 Thieves]

Yes, you can. This whole 'if you don't play every day you don't get your $15 worth' is BS. $15 is pocket change, and anyone arguing otherwise needs to step up to something other than mopping floors or delivering papers.

Honestly, it all depends on who you play with, and who the members of your guild are. Currently, the guild I'm in has a strict age restriction, and most of us are parents or married couples who play in the evening or after the kids are asleep. Sure, we're not some of these 'WoW is a second job' types, but we get done what we want to get done. Most of us have been-there done-that with the hardcore raiding scene. We might not be as fast as everyone else, but who cares? Its our $15 a month, if we're having fun, who's right is it to tell us we're missing out?

[Neoauld]

im gonna say no

i hear alot of ppl levelling alts non stop..have like 20 characaters..but they dont know anything about them

and u cant really learn ur character until u start gearing it up and studying the class mechanics and the math behind it

ive always found the real joy is raiding and getting gear and upgrading ur char...i am in a casual guild though thats pretty good at letting ppl have their lives..made 10th on the server and accomplished most content

[Stinky Newb]

<snipped>

I voted YES because i believe it is possible. If you use WoW as an escape from real life you just have problems. Its called self control and priorities. I've been playing casually since release. I have never once stood foot in an instance to raid either.

Edited November 25, 2008 by Triliaeris

[obiwong]

it's very possible to play casually

the hardest part is getting to whatever the level cap is

after that you can easily play 2-3 hours 3-4 times a week to get badges/PvP/rep rewards for gear

you will probably not be able to experience all the raids and the end game content tho

it will be interesting to see how the 10/25 man raids/heroic raids work

[MitchLeBlanc]

Keep it civil and on topic please!

[+orgitnized Subscriber¹]

I'll agree with Raa on his post.

It's up to you on how you play WoW; seriously. If you personally can't do something casually, then, well, that's your own issue. WoW is designed to be as hardcore or as casual as possible. They were looking to attract all types when playing it. Need some adrenaline-pumping action? Get in there for some PvP action. Want to take it slower? Do some questing. Want to go hard core? Too many examples to list :p

The one varying degree is the money side of the equation. 15 bucks is cheap, I must say.

Ask yourself this:

Can I sit at a bar for 10 hours and spend less than 15 dollars? Keep in mind WoW is costing 15/week and not per night. If I go to a bar, I'll spend a hundred. Consider that WoW just saved me 85 dollars ;)

Can I go to a restaurant and get away with that price?

What about bowling?

etc., and on and on.

Justify the cost however you see fit, but if you stopped doing a ton of social events that totally eat your cash and spend 15 bucks on WoW per month, you can actually end up ahead. How it really affects your social life if another decision you make. But it doesn't mean you have to become a hermit just because you want to play WoW instead of going out with friends every single night.

My wife and I both played and we had a great time together doing it. And it saved us money because we weren't out at pubs or restaurants or driving places or going to theatres, etc.

Sometimes "doing something" is simply a cure for boredom. WoW can cure that (if your interest is there) cheaper than plenty of other activities.

And for those who want to include Internet access into the price, got for it. You still come out ahead depending on the situation. You're amortizing ISP bills and WoW - you can't say the same for bars, meals, partying that cost immediate money at the time you're doing it.

Argue the fine points but take it into consideration anyway ;)

[lalalawawawa]

Yes, it is possible. I don't see why. I played WoW casually, before school started. I was playing for 3-4 hours per day (yup, that is casual for me, since I am around 10 hours per day in front of my PC (learning C++, Fruity Loops and Komplete 5) :) ). Now my account is frozen until I get some free time. I'll start playing it again after the stuff with my school is done.

EDIT: And no, I don't even have one 70 level character. My characters range from 15 to 30 level (too many characters on different servers, and my playing time was three months).

[Ambroos]

Just no. At a certain point you have the choice. Or you get bored grinding, or you go raiding, and raiding is definately not casual.

[capr]

it really depends on the level of discipline of the individual we are talking about. for most people it's a definite no without a second thought. but for people with enough discipline it is easy to do anything casually and hold back from getting addicted.

If you enjoy an activity you should do it... avoiding something you like makes your life about that thing and you haven't shown that much discipline at all. only by doing it a little and having fun with it, can you say that you have shown discipline and consider yourself happy.