The march of protesting naked gnomes [this crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy world mmo]
The prologue of this story originates in 2004, a couple of months after the release of World of Warcraft, when Blizzard decided to once again weaken the class of warriors, so that there was no big imbalance. The player’s protest that began was quickly suppressed by the ban of all especially ardent protesters. The players remembered this.
Similar situations have been until 2004: the people have been striking in Ultima Online, Everquest, Star Wars: Galaxies and other MMOs.
The most loud protest in the history of World of Warcraft occurred in January 2005. The developers announced that in the upcoming patch, warriors will be weakened even more. Many players, tired of the constant nerf of their beloved class, reacted immediately.
Immediately the administration of the game was covered with angry messages: subscribers demanded the abolition of planned changes. But everything was empty, Blizzard was adamant.
If the developers do not respond to forum messages, you need to express your discontent in the game – the players reasoned. On January 27, an announcement was drawn up: everyone could create a gnome of the first level and take part in the march of naked gnomes-warriors (apparently, a tribute to the long tradition of Everquest).
The proposal was perceived with a bang. January 29 on the Argent Dawn server gathered a huge crowd of naked gnomes. Exactly at 7 o’clock in Pacific time, the march from the starting location to the city of Stalgorn (Ironforge) was launched.
During the march, protesters shouted slogans against the next nerf and sang revolutionary songs (probably). The majority was in principle not against changes, they simply enjoyed what was happening.
In Stalgorn, the organizers of the marsh of disagreements organized a guild, where they took all speakers against the new patch. The influx of the guild interface could not stand it, he bugged and stopped accepting new participants.
When the main part of the Horde of Naked Dwarves reached the city, no one thought about the termination of the rally. All local players gathered at the strikers, which only exacerbated the situation: the already puffing server was on the verge.
The administration sent to resolve the situation of the game master. He took a character of the 50th level and under the nickname Xanan (Xanan) appeared in Stalgorn. There he told all the protesters to disperse: “Your actions seriously affect the game experience of other players. Accept to attention that the refusal can lead to a disciplinary sanction.”
“This is Severly Impacting Other Players’ Gaming Experiences. Please https://nonukcasinosites.co.uk/poker-sites-not-on-gamstop/ Be Advated Failure to Disperse Canlt in Disciplinary Action.”
Although the direct appeal of the game master spoke quite eloquently about the subsequent distribution of bans, but many players were in no hurry to disperse: Blizzard finally drew attention to the protests!
In order to prevent the server drop, the developers turn off Argent Dawn. For a couple of minutes. This did not stop the protesters, and they gathered again near the auction building.
Xanan again urged everyone to disperse:
“Attention: the gathering of players in one area with the intention of interfering others play is regarded as griffing, which we will not tolerate. If you came here to protest because of the warriors, please vanish and return to your servers.
We value your opinion, but the protest is not a permissible way to convey your point of view to us. Kindly post your reviews on the forum. If you do not fulfill our request, we will be forced to take measures against your accounts.
Please leave this area. If you are here for the sake of undermining the gameplay, we will suspend your accounts.”
“Attendation: Gathering on alm with Intent to Hinder Gameplay is Consedered Griefing and Will Not Be Tolerated. IF YOU ARE HERE For the Warrior Protest, Please Log Off and Return To Playing On Youur Usual Realm.
We Apprecate Your Opinion, But Protesting in Game Is Not A Valid Way to Give Us Feedback. Please Post Your Feedback On the Forums Inst,. IF YOU Do Not Comply, We Will Begin Taking Actions Against Accounts.
Please leave thisa if you are here to disrupt game Play as We are Suspending All Accounts.”
This time, many players roamed Xanan’s warnings and left Stalgorn. Those who remained received banns of varying severity.
Some decided to express their disagreement already on the forums. But here the administration suppressed the protest: any mention of the nerf warriors or the marsh of the gnomes immediately followed the ban.
For several more months, the protesters stated that their rally was repressed. Quite a few supported them. Although even more did not pay attention to it, or it was believed that warriors really deserve nerf.
Whether the patch players influenced this? No. Later warriors were even weakened even more.
Million of a million gnomes (or in other words – the protest of warriors) did not lead to anything. Unless Blizzard taught to suppress such marches in the bud (for example, on the Thunderlord server after the release of The Burning Crusade). We can also say that this march has revived interest in the marathon of naked gnomes.