So after a few years away from playing the game (if not still keeping up with changes and stories via my Wife who was still playing) I find myself back in World of Warcraft. I played the game without a break in subscription from launch in the UK for about 11 years, then reached a point of unsubscribing for a while after I'd done everything I could without raiding or doing group content in an expansion - I think Legion was the first expansion where this was the case (not having enough friends still active in the game to keep it fun, and not being the kind of person who can just make friends with random online folks). But after my initial run through the story of Shadowlands, I thought I was done for good.
So what made me quit?
A few things, A guild I didn't talk to, boredom with Shadowlands after my initial rush, the fact that we now only had 1 computer, so I couldn't play along with my Wife any more, and a discontentment with some of the ways that the game was progressing.
So what brought me back?
Again, a few things.
New Friends
Firstly and most importantly, My wife found a new group of people to play the game with (Shout out to Aerithium on Silvermoon EU - I've never felt so welcome, or such a sense of belonging to a group in this game, not even in the guild I co-founded waaaaaay back in Launch era), and I got to know them through (lurking in the background of my wife's chatting in) their discord voice chat, they were welcoming, funny, and enjoyed the game without the feeling that you had to push for every progression goal to get the best out of it. I felt the pull back to the game, even with only 1 PC, I already felt a part of a community again - even if at that time only by proxy.
This group of people have given my Wife and I so many laughs while playing, and not playing just hanging out on Discord, that I can't imagine not having them around now.
New things
Secondly, it was the announcement of Zereth Mortis, and most importantly the whole Cypher of the First Ones system. The idea of deciphering an ancient language through your actions and efforts was honestly the most interesting story mechanic Blizzard had come up with in years in my opinion. The pull of the game got stronger.
Old things done anew
Finally, it was the announcements around Dragonflight - the 9th expansion - and most importantly the return of proper talent trees - a feature I didn't realise fully I'd missed so much until I knew they were coming back. And the apparent change in design philosophy from "we know best, you don't know what you really want" to "ok, lets try some of this 'listening to our players' thing" - though I think this began when they launched WoW Classic. This is a good time to return to WoW and do a few things I meant to do but couldn't finish (completing my Alliance allied races roster by finally unlocking Mechagnomes is top of the list)
