When the End Draws Neigh
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:19 am
How many have ever thought about what it would feel like when your character that you have invested countless hours in developing and planning hits the mysterious level of forty?
Dae is getting real close and the process seems to do nothing but accelerate the closer she gets. I have seen so many people quit their character once they hit that level that I find myself with mixed emotions as the final level comes. It marks the time the character becomes static and will never change again.
A little over two years ago I almost lost her, which forced a voluntary playing style change for the character. She became more and more an RP based character and as often as possible avoided fighting. She would and still does take out the occasional spawn. She will try to go with groups and act as the one who hangs behind and keep the others healed but the XP still mounts and is barley over 19 K till the change stops.
I want to thank all those who have helped her along and let me play her as the self-doubting timid character she has become. Anyone who has ever seen her when push comes to shove knows she is no slouch. But taking out the uber spawn does not have the appeal to me as a session like I spent with Kayla in the jail. I kept the log file as it was so memorable to me and have read it over several times. She pushed me to dig deep and try my best to make it an experience for her. If nothing else it gives me incentive to keep going with the frail little ghost elf.
For your entertainment I will provide a very small excerpt from our conversation.
*Kayla is refering to images that flash in her memory*
Dae is getting real close and the process seems to do nothing but accelerate the closer she gets. I have seen so many people quit their character once they hit that level that I find myself with mixed emotions as the final level comes. It marks the time the character becomes static and will never change again.
A little over two years ago I almost lost her, which forced a voluntary playing style change for the character. She became more and more an RP based character and as often as possible avoided fighting. She would and still does take out the occasional spawn. She will try to go with groups and act as the one who hangs behind and keep the others healed but the XP still mounts and is barley over 19 K till the change stops.
I want to thank all those who have helped her along and let me play her as the self-doubting timid character she has become. Anyone who has ever seen her when push comes to shove knows she is no slouch. But taking out the uber spawn does not have the appeal to me as a session like I spent with Kayla in the jail. I kept the log file as it was so memorable to me and have read it over several times. She pushed me to dig deep and try my best to make it an experience for her. If nothing else it gives me incentive to keep going with the frail little ghost elf.
For your entertainment I will provide a very small excerpt from our conversation.
*Kayla is refering to images that flash in her memory*
Da'emona: Pick one vision.
Da'emona: Focus on it, make time stop.
Kayla: *turns her head as if looking at somthing* Flames, I see lots of flames
Da'emona: Your mind is in control. you are outside, you are an observer
Da'emona: Focus on the flames.
Da'emona: Look around and pull back from the flames.
Da'emona: What do you see?
Da'emona: Flames of a forge?
Kayla: The south guard barracks
Da'emona: A campfire or touch?
Kayla: *she nods* Yes.. I am to set it on fire.
Da'emona: Outside the southern gate?
Kayla: *she nods again*
Da'emona: You view the flame of a touch?
Da'emona: Is it in your hand?
Kayla: I am standing outside watching the flames burn the building. A quite voice asking if I understand.
Da'emona: Look to your side. There is a bucket there.
Da'emona: Now turn time backwards.
Kayla: *moves her head slightly as if looking*
Da'emona: The flames of the building shrink.
Da'emona: Wood becomes whole and the flames die.
Da'emona: The torch you used is now back in your hand.
Da'emona: The building stands whole and solid.
Da'emona: Drop the torch in the bucket.
Da'emona: In your mind drop the touch in the bucket of water.
Kayla: *her head turns a bit, sweat beading up again* I.. cant. I half to burn the building down. Its.. Its sick
Da'emona: *perspiration flows down her forehead* You are in control Kayla, not them but you.
Da'emona: Focus Kayla, you mind is strong, their judgment weak.
Da'emona: You are in control.
Da'emona: Will the torch from your hand.
Kayla: I.. I half to burn it. My friends are in danger from it.
Da'emona: They are in no danger.
Da'emona: You protected them.
Da'emona: Your friends are free and well Kayla.
Da'emona: The fire will hurt them though.
Kayla: *sweat drips from her head as she nods* o.. ok.
Da'emona: Looks at the torch Kayla, see the flames dance?
Kayla: *she gives a small nod*
Da'emona: The flames of the torch die.
Da'emona: Growing smaller and smaller.
Da'emona: It is nearly out.
Kayla: *holds her head as if staring at something*
Da'emona: only an ember remains.
Da'emona: You touch your finger to your tongue.
Da'emona: look how it glistens.
Kayla: *tilts her head slightly*
Da'emona: Your wet finger approaches the last glowing ember
Da'emona: It touches and the torch hisses in death.
perhaps lvl22 ranger? I'm still trying to push the wood-crafting skills on Avlis. She can still DP from normal spawns.. in fact.. I DP as much now as when I was lvl4!
I may have posted incorrectly here. The intent was to have people think ahead and nothing more than that. I could never give up Dae or Sonja for that matter. The RP is what it is all about and rushing through levels for the sake of leveling for me at least is a waste. I am sure we all did it at one time or another. And the comments are right as the only thing that is static at forty is the stats of the character for the sake of the game engine. Nothing else changes in the least as the character continues to evolve. The ones I saw retire the characters did so primarily after the end of the war on Avlis. It is sort of like the person whose only reward in life is what happens on the job and when they are forced to retire they realize they have no life.
) And Da'e, yeah IG actually changed my thoughts on my original plan for Lomir, I was originally going to make him a fighter/barbarian/ranger, worshiping Breen. But I am now actually very very glad to have changed my mind. The gold dragon fighter bard is something I really like to RP now *laughs*