World of Warcraft: Testing The Waters: Role Playing 2

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It had been mere days since Trevorr the mage had entered the World of Warcraft in search of adventure, friendship and quest. Talk and tale at the Inn of Goldshire had resulted in bar fights, aggressive wordplay and one request for a sexual encounter conducted entirely in text. The mage fared no better in the grand city of Stormwind; requests for conversation fell upon horrified ears as details of family regicide emerged and the dreaded Kizzwazz (the invisible goblin) was mentioned. Perhaps the world was not yet ready for Trevorr? Even more likely, the world simply abhorred idiotic creations such as Trevorr; a change in tact was surely needed. 

I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent

It had been a struggle with my own British mentality but I had excitably indulged and consequently enjoyed Role-Playing. While to many I wasn't truly entering into the spirit of things; I had created a character, loosely chosen a story and proceeded to interact with others. My major problem was my tendency to hide behind a layer of humor and idiocy in an attempt to come to terms with doing something I felt uncomfortable with. Bursts of serious playing would see a lapse of around fifteen minutes where I would dance atop a fountain in underwear; this was my way of relieving my pent up stress and anxiety I suppose.

In pursuit of journalistic professionalism however, I would march forth and conquer. Many people I encountered seemingly took offence to my story of devouring a parent for power on the command of an invisible goblin; this probably had to go to make way for something less outlandish. I sat and studied the information highway, researching other's characters and what is acceptable. One thing that struck me is really how elitist some players are, while my character was somewhat of a foolish creation, I had remained constant in this character, delving into back-story and for my efforts I was simply a loller. I decided on a course of action and how to mould and shape my character further; I set about my quest once more.

I strode purposefully into Stormwind City's Park district, I had a new crimson red robe equipped, a rather stylish 2 handed staff strapped to my back; I felt stylish, cool and in character, it was time to go to work. I found myself a seat and sat down in the crowded inn, daring anyone to speak to me. The minutes past, silence, I found myself edging into loneliness and embarrassment. I finally decided to stand up and take matters into my own hands; I would make friendship my metaphorical bitch; I would socialize the hell out of the next person I saw, this happened to be a bearded man sat in the corner.

Approaching with apprehension I fired off a quick "Hail" I had seen this in EverQuest, it used to go down a storm "Hi, what can I do for you?" came the reply. I was in, I was the friendship Terminator "Oh nothing, I was just looking around and thought you needed a little conversation" I was smooth. "Oh well as it happens I do, my travels in Northrend were lonely and fraught with danger, company is short on hand these days."

I remembered what I had researched and came up with my response "I can imagine, the scourge are a real plague" I was new at this "My name is Trevorr I am a mage, nice to make your acquaintance..." I waited "Faris" came the reply.

For the next hour I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat as we discussed Azeroth, the threat of the Litch and the problem of the average Orc. In the real world such open and demanding conversation with my closest friends would have sent me recoiling in horror but here I was discussing my imagination with a stranger in disguise as a virtual stranger. My cheeks were blazing red, my mind was dazzled by conflict but there I was, Trevorr the mage sat in crimson, cool as a cucumber and role-playing with the best of them.

As I stated previously, I had reshaped the story of my character, gone was the cannibalism but still remained the invisible goblin Kizzwazz. This hour long of seriousness needed to be balanced with a little devil-may-care trickery and so after a foundation of friendliness was built; I started to show the many facets of my character. Every so often I would add simply a little nod, hint or allusion to my little invisible companion; I was lying in wait, throwing out the bait and reeling my new friend in.

After some time and several ales, Faris, my friend caved in "my I enquire who is this Kizzwazz you keep referring to?" A bolt of mischief flashed before my eyes "Kizzwazz is my companion, my master and mistress; my divine leader" I waited for the reply "ah my friend, the ale is talking, it makes fool of us all."

Genuine annoyance flushed through me as I read the response "Kizzwazz is sat next to us friend, only the worthy may see him," I starting to believe my hogwash.

"I have seen many sights but never have I seen a mage under the dominion of a Kizzwazz," the reply came. "He is my master! He says I should not listen to you, you are scourge filth," it was true my friend was a bearded Death Knight.

"What? How can you say that? Kizzwazz leave this man, Trevorr, come with me, let us go to the cathedral and rid you of this demon," It was working.

What followed was a scene I had could have only dreamt of occurring. I stood up in the inn, proclaimed to all that "You will never part me from Kizzwazz!" and stood by the door "If you wish us to separate, we do so in death! I mean to drown myself in the canal!" several people stood and followed me towards my watery doom. My friend Faris had led the cries for me to stop my madness, I was unfaltering "Kizzwazz demands that we depart this realm forever, we shall perish only in physical form."

I took a step towards the canal, Faris followed "No, please, I can help you, join with me and we shall rid you of your demon" I was surprised how much I was getting into this, the small crowd was bustling with cries of madness "nobody can help me." I plunged into the watery depths, the blue bar of air quickly slid away, Faris plunged into the water with me "Please, we can help" I simply bowed under water and slipped away into death.

My actions it would seem were pretty short sighted. Oh sure I had created an event that would cause shockwaves throughout the role-playing community but now I was dead, finished, a corpse upon the stony canal floor. Rather than resurrect I had an idea that would be fraught with giggles and so I embarked upon it. I rolled a Death Knight and set about finishing all the quests in the pursuit of finding my path back to Stormwind City. Several hours past and finally I was accepted back into the Alliance, upon my arrival I headed towards a mail box, quickly I wrote the words "Hello friend, I have returned, grasped back from the clutches of the scourge...Kizzwazz bless you" I was now Trevorr the Death Knight, would I struggle to expel my inner demon or revel in its command? Well I had yet to decide.

Finally after a number of hours I left my role-playing odyssey behind but in all honesty, I will return to it. In this element of the genre, I had found something I had thought lost. The magic, adventure and immersion of earlier games such as Ultima Online, EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot are something that for the longest time I have craved after. This was a time where towns, villages and destinations seemed less functional, the game world was truly a social experience and as the genre has progressed in refinement and fluidity, that something that gave all of these fantastical elements has been lost in translation.

Role-playing for me had been a struggle within myself, it had been uncomfortable and awkward but when pressed, I had socialized more than I have in years and in essence, recaptured some of that earlier feeling. It is astounding to see inns and various locales being used beyond functional purpose. Guilds taking residence of various abodes as places of ownership, players sat around the city simply conversing. All of this added a layer of fantasy and immersion that I thought was unobtainable in games such as World of Warcraft. The spark of creativity that flew easily through earlier games was now apparent here, just in an imaginative form.

I would return to my character with no question or debate. In the many long years preceded my departure from my beloved EverQuest I have never found such immersion and glee on a virtual level as I have when role-playing on this server. While my character still needs refinement, the simple joy of seeing a server of players reveling in the world that has been created for them, I cannot help myself, I must participate.

Source: mmorg.com

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