August 24, 2000
The interview took place on August 10th, 2000 in the Clan Meeting room of Clan 42 (The House of Swords and Magic). Karina is a Hero Mage and Clanleader of The House of Swords and Magic.
Nykaul: How long have you been playing Medievia and what initially got you started?
Karina: Oh, a long time. A friend got me to try it in the beginning of med4. I made Karina around June or July of 1995 or 1996. My friend Matt (Fandril) got me to play mostly through bribery and intimidation. I'm a sucker for chocolate. I initially refused because I had just gotten my computer and I didn't know how to do anything other than Word Processing. I was SUCH a newbie to computers I actually bought a Macintosh and 2400 modem. I'm still on telnet but I have color now. I just now got something of a scrollback bar too.
Nykaul: Who would you say were your heroes/influences as you were progressing through your Med life?
Karina: Wow! A lot of them. When I was brand new pretty much everyone ignored me, so I was all bitter and stuff and I didn't like med. The first person to help me, I actually remember this, was Salacia. She gave me a piece of equipment, healed me up some.
Nykaul: What level was she? Do you remember?
Karina: She was level 26 single cleric. I remember thinking it was so big. I ' grew up' hearing about the legends of people like Daedalus, Marshall, Sontoran, Cosmo. Not many females though. I felt really out of place mudding and being a female at first, I still do sometimes.
Nykaul: Did those legends intimidate you?
Karina: Some of their rumored escapades. I still have a great deal of respect for some of them. Others that were big names when I was little are well, gone or have really changed through the years.
Nykaul: Did that encourage you to become a hero yourself, or were there other influences that pushed you forward?
Karina: No! I didn't want to hero. I lost in CPK duel on purpose six or seven times to stay away from hero'ing. Everyone I saw hero changed just in getting that flag. Especially being a clan leader, you get a whole set of new expectations put on you. I didn't want that, I just wanted to play and have fun.
Nykaul: How would you say that becoming a Hero has changed people?
Karina: This one guy was always such a sweetheart. I've seen this in a lot of players, but it was like the minute he hero'd he left for a 'hero clan' to try and be elite. He wasn't friends with anyone who wasn't considered a fellow elite for whatever that's worth. He tried so hard to fit in and be cool by bashing and pk'ing anyone in sight. I still wonder what he really accomplished.
Nykaul: Why do you think people become like that?
Karina: Legends! Take Marshall, he was feared and revered, you either worshipped him or despised him. So many people tried to get big and tough to be like him regardless of what they thought of him.
Nykaul: Is that not what a 'hero' is for?
Karina: No. Hero is just a flag and we're all still just players. It just means we've completed 124 levels. Big deal!
Nykaul: As heroes do you feel you need to set an example to lower level players?
Karina: Yes and no. If you're someone in a position where people really look up to you, yes. I guess most heroes are in that position just because of hero flag, so yes. I've always thought there should be something to where a hero can be a HERO or s/he can be a VILLAIN, either someone to be looked up to or someone to be feared. They have Avatars, and that's something like it.
Nykaul: Even villains are heroes in the eyes of some, non?
Karina: Unfortunately the word hero has benevolent connotations to it. What is it like for a newbie to see this HERO be cruel to them? 124's should be able to choose their path, if not avatar then choose if you are be a hero or a villain as in another flag choice. Heroes should live up to what a hero should be, though not necessarily what an avatar has to do as a job.
Nykaul: So did achieving the level of 'hero' be everything you thought it would be?
Karina: Unfortunately. The hero population has it's own class system I'm finding. 'Newbie heroes' and the 'elite' If you aren't a killer with maximum stats you are a newbie hero. A lot of bashing goes on between heroes, which is really unfortunately. This is a game, it doesn't make you 'better' to sit there and bash on someone else for what they don't have. I've told my clannies when this game is over, when it's all shut off, what do you have? Your elite stats and maximum equipment is gone, a lot of med players have real life friends that last.
Nykaul: Do you think the caliber of hero has changed since the introduction of Multi Level Requirements?
Karina: It changed way before that. From my ideals of what a hero was to what I saw it as in it's actuality. I think the new breed are going to be better players since they do have to complete those requirements.
Nykaul: How would you describe your average day as a hero to a lower level player?
Karina: I spend most of my day doing clanleading stuff. I have my clan set up different than most clans, we have a lot of activities and such, email lists and games going on so I spend a lot of time doing that or trying to organize it. When I'm not doing that I'll usually lead clan or town forms, I like to teach stuff especially combing. Borimer (my hero!) taught me how to comb when I was a single and I've loved it ever since. Or I'll sit and help them to through their equipment. My focus is mainly on the little ones in the clan and town, so that's most of what I do.
Nykaul: What would you say has been the most memorable event in your Med life?
Karina: Shotgun wedding! My best friend on here [Medievia] for years, I teased him and teased him about marrying me and making an honest woman out of me until one day he goes 'okay, if you beat me at CPK duel I'll marry you' I had some of my other friends/clannies there as witnesses. So we go in CPK duel, I had like NO stats and he was an elite thief. He let me win! So, in a room in medlink a year ago, August 19th eight of our friends and clannies married us. It was hilarious and so much fun and I still have the log.
Nykaul: What was your worst newbie moment?
Karina: I was a fresh dual class when I was picked to colead 17. My worst moment is when I tried to recruit a god in the clan. All I saw was a character with no clan
Nykaul: How much would you say Med has changed since you started playing?
Karina: A lot! There are times when it's really hard to keep up with all of the changed they have going on. I mean it went from clans, castle battles, kingdoms, no kingdoms, clans with clantowns. A lot to keep up with and people who are returning to med are having a real hard time getting acclimated.
Nykaul: Why, in your opinion, do you think players return to Med over other types of gaming?
Karina: I don't know. I've known quite a few that have left for other games and never came back. The few that I've seen return come back for the people, friends they knew and missed.
Nykaul: You said earlier that there were not too many females to look up when you first started, do you think things have changed in that regard nowadays?
Karina: I hope so. There are a lot of strong, good female players. I could name at least ten off the top of my head. I hope they are the kinds of people that newbies can look up to, but there are still a lot of stigmas attached to being a female player here and anywhere.
Nykaul: Would you say females have any disadvantages/advantages in this realm than say, in the real world?
Karina: A little of both actually. A couple of double-edged advantages. We get a lot more help, but then again what is expected in return for that help, how are we seen for taking any such help? Females are constantly having to prove themselves as players. Many assume we cant even xp ourselves, that we had some lovesick guy drag us all over.
Nykaul: What aspect of the game if the most important to you?
Karina: That's easy, my clan! If I lost that I would quit, plain and simple. I love doing stuff for them. It's like living vicariously through them. Best way I can think to describe it. First time I take a clannie trading, see them sell and be all excited, it's like I was doing it for the first time. Or helping with equipment and seeing their stats all nice. It makes me happy and proud that I was a part of it and being in their clan, I mean, what an honor that they choose to keep me their clanleader. Also our efforts are reflected in our ratings and our membership and what people think of us. That's my second most memorable med moment, the day my clan was born. I have that logged too.
I would like to thank Karina for her time and honesty in answering these questions. The experience was both amusing and informative.
If you believe you are a 'special' person that should be interviewed then email me at nykaul@medievia.com with the reasons why. Also, if you have a question you have always wanted to ask someone, feel free to email that question and if I ever interview that person I may include your question.