This week, we have another extra-special
member for the Community Spotlight. He's been a member of the Tabula Rasa
community for years, a moderator on our forums, and is also unusually fond of
flamethrowers. Of course, I'm talking about none other than ShadowMage!
After tracking him down and requesting that
he be featured in our Community Spotlight, he readily accepted. During our chat,
the following took place:
Jaren: So, ShadowMage ...
How would you describe yourself as a player?
ShadowMage: Well I can
role-play but really it requires more than one person, so if I am in a group
of people role-playing I will. Timewise, I would call myself casual - having a
family with four kids - the days when I could spend the entire week-end gaming
are but a distant memory. So casual role player is probably the title that
fits me best.
I dislike dying though so I wont be the one screaming LEEROY and charging the
bane head-on.
I am happy to do my own thing, but prefer group co-operative play and I am
usually happy to help others with completing stuff.
Jaren: And how long have
you been helping others complete things in MMOs?
ShadowMage: I am fairly
new to MMO's. I have been playing computer games for over 20 years, but only
got into MMORPG's with Guild Wars. T.R will be my first fee-paying MMORPG.
However online gaming - I go back to Diablo 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Dungeon
Siege.
Jaren: So you're pretty
much a n00b when it comes to real MMOs. Kidding! What's your favorite memory
from those games?
ShadowMage: My favorite
memories relate to people doing stupid things and getting the entire group
wiped. One time in Guild Wars we had this real loser we had picked up for a
mission. He just kept running in and dying. We were getting our butts kicked
so we ran away across a bridge. He stayed and died. So we rezzed him, the
monsters kicked his butt. So we rezzed him again - man we rezzed that sucker
like 20 times before he got tired of dying and left. I was laughing so hard I
was crying.
Jaren: I'm sure we've all
played with that fellow at some point. So, what kind of games do you typically
find yourself playing?
ShadowMage: I am a big fan
of RPG (anyone remember Bards Tale on the C64?) and RTS games. FPS not so
much. Currently outside of Tabula Rasa Beta I am playing Company of Hero's.
I should mention that in 25+ years of playing CPRG's I have never played an
Ultima game - Sorry Richard - too many games, not enough time/money.
Jaren: I'm sure that RG
would be glad to hear you say that, and return the favor by increasing your
monthly payments. Do you find yourself levelling while you play or playing to
level in MMOs?
ShadowMage: I like to
explore, I like to complete missions, I like to experiment with different
builds. I tend to level whilst playing. But when I get close to a new level
that powergamer just takes over and I need to get there.
Jaren: Sounds like me.
Especially when you have something nice and shiney waiting for you at the end
of that EXP bar -- Like, say, a vorpal lazer gun. Speaking of which, do you
prefer Sci-Fi games over Fantasy games?
ShadowMage: I am a big fan
of both the fantasy and Sci-fi genres. I have 400 odd fantasy / sci-fi books
sitting on my bookshelves from 25+ years of reading. I am looking forward to
T.R as a change from the fantasy RPG games I have been playing the last few
years.
Jaren: Change can be good,
yes. How do you feel about PvP?
ShadowMage: I am a big fan
of consentual PvP - nothing annoys me more than minding my own business and
having some anti-social griefer spoil my fun. Since the game is targetted as a
PvE game I dont think they should make PvP the main focus. Leave that to games
like WAR.
However I would like to see more PvP in T.R in the future. The whole Bane vs
Humans just screams PvP. So maybe in an expansions being able to play the Bane
on PvP servers would be great.
Also - for end-game, being able to have human clans fight over territory/bases
could be fun as well.
Jaren: Thats a pretty good
suggestion! Bunnies or kitties?
ShadowMage: Definitely
kittens. I had a bunny when I was younger and it drowned in the pool. I have
always had cats. My current cat is named Keeshah after a cat in a fantasy
novel.
Jaren: Bunny killer! Bunny
killer! You're evil for that, you know. Do you club baby seal, too? Kick
puppies? Microwave frogs?
ShadowMage: So just to
clarify that answer. I didnt drown the rabbit - it suicided whilst we were
away on holidays. I dont kick puppies - our dog bites if you kick her. I find
the blender works better on frogs than the microwave. Clubbing seals is
against the law in Australia - so I dont do that.
Jaren: Suuuure. Can't
really trust a bunny-killer, now can you? Well, let's go ahead and finish this
up, murderer. What do you think will attract other games to Tabula Rasa?
ShadowMage: I think Tabula
Rasa will be a great game for casual players. By that I mean people with only
an hour or two to play at a time. I think we will see a lot of players looking
for something besides the standard Fantasy fare.
The faster pace, lore (Logos), and R.G's name will all bring people in.
We may see FPS players trying it - but its not a FPS, so I expect they will
have issues with many of the non-twitch mechanics.
Jaren: Alright. What kind
of audience do you think MMOs should cater to more?
ShadowMage: I think
MMORPG's should pick an audience they want to cater to - and produce a great
game for that audience. Trying to cater to everyone leads to games that do a
poor job for everyone.
Jaren: Fair enough. What
do you think is the most original aspect of Tabula Rasa?
ShadowMage: I dont see T.R
bringing anything necessarily new to the genre. I think its the combination of
lots of different mechanics that make T.R the game it is. Some of these are
subtle - so a lot of people wont even realise they are there.
The fast action, more tactical game play is what I am looking forward to.
Missions with ethical consequences are going to be a nice change.
The thing I am most looking forward to is the cloning system. I spent endless
hours (talking 1500+ here) in Guild Wars and its expansions without ever
finishing any of them. I kept starting new characters to try different builds.
Cloning is going to save me a lot of time.
Jaren: Alright,
bunny-killer. Anything else you'd like to add before I call the ASPCA?
ShadowMage: Can I just say
"Recruits are like slinkies. Not good for much, but they bring a smile to
your face when you push them down the stairs".
And I dont actually own a flamethrower.
Jaren: Suuuure you don't.
I'm sure you don't know Michael Vick either, do you, bunny-killer?
And with that, our interview ended. I'm sure
he had more bunnies to kill or something. As always, we hope you enjoyed! Check
back next week for another of our Community Spotlight Interviews! Until then,
this is Jaren Quintaine, off to call the ASPCA!
