Goblins: Who and Why? (Part 3)

So, as a bit of a birthday present to you all - I've completed Part 3 of my "Goblins: Who and Why?" series =) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Though I hold a degree in Psychology, I do not profile people professionally. What I have written below is simply based on the education I have gained, and a bit of guess-work (as is all things in Psychology). It should be noted that aspects of each Goblin-type are not “end-all-be-all” aspects, and that often individuals will display characteristics of each type of Goblin. Lastly, all Goblins have one particular interest they each hold – the love of gold; this is what defines them as a “Goblin”.

The Challenge-seeking Goblin

Of the Goblin types that I am writing about, the Challenge-seeking Goblin is likely to take the most risks. They’re in the Auction House for both the thrill of making gold, but also for the joy of trying new things. Some things you might find a Challenge-seeking Goblin doing are the following:

• Play one market with a solid presence (usually whichever has the best time-to-gold ratio)
• Constantly test new ideas for raking in the gold (usually in markets they’ve already secured a foothold in).
• Try their hand in new or multiple markets (after a little bit of research, of course!).

The Challenge-seeker is probably the type to have been mis-diagnosed with ADHD as a child due to their constant need to push forward, and their expressed boredom when the pace has slowed. What sets the Challenge-seeker apart from other Goblins, is that they are after those difficult tasks for the purpose of defining themselves. Each challenge they find which they cannot defeat becomes a “wall” to their psychological “house”, where as each challenge they surmount becomes a floor beneath them. In this way, they are building a psychological sky-scraper of themselves. This mindset can be helpful in that they have personal reassurance of their ability to overcome, but might also be a detriment in that it can come across as egotistical.

A second possible explanation for the Challenge-seeker’s behavior might be that they have become (or already were) thrill-junkies. Like a skydiver or bungee jumper, the Challenge-seeker might just be after that next “high” that comes from a big sale, constantly chasing down their next “score”.

Of the Goblin types that I have written about thus far, it should be noted that the Challenge-seeking Goblin is good to try and become friends with. They are both a great resource in that they are the most likely to have tried new and different things, and are fairly open to sharing their information and experiences. After all, what good would their success or personal-image be if they didn’t have someone to share it with? (Which is usually when they might come across as egotistical).

In conclusion, the Challenge-seeking Goblin is most easily associated with companies like Blizzard Entertainment. They’ve pushed to the brink of game development through exploring various gaming venues - a process that spans their history as a company. Through innovation, and an open conversation with the community, they’ve built themselves up to be the titans of an industry.

Stay tuned for the 4th and final part of this series – the Intellectual Goblin – coming sometime this weekend!

Ciao,
GG