An open letter to a new profession.

Archaeology. Oh, Archaeology.

I haven’t even leveled you to 100, and already I hate you.

You take fishing, and you remove the excitement and convenience. That’s you, Archaeology.

At least I don’t have to get my top-end weapon from your RNG. Yet, as I have harped upon lo these many blog posts, to me, vanity items are my top-end weapons, and so I must, must, must continue until I have every rare artifact.

However, for the unfortunate level 85 who is trying to do this, there is a silver lining: you make us explore all the new-old zones. And for that, Archaeology, I have to thank you.

Let me tell you why.

Yesterday, I was in Stranglethorn Vale, running down yet another Troll artifact, when I heard the siren song of Short John Mithril announcing his chest dropping in the Gurubashi Arena. Someone had just murdered all the dwarves at the Explorer’s League Digsite, so I was spoiling for a fight anyway. So I flew over to the Arena, and stealthed just outside.

Soon enough, a couple players showed up: a level 30-something worgen priest, and a level 85 blood elf death knight. Short John Mithril was still making his walk to place the chest. When he did, the blood elf cast Death and Decay over it, making no move to loot the chest. He just stood there, taunting the priest, as if to say, “My ground effect AoE will one-shot you if you stand in it, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Archaeology, I could not let this stand. Extended-range Sap to the rescue! Thonk. Death and Decay expires. Gank! Rupture! Recuperate! Envenom, envenom, dismantle, dead! (Which is not to say he didn’t fight back. He did. The stunlock-to-dead Rogue strategy is basically gone.)

And then it was just me and the level 30-something Worgen.

Remember, when you’re in the Gurubashi Arena, you can attack anyone, regardless of faction. I could have easily auto-attacked him to death. Instead, I told him to /go, and /bowed.

He looted the chest, and got the achievement (an achievement I still do not have, by the way). Then he went on his merry way, a level 30 paladin who had just arrived nipping at his heels. He whispered me his effusive thanks.

I felt like a hero, Archaeology, and I have you to thank for that.

Love,
Squelchy

P.S. When the blood elf recovered his corpse I killed him again, because sometimes I’m a hero, but most times I’m a bastard.

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