The following interview is with Lycanthus, a member of clan 53 - The
Kindred of the Dawn Clan. He is also a hero. He's 29 years of age and is
a computer guru for Sprint Global Markets Group. Just a few of his
biggest accomplishments are getting married, graduating college and
hoping to complete his MBA soon. Although I'm not sure if it's in that
order.
I recently asked him some questions about Medievia and himself, and this
is what he had to say. Enjoy.
Nykaul: When did you start playing Medievia?
Lycanthus: June 2000
Nykaul: What got you started playing Medievia?
Lycanthus: I had played monochrome MUDs before, long ago, believe it or not,
well before 1990, before people who didn't know anything about computers had
no idea what the internet was. I ran a small 16 line BBS for about 10 years in
which I ran a MUD, where the users solely created their world. But 16 dialup
lines can get expensive when you are funding it yourself. I wanted to get
into it again, or at least check it out, and looked on the internet for a
list of MUDs available. I picked Medievia at random, and have never been
back to that page to look for another.
Nykaul: Had you played on a MUD before you started playing Medievia, if so
how did it compare?
Lycanthus: At first, I thought it was quite typical of the MUDs I had played
in the past. Hard to get to understand at first, but once you get through a few
levels, much easier, and makes more sense.
Nykaul: What was your initial reaction to Medievia?
Lycanthus: I was impressed with the ANSI color, and liked the amount of
equipment available to newbies in the donation room.
Nykaul: What was it for you, personally, that made Medievia so fun and
something you wanted to continue playing?
Lycanthus: I was about level 14 or 15 and I was enrolled by a guy named Hoder
into Death Corps (Clan 5). Stereotypical newbie clan. He was so involved
with the players, and so interested in helping them out. He really took an
interest in teaching new players not necessarily everything he knew, but enough
to get them into trouble for themselves. I think everyone has a "hook" that
causes them to keep playing.
Nykaul: How has Medievia changed since you started playing?
Lycanthus: One thing I do like however is the ever increasing supply of new
zones. There are so many zones in Med, I haven't begun to even learn them all.
Nykaul: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment on Medievia?
Lycanthus: Most people I think would say it was becoming a hero, or avatar, or
even a specific cpk. But I think it was becoming Duke in my clan, Cloaked
Shadows (Clan 34), would be the highest on my list. Everyone can become a
hero, but not everyone is respected enough to have rank. Sure, its not Leader
or Coleader, and yes, there are a lot of dukes out there in Medievia. But our
clan in particular is not one of those which change coleaders every week, or
cycle through players like a turnstile. We are a tight knit group and don't
get our respect for one another by, "Oh, who did you cpk today". Blah! We
get it by treating each other with honor, kindness, and brotherhood.
Nykaul: How would you describe your average day playing?
Lycanthus: Medievia for me is relaxation. When I get home from work,
some days I like to get on Med immediately. Some days, I will get on
after dinner, sometimes late at night. My wife gets annoyed with it, but
luckily, she is a teacher and has to work at home a lot, giving me more
time to play.
Nykaul: What would you say was your worst newbie experience?
Lycanthus: Up until a few weeks ago, I would have said, getting CPK'd as I ran
through Dark Woods on a trade run to Naeramae. But now that I look back, the
only thing that was taken from me was an elemental stone and 900k gold. I
had nothing of any worth at the time. But now, I have much more valuable
equipment, so I am not sure if I would call that my worst experience,
because it could have been a lot worse.
Nykaul: What would you say was your most memorable moment on Medievia?
Lycanthus: Becoming a hero. I think just about everyone has to claim that,
especially the first time they hero with their first character.
Nykaul: What are you looking forward to most in your Medievia playing career?
Lycanthus: That is a tough one. Becoming a hero changes a lot of things
for me. Before hero, I had Hero to look forward to, and a specific goal to
attain. Now, there are so many things I want to do, that it would be hard to
name just one. For me, Hero was only a small milepost in my Med career. Only
the first step on a long and winding path.
Nykaul: What has been your favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?
Lycanthus: The loss of a level plus MLRs when someone is CPK'd. Before,
just a loss of equipment for those clans who specialize in getting max
equipment was no real loss, and as a hero there was no real reason to be
afraid of CPK. However now, there is certainly more reason to be afraid.
I am not one of those CPK people, and don't really have any need to show
off the best equipment, for whatever reason, but I am learning to like the
adrenaline rush of when you cast farsight into a cpk room and see hiddens, but
decide to go through anyway.
Nykaul: What has been your least favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?
Lycanthus: Trading. I don't mind the length of time it takes to finish a trade
run, but the prices are so pathetic right now that I didn't complete my trading
MLR since my first class. And to make it worse, mob factions make the small
amount of money you get for the time it takes, even less worth it. I like
mob factions, they are interesting, but prices are too bad right now to
interest me in trading.
Nykaul: What changes do you think Medievia should make?
Lycanthus: I have read a little bit about the next version of Med, and
am very excited about the mob groups attacking clantowns, taking over zones,
etc. I am very interested in how this is going to work. This is a change that
is already scheduled, and am looking forward to seeing it implemented. These
mobs should be TOUGH. I wouldn't expect anything other than total takeover
of a clantown, or economy. In addition, these mobs would prevent trading
from a certain trading post, or at very least increase the prices to and
from that trading post to catastrophe prices. I would think that the
citizens of a town in which a trading post lies would be very happy and pay
higher prices for goods brought in while their town was under assault. But
you would have to fight your way in AND out. And better yet, mobs would be
able to use the portals. Imagine all of a sudden 200 gnolls portal into
Trellor from a clantown they had overtaken, and start taking over Trellor.
It would take nothing short of half of all the players in Medievia helping
out to prevent that.
Nykaul: Do you roleplay your character, and if so, in what ways?
Lycanthus: I am him and he is me. We are each other. Right, Lycanthus? Right,
Chris.
Nykaul: What is your definition of a Hero?
Lycanthus: Here is where I would make a change. A Hero is someone who the
populace supports and loves, right? A Hero is not someone who sneaks around,
hides, and kills anyone who comes along. I don't know about anyone else, but I
wouldn't be proud to say a murderer was my Hero. A Hero should be forthright,
trustworthy, and honorable. Running zones to help out clannies, teaching zones,
giving equipment is a Hero. Crouching down, hiding, and gang beating someone for
an imaginary bunch of binary digits we call gold or equipment, I think is
pathetic. I think the Hero tag should be stripped if you CPK someone.
Nykaul: What is your definition of a newbie?
Lycanthus: Heh. A newbie is someone who is still learning about Medievia. The
only people who know every aspect of the game are those who program it. Hell, I
would bet even Tharghan learns new things about Medievia occasionally. Why
play the game if you already know it all, right?
Nykaul: Which, if any, players influenced your playing style, and
your character?
Lycanthus: Trymon, probably the person I have known the longest on Med, helped
me achieve just about everything I have achieved. He and I were banging heads
back in Death Corps and are still banging heads today. As far as playing
style, I think everyone has their own. Playing style I would think is based
upon the goals you have.
Nykaul: When you finally reached Hero was it everything you thought it
might be?
Lycanthus: To be honest, I have found myself looking for things to do. I have
not set any goals past hero yet.
Nykaul: Do you feel Heroes should look out for, and help, lower level players?
Lycanthus: That's what a Hero does. Avatars are now in that position, but I
don't think Avatar should mean Helper, and Hero should mean Killer.
Nykaul: A lot of heroes claim boredom after reaching the level of hero. Do you
have any opinions on what should happen to a player, if anything, after hero?
Lycanthus: Well, first of all, Heroes should have to meet MLRs to maintain
their Hero status. That way if they don't play, they fall behind. It would
encourage people to continually play even after they no longer have to gain
Experience Points, Egg Points, Trading, etc.
Nykaul: If you were forced to quit Medievia this very second, what would you
want people to remember about you?
Lycanthus: I would want to be remembered as someone who would always come to
your rescue. Even if it meant phasing you in the combs, avoiding a mist mephit,
just to rez someone who didn't know much about combing.
Nykaul: What do you think people WILL remember about you?
Lycanthus: My capacity for coming up with absolute nonsense. And I could
always make someone laugh.
Nykaul: If you could ask anyone on Medievia a question, who would you ask
and what would the question be?
Lycanthus: Tharghan - "How?"
Nykaul: If you could interview anyone, alive or dead, who would be and why?
Lycanthus: Photographer - Ansel Adams - I would ask him where he got the
inspiration for his first photograph, as most people know it.
Nykaul: If you could have any Medievia spell or skill in real life, what
would you want and why?
Lycanthus: Invisibility. Need I say more?
Nykaul: How did you come up with the name 'Lycanthus' and what does it
mean, if anything?
Lycanthus: During the Middle Ages, Lycanthropy was thought to be practiced by
witches. The witches were believed to morph themselves into wolves that
roamed throughout the European countryside frightening people. Killing and
devouring the travelers, according to the wishes of their satanic master,
their goal was to do evil unto humanity. Lycanthropes were even believed to
be minor demons. In later years, Lycanthropy was considered a disease which
inflicted terrible pain upon its victim, and caused them to become the form
of the beast from which they contracted the affliction.
Nykaul: If 'Lycanthus' was the Jeopardy answer, what would be the question?
Lycanthus: "Lycanthus" wouldn't be the answer. "Who is Lycanthus?" would be the
answer. Remember, please phrase your answers in the form of a question.
Nykaul: What two items are guaranteed to be found in your fridge?
Lycanthus: I always have smoked meat of some sort in there. I just smoked an 11
pound beef brisket yesterday. Mouthwatering good. And milk. Milk it does a
body good. Pass it on!
Nykaul: If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what
would they be?
Lycanthus: One helluva guy.
Nykaul: If you could be a fictional character, who would you be and why?
Lycanthus: I don't remember his name, but the hunter from the movie Jumanji.
He was unstoppable.
Nykaul: List five things that MOST people don't know about you!
Lycanthus:
1. I live in Overland Park, Kansas (the center of the US for our
non-American Med folks).
2. I am an amateur photographer.
3. I am a great cook.
4. I have two dogs, a black Laborador Retriever, and a Golden Retriever.
5. I do more playing of Unreal Tournament at work, than actual work.
Nykaul: Any further statements, opinions or advice?
Lycanthus: Don't take things so seriously. When you start taking this game
seriously, and get angry about things, you have a problem, and its time
to stop. See - Medievia Addiction.
I would like to thank Lycanthus for his honesty and openness in his
answers. It was an interesting and fun interview.
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.
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