Holiday season really hurts the post count so I'll try and keep going but there's a high chance that my sparse posting will continue until after new years rolls around. That said, on to the juicy topics.
So a lot of the time you aren't on the same skill level as your friends. Sometimes you're just not willing to put that much effort into the game or your friends just don't get the game on the same level that you do. There's nothing wrong with either one but it's something a lot of people struggle with because you really want to play with your friends. So today I'm going to examine some of the systems in various games (again looking at warcraft primarily) and what you as a player can do or what sort of content you should be targetting to play with your friends to have a good time.
Step 1) Don't PvP. As much fun as you think it would be, you're both just going to get frustrated. Take a look at something like league of legends. They have a system in there for seperating people of differing skill levels, and while it doesn't work all the time things get crazy when groups of varying skill levels get together. I have some pretty unfun experiences in that game when I go to play with some of my friends who spend a fair bit more time in that game than I do. Just don't PvP. You may do it if one of you is a healer and one is a crazy dps pvper and you're doing bgs. Aside from that there's not much in it that will lead to fun engaging pvp.
Step 2) Don't play things with a skill difficulty too low or two high. This might seem obvious but I can't tell you how many times people who love the engaging experience of really struggling just find it annoying when others aren't keeping up with them. The same goes for playing in a situation that you find yourself in way over your head. Find that middle ground where you can both enjoy it. I find myself really enjoying situations that are mostly relaxing for me, and difficult enough that we both have to at least pay attention.
Step 3) Don't take any of it seriously. This is seen a lot in board games but bleeds over into all sorts of environments. I'm sure many of you have been there where there's one guy at a party that is taking any sort of competition way to seriously. I've lost friends to a board game called Diplomacy. If you've played it you'll know what I mean. You're going to regret taking things too seriously when you're just playing to have a good time with friends. This is also far more important for the person of higher skill level though everyone should go in understanding that this is just for a good time.
So what does all this lead to in warcraft? LFR. LFR is probably one of the greatest inventions for this. It's not so easy that you can go afk and kill, though some people do and there's a special place in hell for you right beside the people that talk or use cell phones during movies. This is a place where you can take things really lightly and still have a good time. Alternatively 10m raids, and this is where I think the 10v25 distinction really shines. 10m raiding is really really good for people who are on weird schedules to find like minded players with similarly odd skeds with which to raid. Challenge modes are also an amazing thing for these types of people. You don't have to go in there expecting gold. Aiming for silver with a group is just as good if that's what people are ready for. You don't expect to go in and kill heroic bosses the first time you see them, challenge modes, and most things in life, are going to be the same.
Lastly I wanted to say that if you aren't enjoying it, just stop. There's no reason for you and your friend to get upset with each other and storm off. It's just a game ultimately, especially if it's not where you guys normally game. If you normally play these games separately then just part ways and come back to it another time. You're not progression raiding, you're not going for gladiator titles. You're just aiming to have a good time with friends you don't normally play with seriously.
So like I said earlier I'm really busy lately. We just finished getting Garalon and Wind Lord down this week. Wind lord is really easy compared to garalon. Things just fall into place after you've been working on it for a night and he dies on a pull you didn't feel good about in the first place. That said I'm super happy to have garalon down and I'm not looking forward to re-killing him next week.
If I don't get a chance to say it, I wish everyone out there a happy holidays however you celebrate it. I'll see you all in the new year, and keep on rollin'.
