In most MMOs on the market today, there are several different classes and races. Even if you're in the rare game that arguably has neither, there are still skills to be leveled, achievements to be earned, missions to be played. For some people, all of these things are mostly means to an end. But others look at a list of ten classes, or nine races, or even eleven summon spells as a to-do list. If it can be leveled, they will level it; if it can be acquired, it will be theirs.
The joy of MMOs is in part the fact that many goals are set by players, and the collectors do a marvelous job of setting one for themselves. Some goals, like collecting every little vanity pet in a game that offers them, can be accomplished as a side-goal to the core leveling process. Others, like leveling every class, can even require more character spaces than the game normally gives you. Do you have overarcing collection goals when you play games? What are they? Do they interfere with your normal play, or are they the whole reason you keep playing?
Reader Comments (14)
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 8:30AM Beau Hindman said
Yes, yes and yes. I collect more than I level if I can. Some of my characters I role play as a "collector" if the game allows it, like EQ2. Speaking of which, I just collected this comment.
Beau
Beau
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 8:42AM (Unverified) said
I tend to horde piles of materials despite never crafting anything.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 8:42AM (Unverified) said
Usually, it starts out incidentally -- I randomly get collectible, or unlock an achievement. Then I find myself going out of my way to unlock/gather things. I'm also a huge packrat though... My bank is usually bursting at the seams with weird consumables, holiday items, and such.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 8:51AM SkyStreak said
I collect in the real world (game 'Collector's Editions,' guides, related books, etc.), so it makes sense that I collect in virtual ones (2 CoH accounts, every edition of the game on both, every Booster Pack, few costume codes, in-game costumerecipes, badges, etc).
This isn't even taking into account the comics, toys, DVDs, CDds, knick knacks, etc.that I collect outside of gaming...
Gotta catch 'em all!
This isn't even taking into account the comics, toys, DVDs, CDds, knick knacks, etc.that I collect outside of gaming...
Gotta catch 'em all!
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 8:55AM myr said
In FFXI, I used to want to level every job, just to know every spell and have access to every ability. Only recently did I realize that it's not really practical for my playstyle, so I've started doing more meriting and making money to improve the five 75's that I already have. I'm planning on having six 75's when the level cap is raised... and then I'll level whichever of those jobs that fits into my LS party first.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 9:23AM (Unverified) said
Altaholism. Sometimes character creation and the early levels of a game are more fun than playing your main. I've spent more time creating Champions than playing CO.
Collecting items, materials, and unlockables is more of a grind than I usually enjoy; except for maybe deed farming in LOTRO. I never had a problem enjoying that, especially since the scenery is very easy on the eyes and the immersion in the world is so great.
Collecting items, materials, and unlockables is more of a grind than I usually enjoy; except for maybe deed farming in LOTRO. I never had a problem enjoying that, especially since the scenery is very easy on the eyes and the immersion in the world is so great.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 9:25AM Heraclea said
In City of Heroes, I'm working on getting one of every tanker defensive set to level 50. So far, I have them all except for Electric Armor, which was recently ported to tankers from brutes.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 9:39AM (Unverified) said
I like collecting things, but most MMOs are structured in a way that makes that difficult to impossible. In WoW, for example, there's no sensible way to collect equipment other than having the best in slot for maybe 2-3 different situational sets.
Collecting things like pets and mounts, though? I'd be all over that. It presents a series of tangible goals, and I find looking over a list of pets (especially if the list has blanks that represent pets you don't have) is much more satisfying than that mostly arbitrary number of EXP you've accumulated.
I also don't care if other people have already collected everything before me. I don't understand people who are upset that other people can get these items too. It seems like there's a whole genre for collection-based games where you purposely can't have everything so that players can feel unique for their personal collection.
-SirNiko
Collecting things like pets and mounts, though? I'd be all over that. It presents a series of tangible goals, and I find looking over a list of pets (especially if the list has blanks that represent pets you don't have) is much more satisfying than that mostly arbitrary number of EXP you've accumulated.
I also don't care if other people have already collected everything before me. I don't understand people who are upset that other people can get these items too. It seems like there's a whole genre for collection-based games where you purposely can't have everything so that players can feel unique for their personal collection.
-SirNiko
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 12:59PM DrewIW said
I love to collect ships in EVE. I've got a full set of Navy and Pirate frigates, and I've got a Legion with all the different subsystems. Aside from the Navy Slicers, I never really use them, but it's cool to have them in my hangar.
I also collected pets in WoW. My favourite is still the Phoenix Hatchling :3
I also collected pets in WoW. My favourite is still the Phoenix Hatchling :3
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 11:00AM whateveryousay said
If there are cosmetic items in the game I like i'm all about that. For a brief period of time i'm like a woman, i'm all about which outfit goes with these shoes. But I guess we're all fresh and dandy like that at times. *grabs a wig and go-go boots*
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 11:19AM foofad said
I love getting rich. That said, I hate tradeskills. They suck. So I tend to get rich via actual trading; buying low and selling high, etc. In some games it's more complicated or slower or generally more difficult than others. WoW's auction house for example isn't exactly the most ideal interface for it, but it does work. I've since graduated to EVE Online though. Chilling in Jita and trading my little heart out is tons of fun. EVE also has the advantage of allowing me to actually buy game time with my hard earned (that's a lie, it's stupidly easy) kredits, so I don't even have to pay for my subscription. Wonderful setup.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 1:06PM SgtBaker said
Anti-collector, big spender.
Never have any ISK over (buy cool ships for PvP).
Always short of ships (they tend to explode).
Always looking forward to the moment I have enough ISK to buy a new project to fly (and eventually see it explode).
I also hate collecting in RL with passion (streaming digital music, games, films and books have been great inventions for me!), if I haven't used something for a while, it's gone from the house.
Never have any ISK over (buy cool ships for PvP).
Always short of ships (they tend to explode).
Always looking forward to the moment I have enough ISK to buy a new project to fly (and eventually see it explode).
I also hate collecting in RL with passion (streaming digital music, games, films and books have been great inventions for me!), if I haven't used something for a while, it's gone from the house.
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 3:50PM kasapina said
I collect any item that I may have a use for "later". God, back when I started WoW a few years ago, I was worried that I may be doing a terrible mistake selling white and green items, but well..my bank was overflowing with them at one point.
In guild wars, my chest is full of random purple/yellow insignias/item upgrades, alchohol/sweets, coins, badges and other random stuff.
Weird how 9 races links to WoW. Since when do they have that?
In guild wars, my chest is full of random purple/yellow insignias/item upgrades, alchohol/sweets, coins, badges and other random stuff.
Weird how 9 races links to WoW. Since when do they have that?
Posted: Apr 6th 2010 9:58PM EdmundDante said
I think the collection addiction urge is one of the dirty little secrets successful MMOs prey upon.
But I don't mind - it's a fun addiction.
But I don't mind - it's a fun addiction.







