Moderators and Developers playing the game

Something I've always wondered, and no not asking for character names/factions/servers.

I've noticed talking to a GM on a support ticket, and from what I've read on the forums, that the developers and senior staffers play WoW. Which is great. I'm curious if you have an all GM guild, if you all play live on actual servers, and if you're in regular guilds on a character, do you keep your administrative status quiet?

We play the same as anyone else. Some of us play together, some of us have other affiliations we play with, family, friends, long time guilds, play solo etc. We don't have a specific guild everyone plays in. We do play incognito though so that we can experience the game the same as anyone else does.

I always wondered....as a guild you tend to make friends and share your personal life. If asked what you do for a living and you guys get into a conversation...what do you say? Do you lie? You could say " I work for a gaming company" If they ask which one...what do you say?

It's easy enough to sidestep the question or even just give a half answer, "I'm a writer", "I'm in the game industry" etc. It can be turned into a joke too, "If I told you, the men in black coats would show up." Are there people who know? Sure, but it's not something you can hide from family and close friends. ;)

So, how hard is it to bite your tongue?

When you're in Org/SW and the trade chat goes wild... or you're watching guild chat and someone admits to doing something wrong?

I report people in game (same tools you use). If a guildie gets out of hand, I try to warn them off. If they're habitual and ruining the game for other people, I report it. But I'd do that whether I was working for the company or not. I'm not a fan of cheating or abusing game mechanics.

Also, I have no GM powers at all in game. Nor do we use influence to get GM favors. It goes against our, "play nice, play fair" policy, not to mention goes against my own ethics.

Nethaera, do you know if any Moderators/Developers participate on Roleplaying servers or Roleplaying in general?

It is a wonderfully creative community, but feels rather internalized when no 'guardian spirits' are watching over us.

Does PvP/RP count? I have characters on PvP/RP and RP and PvE. I prefer to have some PvP with my RP personally. I just try not to mix them directly (say in a Battleground) since it can be hazardous to your health. "Haha... Now, we shall see who between us (/gets killed)" /resurrects and runs back to corpse... "As I was saying... Now we shall (/gets killed again.) ;)

I'm not saying it can't be done, but you need to be quick on the typing and hotkeys.

I report people in game (same tools you use). If a guildie gets out of hand, I try to warn them off. If they're habitual and ruining the game for other people, I report it. But I'd do that whether I was working for the company or not. I'm not a fan of cheating or abusing game mechanics.

Also, I have no GM powers at all in game. Nor do we use influence to get GM favors. It goes against our, "play nice, play fair" policy, not to mention goes against my own ethics.

Just curious what would happen to you guys if someone slipped and a player reported you? Not that it would ever happen, but what would happen?

Hopefully this never happens but if it did, we'd be actioned the same as anyone else unless it was severe.Then I'm sure it would have impact on our employment status as well. (Back to the "Play nice, Play fair" belief we have.)

10/27/2011 11:48 AMPosted by Xada

Do you find yourself doing pve or pvp more often?

It's a balance depending on my mood. It's really easy for me to get too focused on PvP though sometimes. ;)

10/27/2011 12:42 PMPosted by Killercaitie

Neth, you never responded about attacking people with candle wax... That just makes you look all the more guilty of it.

I can't help who I am! Don't judge me. ;/

10/27/2011 02:05 PMPosted by Jinthiel

I wonder if any GM/Devs play at high arena or RBG ranks, or in raid guilds pushing for very good heroic mode progression.

We have people that play at all levels. Just keep in mind that despite that, you all still outnumber us so we try to combine our own experiences with what you all tell us too.

Now I'm going to be suspicious that everyone is a GM. =.=

We're everywhere... ;)


Also, thank you to those who shared such kind words. It's always nice to hear when any of us on the team makes an impact for you. As I told people during BlizzCon, it's the "good job" from people that keeps us going even with the more negative things that can occur. We also recognize that some people (including ourselves) can have a bad day from time to time and we try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt as much as we can in case that may be the case. We also greatly appreciate how passionate people can be even when they are sharing negative (seeming) opinions. We recognize that those are coming from people who still care despite their viewpoint they are sharing. That always matters.

Neth, do you do arenas, or rated battlegrounds/battlegrounds?

Battlegrounds only presently. I just haven't had time for anything more for a bit. I'd love to do Arenas again, but it's been awhile and I'm terribly rusty. :(

What doooooo you do?

a) Get that work done immediately and rush home for the raid
b) Get that work done carefully and correctly missing raid unfortunately
c) Tell your guild you will be late/tell them you will have to miss raid
d) "Hey Ghostcrawler, that's over 9,000 hours of work, I have a raid to get to!"
e) Go to the raid destroyinate that boss, pick up epic loots, drink a ludicrous amount of Red Bull and stay up working to hours you didn't know existed
f) Discreetly pile all the work on Daxxarri's desk and tell him Ghostcrawler needs it done asap
g) Other, Fill in the Blank: ________________________

g. Tell the guild I'll be running late and don't know how late. Ask if they'll hold a spot for me or at least keep me in mind to fill-in if someone drops. Get my work done well as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality, rush home and hope I'm not too late. If I am too late, find out when the next one is.

I have my Disc priest still (which people have known about for years), I also have a DK, and Shaman I've been playing more of as well as been leveling up my rogue here and there (among other alts). I've played both sides and have spent some time going through the redone Alliance starting zones again. I play what I am in the mood for and leveling my rogue has been really fun when I have the time to.

10/27/2011 03:38 PMPosted by Thugnificènt

whether she would report them.

Yeah, I got that part, I just thought that GM's wouldn't do anything if you said something bad in guild chat, or if a guildy reported for you something said in guild chat, making reporting kind of pointless.

I'm a CM (Community Manager) and I report people the same as anyone else does. I would absolutely report someone if they got out of hand (so the GMs on duty could take a look) if they didn't heed warnings. I don't tell the GMs who I am though or that I'm a Blizzard Employee. Things are handled the same as for anyone. I likewise wouldn't get in the way if someone was reported either. Fortunately, I don't think I've ever had to report a guildie.

10/27/2011 04:57 PMPosted by Killercaitie

I don't tell the GMs who I am though or that I'm a Blizzard Employee.

That is quite interesting, I would have thought your fellow employees would know your toons!

There's nothing to indicate us in game to each other. :)