So I was kinda interested in trying an MMORPG and had narrowed it down to two - Ultima Online or Everquest. But that's as far as I took it - just mulling it over. Then a magazine in the UK, PC Zone, had a free trial of EQ on its cover disk, so that decided that.
The guide in the mag said that the Druid was a good class for newbies so that sounded just the ticket. Looking at the list of servers, I didn't want to try one of the 'PVP' servers because I'd probably get slaughtered, and just randomly picked Bristlebane because it sounded kinda cool.
Back then, new characters spawned somewhere on the G Fay platforms, nowhere near the GM. I started to look at my spell book and inventory, trying to make sense of it all when all of a sudden I saw sparkly magic effects surround me. Looking around there was another player who seemed to be casting - casting on ME. Weird symbols appeared on my screen and one of the spells that hit did damage (I didn't realise at the time that HP buffs do make it seem your HP bar is reducing, even though thats not actually whats happening). Ok, this guy is obviously trying to kill me - I must have picked one of the PVP servers by mistake.
I typed "dnoT kil mee im new" as I panicked, and ran behind the trunk of the tree to buy me some time.
"Hold on, I'm buffing you" said my assailant.
Now, my years playing Quake had clued me in on some leet speak, specifically "owning". I'm betting "buffing" was another term for "owning". It made sense in my mind anyway.
More spells hit me, and now one of them was making me float. What kind of messed up $*^& is this? So I started to run. Anywhere. It didn't matter, I just had to get away from this jackass. I ran forward, and off the platform. Into the Faydark night. After about 10 seconds I tried clicking on the spells he cast on me. One of them came off! Haha, this is easy then, I can just click off all the nasty spells he put on me. Including the floaty one. I'm gonna have the last laugh here!
LOADING PLEASE WAIT
When I respawned on the ground I was trying to get my bearings again, and I saw him running up. Screw this game I thought, I'm gonna hit the power button on my pc before he starts with the buffing crap again. If everyone is like this I don't want no part in it.
"Hold on, I'm just trying to help you friend. You're new, right?".
And for some reason I paused.
For the next hour he showed me the GFay lifts, how they work. He showed me where the guards were and to run to them when you get in trouble. Took me to the Druid Guild Master, told me what spells to use, etc etc. Pretty much got me up and running.
I came sooo close to making the biggest mistake I've ever made playing video games. I could write a book on all the memories I have and all the people I met playing EQ over the years (but I guess we all could). I have no clue of the dudes name, I didn't ever see him again after that. If you're out there, and you're reading this (extremely unlikely) you know who you are. Thanks man.
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