I honestly do know what brought this post to mind, but I have always wondered at the many varieties of the lauded end game. We each have our own form of end game, of that there can be no doubt. For some it's pure, for others it is a mix of little bits of different styles. So, before I get down to the question at hand, let me define for you a few of the main styles of what we can do when we hit the level cap.
Player Killer - Living for the thrill of the next elite player he can take down, and occasionally lowering himself to camping lower level players for varying reasons, the Player Killer lives off his honor kills and Arena ranking. Happy to use anything he can to get more kills, the PK spends his time at the generals, does each PvP daily on first login, and had a mailbox full of Battle Ground marks. Exemplified by the screaming all caps 'leader' of a Battle Ground, the PK can easily break under the slightest hint of failure in Battlegrounds.
Progress Seeker - The player aimed at progresion is likely the one who had their Karazhan key quest as soon as they could after level 69, and was LFG Shadow Labrynth minutes after their digned 70. They usually have a clear line set for their progression from ding to the 25 man raids, frequently doing the best quests for the gear they want for the end game spec, which they have outlined and planned weeks or months in advance. This player does dailies and other money making things purely to make the gold needed for reagents and respeccing as needed.
Badge Collector - Another thing that Burning Crusade brought to us was the Heroic mode of dungeons. Only affecting the Outlands 5 man dungeons, Heroic mode is one of the best ways to get rep with various factions, and with the dungeon dailies, also get extra cash and extra badges as well. Those are one of the biggest reason to do Heroic dungeons, though, is Badge of Justice. Badges can be used to purchase varying levels of gear, from Tier 6 equivalent to lower Tier 4 equivalent gear.
This is one of the more niche play styles in end game, but with the availability of Primal Nether and the epic quality gems through badge turn ins, it is an increasingly popular way to spend your time at level 70, at least in so far as the heroic daily goes at the least. Finding heroics beyond the daily can be a bit of a hassle, but like Arenas and Raiding, a good solid team can be invaluable to making the work a lot easier. Also, pugging heroics can be very, very painful.
Master Crafter - Also known as the Recipe Completist, the Master Crafter spends their time and money at 70, gained from dailies and quests at max level, working diligently on their professions. They run dungeons and work reputation to maximize their professions and abilities. The golden ticker for the crafter is finding that once in a lifetime item they can make that few if any have and everyone wants. The Master Crafter things nothing of killing thousands of a type of mob in order to get their desired recipe.
Mass Murderer - The Mass Murderer is someone who just goes out and kills everything in his or her path, not caring how long it takes. This could be best described as a Grinder, who only starts out with the barest reagents and food required, and just kills and loots mindlessly. This person has no specific goals other than to kill, kill, and kill some more. There is no rep or item they seek, just to see the trail of bodies behind them.
Multiple Personality - Suffering from a varying degree of Altitis, this player can occasionally get through the quests at max level before relegating the character to farm status or maybe filler raiding, but they then move onto a new alt or leveling one they already have in the works. This type of end gamer finds the shear idea of a cap of 10 characters per realm to be ludicrous, and often plot out which character will get the big old DELETE next to make room for another.
So, now the we know a few of the main types of end gamers, I ask you my readers, What is your end game? A mix of a few? A pure version of one of the above possibilities? Or are you one of the niche options apart from above? For me, I am a mix of a bunch. I do light raiding when needed and time allows, I have many alts, 5 played characters at this point, but I also farm and am a hardcore recipe completist. My end game is so varied that it easily keeps me interested. Is this why so many raiders are giving up and moving to other games? How about your end game? Is it keeping you happy and your attention in the game?
Player Killer - Living for the thrill of the next elite player he can take down, and occasionally lowering himself to camping lower level players for varying reasons, the Player Killer lives off his honor kills and Arena ranking. Happy to use anything he can to get more kills, the PK spends his time at the generals, does each PvP daily on first login, and had a mailbox full of Battle Ground marks. Exemplified by the screaming all caps 'leader' of a Battle Ground, the PK can easily break under the slightest hint of failure in Battlegrounds.
Progress Seeker - The player aimed at progresion is likely the one who had their Karazhan key quest as soon as they could after level 69, and was LFG Shadow Labrynth minutes after their digned 70. They usually have a clear line set for their progression from ding to the 25 man raids, frequently doing the best quests for the gear they want for the end game spec, which they have outlined and planned weeks or months in advance. This player does dailies and other money making things purely to make the gold needed for reagents and respeccing as needed.
Badge Collector - Another thing that Burning Crusade brought to us was the Heroic mode of dungeons. Only affecting the Outlands 5 man dungeons, Heroic mode is one of the best ways to get rep with various factions, and with the dungeon dailies, also get extra cash and extra badges as well. Those are one of the biggest reason to do Heroic dungeons, though, is Badge of Justice. Badges can be used to purchase varying levels of gear, from Tier 6 equivalent to lower Tier 4 equivalent gear.
This is one of the more niche play styles in end game, but with the availability of Primal Nether and the epic quality gems through badge turn ins, it is an increasingly popular way to spend your time at level 70, at least in so far as the heroic daily goes at the least. Finding heroics beyond the daily can be a bit of a hassle, but like Arenas and Raiding, a good solid team can be invaluable to making the work a lot easier. Also, pugging heroics can be very, very painful.
Master Crafter - Also known as the Recipe Completist, the Master Crafter spends their time and money at 70, gained from dailies and quests at max level, working diligently on their professions. They run dungeons and work reputation to maximize their professions and abilities. The golden ticker for the crafter is finding that once in a lifetime item they can make that few if any have and everyone wants. The Master Crafter things nothing of killing thousands of a type of mob in order to get their desired recipe.
Mass Murderer - The Mass Murderer is someone who just goes out and kills everything in his or her path, not caring how long it takes. This could be best described as a Grinder, who only starts out with the barest reagents and food required, and just kills and loots mindlessly. This person has no specific goals other than to kill, kill, and kill some more. There is no rep or item they seek, just to see the trail of bodies behind them.
Multiple Personality - Suffering from a varying degree of Altitis, this player can occasionally get through the quests at max level before relegating the character to farm status or maybe filler raiding, but they then move onto a new alt or leveling one they already have in the works. This type of end gamer finds the shear idea of a cap of 10 characters per realm to be ludicrous, and often plot out which character will get the big old DELETE next to make room for another.
So, now the we know a few of the main types of end gamers, I ask you my readers, What is your end game? A mix of a few? A pure version of one of the above possibilities? Or are you one of the niche options apart from above? For me, I am a mix of a bunch. I do light raiding when needed and time allows, I have many alts, 5 played characters at this point, but I also farm and am a hardcore recipe completist. My end game is so varied that it easily keeps me interested. Is this why so many raiders are giving up and moving to other games? How about your end game? Is it keeping you happy and your attention in the game?
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