Shared Topic: Penalty Systems and Player Entitlement

This week’s Shared Topic was suggested by Relevart of Relevart’s Druid Reliquary, and it asks us to ponder penalty systems in WoW, and player ‘entitlement’.

I know a few other bloggers have shown interest in the idea of player motivation and I absolutely love the idea of examining the concept of what makes us want to/need to/desire to play.

I thought a neat springboard for such a discussion would be that of the penalty system (or lack thereof, as you might see it) in WoW as well as the recent claims that Blizzard is caving to the casual players’ feeling of entitlement to see and subsequently conquer any and all content, regardless of capability or time.

I suggest these two because I think they are inherently linked at the core, with entitlement driving the penalty system and to a lesser degree, the inverse. However, I would not be opposed to separating out the most relevant topic in order to condense posts.

Responding to the topic this week are the following bloggers

Relevart (obviously) of Relevart’s Druid Reliquary

Syrana of Sideshow and Syrana

Saresa of Destructive Reach

Next week’s Shared Topic is WoW Where You’d Least Expect It.  If you have a contribution to make to a Shared Topic, or a suggestion of your own, head on over to the Blog Azeroth Forums!