Remember the first character I played because he became a benchmark of sorts for all other characters in many other games that followed.  As most new players often do when creating a character for the first time, try as though they might, create  a flawed virtual representation of themselves and take new steps in the virtual world.  For now that world is fresh, exciting and inviting.

Perhaps I remember him best because he was flawed.  I wonder if I had spent more time researching starting stats and or if I had picked the best class or profession, I would of continued to play him longer.  When climbing that staircase of experience in pursuit of the maximum level and end game content, value the journey more then the destination.  Did the gear and skills chosen bring out the most potential? The first group where all the well honed tactics learned in individual battles paid off, friends met in travels even if it was just to pass the time and share wisdom.  And finally the cornerstone of social interaction in mmo’s, the guild or corporation.  Allot is left to fate and how well one communicates while forging these friendships and communities ties, will your character be the one that rises up and makes a difference?

My most memorable character, was a ‘luri’, lurikeen nightshade named, Eater OfSouls.  I had just quit playing Diablo2, Lord of Destruction, lured away by rumors a new game, where one did not play in a top down point of view but in first person or over the shoulder.  The year was 2002 and the month and day of February 14th brought forth the promises of a new world to explore, monsters to kill and treasure to be found in Mythic Entertainment‘s world of Dark Age of Camelot.

Fear not gentle reader, all is not lost if your character is not the ‘one’, there is always another opportunity lurking around the next corner.  Whether it’s simply rolling an ‘alt’, alternate character, or awaiting for the next greatest mmorpg to come out, empires are awaiting to be forged by your hand.

Why do you PvP?

I like the thrill of locking horns with another player. I kill him or he kills me. Maybe I lose and go back for revenge but if I win then what’s the point of killing him over and over again?

I think one aspect of the perceived problem here is how to get people to realize a sense of ‘honor’ when pvp’ing. I agree ‘Why do you PvP?’ If a person wants to make a name for themselves among their peers and other guilds then what does that say when that individual kills the same person 3+ times in a row or the roving pvp group steamrolls a single player?

Another perspective is that pvp is real war and there are no rules in war but to destroy the enemy any chance they get, to give no quarter and break their bones. Is this real war? Actually in real war there are rules of engagement, boundaries opposing forces do not cross as war is the only recourse and resolution when words of men (and women lol) fail. What boundaries do you place on yourself, does your group, and does your guild?

This is a game, nobody seems to take these ideas seriously as means to an end in this din of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Perhaps if we hold pvp dear and police ourselves first, rather then to ask Funcom or any other gaming company to do it for us, would give us all the pvp game we are searching for. I know I personally miss the pvp from Daoc badly even though I stopped playing it many years ago, it still haunts me. WoW was great in many ways but imho never reclaimed the feelings or satisfied that primal urge.