The Skyrim Obsession; Chop Till You Drop

Skyrim is designed to be obsessive, with its glorious distinction, huge scope for almost unlimited exploration, comprehensive assortment of enemies that your capable of unscrupulously maiming. Oh and dragons too, big ones! My point is, Skyrim is brimming with exhilarating opportunities, coupled with a thoughtfully rendered, environment to pursue your every whim and desire, as and when, you see fit. There aren’t many games which boast such freedoms, beyond deciding on which weapon you should use, to blow up another unknown terrorist, combatant (I’m not mentioning any names). But as expectedly obsessive as Skyrim was intended to be, there is one aspect I didn’t envisage, how utterly compulsive…..chopping wood is!

Forget battling fire sneezing dragons, or exploring hazardous, Draugr infested caverns in search of valuable weaponry. No, I’m on a deeply personal, spiritual quest to nurture my enthusiasm for dendrochronology, and to harvest trees for the benefit of the inhabitants of Skyr……Oh hell, I’m cutting as many logs in half, in exchange for stacks of cash, and big bosom wenches, that I will inevitably attract with my impressive, lumberjack skills (well perhaps not the last part). But apart from the obvious financial benefits I gain from this frivolous exercise, why do I feel such a staggering obligation to do so? It seems absurd that I’m more concerned with the notion that the long-haired elf, is cutting wood to reciprocate money which is rightfully mine, which is a desire you could only experience in a game as compelling as Skyrim.

Why is this such a stimulating inclusion? It shouldn’t be compelling?! It should be boring me beyond all sense and reason, sending me screaming into a darkened corner, and leaving me muttering, incoherently about Redrum or a 7 ft jellybabies. Surely chopping wood in a virtual fantasy world, should be as entertaining as being held at gunpoint, and forced to laugh at a Russel Brand movie. So why is something that is the virtual equivalent of stamp collecting (no disrespect philately’s), become such an addiction for many of us? I hope.

Are you addicted to chopping wood? Or is there another equally mundane job you’ve become obsessed with? Let me know your thoughts.