Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
how theorycraft impacts play. Theorycraft is generally tied to a higher
quality of play; increased understanding about the game and how it works;
and as fun in its own right.
The dominant reason why many choose to theorycraft is that it makes
them better players. This idea frames almost all of the discourse, as being
better at
WoW
is tied to understanding the game better, having a positive
reputation and having a good time playing the game. The idea of being bet-
ter or doing more permeates the rhetoric of the game, suiting an achieving
mindset and coming to a head in the discussion of theorycraft. In response
to a
WoW
Insider column about how to play a rogue, one commenter men-
tioned he was a fan of “combat daggers,” which prompted a number of
responses, including Pokin, who wrote,
Bah, you can't rain on his parade. Combat daggers are sub-par DPS for
sure, but if he isn't raiding he has every right to play how he'd like . . .
In
WoTLK
[
Wrath of the Lich King
] the dif erence in DPS for combat
daggers versus other specs is much larger and I've conformed to the
cookie cutter mutilate spec. I'm no theorycrafter and I fi nd that maxi-
mizing DPS is more important to me than play style—but not everyone
has the same priorities.
30
This idea is a nice introduction to how theorycraft leads to better play, as
Pokin clearly states that he is not a theorycrafter, while simultaneously
pointing out key holdings of theorycraft for rogues. Pokin observes that
one approach to the game will generate more damage, and although he is
not a theorycrafter, he certainly knows enough about theorycraft to know
how to generate the most damage, even noting that doing more damage
is more important to him than a particular style of play within the game.
The response also includes the implicit contention that, if you raid with
others players, you lose the right to play as you would like and you should
bend the knee to the holdings of theorycraft to improve the group's odds
of success.
The intersection between theorycraft and better play can also be seen
Raids of er perspective on the assumed connection between theorycraft
and quality of play made by many of the top guilds in the world. The guild
recruitment forums are where guilds from around the world can solicit
new members by posting an explanation of their accomplishments and
detailed terms of what they expect from members. Many of these guilds
expect applicants to be well versed in theorycraft. Spike Flail, a U.S. based
guild, expects applicants to “be able to explain your class weakness and
strengths, know the theorycraft to min/max your class, and what abilities
to use when,” adding “prospective trials must be completely knowledge-
able of their class's theorycraft and mechanics, dedicated and dependable
