Why so serious? - Bit of a social experiment

Fishoscandi

Hello! I've been playing this game for a while now and always wondered why every high or low level player seems to be so serious about the game. Everyone is just focused on getting the best gear, being no.1 on the leaderboards, having the best builds etc. So I conducted a little social experiment. I asked my fellow guild members what are some of the busiest places in all of Tamriel? I picked 4. The Undaunted hub in Mournhold, Riften's forge, Wayrest wayshrine and Rawl'kha. And who better to do it than my main friendly chubby orc stamblade How could I make players relax a little bit? Dancing. So I danced at those 4 places for 5 minutes each and waited to see if someone will join me. Also typing in chat: Anybody up for a dance at (place where I was) didn't help.


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This is me dancing at Mournhold's Undaunted hub. 5 minutes later nobody joined me so I left onwards! There was a naked vampire nord that I thought would join me but he didn't


[img][/img]



This is at Riften's Forge. Again I was dancing solo.


[img][/img]


Rawl'kha. Many people joined me on the rock, but none at dancing...


[img][/img]


And this is at Wayrest wayshrine. Same results.


[img][/img]


Oh, almost forgot. This was on PC EU. I know everybody wants to be no.1. But please, even the no.1 warriors need to live a little!

Brokensocket

Its just an emote... people probly cant be bothered with that bs and are playing

LrdRahvin

I just wander around /laugh(ing) and /facepalm(ing) at everyone.


Edit: Oh, and I like to teabag people who somehow manage to get killed by guards from justice system. With the occasional /laugh and /facepalm thrown in 'cause if you can't get away from guards then...

/laugh

Browiseth

For high level players like myself, the whole "dumb fun with emotes" thing just got dull after a while. Sometimes, you just wanna play the game ya know.

As for low levels...Honestly, I think we can agree sometimes these guys don't even know what game they're playing, let alone be too serious for some dumb fun.

ArchMikem

One day I was in Ebonheart, doing my usual Armor Dyes cause that's the only place I don't crash, and this naked (of course) lady character was dancing nearby. She(?) was a low level, and so I walked up to her, watched for a few seconds, cheered/applauded, and then invited to a trade where I gave her(?) a couple thousand gold. She(?) said thank you and went back to dancing.

You're not gonna find many casuals on PC, I dunno why Computer gaming incites a different attitude compared to Consoles, but I at least don't take the game very seriously at all. I don't give a single Skeever's rump about Leaderboards, cause what, you get your name and a number on a list and that's it? Woopdeedoo. Granted if I saw you dancing during my usual in-town chores, I most likely would've noticed you, but not joined in. There is a blue moon where I would for the Hell of it, but sadly that's not often.

Danksta

Naturally a game as large as MMOs tend to be would attract different types of people and those people find different things rewarding/fun.

Browiseth

ArchMikem wrote: »

I don't give a single Skeever's rump about Leaderboards, cause what, you get your name and a number on a list and that's it? Woopdeedoo.

Is that skill shaming I see? It's still an insult even if the person in question is better at the game than you. No need for that at all.

SaRuZ

Because they're super 1337 hardcore uber skillz bro. "Git gud & stop pugging scrub."

Since when did pouring hundreds of thousands of hours into an MMORPG become a bragging point? People take this game far too seriously. Especially when it doesn't require any skill, just time invested to reach level cap and max skill points, google search the best builds and gear and spend a year gaming all day and wahla, you "got gud." Lol, sad really.

Browiseth

SaRuZ wrote: »

Because they're super 1337 hardcore uber skillz bro. "Git gud & stop pugging scrub."

Since when did pouring hundreds of thousands of hours into an MMORPG become a bragging point? People take this game far too seriously. Especially when it doesn't require any skill, just time invested to reach level cap and max skill points, google search the best builds and gear and spend a year gaming all day and wahla, you "got gud." Lol, sad really.

Wowser, someone enjoys the game differently to me. Because of some contrived reason (I.E It's just a game bro) it's okay for me to shame them!

Also, since when did being casual and bad at an MMORPG become a bragging point? See, it works both ways.

Danksta

SaRuZ wrote: »

Because they're super 1337 hardcore uber skillz bro. "Git gud & stop pugging scrub."

Since when did pouring hundreds of thousands of hours into an MMORPG become a bragging point? People take this game far too seriously. Especially when it doesn't require any skill, just time invested to reach level cap and max skill points, google search the best builds and gear and spend a year gaming all day and wahlavoila, you "got gud." Lol, sad really.

Fixed, I'll send you a bill.

Tryxus

I'm never serious:

This one time in vMoL for instance, we all wiped at the twins and I was the only one left standing. Decided to do a quick /sweep emote on the healer's ashes before getting killed

Also like to throw mud balls at the raid leader. Especially when they're Argonian (they like mud)

Or even run Dungeons/Trials in my Jester Suit or in my Wedding Dress + Patriach Beard + Drunk personality outfits (I'm actually banned from using that last combo in a few guilds)

So yeah, even when I'm supposed to be serious, I'm still seriously goofy

rotaugen454

If I see someone dancing, I throw a mudball..... then join in.

scrobey

I bet you scrubs don't even animation cancel your potion use...

ArchMikem

Browiseth wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

I don't give a single Skeever's rump about Leaderboards, cause what, you get your name and a number on a list and that's it? Woopdeedoo.

Is that skill shaming I see? It's still an insult even if the person in question is better at the game than you. No need for that at all.

What in the world is skill shaming? What you saw is me stating that there's no incentive for being placed on the leaderboards. If there actually was even I would try for it.

waterfairy

I like to have fun with emotes and mementos. When people duel by the shrine in one of the busy trader spots like wayrest, i sit there for a minute throwing mudballs and yelling.
When people spam spells like they're "special" I just keep saying the 'good job everyone' emote in their face til they stop.
I also like to leave the meat sack in new areas and wait for noobs to pick it up

Glaiceana

I guess sometimes people are in a rush. Especially these spots, they are trying to do writs, deconstruct, search for something in traders, often they don't have time to notice other players, everyone is in a hurry

Also one other thing to note, is that if you have been doing the emote already, anyone who arrives in the area afterwards will not see your emote. Like if they just arrived via the wayshrine, they will only see you standing there, not dancing, so you would have to be refreshing the emotes every minute or so for people to notice, especially with that amount of traffic

Browiseth

ArchMikem wrote: »

Browiseth wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

I don't give a single Skeever's rump about Leaderboards, cause what, you get your name and a number on a list and that's it? Woopdeedoo.

Is that skill shaming I see? It's still an insult even if the person in question is better at the game than you. No need for that at all.

What in the world is skill shaming? What you saw is me stating that there's no incentive for being placed on the leaderboards. If there actually was even I would try for it.

There was certainly an insulting tone to your post, the way I read it. Some people enjoy being skilled at a video game and playing it at a very high level; some people don't. Leaderboards are their own incentive; a way of proving one's time and dedication.

Of course, they're just sad people with no life, right? And we know how to really have fun, by typing those /danceredguards for hours on end, BOYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

ignoring the fact people are allowed to enjoy video games in whatever way they want and shouldn't be insulted or criticized over what they deem as enjoyable or recreational even if you don't necessarily understand why they enjoy that BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THAT RIGHT /DANCEREDGUARD /DANCEORC /DANCEARGONIAN /BUCKETSPLASH /LUTE ALL DAY LONG BOYSSSSSS

i'm in a good mood today

UrQuan

Fishoscandi wrote: »

Hello! I've been playing this game for a while now and always wondered why every high or low level player seems to be so serious about the game. Everyone is just focused on getting the best gear, being no.1 on the leaderboards, having the best builds etc.

That's definitely not everyone. As an example, a bunch of people I often run with just did a (non-vet) trial with everyone wearing nordic towels the other day. Sadly I missed it because it was the 2nd trial the group did that day, and after the first my nerve pain was getting to be too much for me to continue. Plus, in the first trial I had terrible ping and during battles by frame rate was 0-4 most of the time, so I was really just standing still spamming hardened ward & impulse and hoping I wasn't dead yet lol. Point is that there are a lot of us who enjoy just screwing around as much as trying to be the best.

Having said that, for the people who are "so serious" and who are really focused on getting the best gear and being the best, they're generally doing that because they find it fun. Other people would consider that to be more like work, and have more fun doing silly stuff like dancing around. Most people are somewhere in between. I know I am.

Different people have fun in different ways, and there's nothing wrong with that.

svartorn

I always do a /dancebosmer before going afk!

rotaugen454

What is worthwhile=whatever I like doing

What is a waste of time=whatever I don't

SolarCat02

My cleanse pad partner and I had a rousing mudball fight in vMoL the other night, waiting for our DC'ed DPS to rejoin us. And we didn't even aggro the boss.

We have had Nordic Bath Towel runs in Sanctum Ophidia and veteran Cradle of Shadows, too. (I am banned from using it in Maw, my white vampire skin is apparently too blinding in the fight with Rakkat.)

Sometimes my husband gets a Redguard Lapdance while we wait for the last member of our group to travel to the dungeon. Other times I find a high place to climb to, then play my lute.

I am far from the craziest person in the guild. I just try to set the tone, so everyone else can feel comfortable being themselves.

EvilCroc

When I see somebody dancing in 4-man dungeon PUGs, I leave with my tanks and healers (Not with DD's, I can not be choosy with them because of finder waiting times).
I hate clowns.

Mojmir

Why not be serious?

Rohamad_Ali

You're like Billy Idol and dancing with yourself . What was the goal of this experiment ?

Fishoscandi

Also chat is very serious. No jokes or anything. Everyone is just dead serious. The daily chat I see is:

SolarCat02 wrote: »

My cleanse pad partner and I had a rousing mudball fight in vMoL the other night, waiting for our DC'ed DPS to rejoin us. And we didn't even aggro the boss.

We have had Nordic Bath Towel runs in Sanctum Ophidia and veteran Cradle of Shadows, too. (I am banned from using it in Maw, my white vampire skin is apparently too blinding in the fight with Rakkat.)

Sometimes my husband gets a Redguard Lapdance while we wait for the last member of our group to travel to the dungeon. Other times I find a high place to climb to, then play my lute.

I am far from the craziest person in the guild. I just try to set the tone, so everyone else can feel comfortable being themselves.

While me and my group waited for someone to come, I did /sitchair and one member of the group gave me a really close /danceredguard lapdance. So I had te same experience as your husband. I got the lapdance from a very muscular argonian. Not really my cup of tea, but I just rolled with what I got.

RavenSworn

I usually will play the lute while waiting on dungeon queues or waiting on a dc'ed teammate. Don't know why people are serious. It's a mmorpg.

Massively multilayer online role playing GAME.

Chill. Real life moves on regardless if you have wacky fun. So, do crazy stuff.

Tryxus

EvilCroc wrote: »

When I see somebody dancing in 4-man dungeon PUGs, I leave with my tanks and healers (Not with DD's, I can not be choosy with them because of finder waiting times).
I hate clowns.

Excuse me?


Even my staff looks like one:

SolarCat02

Fishoscandi wrote: »

Also chat is very serious. No jokes or anything. Everyone is just dead serious. The daily chat I see is:

SolarCat02 wrote: »

My cleanse pad partner and I had a rousing mudball fight in vMoL the other night, waiting for our DC'ed DPS to rejoin us. And we didn't even aggro the boss.

We have had Nordic Bath Towel runs in Sanctum Ophidia and veteran Cradle of Shadows, too. (I am banned from using it in Maw, my white vampire skin is apparently too blinding in the fight with Rakkat.)

Sometimes my husband gets a Redguard Lapdance while we wait for the last member of our group to travel to the dungeon. Other times I find a high place to climb to, then play my lute.

I am far from the craziest person in the guild. I just try to set the tone, so everyone else can feel comfortable being themselves.

While me and my group waited for someone to come, I did /sitchair and one member of the group gave me a really close /danceredguard lapdance. So I had te same experience as your husband. I got the lapdance from a very muscular argonian. Not really my cup of tea, but I just rolled with what I got.

Usually it is my Altmer Vampire, so not the most attractive of my characters, but she is certainly effective!

Sometimes it is my Breton templar, though. She is Mara'd to one of his characters.

Haven't pulled out my Bosmer yet, she is still level 4.

CapnPhoton

Fishoscandi wrote: »

Hello! I've been playing this game for a while now and always wondered why every high or low level player seems to be so serious about the game. Everyone is just focused on getting the best gear, being no.1 on the leaderboards, having the best builds etc. So I conducted a little social experiment. I asked my fellow guild members what are some of the busiest places in all of Tamriel? I picked 4. The Undaunted hub in Mournhold, Riften's forge, Wayrest wayshrine and Rawl'kha. And who better to do it than my main friendly chubby orc stamblade How could I make players relax a little bit? Dancing. So I danced at those 4 places for 5 minutes each and waited to see if someone will join me. Also typing in chat: Anybody up for a dance at (place where I was) didn't help.


[img][/img]



This is me dancing at Mournhold's Undaunted hub. 5 minutes later nobody joined me so I left onwards! There was a naked vampire nord that I thought would join me but he didn't


[img][/img]



This is at Riften's Forge. Again I was dancing solo.


[img][/img]


Rawl'kha. Many people joined me on the rock, but none at dancing...


[img][/img]


And this is at Wayrest wayshrine. Same results.


[img][/img]


Oh, almost forgot. This was on PC EU. I know everybody wants to be no.1. But please, even the no.1 warriors need to live a little!

It seems that there are quite a few 'serious' replies here that answer the question for you. It is all business for some who want to be the best and they don't have time for anything else.

For someone like me who doesn't have time (or inclination) to be anything more than casual, I probably would have danced or maybe clapped.

ForsakenSin

LOL
@Fishoscandi

i would probably play a flute while your dancing


When im waiting for something to happen i usual do something fun , once a while ago , there was one girl just running in circle of some random orc character and laughing in chat so i decided to join in ruining around and around and around the orc with her and then 4 other people joined in, the random orc was not happy trying to walk and run away but we were just running around him till he just done crying emote and then sat on the chair while we were running around him and just laughing ... after like 6 min of running around in circles my character felt dizzy so i made my character fall down with faint emote and then the others done the same we all started laughing it was heaps of fun and funny!

BlackSparrow

Heh, cool. Depending on what character I was playing, I might have joined you. My Khajiit DK who enjoys fishing and kicking back? She'd be all over that. My assassin who has the sense of humor of a potato? Nope. Roll eyes and keep working on blacksmithing.

One of the things may be that very few people noticed you. People go to those places to do regular business (crafting, trading, dailies). When you've been to a place often, either real or in-game, you sort of tone out the background. It's familiar, so your brain doesn't feel the need to process it beyond activating the memory of your previous visits, and letting you know if anything has changed.

And when you're there to do something that keeps your screen in a UI window, like trade and craft? You literally can't see what's going on around you. So sure, there are people there, but they don't know you're there, and when they're done, they head off to their next task without feeling the need to look around at other players. So there may have been plenty of people doing their daily business who may have had some fun with you, but never even knew you were there.

(And some people just don't find dancing orcs funny, but there's no need to associate with those people. )

Glaiceana wrote: »

Also one other thing to note, is that if you have been doing the emote already, anyone who arrives in the area afterwards will not see your emote. Like if they just arrived via the wayshrine, they will only see you standing there, not dancing, so you would have to be refreshing the emotes every minute or so for people to notice, especially with that amount of traffic

I have been playing this game since beta. How did I not know this? O_o