So patch 3.3 approaches. Icecrown awaits. It is more than likely the final content patch of Wrath of the Lich King, if history holds true.  While this expansion was the best content Blizzard has released to date and probably the best expansion any MMORPG has ever seen, I can’t help but get the same, predictable end-of-expansion blues I’ve not yet managed to dodge in all of my years in this genre.  EverQuest, DAoC, WoW… When each of these games approaches an expansion, I am at once thrilled by the promise of new, amazing content and yet standing in one spot, sporting my now outdated Tier 8.5 set going “So wait, WTF am I doing this for, now?”  I have an answer, I think.

That answer being that I keep playing for love of the game itself, not the cheesy “I PLAY TO LOVE MY FRIENDZ” answer every asshat in the game gives.  No, I don’t play WoW to make friends.  Yes, I do play WoW WITH my friends and we have a damn good time doing it.  But they aren’t what ties me to this game, to this world.  The game itself is.  The mechanics, the UI, the classes and their interactions are all what keeps me coming back for more.  Pride in what I’ve built.  I know there are 10,000 other Mages in WoW who are “better” geared than I, but I take pride in my Mage.  I’ve built him from some rag wearing bear parts peddler in Eversong to being a well oiled machine of fashionable fiery death.

But as predictable as taxes, death and post movie theater popcorn bowel movements, the late expansion blues have hit me square in the gut.  You’d think I’d have learned to move, by now.  The dread feeling of “Now everything I do, all the hours I raid are for nothing” sets in.  And so I slack.  I slack hardcore, I spend more time in other games.  But I pine for my home on the interwebz always.  Any game I play, be it MMO or not, I am constantly comparing their features, classes and shortcomings to my beloved World of WarCraft.  It is only temporary, as it always is and always has been.  More a product of my own mind than anything the game is sending my way, I’d suppose.  Perhaps a little burn out, as well?

There are some things that can be done to combat this type of burn out, because that is exactly what it is.  You can do a number of things, all of which I am currently doing to keep my passion for WoW in some sort of mental cryostasis.

• Level an alt.  Not in the typical fashion, either.  Make it a class, race or even faction you’ve never tried for whatever reason.  Try a new server type for the alt.  I’m currently leveling an Alliance Priest.  Swore I never would, which makes it almost taboo exciting!
• Stop raiding.  I’m just about there.  Four nights a week in a time zone that is not my own for what feels like, to me, very little return is, well, not fun.  So I’ve been slowing my raiding to a slow trickle.  To a point where I feel I’m only putting in what I get out.
• Try some other games.  I mean of all varieties.  Try another MMO, like WarHammer or Aion.  You’ll find your love for WoW rejuvenated as you realize WHY it is as big as it is.  Try other genres to fill your time.  I’ve recently given my soul to League of Legends and I love it.  32 – 1 – 9 with Evelynn, yeah baby! =D
• Dust off some old games.  Fallout 3 and L4D have been getting extra attention from me lately.  Good times with good friends.

All that aside, WarCraft patch 3.3 is looking to be an insane new level of fun.  After watching the preview videos for Icecrown Citadel at Blizzcon, I have to say, I cannot wait to step in there and start kicking ass.  Arthas, to me, is perhaps the most compelling villain in the history of gaming.  His story arc is the most human I have seen gaming produce in a long time, and to see this particular story come to an end… No, not just come to an end, but to do so at MY hands?  I feel that situation will truly be worthy of the word “Epic”.

The class and cosmetic changes in the patch look meaningful as well as just plain fun.  You can find the patch notes here, and they will be updated throughout the PTR process.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dirty bastard named Ryze I need to go beat the ever living snot out of, damned overpowered ultimates….

I leave you with a visual reminder of why Worgen Druid Aquatic forms are going to fail.

LOL AQUA LYCANZ GONNA NEED A BIGGAR BOAT!!11!