Scape: ‘…overcoming odds is why I started playing MMO’s in the first place!’

By Rob Larsen

What’s up boys and girls? With World of Warcraft’s popularity having no visible end, but the recent setback in eSports, we’ve decided to sit down with WoW arena veterans and see what their thoughts on the situation, the game, and the potential of WoW.

This week we talk with Scape, Tauren Druid and Undead Warlock of (the guild formerly known as) Ðominion. He chats with us about PvP, PvE, and where he would like to see World of Warcraft go to save some of the players that are becoming frustrated with the path the game is going down.

Hello! Tell us your name and a little about your character, what server you play on, and what you think of your battlegroup.

I play multiple classes; my Druid is Scraped and Warlock is Scape. I started on Archimonde and have migrated to Mug’thol and now to Blackrock. There was not an abundant source of competition on our old battlegroup, which is why we moved.

What is your guild history?
I started out in Darkenbane and am currently in Ðominion.

What is your overall World of Warcraft experience level? What PvE content have you conquered, and what part of the game have you enjoyed most over the years?
I started when the game first came out and did little to no PvE; then we started MC with Darkenbane and have moved on to BWL, NAXX with Dominion in level 60 WoW. Once Burning Crusade came out I ventured into Kara, Gruul’s, SSC, and TK very briefly.

Describe your experience in WoW arena combat:

I found myself pulled towards the 3v3 arena mostly, but have played in them all extensively as multiple classes on many teams. On BG6 with my Druid our team rose to take first place for roughly two months in Season 2, which is when Napster asked if I could play my Warlock for his team, and we transferred to BG9 to play many of the other teams that were going to WSVG. We settled in the top 10, comfortably trading wins with the other top teams.

What changes would you recommend that you feel would help better balance PvP in the arena or the way rankings are done?

Gear is always going to be an issue and cause problems. I felt they were heading in the right direction with the WSVG 3v3 tourney by making everyone have the same gear, although there are a few kinks that need to be worked out and what gear you get also needs to be updated/changed.

Its never going to be fair in an MMO since everyone is trying to obtain the best gear/enchants. If you can put more time into the game or money you will always have that little advantage, but that is the nature of the game.

What about PvP (be it world or BG) in general?

There is World PvP in WoW? For a gamer like myself who loves world PvP non-staged, non-fair fights, overcoming odds and just be generally prepared is why I started playing MMO’s in the first place. I felt there was a huge lack of it at 60, then they added battlegrounds which just made the problem worse. It is almost a job to look for someone who would fight you back, and now with flying mounts and even more instances, world PvP is nonexistent at 70.

Do you prefer the arenas, or would you rather Blizzard did more to add to outdoor PvP?

I would like for them to add world PvP, but with this game being centered around PvE instances and quests and of course no death penalties, it is quite obvious this game was never headed in that direction, probably due to the fact they can soak up more money with what they are doing currently.

Has your arena experience put a damper on your PvE time? And if yes, do you care, or would you rather just keep it to PvP?

PvP always came first for me, and now with a busy life you really do have to pick one, cause barely anyone has time for both.

How has your tournament experience changed the way you play WoW? Has it put a target on your back on the live servers?

I have quit PvE altogether, and now just log on different characters to practice arena with as many different classes as possible. I don’t even leave town anymore — all my characters just sit in org at the Arena Queue.

What do you think of The Burning Crusade?

I hate leveling, so I did not like it right when it came out, although I like the additional spells they have put in and the fact you can get PvP gear from PvP’ing which was not the case before.

What about the prospect of future expansions, such as Wrath of the Lich King?

I doubt I will still be playing WoW [when that comes out].

If you could make one change about WoW as a whole, what would it be?

Make a new server type and call it an “Actual PvP server” or “Hardcore PvP server.”

Any others?

Make Taurens Pandas.

Well Put. What do you think about WoW as an eSport?

It was a fun experience everyone I met and played against was cool and we had a fun time partying it up.

If competitions were brought back by another company, would you like to compete?

Yes.