MMO's are a lot of fun. You get to run
around in the world, play the game, fight the monsters, and all sorts
of things you've only been able to dream about in the past. Except
after a while it kinda gets boring. You find the quest spot, you
fight the monsters with the same button series, find the object and
get out. Turn it in. Get Xp. And do it all over again. And
after, say, 6 months this gets kind of old. But, you say, there are
teams. You can join teams of other players. Teams of players that
do exactly the same thing. Maybe chat about a particular spawn, or a
character type. Maybe. And that will see you through another 3 or
so months. So, how can you keep that first rush going? How to keep
the spark alive past a few months?
Roleplaying.
I don't mean picking a female character
and making her hot. I mean creating a character, designing the
image, and staying in character. At first this may seem a bit silly,
but it opens up a whole new way to experience the game. The first
step is to spend time creating the personality of your character.
Are they sly? Will they only engage enemies of equal or great level?
Will they use dirty tricks and cheats? These personality decision
will determine how you plot out your powers/abilities/skills for the
class you choose. Will a Paladin with a win at all costs attitude in
WoW take the Blessing that gives a bonus to the party, or one that
does damage to his foes? Would a Tanker concerned with fair play go
Dumpster Diving in City of Heroes? Of course not. Some characters
will take advantage of exploits, while others won't. And this is how
determine the personality of your character before you begin play can
change how you play the game.
Of course, just which way you play the
game is just the first contribution, the next is talking in
character. This doesn't necessarily mean speaking out loud. This
isn't going to practical for everyone for various reasons, you don't
have a mic, you are the wrong gender, or you just don't speak that
language. But that's okay, use the keyboard. Sure, it's a little
old fashion but it has the advantage of being in game, in the right
tone, and the right timbre. You won't have to worry about squeaking
out a high falsetto if your a guy and your character is a woman.
The last, and I think the most
important; play with a group. I cannot stress this enough.
Interacting with other players while in character adds input to the
game. I don't mean connecting with a string of pick up teams. I
mean organize a time to be in game with people you know who also want
to be role play in your chosen world. Many games even dedicate whole
servers to this idea; people being in character the whole time.
Then its not you sitting alone in a dark room, its you with friends.
It's not just you reacting to external stimuli- it's you and your
friends engaging in an activity together. Which is the real strength
of the MMO.
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