Untitled Document
By Martuk
Vanguard @ Ten Ton Hammer is proud to announce Wild as our 100th registered
forum member. This milestone has earned her a community interview by VTTH, and
a few souvenirs. As the number of registered members here at VTTH have been
steadily growing. Wild was lucky enough to be number 100. In addition to this
interview she also shall receive a Vanguard T-Shirt from E3 2005, and Niborea,
our staff artist here at VTTH, will create a commemorative signature and forum
avatar to her liking. A great set of prizes for our 100th member.
>
On behalf of Vanguard Ten Ton Hammer I would like to welcome you to our site,
and thank you for taking the time to speak with us Wild.
VTTH: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Wild: Okay. I'm 49. I was 44 when I started EQ. I had been asked by
my daughter, who was attending university out of town, to join her and her friends
in this game... she said I'd love it, I was a natural <grins!!> but, in
any event, would be a way to be together.
I started a Wood Elf Ranger on a borrowed account. Wood Elf because I truly
have a natural affinity for the woods (was born and live in British Columbia),
and Ranger because was both magical (healing) and melee -- and also very nature-ish
I've gone to two Fan Fairs for EQ, one in 2001 (Minneapolis) and one in 2004
(Las Vegas). I have noticed that the gaming community ages at the Fan Fairs
are [between] 21-40.
I am learning how to sail in RL. I am part of a racing association. We race
three divisions (size of craft). I'm racing on a Cal 25. [It's] awesome to sail,
pitting yourself and your knowledge against currents and wind, and other racers.
I'm also learning how to crew on a square rigger. I created the bow and stern
scripts for a group of tour guides when the Tall Ship Challenge came to Victoria,
B.C. this past summer, and then trained them and rehearsed with them. It was
fun. I got to go on a battle sail -- black powder strat sail between two square
riggers, $65/person, but I got smuggled on! <Grins from ear to ear>.
I was on the Lady Washington, out of Aberdeen, WA. The Lady Washington is a
sail training vessel. She was "The Interceptor" in Pirates of the
Caribbean. Now you can watch it and know that I've sailed her. She's BEAUTIFUL!
They took out two swivel guns for the movie. The swivel guns are mounted behind
the tiller. The cannons were anti-object (vessel, land target) whereas the swivel
guns were close-range, anti-personnel
The Lady isn't in 2 -- but they made parts at the shipyards at the Greys Harbor
Historical Society shipyard -- GHHS owns the Lady Washington, btw. She's a replica
of the original Lady Washington who was a privateer and merchant ship circa
1776-1790
VTTH: Can you tell us about your experiences with guilds?
Wild: I joined my first guild because I made friends with a fellow Ranger
in Butcherblock. We were in competition for the scarab spawns. We took turns
so each could get exp and we'd heal each other with our "Ranger Heals"
<flexes> <grins!!>
Turned out this guy was an officer in a guild. I didn't even know what a guild
was. After hunting together several times, he invited me to his guild. I accepted
on the condition my daughter could join, too. When she could be online, I'd
want to be able to play with her. So, we joined that guild. It was a wonderful
guild. The guild leaders are awesome!! Meg and Pat of Fated Unity. Officer who
became my very first EQ friend was Starkraven... Yep; Madd was his last name
when he got to his 20s <grins!> He gave me the idea of having all my alts
with the same prefix. All his alts started with "Star" so everyone
in the guild would know it was him.
My Ranger's name is Wildenae (I still have her on EQ), and all my alts started
with "Wild." I left the family guild, even though I loved the people
-- it was a REALLY hard choice... I hated going, but really wanted to not play
my Cleric alt more than my main... and group needs dictated that I had to do
that more often than not. I really love my Ranger and wanted to keep leveling
and growing with her.
I joined The Imperial Order for a short time. There was a leadership schism
and I ended up moving to Invictus Maneo. I was there for a while, but didn't
find what I was looking for with them. They were second on the server and there
was a lot of contention in the guild and drama. While no guild is drama-free,
I wanted to be in a guild who just wanted to take care of business and not baby-sit.
It was a former guild member from Fated Unity days, who was recruiting officer
for Eternal Wrath, if she thought I'd be happy there. She said she knew I would
be, so I aped many ppl app for EW for normally two months, usually three. When
I was app'ing, EW was just finishing up the strat for Time and so I had to sit
out and only join them when they had non-Time raids. So, I took that time and
leveled up my Cleric as she was easier to get pick-up groups with <grins!>
When EW nailed the strat and killed Quarm (four-headed end mob in PoP), they
turned to getting last keys for apps (at the time I aped I only needed two).
I got them and then got to experience Time
Was a wonderful time in EW. I loved it. Whereas most of the members were together
from the beginning and burning out, I was new to hard core raiding. I loved
the interdependence... how everyone in the guild was an "expert" in
their class and had the opportunity to prove it on a nightly basis. We went
in and did the job. Was a TON of fun!!
VTTH: What do you like about MMOs? What is it that got you hooked?
Wild: The immersion, magic, teamwork, adventuring where I can't here
in RL, winning against Insurmountable odds, (although can be done in RL, odds
are not favorable that one can be a participant in such a worthy and challenging
adventure), and Society. I made friends in EQ. People I met in RL and like a
lot.
My online life is my "happy place" -- where I can adventure and just
focus on what is at hand there, and conquers that mob or that event with a group
of awesome people who also want to not just do the job, but have fun doing it.
<Smiles>
VTTH: What do you like/dislike about MMOs both old and new?
Wild: Power trips or guilt trips. We all are there after a stressful
day of school or work. We're there to adventure and have a great time. We're
in our game to adventure, forget RL and be immersed in our other life. To have
fun and make gains and conquer challenges NOT be stressed out in a group.
If someone's doing a great job tanking, I tell them so in groupsay. Or if they're
great at healing... timeliness, type. I appreciate not only that the job gets
done, but how it gets done.
VTTH: What is it that attracted you to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes?
Wild: My friend in RL who I met through EW. He was Davan, best tank
on the server, and maybe more than just ours! He's awesome. He was VERY disenchanted
with how EQ evolved after Velious and he was so enthusiastic about Vanguard:
Saga of Heroes, I just had to check it out.
The fact that it is being created by instrumental creators of EQ (which is
still holding a place in my heart and a subscription debit each month in my
wallet) means that I could be there and not feel traitorous to EQ. <Is VERY
loyal>
The more I read in the forums about game play, seamlessness of the world, world
view for Vanguard, the more it reminded me of Butcherblock and scarabs... Took
me to a place I hadn't been in a while <smiles>
I believe that the forum writers are correct in that EQ will always be in a
class by itself because the first hardcore gamers there were the D&D and
classic game folk... there was more friendliness and teamwork, rather than leveling
and loot, involved. That innocence cannot be recaptured, but perhaps if the
game lends itself to that audience, which V: SOH seems to be doing, it will
have a loyal family of members and the members will have a game they love. And
I LOVE the idea of ships!
VTTH: What is your favorite class?
Wild: Ranger!!
VTTH: What class or classes are you most interested in, and planning
to play in Vanguard?
Wild: Ranger. Maybe make a healer of some kind if Rangers don't have
that in their repertoire of abilities, but my main is definitely my Ranger.
I made a Cleric in EQ2 because I didn't like how they made the Ranger a Rogue
with a bow. They are distinctly two different beings.... Rogues are not Rangers
and vice versa. My main alt in EQ had been a Cleric, so I made my main a Cleric
in EQ2 due to that dissatisfaction with the Ranger class. But that's not me.
I miss my Ranger so much. VSOH will definitely be Ranger time!!
Yaaaaaaay!! Wood Elf will be my race. I identify totally with my avatar.
I'm very woodlands-oriented. I love the sea, but mountains and trees are comfort
to me. How can I not be a Wood Elf? How can I not be a Ranger? <grins!!>
VTTH: Which sphere will you likely focus on the most Diplomacy, Adventuring,
or Crafting?
Wild: Adventuring. I may craft a bit. Depends on whether I need to make
arrows or not =P.
VTTH: What do you think of the social communities within these games,
and what has been the best community that you have been a part of?
Wild: I love Vanguard's idea of immersion. I'm hoping for a community,
totally committed to discovering and exploring Telon, like those of the community
I had been in, my guild, Eternal Wrath, on Ayonae Ro, in Everquest. I've not
been in such a committed unit since. I hope to find one to join in VSOH.
VTTH: I'm sure you will find just that.
Wild: I sure hope so! <Hopeful face>. Commitment is the thing
that's hard to find. Even if you can't play six or seven days a week, you want
to committed and immersed when you're online and in your Telonese world. Just
log in and delve in. Down time and LFG time are the killers for that kind of
immersion.
Guilds play a large part in eliminating that, but when you don't have ppl your
level in guild, it can be very frustrating. Guilds are awesome for the social
side. You have a community to belong to and commit to.
I am looking forward to the voice abilities with Vanguard I've used Team speak
and loved it. It gives you more of a connection to those with whom you are hunting.
I'm looking forward to seeing what is being offered and how it plays out. Just
hope there's a good camo! <Eeeeep!>
VTTH: What for you makes a great MMO?
Wild: Well, I'm devoted to High Fantasy. I tried Star Wars Galaxy and
just couldn't get into it. Mastered my favorite thing and then there was nothing
left... and I didn't like the PvP, although there were lots of folks really
liking that aspect.... Nope, High Fantasy for me, Immersion, ambient sounds
of wildlife and water, mobs that scare me and incredible weapons that do awesome
damage. Being able to solo (yes, even as a Ranger, if that's possible =P ) but
also being able to group. And then, of course, I want to be able to raid. The
[strategy] needs to be challenging but not defeating. I've bumped into some
encounters in groups where it is disheartening, not challenging.
[Strategy] is important. I love being in a group finding which corner, which
class needs to do what to accomplish the end. I don't care so much about all
tanks being equal or all melees being equal. Just as long as each are important
and needed. So, Fairness of encounters, immersion, ability to do solo, group
or raid content. But don't forget eye candy. I love magic! Love to see the inventiveness
and creativity of the designers!
VTTH:Thank you for sitting with us and giving us your time for this
interview Wild. It has been great. I have one last question for you on behalf
of the OVF community. What is your favorite Pie?
Wild: Depends on what mood I'm in. I love Berry, warm, a la mode, But
Love Lemon Meringue, too. Winter/Summer thing.
VTTH: Thank you again Wild, and welcome to the Vanguard Ten Ton Hammer
community. Ominous will be along to bless you shortly.
Join us in congratulating Wild 
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Game Page.
