My Dearest World of Warcraft,
I remember when we first met, back in January, 2005. We were at first hesitant to really get to know each other. I struggled with letting myself go, I was timid and shy, unused to your sometimes abrasive behaviors. Barren’s chat scared me, as did skill points, talent trees, spells and abilities, and gear.
But we had a chemistry that was certainly undeniable.
Soon after reaching level 60 you showed me that I was pretty damn good. I was valuable and you needed me. I topped the healing and dps charts, toppled dragons, and slayed alliance while you adorned me with bragging rights, phat lootz, and a sense of accomplishment.
I gave my life to you willingly, after all I was young, in college, and really didn’t have a life anyway.
We lived happily together for a good four years. We made friends and defeated baddies together. My previous inhibitions were but a mere echo of a memory as I trolled trade chat for people with bad grammar, poor class understanding, or any other feature I deemed a fault.
However after about two years you began to change. Sure you still bestowed me with the gifts, and bragging rights but for some reason they seemed less and less meaningful. I would walk the streets of Shattrath and later Dalaran and see other priests with the same gear. Priests that I had played with before and whom I knew were not good!
I tried to stifle my jealousy. I was being unreasonable. But you had become completely different. My value as a “damn good” player wasn’t meaningful anymore. You handed out loot to any noob that just so happened to have 24 friends.
I tried to leave you. When I was finally able to pack my tier pieces, and put away my Tel’thas, Dagger of the Blood King, you sent me an email; I was invited into your beta! I ran back to you instantly, maybe you had changed.
But you hadn’t changed. You watered yourself down, spread yourself too thin. Did you realize that you weren’t capable of keeping our relationship interesting and simply stopped trying? I know you tried to disguise yourself as a completely new entity and for a while even I was fooled. But at the core you’re exactly the same as you were at level 70 and 80, maybe even worse.
I wish we could go back to the days of level 60, when things were still fresh and exciting. But our relationship has fizzled and died. I need more and thus I am leaving you.
You will always hold a special place in my heart,
Arawn
