Well it's fun for me!

Good news, everyone! The slime is flowing again!

It's pretty easy to tell from his voice that Professor Putricide is having loads of fun while trying to kill you and your team. He's not the only one enjoying his job, until we introduce them to the floor.

But we're the players, not the NPCs. What about us?

Imagine, if you will, walking into Marrowgar's room and finding a pile of bones and some loot. What if the Princes declared their undying love to every pretty female toon in the party and showered them with gifts (and sparkles) every week? I don't even want to think about walking up to the Frozen Throne and having Arthas ask if it's comfy and if you'd like to hold Frostmourne and try on his armor a while.

It might seem cool to those less experienced with games for a while.

My nine-year-old would love it.

But after the first week, after the first month, after a year of having everything handed to you...would you still be playing? Would it still be fun?

To have a reward be worth the effort, there must be a challenge. If you don't feel like you've earned it, it's just not rewarding. It's just as true in writing as it is in games. If the reader or the player don't feel that the end was challenge enough, there's no satisfaction in the happily ever after.

Next time you start wondering if it's worth all the flasks, fish feasts, and repair bills, try to remember what the alternative is.

Big smiles everyone! This is fun!

Good news, everyone! I think I perfected a plague that will destroy all life on Azeroth!