Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Heart's Desire

The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
- Lois McMaster Bujold, Memory, 1996
I've been contemplating that Bujold quote for quite a while now. I'm a gamer. I have been a gamer since I was ten years old. Chess, board games, RPGs, computer games, MMOs. It is what I enjoy doing, what I enjoy thinking about it, as the last eight years on this blog attests. It is probably as close to a "heart" as I have.

And yet.

I'm contemplating a new project. A "heart's desire", if you will. But to be successful with it, I believe that I will have to give up gaming. I do not think I will be able to afford the time spent gaming, or especially the mental effort spent thinking about games. Perhaps someone else could balance the two, but I have never been good at balance.

Since it is the New Year, it seems like an appropriate time to try this new direction. To stop playing games and try something new.

Accordingly, this blog is going on indefinite hiatus.

Of course, the odds are likely that I'll get terribly bored and start posting again in a couple of weeks. But if I don't, well, it has been a fun ride. Kill some dragons for me.

32 comments:

  1. I have enjoyed reading your blog and am sad to see it go. But good luck with your "Heart's Desire". I hope it'll turn out great!

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  2. Good luck with your project and happy new year.

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  3. Your voice will definitely be missed if you stop writing here. I can't imagine just deciding to stop participating in a hobby while it still interests me, but good luck with whatever your new project is going to be, if you decide to stick with it.

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  4. Best wishes. If you are willing, please do a follow-up post to tell us how it went.

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  5. Good luck with your project. I'll show them in your stead! :-)

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  6. Best of luck on your project, though you'll be sorely missed.

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  7. Another long running voice disappears.

    Best of luck, Rohan!

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  8. You've been an inspiration to me, honestly. I wish you luck on your next project, but I still hope to see you back. In either case, do what you wanna/gotta do!

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  9. Have really enjoyed your posts, and actually also come here for the blog updates on the right of your screen. Seems to be more quality linkage then virginworlds. Would enjoy reading about your pursuits so don't be a total stranger even if it's not about gaming!

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  10. Have really enjoyed your posts, and actually also come here for the blog updates on the right of your screen. Seems to be more quality linkage then virginworlds. Would enjoy reading about your pursuits so don't be a total stranger even if it's not about gaming!

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  11. Thanks for your posts, I've always enjoyed reading them. Good luck and have fun.

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  12. Thanks for all the entertaining posts over the years I've been reading your blog. Best of luck with the new endeavour!

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  13. Best of luck to you. I've been a long time reader (and some-time commenter) for a long while, you were one of the first bloggers I started checking on a regular basis, and when I discovered RSS (god I was so late to that party) you were one of the first WoW sites I added (you, BBB and Big Red Kitty - you are in somewhat illustrious company)

    If this is the end, I'd like you to know I will miss your balanced and insightful writing a great deal. Your exit will be a great loss to Gaming blogging and you'll be welcomed with open arms (or browsers) should you return.

    Happy new year, and good fortune to you with your new pursuit. Though I must admit some curiosity as to it's nature :D

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  14. As Shintar said, I couldn't imagine just leaving a hobby / pastime behind that I really enjoy, but when it is time to move on, then move on! Thanks for the blog, I enjoyed reading it a lot!

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  15. @Unknown -funny, I use Rohan's blog roll as an RSS feed effectively myself. And judging from the sheer amount of traffic my blog gets from Rohan's blog roll, I'm sure there are a LOT of people who do just that.

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  16. great quote. Bujold is a great author. Good luck with your project.

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  17. great quote. Bujold is a great author. Good luck with your project.

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  18. Long time lurker here.

    Have fun in your new project.

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  20. Thanks for everything, and good luck in your future endeavors!

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  21. I've never commented before, but I have enjoyed your perspective, on gaming in general and paladins in particular, since I switched mains in mid Burning Crusade. I just wanted to say thank you for years of thoughtful and helpful insight. Best of luck with everything you put your hands and mind to!

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  22. I will selfishly hope that you find a way to blog and pursue your dreams, if only so that I/we don't lose a valued member of the WoW and blogging communities. Regardless, best wishes to you in all your endeavors.

    ~ Vix

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  23. And on that day, the Holy Light did burn a bit dimmer, at the loss of such a great paladin and scholar.

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  25. Having followed you for some time now, I just want to point out that most of your readers are here for you and not the gamer-specific points.

    Have you considered bloging about your new project? Consider it a sounding board of sorts.

    Still, shame to see you go and good luck on your new 'Desire'.

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  26. Goodbye and good luck Rohan. You sir, are a true gentleman - I wish you all the best in your future project. May your heart's desire take you to a place where you want to be. I never did thank you for linking my fledgling blog to your site last year - thank you for that, and for opening up the world of blogging to me via the links on your site. You write thoughtfully and carefully, and I noticed that even in your replies on other blogs where emotions ran high and insults were being flung back and forth you never lost your poise or balance. You will be missed!

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  27. Sorry to be nosy but what is the new project, if you dont mind revealing it?
    I'm not sure if the comments that have been removed were because of this question, but i guess people will be curious to see what has taken your interest away from gaming and a blog you have kept up for so long. Thanks for the great reads anyway and good luck.

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  28. Your blog is one of the very few I actually read fairly consistently, and my main is a mage.

    Good luck in whatever your project is.

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  29. Have enjoyed your reading your thoughts and analysis through the years even if I never post here often just lurking in the shadows.

    I know shat it can be like giving up one thing to focus on other things. We all have to move on in life eventually to make room to other things often giving up some things or putting them aside in the process. We miss those that do so.

    So cheers and hope your new project works out for the best. If you get bored your blog is still right here.

    I've enjoyed always lurking around here. Good luck friend!!!!!!

    May the light be with you!

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  30. This is the kind of post I miss when I am overly busy around the holidays. I noticed my feed had not seen a Blessing of Kings in quite some time. I just wanted to echo what others have said; that I'll be sad to see BoK quiet, but I wish you the best in following your heart's desire. Early into my blog-lurking tenure yours became essentially my RSS, much as Talarian said. Then when I started my own blog yours was among my inspirations, and you were one of the first to add me to their roll. To this day a large amount of my traffic comes from here, for which I am eternally grateful. I hope to still see your writings sometime in the future!

    Best, Clockwork

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