7 Reasons to WoW with the One You Love
I mentioned how I got a new computer a few weeks ago. Before it arrived, my wife and I were already talking about playing Warcraft side-by-side, one of us on the new computer and the other on the old one. We decided it would be better to wait until we moved later this year to get everything set up that way. Within a few days, though, we had given into our urges, networked the computers, and gotten a second Warcraft account.
The result has been very enjoyable. We started a blood elf paladin and hunter duo that work very well together. Thus far, I’ve noticed several real advantages to playing together compared to standard, one-computer play.
- No friction over a shared computer. We used to quibble over time on the computer when we first got WoW about two years ago, eventually growing out of it as our play time throttled back to more reasonable levels. If it were still an issue, though, playing at the same time would make it a moot point.
- Great communication. Forget chat or even TeamSpeak; when the person you’re playing with is right next to you, group communication is as good as it gets. I can instantly alert her to adds, coordinate abilities, and even know when she’s lagging or disconnected.
- Digital romance. A lot of infrequently-used emotes (e.g., /kiss, /hug, /love, etc.) have become commonplace since we started playing together. It’s no substitute for true romance, of course, but it’s a fun way to reinforce an existing romance.
- No conflicting schedules. Ever party with someone who had to log off at an inconvenient moment to go deal with real life necessities like eating, sleeping, or working? Well, when you do those things at the same time as the person you’re playing with, there tend to be very few scheduling difficulties.
- Group quests are a cinch. We’ve been able to handle all two- and most three-person quests together without ever having to find additional party members. Even when a larger group is required, we have the confidence of knowing that at least one other person in the party is halfway competent. It’s also nice to vent to one another about bad party members that we share in common.
- Coordinated skills. Since we party together so frequently, we’ve built up our characters to complement each other. I make her sharpening stones and give her meat. She makes me armor kits and food. If leather drops, it’s hers. If mail drops, it’s mine. By planning our skills ahead of time, our characters synergize very nicely.
- Harmony. It’s a real treat to have a regular questing partner that you can always get along with. It’s a minor thing, but, when you don’t have to butt heads with your companion, you come away from playing the game with a greater sense of satisfaction.
Naturally, your experience may very. My wife and I are both WoW geeks, and we have a very healthy marriage, which isn’t necessarily typical. With the added overhead a second computer and account, it’s definitely not for everyone. For those who have the means and opportunity, however, I highly recommend giving it a try.