I was chatting to my brother the other week and we were discussing the finer points of EQ1. We both used to play on the Brell Serilis server, and started a week or so after the game was released. Immediately we were both hooked and set about getting everyone we knew involved. Funny thing is, most of my friends had already bought the game and were getting involved themselves! The game hit table top roleplayers like a sledgehammer. After years of MUDs and dodgy above view RPG games (well not all Dodgy!) but certainly limited, here came a game that allowed you to be that character and see though their eyes. A chance to interact with a world of evolving, fluid fantasy that previously even when playing games like Baldurs Gate, required a modicum of imagination to put yourself actually in your characters shoes. No more, EQ was born and with it my obsession with MMORPGs. Memories of those early days are some of my fondest gaming in this genre. I decided to base my first character on my very first and long running AD&D character, a Dwarvern Warrior. Udrath Stormheart. If I close my eyes I can still feel the atmosphere as I mentally explore the original Butcherblock Mountains. It is very surprising that even today being four years since I last played EQ, I can still pretty much recall every hill, path, monument, guard hut, pulling spot, roleplay session, pretty much everything from my first days in EQ. It had that great an effect on me as a gamer.
Strange thing is, I am not sure I could ever go back. Yes, I have amazing memories of my first petrified run from Freeport to Rivervale to meet my brothers character, Merecraft Oakenheart. Fantasic funny memories of falling off the boat from BBM to Freeport and being unable to find safe land for two days! But I honestly think if I went back I would rejoice for a short amount of time as I revisited all my favourite haunts, then I am absolutely sure I would get bored.
You see, EQ1 is like everything else in our past. As times goes by we tend to recall our memories of that time with great fondness. The things that pained and distressed us at the time become funny memories. Something to laugh about. The two day camp in Befallen for the Paw of Oppola guy, only to have him stolen from me when he popped, as inevitably I was making a cup of tea at the time. I can laugh about that now. At the time I was totally gutted at the loss, the waste of my time and the fact if I wanted the damn thing I was going to have to do it all over again. I never even attmpted the JBoots. The nightmare stories had drifted down through the community until it reached my poor frightened ears. It was a scary story parents used to tell their children when they were naughty.
I could go on all day about the things I miss, the things I don’t. But I guess the point I am trying to make (too right you are trying…try floundering-Ed) is that EQ2 has progressed so much from the original game in graphic content, and the developers trying to get personally involved with the community, their ideas and needs to progress on to hugely improving the substance. For example something simple that we tend to forget and take for granted…the thousands of real life voice overs for the NPCs. Things that make the whole world of Norrath hugely more accessible and most importantly ‘real’ to us. I guess my expectations from an MMO have moved on in line with the development of the genre. Returning to EQ now, although I still get pangs to do so, would be a mistake. One that would ruin my fond memories of a legendary game. Things have changed way too much for the better for EQ to be anything but a massively immersive and happy memory.
So. How can I recapture some of that feel, some of the originality? How can I repeat the emotions and nostalgia? Well, obviously going back to EQ is not an option. EQ2 is where I am at right now. So I have decided to recreate some of the past, and ressurect Udrath Stormheart and his finely crafted history. I am not sure that I will spend much time playing him…but when I am feeling nostalgic, he is the toy I can bring out to play.
Udrath Stormheart. A blast from the past.
(Grumpy Old Git)
