World of Warcraft is Infectious

ringbarer writes "News is coming in that the lands of Azeroth have become infected with a deadly plague which the developers never intended to spread. Originating from the new Zul'Gurub instance, the plague has spread from player to player via town NPCs. Entire cities are being wiped out, yet players are finding this surprise content entertaining!" From the article: " Some servers have gotten so bad that you can't go into the major cities without getting the plague (and anyone less than like level 50 nearly immediately die). GM's even tried quarantining players in certain areas, but the players kept escaping the quarantine and infect other players." Commentary on Terra Nova.

Indiscriminate PK

[sethstorm]

Well, now WoW finally has taken indiscriminate PK to a whole new level with your body itself as the weapon. Question is, would those be honorable or non-honorable kills for every person you spread the disease to (disregarding the rollback)?

Re:Dam that is some plague.....

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

Real plagues also affect everyone more or less the same. The world's greatest warrior isn't going to succumb 70,000x slower than some CPA or McDonald's cashier. Only natural variation in your immune system would offer a difference, and because extreme physical exercise actually weakens your immune system, the level 12 billion warrior would likely die more quickly than the CPA.

Of course, expecting a plague to affect everyone equally in a MMORPG is like expecting a fireball to burn everybody without armor equally.

Re:But can you fling an infected player at a town?

[sethstorm]

I dont think you'll be able to toss those dwarves or gnomes if you had that in mind.

Re:Evil thoughts

[rincebrain]

Well fuck me with a chainsaw, that sucks.

Re:Unintended? I don't care

[Red Flayer]

"I began to read the the article synopsis and got really excited. REAL PLAGUES! Oh yeah, that sounds cool! Unfortunately, it was not by design. I'm aware that it would be expensive and difficult, but thses types of events happening on a regular and accelerated basis would bring me back to MMORPGs in an instant. "

I sure hope Blizzard, et al read slashdot. Oh wait, of course the game companies do -- that's why release dates are pushed back.

Bleh

[cpu_fusion]

Bleh, I had the same problem on the MUD I was coding in 92. I should have patented it.

Re:But can you fling an infected player at a town?

[Anonymous Coward]

if you like tossing dwarves there's a lucrative future for you in the porn industry.

Heh.

[Strell]

I think we all know who is to blame. LEEEEROOOOOY JHEEEKIIINS!!!!!!!!

Re:Dam that is some plague.....

[fuzzybunny]

Ah, right, I knew there was a good side to hanging around my apartment in my free time playing games instead of going out jogging.

My girlfriend with giggle about my gut when SHE's dropping from plague, ha ha.

It's not a bug!

[Prien715]

It's not a bug, it's a feature!

Re:Fixed

[KillShill]

Massively Multiplayer Grief.

Speaking of Plagues...

[Shirov]

Now if only SWG could find a cure for SOE...

*duck*