Our author Schuhmann looks at the “self-sufficient” in World of Warcraft. And finds: They are a special breed of people in MMORPGs. But how do the people who seem to be preparing for the end of WoW think? Completely different.
During my time in WoW, I met a self-sufficient player. I would like to introduce you to this very special type of player today.
What is a self-sufficient player in MMORPGs? A self-sufficient player is someone who feels it is a personal shame and defeat to have to buy anything from the auction house belonging to other players or to rely on anyone for a service.
His life goal is: To be able to craft everything he needs in WoW with one of his countless twinks. And “need” is meant in the broadest sense here: More like a “maybe I would like” or a “I might need one day” or a “I would like to have.”
What distinguishes the self-sufficient player? The player has all classes in WoW as twinks.
But even more importantly: He has all gathering professions and all crafting professions at maximum and specifically one character for each task. He also chases the most obscure recipes and items that may only be necessary for absolute niche needs.
Are self-sufficient players power gamers? Yes, self-sufficient players spend a lot of time in World of Warcraft. But they play atypically. Unlike typical power gamers who tend to “play upwards” and want to equip a character as strong as possible with optimal gear, the self-sufficient players aim to cover everything horizontally, broadly. This is why they love twinks and crafting.
How do self-sufficient players think in WoW?
The typical behavior: To prove that he is a self-sufficient player, he is willing to go through great lengths. He sets off on tiresome farming tours in low-level areas without hesitation to collect low-level materials so that his 12th twink has optimal leveling gear should he ever play him again.
Of course, he could also go to the auction house and buy the materials for 3 silver, but … honor forbids that.
The best moment for a self-sufficient player: The hour of the self-sufficient player strikes when someone in the guild has an absurd request and is looking for an obscure crafting recipe at level 43 – preferably one that hasn’t been relevant for 8 years. Then the self-sufficient player kindly says: “My twink can do that!”
Are self-sufficient players preparing for the end of WoW?
I have thought for a long time about what lies behind this mania. At first, I thought it was concern: If WoW ever dies and there isn’t a single blacksmith left on the server or an alchemist, then the hour of the self-sufficient player will strike.
Just as a “prepper” prepares for the apocalypse or a zombie apocalypse by stockpiling supplies, the self-sufficient player can continue playing when a decent life is no longer possible in an MMORPG.
Helping without needing help
That’s what I thought at first: But there’s more to it. It’s the desire to help others, while not needing help oneself.
It’s a certain attitude with which one moves through World of Warcraft: One wants to be independent, a lone wolf. But one also wants to be seen as the type who helps others and to whom others can come when they need help.
Self-imposed XXL goal
Players want goals: It’s simply a goal with which one can wonderfully pass the time.
Ultimately, it is pointless to prepare for the downfall of WoW, but the time passes so beautifully when trying to make every last twink into a “useful character.”
And then with the next expansion, one has so much to do again when trying to reach maximum in every profession to master all new recipes.
Even though WoW has brought “achievements” over time, the matter of the “self-sufficient player” is a goal that players set for themselves. Often it is these self-sufficient players that become important pillars of every community or guild, even though they don’t actually need them.
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