Medievia Mudslinger

August 20th, 2002

An Interview with Ragafin - By Nykaul

The following interview took place over email about a year ago. It disappeared into one of my many email folders and collected dust. It has now been unearthed like many old artifacts and hopefully you will all find it of interest.

At the time the interview was conducted, Ragafin was 20, but since then he has grown older. He is a member of clan 23 (Legion of Shadow Knights). I asked him a few questions about Medievia and the person behind the character, and this is what he had to tell me.

Nykaul: When did you start playing Medievia?

Ragafin: I originally started playing in August of 1994, but I started with this character in July of 1996.

Nykaul: What got you started playing Medievia?

Ragafin: My friend had been playing it for a week or so, and I was really fascinated with the donation room and the competition of sorts to pick up items the quickest. When I played his character a couple of times I tried it, and I really enjoyed playing the game. So ASAP, I signed up for internet service and started my first character.

Nykaul: Had you played on a MUD before you started playing Medievia, if so how did it compare?

Ragafin: I'd never played on a MUD before, but I had played door games such as Legend of the Red Dragon, and I liked Medievia much more, because of all the players (about 150 or so, big back then.. :))

Nykaul: What was your initial reaction to Medievia?

Ragafin: I loved it. I'd never played anything of the sort and I really liked getting in big groups and just having fun. It was a whole new world.

Nykaul: What was it for you, personally, that made Medievia so fun and something you wanted to continue playing?

Ragafin: Mainly it was the social interaction; all the people. Plus I wanted to level and continue to see what the game was like farther in.

Nykaul: How has Medievia changed since you started playing?

Ragafin: Ugh. I could probably write a book on this, but I won't. I'll just say that basically everything has changed since I started. It's totally different from its origins. It's a lot more complicated and demands much more time now. It's much stricter, also. When I first started, they were announcing things like, "NEW COLOR CODE IS IN!"

Nykaul: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment on Medievia?

Ragafin: Probably just being around for so long. I never really did anything to change the landscape of the MUD. But I was around to see most of it, and I remember a lot of it. I led a clan. I was involved in most of the major code changes. I suppose I don't really have a biggest one. Just a lot of little ones that add up.

Nykaul: How would you describe your average day playing?

Ragafin: Don't do much anymore. I log on to see if I can get my clan talk about anything interesting. I check the clan board and see if anyone joined/left. I pretty much only hang out and talk to people anymore.

Nykaul: What would you say was your worst newbie experience?

Ragafin: Hmm. When I was really little, I got stuck in the old Tar Valon zone. I had no idea how to get back to Medievia and neither did my friend that was in my form (who was in Medievia). We both pretty much annoyed everyone on the MUD asking about how I could get back. I finally ended up dying and praying to the Gods, not knowing that I could quit out as a corpse. Once about seven Gods told me that after I prayed, I was slightly embarrassed and quit.

Nykaul: What would you say was your most memorable moment on Medievia?

Ragafin: Probably joining my first clan. There was a questionnaire/test thing I had to take to join, and I passed it. I was so happy. Messengers of Fate, the original clan 42! It was a big thrill.

Nykaul: What are you looking forward to most in your Medievia playing career?

Ragafin: I don't have a playing career anymore, but I always look forward to kickin' back and reliving memories with the old-timers.

Nykaul: What has been your favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?

Ragafin: I really liked the clan system on Medievia. It was fun to be part of a clan, before there were clantowns, kingdoms, and castle battles. Just your clan and your people, having fun. There weren't many enemies back then, just personal grudges.

Nykaul: What has been your least favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?

Ragafin: I really didn't like the kingdoms and the alliance and enemy aspects. Then, it was pretty fun, but now I see that those changes caused a lot of the animosity on the MUD. People hating each other because of the clan they were in, a lot more of the crappy MUD politics, etc. Too much hate, but I suppose it was a natural change. The old Medievia was focused on conquering the game. Everyone can do that now. So they fight each other. It used to just be a couple people that hated each other. Now the whole MUD is full of that.

Nykaul: What changes do you think Medievia should make?

Ragafin: I've been around to see too many changes. I think it's changed way too much already.

Nykaul: Do you roleplay your character, and if so, in what ways?

Ragafin: I've never seriously roleplayed Ragafin. The closest I got was talking hilarious Olde English with Daedalus and Devonar at the fountain in Med City. That, and we convinced some newbie that he was the chosen one come to save the world of Medievia from the dragons. That was pretty fun.

Nykaul: What is your definition of a Hero?

Ragafin: A hero is someone who knows the MUD; someone who knows the history of the MUD. Someone who's sharp, and knows how to do everything. Also, the plural of hero is heroes. Pet peeve. :)

Nykaul: What is your definition of a newbie?

Ragafin: A newbie is someone who doesn't have a clue. Any level. There's a certain flow in the MUD, and some people just don't seem to be in that flow.

Nykaul: Which, if any, players influenced your playing style, and your character?

Ragafin: I never had anyone I really looked up to on Medievia. I played with my own style. I didn't try to adhere to any sort of style or character. I was me. Although when I was little I tried to make my own catch phrase to be like Philo. I never tried to get a certain set of EQ that someone made either. I put together my own EQ style. I ended up having some great stats once I got everything I wanted together, minus a couple things. But I never really tried to be like anyone else on the MUD. They're all just other players and people.

Nykaul: When you finally reached Hero was it everything you thought it might be?

Ragafin: I didn't have many preconceptions of being a hero, other than imm channel and being able to see summons and prays. So I suppose it was everything I thought, until the Gods took away the ability to see summons and then, later, prays. So now I think it's less than I thought it would be. :)

Nykaul: Do you feel Heroes should look out for, and help, lower level players?

Ragafin: Occasionally. It was appreciated in the past, but now there are so many players that it becomes a hassle to help every new player out. It's simple to answer some questions. But full-fledged going out and giving a tour of the MUD is probably too much now.

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?

Ragafin: This is why there's so much pking and clan fighting now. There are so many heroes. They're all bored. People used to just quit playing after they heroed because it took so long to do. They just hung out and socialized, played every once in a while. Now people hero in twelve days or whatever, and they're not satisfied at all. The number of quests run has really risen to meet these needs, but I think there should be something like Adversary (hurry up already) to give these people another game to play and conquer. I think Adversary would take up a lot of that bored time.

Nykaul: How old are you, and what do you do for a living?

Ragafin: I'm twenty years old, and I'm a student and chronic job-hunter.

Nykaul: What would you say was your biggest life accomplishment?

Ragafin: So far, I suppose graduating from high school, having a wonderful long-term relationship, and... hmm, bowling a sanctioned 300. :)

Nykaul: If you were forced to quit Medievia this very second, what would you want people to remember about you?

Ragafin: Well, I already am quit, again. I suppose I'd like people to remember me as someone who really was part of the MUD. A nice guy that always tried to start weird conversation on imm, and someone you could talk to, even if you hated me. I tried to separate the politics from the people, but it's really difficult.

Nykaul: What do you think people WILL remember about you?

Ragafin: Some weirdo that talks about unimportant junk on imm. Some old guy in LoSK who talks too much. Something like that. Hopefully the older players will remember that I was a pretty good pker.

Nykaul: If you could ask anyone on Medievia a question, who would you ask and what would the question be?

Ragafin: Yeesh. I'd ask Lord Soth how many players he's seen cheat.

Nykaul: If you could interview anyone, alive or dead, who would be and why?

Ragafin: I'd interview Amelia Earhart to find out where the heck she disappeared.

Nykaul: If you could have any Medievia spell or skill in real life, what would you want and why?

Ragafin: Create food would be very useful. I could conjure up anything I wanted and save tons of money.

Nykaul: How did you come up with the name ‘Ragafin‘ and what does it mean, if anything?

Ragafin: I didn't even come up with the name Ragafin. My friend did, it was originally his character. I think it just popped into his head one day.

Nykaul: If ‘Ragafin‘ was the Jeopardy answer, what would be the question?

Ragafin: Who was the biggest pain in the butt to kill in a PK battle against LoSK?

Nykaul: What two items are guaranteed to be found in your fridge?

Ragafin: Pepsi and pepperoni pizza. No, it's not a tongue twister.

Nykaul: If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what would they be?

Ragafin: Different, funny, loyal.

Nykaul: If you could be a fictional character, who would you be and why?

Ragafin: I'd be Fry from Futurama. It'd be quite interesting to live in the year 3000. Plus I'd do better than him at picking up women.

Nykaul: List five things that MOST people don’t know about you!

Ragafin: This is a tough one, because I usually don't hold much back... :)

1. I'm a big fan of many types of music, mainly rock and metal.
2. I play doumbek in a Middle Eastern band.
3. I used to average over 200 in bowling leagues.
4. My PK counter is mainly heroes.
5. I used to be in the Cheese clan. A long, long time ago.

Nykaul: Any further comments, advice, suggestions or opinions?

Ragafin: Don't get too caught up in the politics of Medievia. If you find yourself getting frustrated, angry, or too emotional while playing Medievia, take a break from the game. Take as long as you need and rediscover life. It's pointless to devote too much emotion and time to a simple game, especially when you're getting more anguish than pleasure out of it.



I would like to thank Ragafin for taking the time to answer my questions. And I apologize to him for taking so long to put the interview out there for all his fans to read.

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.

FRONT PAGE | MEDIEVIA HOME PAGE

Copyright (c) 1992-2018 Medievia.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Mudslinger is a trademark (Tm) of Medievia.com, Inc.
No portion of the MudSlinger may be reproduced without the express written consent of Medievia.com, Inc.