How do you manage your time?

[Koricynn]

I'm in my mid 40's and currently unemployed after a life changing event a few years ago. I've been playing Rift a little more than year after playing WoW for about 6 years.

I've loved most things about Rift from day one. I've only been in one low activity guild for a short period of time. I'm quite reclusive and only play with my brother these days. We play for about 2 1/2 hours on Friday and / or Saturday nights starting between 7:30 and 8:00. All we do is run the three Chronicles on our Guardian then Defiant toons.

Dull... yes, better than our previous worn out WoW raid grinds... somehow yes.

OP, I also agree that you seem to be managing your time very well.

[Milyssa]

I'm a full time college student in my last few months of classes (we're talking 9-4, monday to friday) so I have very little play time as well. I use tricks I learned in a book about time management.

You would think with classes all day that I would have no time after school to study. I have conditioned myself to complete my studies at lunch or before dinner. Usually an hour or two at most is all I need to complete my reading and notes for the next day. So after dinner I'm all set for free time.

That said, I try to ... vary ... my time in game so I don't burn out or loose my grasp on reality. If something comes up IRL, the computer gets shut off. If I really can't be bothered to load up and play, I don't. If questing is becoming a little repetative, I usually do a run-around and farm or fish.. Climb a mountian or see how far I can swim before I drown. Yes, they are not really part of the game, but that's the fun of a persistant world. The quests will always be there.

For example, yesterday I had more fun in game than I've had in a while. A death invasion sprung up in Freemarch and there was a small group running around - AS A GROUP - cleaning up rifts and returning shadestone etc. It wasn't an instant ending event... it took a while, but being part of the group was fun. I love the no-pressure group aspect of Rift. And once IA comes to lower levels, I'll be doing them often.

IA is your best friend. Got 5 minutes, maybe 10. Not sure how long it will take for the pizza to be delivered, but you want to log in for a few - pop into IA and run around till you have to leave. Then bow out, leave group and be done with it.

My number one issue with endgame is the requirement to schedual your playtime. It becomes a job at that point and really isn't any fun (for me) any more.

[Darthalos]

I work to play, always have done. Consequently my play time is very valuable and therefore I would never squander it if I felt I wasn't having fun. At this time I am not playing Rift and wouldn't give it one minute of my game time. Maybe in time if the creators were to address my primary issue I would consider returning but sadly I use all my free gaming time elsewhere.

A game is just a game, a mechanism to satisfy an interest or hobby utilising a computer, to have fun. It is not a way of life. I work very hard and am I guess very successful in my given profession running a busy practice. But down time with my hobby of computers has always been essential. And even more essential is the enjoyment that that brings. I don't swap daily work for work in a game, and playing is not just a habit. I have to enjoy myself. Rift has been boring for six months. Really boring. And there is no sign of it improving. It satisfies a certain narrow band of players and Trion are focusing on that group. So in terms the game is not for me.

The game did have potential, but they gave up on the WORLD of Rift. Just like Blizzard gave up on the WORLD of Warcraft. The WORLD is a place you escape to when not in the real WORLD. If I cannot escape to such a WORLD with challenges that I progress myself each time I log then sorry I am not interested. And if playing meant I needed to involve others in what evere I do to enjoy myself then forget it. And I am not interested in gear and minor adjustments to stats so I can kill something a fraction of a second quicker. What I prefer is exploration, and working to find rare mobs say that give rare crafting elements that let me develop rare armor that looks good that can be changed by getting rare augements that you obtain by achieving notoriety from a faction or race that are hard to befriend and that mean resolving certain chain quests that open other options and zones. So the WORLD is more a Pandoras box to be steadily opened that means your character becomes unique. There is nothing unique in getting the same Tier gear as the next guy or obtaining a mount from popping balloons.

The depth and purpose in this game is truly moronic.... and boring. As soon as fishing arrived I realised I may as well go back to WoW.... But sadly it was the walking that crippled me and made me realise just how tedious and pointless the game had now become. And the creators don't understand... They are not my kind of game designers and sadly creators like these over the last five years have utterly destroyed this game concept. I don't actually think they even understand what it is that the game should be providing. And what is worse is that they get fooled by a wave of players that they think they need to pander to, and then realise they have failed to produce something that can be sustained. It took six months in Rift and took just two months in SWToR to fail. Amazing really.

I have played wow, and this game is in someways like wow, but in more in difference. If you don't like it, then go post in wow forums and not here. To answer OP, I work 48 hours to 50 a week in a 4 on 4 off schedule...I am married with two toddler twins. I tend to usually play at night after 8 til around 10 or 11..some nights when I work I don't play at all.

[Ajhal]

I have played wow, and this game is in someways like wow, but in more in difference. If you don't like it, then go post in wow forums and not here. To answer OP, I work 48 hours to 50 a week in a 4 on 4 off schedule...I am married with two toddler twins. I tend to usually play at night after 8 til around 10 or 11..some nights when I work I don't play at all.

Its called constructive discussion in the hope that maybe, just maybe, we may get a game that better reflects a wider player base. But then I guess just slamming the door on any view that runs against the grain is something narrow minded views tend to perpetuate, particularly in relatively shallow games like Rift. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate lifting the bar sometimes. As to posting in the WoW forums, how would that help the game of Rift. I am active on many many forums.. but then I guess some, who tend to focus on just one train of entertainment or one game, could find such discussion a bit limiting. Doesn't mean to say it's not important... Or do you actually believe a forum benefits from just supportive comment.

PS It would have been more constructive and interesting in developing a thread if you had taken at least some effort in discussing what I wrote instead of using a slight as a vehicle to gain some kind of self importance.

[Caydin]

Its called constructive discussion in the hope that maybe, just maybe, we may get a game that better reflects a wider player base. But then I guess just slamming the door on any view that runs against the grain is something narrow minded views tend to perpetuate, particularly in relatively shallow games like Rift. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate lifting the bar sometimes. As to posting in the WoW forums, how would that help the game of Rift. I am active on many many forums.. but then I guess some, who tend to focus on just one train of entertainment or one game, could find such discussion a bit limiting. Doesn't mean to say it's not important... Or do you actually believe a forum benefits from just supportive comment.

PS It would have been more constructive and interesting in developing a thread if you had taken at least some effort in discussing what I wrote instead of using a slight as a vehicle to gain some kind of self importance.

The issue being is that with the exception of saying that you consider your time valuable, nothing you wrote was relevant to the topic I created. This is not the thread to voice your criticisms of the game; something that you've made quite prevalent in almost every topic you've joined. So please, don't bring that here.

For those of you who've recently become unemployed, I really feel for you. I hope an opportunity reveals itself soon!

[Maeloda]

Its called constructive discussion in the hope that maybe, just maybe, we may get a game that better reflects a wider player base. But then I guess just slamming the door on any view that runs against the grain is something narrow minded views tend to perpetuate, particularly in relatively shallow games like Rift. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate lifting the bar sometimes. As to posting in the WoW forums, how would that help the game of Rift. I am active on many many forums.. but then I guess some, who tend to focus on just one train of entertainment or one game, could find such discussion a bit limiting. Doesn't mean to say it's not important... Or do you actually believe a forum benefits from just supportive comment.

PS It would have been more constructive and interesting in developing a thread if you had taken at least some effort in discussing what I wrote instead of using a slight as a vehicle to gain some kind of self importance.

Wow. Just stop. Please.

[Sebb]

Its called constructive discussion in the hope that maybe, just maybe, we may get a game that better reflects a wider player base. But then I guess just slamming the door on any view that runs against the grain is something narrow minded views tend to perpetuate, particularly in relatively shallow games like Rift. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate lifting the bar sometimes. As to posting in the WoW forums, how would that help the game of Rift. I am active on many many forums.. but then I guess some, who tend to focus on just one train of entertainment or one game, could find such discussion a bit limiting. Doesn't mean to say it's not important... Or do you actually believe a forum benefits from just supportive comment.

PS It would have been more constructive and interesting in developing a thread if you had taken at least some effort in discussing what I wrote instead of using a slight as a vehicle to gain some kind of self importance.

PS your post was not constructive at all. It was 3 paragraphs of run on sentences about how you don't like the game. Instead, you should have been specifically saying what would make the game better without using vague symbolism.

[Chaosoul]

For the working stiffs among us, i'm quite interested in how you manage your working life, your family life and your entertainment. Even those of us that don't have jobs, how much time do you allocate to Rift? What do you spend your ingame time doing? How often do you play?

I'm 25 and work full time as a Inventory Specialist for a pharmacy. My schedule is not set and changes weekly, ranging anywhere from 7 in the morning to 12 midnight. I usually work around 42 to 50 hours a week. You wouldn't think that working in a pharmacy would be physically challenging, but I swear, I feel like I run all over the place.

I also write short stories, and am nuturing an idea that I hope will grow into my first novel. But I tend to always log on rift and talk to my guildmates. Sadly, none of my friends still play. Whenever I log on, I'm usually invited to some raid that's going on. If i'm not, depending on my mood, i'll either fish, do 30 minutes worth of IAs, or finish questing in EI. After that, I usually log and talk with my friends, often playing LoL with them. Then bedtime. At the rare time that my partner is home at the same time I am, I play D3 with him.

Also, auto-correct on a phone sucks :x.

This greatly depends on your current relationship status with your spouse or partner (if applicable).

If you're not speaking to one another, GAME ON! (nope, not bitter.)

Eh, I haven't done very good time management lately, and haven't been able to play for a while (no, not playing D3 or anything else *slap*).

It's a good question. And I'm interested in all the answers. If I had a "normal" life I would add mine.

[Caydin]

This greatly depends on your current relationship status with your spouse or partner (if applicable).

If you're not speaking to one another, GAME ON! (nope, not bitter.)

Eh, I haven't done very good time management lately, and haven't been able to play for a while (no, not playing D3 or anything else *slap*).

It's a good question. And I'm interested in all the answers. If I had a "normal" life I would add mine.

Yeah, sadly, he goes into work about when i'm leaving. When he gets home,I'm asleep. When I wake up, he's asleep.

[Chaosoul]

I'm 26 and work full time, as well as spending more nights at work than a home during the month - I'm at home 12 nights a month, which is depressing.

My Work/Rift/Other is basically the following:

Am I awake, indoors and not at work? Then I'm playing Rift.

I do do other stuff but mostly it all fits in really well around playing the game - apart from reading I suppose - so yeah, I need to get a life.

Do you work in Prudhoe Bay, yet live in the lower 48?

If not, that's the exact description of someone who does..(time-wise) Just curious.

And you have a life, if you're working. Don't be hard on yourself. If you're happy, you're fine. If not, leave the cave when you're home!

[Madcroc]

19, unemployed, pretty much logged on all day. Though the time i acctually play is maybe 6-7h on a raid night(raid being 4h)

[Caydin]

I don't think I'd be able to play one single game all day. I would quickly burn out. I love raiding, but i'll admit that I probably spend a good 40% of my time alt-tabbed.

[TheRaggedMan]

Do you work in Prudhoe Bay, yet live in the lower 48?

If not, that's the exact description of someone who does..(time-wise) Just curious.

And you have a life, if you're working. Don't be hard on yourself. If you're happy, you're fine. If not, leave the cave when you're home!

Nah, that's not me - wrong continent for a start, although that leaves open the idea of an Evil Twin!

I, as with everything, have very specific definitions for "life" but I appreciate the kindness!

[Himo]

I am terrible at managing my game time in that I don't really manage it at all. I don't play the game to the detriment of my well-being but my play time is essentially unrestricted. Rift has become my sole hobby or "special interest" if you wished to call it that.

[Greenmantle]

Rift gets 4th place behind demands of work partner and demanding kitties but i still manage to find time to have fun in game and feel like i am progressing.

Last night, dinner done, things cleaned away too early for bed:

Partner: I'm going to read for a while.
Me: I suppose i could manage to find some thing to do on the computer.

She took 5 minutes to stop laughing