Often this subject piques my interest, so I thought it may make for an interesting conversation on the boards.
There are an uncountable amount of varied personality profiles of people who play EQ. Yet I think we can whittle it down to a generalism of a few; ones you will find in raiding Guilds similar to DA/EiE. Several profiles come to mind. Of course there are variances and I'd hope some people can label some of them in procceeding replies, as I did the following:
1. The Seriously "Hardcore"
2. The "Wanabe" serious Hardcore.
3. "Average" Joe.
A basic summation would be:
Hardcore: A Gamer with the luxury of an exorbitant amount of time to play. They may be a student (letting grades slip *snicker*) May be wealthy, may be unemployed, may be disabled. They take the game extremely seriously. If you have a question about a strategy, tradeskill, equipment, etc. These are the types to ask first. If they don't know off hand, they certainly know where to find the information. Most all have the luxury of a lack of distractions in real life. Not a lot of family, work, friend interruptions; when they close the door to the room. EQ can be concentration #1, about 95%+ of their time. Gotta pee? well some may have a 16 oz dixie cup next to the computer! Now that's HARDCORE! -But not limited to... Damn I forgot to empty mine lastnight >< Phone? screw that, I got an answering machine... Often you will find these types as Leaders, but are not limited to, as well. They will have a gazillion AA's, and tradeskills up the wazoo.
Wannabe: A Gamer who is very similar to the above, yet with a distinct difference; they have a greater amount of real world distractions. They can be a single employed person. They can be a student, who takes their grades more seriously -Else face a cut-off of funds if their grades slip
These people have goals or more responsibilities in RL, yet want to play as much as humanly possible. They take their gaming very seriously, yet RL distractions play a larger role. Alternately, they can have many RL responsibilities, but let them slide... But this can hold true to any profile, with varied degrees. Gaming is a drug after all! Shhh I didn't say that... Joe: This gamer has the greater amount of RL responsibilities and distractions. Yet like anyone who's been absorbed in EQ, they find the time to play... They make the time to play. Gaming is more of a luxury than a lifestyle. It's a form of relaxation, as well as a deserved retreat. Of course any profile exhibits this. Yet whereas the Hardcore tends to make EQ their "job" so to speak, unfortunately "Joe" has another job. Very often this player is a family Mom or Dad. They seem to be the "meat and potatoes" of many guilds.
Jason "Hardcore" Vs. Joe "grunt". -Clash of the Titans?
Oft times, these dissimilar personalities have misunderstandings. It revolves around their difference in priorities, points of view, and lifestyles.
Once I witnessed a situation, which in essence is common (yet the distraction varies). A friend named "Joe", once experienced some members in Guild XYZ come down on her. It happened in the past, so "Joe" could actually laugh about it now. Well, they just initiated combat with Quarm. No sooner did the first AE hit, Joe's Six year old Daughter fell about five steps down the stairwell and began screaming. There was no time to explain. Mom Joe instinctively jumped up and ran to her aid. Well obviously Joe (cleric) missed the heal chain. Fortunately, there were many healers that day, and the slack was picked up. Joe was surprised to even find her cleric alive, once her Daughter was OK. She graciously thanked the Shaman of her group (shameless plug) for keeping her alive, as she went on to explain in group first. But before that, Several people were fuming when they repeated for the umpteenth time if Joe was awake/there. All she could get off initially was a humbled ... yes. Then some colorful metaphors flew!
You see, people often perceive everyone from their own perspective. Some hardcore people couldn't imagine off hand, such a distraction could exist at first impulse. Concentration and attention to the game, is mission number one when such an encounter commences. To Joe, while Quarm was very important, and she hated not being able to follow through on her game job; her RL #1 job took priority. Of course once fully explained, people understood and backed off. But momma Joe had already taken some un deserved lumps. In this case it was explained and accepted.
But sometimes out of frustration, Joe will just say screw it; If they want to jump to conclusions, so be it. That too is frustrating to others, and in an unbiased viewpoint, unfair to the Hardcore. Who, while don't think of such instances at first reaction, will usually understand... Some will anyway
/hears a friend named Jason yell: "Let the kid cry, she won't die! Kill Quarm!!!"
Thors
