GoldMaking Ethics – AFK Farming
The GoldMaking Ethics is a series of Warcraft Opinion Articles documenting responses to ethical questions posed on Twitter on 8 May 2018.
Tweets are presented out of context, and you can click them to read the rest of the conversation. You are always welcome to chat with me on twitter where my name is @thegoldqueen and you can find Gold Dragon here also @Dragonbearjoe
We have 9 articles for you to read, culminating in a TGQ Long Read with my own opinions. Today, we’re looking at a particularly dodgy, yet totally legitimate, method of making gold in warcraft: AFK farming. It’s not (yet?) a widely used method of gold farming requiring very little input
All stories were gathered in a judgement-free atmosphere. I understand if you disagree with other people or get upset by it, but during the Ethics Questions, we are examining responses in a detached scientific manner.
Some didn’t understand what AFK farming was
Afk farming: say you want to grow things, such as the Halfhill farm in pandaland, I could see afk farming being useful for something that took 24 -48 hours to grow and was automatically reset (or with phone app lets say) and you could physically go there to change the stock.
— 🌠StarWolf🐺 (@Wolfhound7919) May 8, 2018
I’m not going to call out any gold making teachers at all, because differences between our methods does not make one good and one bad. This is a judgmental-free zone right now!
However I do need to explain what I mean by “AFK Farming”
You need a windwalker monk, and a location where mobs spawn quickly, such as
- Southern Barrens
- Shadow Labyrinth dungeon
- Nagrand Clefthoof
- Silithus Twilight Base Camp
Spec your Monk with Chi Orbit and Black Ox Statue
In summary, your ox statue taunts all the mobs and Chi Orbit kills them. You need only tab back to your screen every 5 minutes to loot. It’s like botting, but its totally legitimate.
What interested me was whether legitimate meant ethical to TGQ website readers? Remember: non judgemental! Just wanted to know a wide variety of opinions.
Honesty is Best
Ashwind says bugs and cheats are a cheap way of doing things.
I feel that honesty is the best way to build a solid base for gold making. Abusing bugs and cheats are really a cheap way of going about it. I also believe it's on the student to do a bit of research before jumping in, especially in too good to be true scenarios.
— Optimistic Ashwind, the Curious One (@AshwindGamer) May 8, 2018
Its not worth it
KT_Deathope says gold teachers have a responsibility to point out what’s ethical and what’s not.
Any gold making that may feel dishonest or sketchy should be researched or avoided. Gold teachers should make it clear whats a bit "off" or simply stick to ethical imo. Its not worth losing your account to make a bit of extra gold in my mind 🙂
— The Heraldin (@Deathope_) May 8, 2018
Botting is a no-no
Not AFK Farming, but botting is no way acceptable in WoW, says Bradley
Botting is no way a good thing for the game. Afk farming in my eyes is just mindless farming while twitch watching. There is nothing wrong with that. Make a target macro loot and move through the motions.
— Bradley Doerhoff (@Moviefone1011) May 8, 2018
Over to you
AFK Farming. Its totally legitimate, its very easy, and it works. How do you feel about it? Exploit or Clever way to make gold? I’m open to hearing your opinions!
About the Author
Warcraft’s longest running Gold Making blog, The Gold Queen is written by Alyzande since 2010. Working on her 14th level 110, she has 9 years expertise in making gold, 19,000+ achievements, 1593 days played, over 39 million gold earned, and now playing World of Warcraft Legion live on www.twitch.tv/thegoldqueen The Gold Queen blog teaches you how to make gold playing Warcraft using ethical trading, auction house flipping, crafting, reselling, snatch lists, and farming gold making. Want more updates on Warcraft Battle for Azeroth? Support my Patreon for exclusive pre-release Gold Guides
