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, Ziyx was 24, but since then he has
grown older and is now a member of clan 25 (Defenders of Faith). I asked him
a few questions about Medievia and the man behind the Ziyx, and this is what
he had to tell me.
Nykaul: When did you start playing Medievia?
Ziyx: I started playing Medievia in late 1996.
Nykaul: What got you started playing Medievia?
Ziyx: There was an article in my college paper about muds. I had no clue
what a MUD was, but I started playing one called Northern Lights that was
named in the article.
Nykaul: Had you played on a MUD before you started playing Medievia, if so
how did it compare?
Ziyx: Northern Lights was an aber mud. Aber muds are quite different from Medievia. It was more quest (puzzle) based and there was no PK.
Nykaul: What was your initial reaction to Medievia?
Ziyx: It was very confusing at first. My screen was scrolling pretty fast
and there were a lot of people playing. I was surprised I had to type
everything out. From Day 1, I pushed for abbreviation.
Nykaul: What was it for you, personally, that made Medievia so fun and
something you wanted to continue playing?
Ziyx: The players make Medievia fun.
Nykaul: How has Medievia changed since you started playing?
Ziyx: Medievia has changed a lot since I started playing, which is probably
why I'm still playing it. Most of the changes were for the better, but I miss
some things. I wish I could swear at newbies after I PK them like heroes used
to do to me. I miss castle battles and kingdoms.
Nykaul: What do you consider your biggest accomplishment on Medievia?
Ziyx: My biggest accomplishment was buying and leading my own clan as a
double class character.
Nykaul: How would you describe your average day playing?
Ziyx: My average day now is logging in and chatting/hoping for a quest. When
I first started my average day would be spent XPing or trading. Then all I
did were EQ runs for a while. Last couple of years I've spent most of my time
combing. So my average day has changed over time.
Nykaul: What would you say was your worst newbie experience?
Ziyx: I joined LoSK as a level 19 single-class warrior. I removed myself a few
weeks later and I was hunted down unmercifully by a legion of heroes (hehe).
Nykaul: What would you say was your most memorable moment on Medievia?
Ziyx: My most memorable moment was founding the Great Northern Tribe. Getting
to level 5 in a ladder quest by just killing Tharghan was nice also.
Nykaul: What are you looking forward to most in your Medievia playing career?
Ziyx: Quests, I love quests.
Nykaul: What has been your favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?
Ziyx: Abbreviation. I played on telnet for over 4 years, abbreviation was a
Godsend. Miniticks were a good change too, because at the time I was a cleric
and I lost a whole bunch of quest finals because of tick timers. The WoMs were
telepathing me PK advice, but to no avail.
Nykaul: What has been your least favorite aspect/feature/change in the game?
Ziyx: Hmm, the no bashing, no swearing rule. Either that or no clan battles
anymore.
Nykaul: What changes do you think Medievia should make?
Ziyx: More quests, Scheduled Quests, etc.
Nykaul: Do you roleplay your character, and if so, in what ways?
Ziyx: Not really.
Nykaul: What is your definition of a Hero?
Ziyx: My definition of a Hero is different than a hero on Medievia.
My definition is more closely related to the Homerian definition.
Nykaul: What is your definition of a newbie?
Ziyx: A newbie is someone who hasn't done something much (such as pk).
Nykaul: Which, if any, players influenced your playing style, and your
character?
Ziyx: Yukon was my first clan leader and he was around the same level as me
for a while. He taught me a lot about the game. Sreksuhog, my co-leader of
the Tribe taught me a lot too. He taught me how to comb and you know how
that turned out.
Nykaul: When you finally reached Hero was it everything you thought it
might be?
Ziyx: Yes.
Nykaul: Do you feel Heroes should look out for, and help, lower level players?
Ziyx: Yeah, I've helped out many players. I've given out tons of equipment,
eggs, and coins. I also think that heroes should pk other players too. I
learned how to PK by being PKed.
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?
Ziyx: A lot of things on med you can't do until you are a hero, so I don't
think that is true.
Nykaul: How old are you, and what do you do for a living?
Ziyx: I am 24 and work in financial services.
Nykaul: What would you say was your biggest life accomplishment?
Ziyx: Graduating from college. Not really, but that'll work.
Nykaul: If you were forced to quit Medievia this very second, what would you
want people to remember about you?
Ziyx: My Backstab. I better go work on it.
Nykaul: What do you think people WILL remember about you?
Ziyx: That I was a clanhopper.
Nykaul: If you could ask anyone on Medievia a question, who would you ask
and what would the question be?
Ziyx: I already asked it.
Nykaul: If you could interview anyone, alive or dead, who would be and why?
Ziyx: Dunno
Nykaul: If you could have any Medievia spell or skill in real life, what would
you want and why?
Ziyx: Well, I'm kind of banged up right now, so I would have to say the heal
spell.
Nykaul: How did you come up with the name ‘Ziyx‘ and what does it mean, if
anything?
Ziyx: The first few names I tried got rejected. Ziyx is from an old game.
Nykaul: If ‘Ziyx‘ was the Jeopardy answer, what would be the question?
Ziyx: What clanhopper has spent over 2 billion on clans?
Nykaul: What two items are guaranteed to be found in your fridge?
Ziyx: Beer and soda.
Nykaul: If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what would
they be?
Ziyx: No comment
Nykaul: If you could be a fictional character, who would you be and why?
Ziyx: Dunno
Nykaul: List five things that MOST people don’t know about you!
Ziyx:
1. I'm a finance major.
2. I have a twin.
3. I named the Great Northern Tribe after a quote from Mad Max: the Road
Warrior which happened to be on TV after my first five clan names got rejected.
4. I used to be an elite trader, (over 2.5 bil).
5. Ziyx isn't my first character.
I would like to thank Ziyx 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.
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