No, not an actual Vs thread, but something different.
Obviously this forum has turned into a warzone between players who identify as casual, vs players who identify as hardcore. But the same issue arises in every single thread, without fail - what is casual? What is hardcore?
So rather than the usual back and forth bickering and fighting, can we have a go at an open discussion regarding what you personally consider casual, hardcore, or both.
I will start by offering my opinion on the subject:
I believe it boils down to attitude, rather than actual in game activities. I believe you can be hardcore in any aspect of the game - there are hardcore mount collectors, hardcore AH players, hardcore pet battlers, hardcore pvpers, and hardcore pvers. In all situations, they approach their favored aspect of the game with a hardcore mindset - that could be trying to collect the most mounts, or trying to collect the rarest mounts, but either way, they are committed to their goal, and it is their main focus when playing.
A hardcore pet battler takes that aspect of the game very seriously - their playtime is focused around obtaining the best pets, building the best team, and learning the ins and outs of the systems, and are willing to sacrifice their enjoyment at times to achieve their goals.
A hardcore raider takes their raid time seriously - they plan, they prep, they practice, and they focus on performing the best they can - regardless of the difficulty they play. This could mean some of the things they do they dont really enjoy, but it is a means to an end - and that end, that goal, is their main focus.
A casual to me, is someone who does not take any aspect of the game seriously - their attitude is more about having fun, and enjoying their playtime. They are not really concerned about performance, dont really invest much thought into prep and practice, bis lists and whats considered 'meta'.
So a casual pet battler uses the pets they think are cool, uses the ones with abilities they like, and dont really mind too much about the outcome, so long as they enjoy themselves. A casual pvper might do arena, might do random bgs, or might even play with a dedicated RBG team - but they are not there to climb the ranks, they are there for fun.
A casual raider might do LFR, or they might do higher difficulties. They play a spec they enjoy, with talents they enjoy, with a covenant they enjoy, and have little to no care for what is considered "meta". They play for fun, and are not worried if they are top of the meter, or 9th.
I think too often we focus on playtime, or difficulties, rather than attitude. And thats my conclusion: It doesnt matter how much you play, what difficulty you play, what content you focus on, or any other factor - but rather you attitude towards the game, and what sacrifices you are willing to make, if any, to achieve your goals in game.
I would love to hear if you agree, disagree, and more importantly, what YOU use to distinguish between a casual and hardcore player.