Crafting your avatar is that wonderful and exciting entry into just about any online game.  It’s that near magical art of creating your in-game persona, infusing your character with a bit of whatever parts of you that you want to send forth into the game world to find adventure and victory, with pink pigtails or a lime-green mohawk or a great big scar down your cheek.

Believe it or not, I used to HATE character creation.  It always irked me because I’m a furry orange monster and there just aren’t any games where I could make an avatar that looks even remotely like I do.  The closest I could usually come was orange hair, and even then is was never the right shade of that fiery orange that I’m so proud of.  Game after game, I just crafted some generic looking toon or, even worse, hit ‘random’ a few times in character select and took what was handed to me, since no combination of noses, hairstyles, and body shape could ever come close to making a character that looked like me.

Then one day I decided that this was very silly, and I’ve loved character creation ever since.

Come as you aren’t…
The best part about creating our character, you see, is that it doesn’t ever have to look like you (and in some games simply can’t look like you, unless you happen look like a Minotaur or a hobbit, and if that’s the case I want to hang out with you at a convention!)  - It’s a way to go totally wild and create your ultimate persona, from dashing and heroic to creepy, from flowing blond hair to ebony spikes to that cool thing where you’re bald but then you have that little braid on the back of your head… you know, I think they call it a braidy-thing.

Of course people can, and do, create avatars that are the spitting image of their real-world selves, and that’s fine too, that’s the beauty of avatar creation!  It’s usually the only part of online games that doesn’t have any hard and fast rules – if you can dream it (and, obviously, the game allows it)  you can be it!  And it makes sense to take your time and really craft your avatar since for many games, the ones you really love to play, you are probably going to be spending a lot of time together!

Who are you?
Class selection is a big part of your appearance in many games, obviously.  What do you prefer?  Do you choose a class because of it’s capabilities or, like me, do you choose a class because of how it looks?  Do you go for the realistic hair, a classic style in auburn or jet black, or do you go for shocking colors and extreme styles?  Bright pink anime hair or a shock of blue spikes to  make a statement.  Of course maybe you have bright pink anime hair in real life, in which case choosing that in a game would be part of the whole ‘making a character that looks like me’ strategy, and that’s cool too.  Do you make your avatar as large as possible, big and muscled, or small and lithe?  Then there’s the classic choices like scars and tattoos!  Being furry I can’t really ‘do’ tattoos for real, but in an online game I’ll add whatever kinds of body art they offer, like a big Hungarian horntail on my chest.  It just looks macho.

Clothes make the Elf
Many MMO games out there today have pretty elaborate clothing and armor systems that work for both improving your game stats and abilities as well as helping to tell the story of your character, not to mention making you look really cool.  I know some people that actually make armor or outfit selection a major part of their gaming experience, and with all the options out there it’s pretty obvious why, as in most games there is no greater means of making your character uniquely ‘yours’.  Are flowing capes and spiked shoulders your thing, or do you like ninja outfits or glowing mage robes?  Something formal and regal, or ragged and adventure-worn?  I like the more ragged and road-worn look myself, and I definitely have a thing for ragged or tattered cloaks.  They just look really neat, don’t you think?

Hey buddy, nice sword…
Sure, weapon selection is largely dependent on your class, but it can still make a statement about your character.  Do you like the subtle menace of dual wielded daggers, the classic sword and shield pairing, or are you more of a ‘giant crazy sword the size of a telephone pole’ person?  Do you like subtle realism or flashy and glowy effects?  I have a thing for stuff that glows blue, personally (it’s a monster thing, hard to explain), and I have definitely chosen to equip a statistically inferior weapon because it glowed blue. What can I say – it matched my eyebrows.

This time it’s personal
No matter what you choose to look like in a game, always remember that there’s nothing right or wrong about it, it’s your personal choice and whatever it is, it’s great!  Never let others in-game tell you differently, either – that’s what this article is about, because games are supposed to be about having fun and enjoying yourself!  Sure there are people in games who seem to take pleasure in teasing people about their look – it happens in every game and sadly, there are probably always going to be people who do this.  Thankfully there’s a feature in most games that is a fast and easy remedy for this particular kind of player…

The ‘Ignore’ button.

The Game Monster updates every Wednesday.

This week, I wanted to talk about assumed knowledge and how it can affect (for good or for ill) gameplay.  In this regard, there are basically three kinds of assumed knowledge: the kind relating to the characters in a story, the kind relating to the players of a game/story and the kind relating to the creators of that story/game. All three influence how a game is played and how that game’s play unfolds.

Assumed Character Knowledge:
This is what characters in a particular setting are expected to know, simply because they are characters in that setting.

For the sake of argument, let’s say that your brand new character, Nebbish McNoob, is an apprentice dust-wrangler on the distant planet A’choo.

Now, most players, while they may know something about dust and some may even know a fair bit about wrangling, aren’t necessarily going to know the first thing about dust-wrangling, let alone how and why that might be done on a distant planet. So, to make that workable in game terms, certain basic things will have to be explained to players right at the start. Filling the player in on what his character is expected to already know, is usually handled in the form of a training area; that semi-safe zone where new players learn about their surroundings, how to meet game challenges and how not to get their characters dead in the process.

Assumed Storyteller Knowledge:
The storytellers (in this case, the game developers) should know everything about their world and the gears that turn beneath its surface.  Unfortunately, this is where some games get into trouble. Rather than beginning with a set narrative (and the world building that requires) some game creators seem to begin with little more than a basic premise, throwing themselves into making the game mechanics and assuming that the story can be shoehorned in as they go.

The problem with that is that MMOs, by their very nature, have to encompass huge, over-arching plots and many, many integrated sub-plots in order to be merely believable, let alone enjoyable to those that play them. If you don’t have that plot and those sub-plots worked out, (taking care that they are all internally consistent with each other and the world in which they take place) then you’re going to run into problems down the line that no set of game mechanics can possibly address.

Assumed Player Knowledge:
This is where things really get tricky. The trouble comes in when game developers achieve such thorough knowledge of their craft that they forget the days when it was all confusingly new; when they assume knowledge on the part of all players that not all players possess.

While it can be safely assumed that most online gamers, no matter how new to the process, are familiar with point-n-click, and that they can quickly be brought up to speed on both character and camera movement, assuming further is a fast track to player frustration.

I myself am not new to gaming of any kind, and yet I’ve quit MMOs because basic game functions and story issues weren’t properly explained, or explained at all. Some might say that that’s what game wikis are for. I say that relying on an outside wiki is lazy writing. If you have to use an outside context to explain what’s going on in your game/world/story, then you haven’t done your job properly in the first place.

My thoughts:
Personally, I think most training areas are too short and too limited. Yeah, I know, there’s a whole contingent of you howling at your screens after reading that last bit, but hear me out.

From a storytelling and, indeed, a real life standpoint, no one gets into their teens (the point at which most heroic journeys begin) knowing how to do absolutely nothing. But in games, that’s essentially what we’re expected to believe.

What if you could start your character off at the age of ten, or even five? What if you could spend a certain number of hours, growing your character in the world that she will later be expected to fight for?

How much more invested in a game world would people be if those sandboxes, those training areas were graduated, based on character age and development? If at least the basic levels of all the secondary skills (crafting, etc.) could be learned then, rather than in the middle of the story’s main conflict? Honing one’s craft on the fly is one thing, but really, does learning the very basics in the middle of a war (or whatever) even make sense?

“Golly, I’d love to help stop the dust smugglers from doing their dastardly deeds, but first I gotta learn how to harvest and refine navel lint to make into interpretive dance sculptures…”

How much more of the overall story and game mechanics could be learned in that early time?  How much more individual would the experience be, not just from player to player but from character to character; bringing players back again and again, knowing that each new try would be a different experience from the last?

An extended sandbox realm doesn’t need to be pastoral or boring. This is where the story foundation is set; where the PC (player character) develops the motivation to do what he or she does later in the game. Do they have a family? Does that family survive the coming conflict? Later, is there a love interest? Does that love interest survive? Does that love interest leave to join the battle, inspiring the PC to do the same?

Certainly, there are gamers that wouldn’t want that much of what some might consider prologue. For them, make certain parts something that can be skipped; maybe giving them random skills and attributes that they would have acquired in the training phase.

I submit though, that this kind of starting (training, sandbox, what-have-you) area shouldn’t be cast off as “simple” prologue. It’s ALL story, and there is so much potential there for expanding gameplay and player involvement that it absolutely boggles the mind.

Fair Game updates every Monday.

“I just don’t see the attraction.”

“You’ll get addicted!”

“How can you waste your time like that?”

“Wait, are you addicted?”

“You spent money on that?  But it isn’t real!”

“You are so addicted!”

Sound familiar? The well intentioned yet completely off-the-mark commentary we often hear from friends or family members who just don’t understand our love of online gaming? Yeah, same here.

Convinced that you’ll end up a desiccated husk, living in your own filth and helplessly strung-out on pixels and cheese-doodles, they sigh, they wheedle, they cajole and sometimes even threaten you to get you to give up the hobby you love. And it’s not difficult to figure out why. We’ve all seen the sensational news stories about people who became so consumed by a particular game that they lost perspective, (or worse) lost their jobs, let their kids starve or simply forgot to live themselves. But as tragic as those stories are, they don’t reflect the reality of most gamers.

But what can we do about it?  I have a few ideas…

Pinpoint what the real worry is.

You can’t counter an argument if you don’t know what’s really being argued.  Is Grandma terrified by all those news stories?  Does your boyfriend resent the hours you spend defeating evil when he’d rather have you cuddling with him on the couch?  Is your best friend convinced that spending real money on a virtual experience is a waste?

Whatever the concern is, assuming it’s reasonable, it can be addressed.

Counter fear with comparison.

Gaming is a hobby like any other, but in the grand scheme of things it’s still rather new. Like any new pop-cultural phenomenon, it’s going to take some time before gaming online is so commonplace that people forget it and find another new thing to get worked up about. You can help that process along by not getting defensive,

“But I’m an Epic Level Supreme Spoinkomancer!  Do you have any idea how awesome that is?”

No, they don’t, and arguing from that angle isn’t likely to convince them of anything, except perhaps that you’re an epic level fruitcake. However, if you compare gaming as a hobby to other hobbies…

“It’s like reading a really good book, except that I get to be the main character.”

“I love the strategy involved, like playing chess, but more immersive, like a great movie.”

“Tickets to a football game cost far more than my new Snailodon mount, and a football game only lasts an afternoon, while Fluffy will be there for as long as I play Cybernetic Cephalopods.”

Now you’re cookin’ with gas!  Don’t expect a single statement to change minds, but it’s a place to start.  If you can continue the discussion in the same way, they may still not agree in the end but they’ll probably see that you’re being rational; true addicts are rarely rational about their addictions.

Address concerns with consideration.

Just because Grandma doesn’t know the difference between Sudoku and Everquest, doesn’t mean she’s stupid, and knowing that difference doesn’t mean you’re especially clever, so don’t be an ass. Gently remind her that news stories are meant to be sensational, that you appreciate her concern and are being careful not to overindulge.

Examine your habits.

Your boyfriend might be feeling left out for a reason.  Remember, you don’t have to be an actual addict to be spending too much time in your favorite fantasy landscape.  Your physical presence in the room together doesn’t count as spending time together, especially if your contribution to the evening is screaming, “Where’s the damn healer?” into your headset mic.  Sometimes, it’s good to walk away from the keyboard and experience some real life “laying on of hands.”

Put on your tour guide hat.

Do you have a spare invite for your favorite game?  Why not offer it to that doubting friend of yours.  Who knows, she might fall in love with the whole experience and become a bigger power-leveler than you are.  And even if she doesn’t, at least she has a better idea of what online gaming is all about.

If all else fails…

Even if you can’t convince them that you’re not addicted, you can point out that your “addiction” is far less dangerous than many others.  For example, in one month, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day can cost upwards of twice what a WoW subscription costs in a year; the added bonus being that, with the game, you don’t also get lung cancer.

Besides, if you’re home gaming all the time, you’re not out getting into trouble, now are you?

What to do if they just won’t listen.

If the problem is much bigger issue than what I’ve talked about here, try not to argue. Really, it won’t help and things are likely to get worse, maybe even driving a wedge between you. The best advice I can give in that case is to get the help of a counselor, if not for the both of you, then at least for you. Talking to someone professional and objective can help you sort out how to deal with the other’s distress.

But if you can talk it out, who knows?  You may just have yourself a whole new gaming partner!  And just think how much easier it will be to defeat those flocks of carnivorous glitter-pixies, when Grandma is there too, armed with a few well-timed buffs and a fresh hot batch of homemade pwnage.  Ah, thanks Grandma!  You’re the best!

There’s a new Fair Game up every Monday.

In the past I have been lucky enough to participate in the beta testing for City of Villains and Auto Assault.  So when I got a chance to try out the beta of Global Agenda I jumped at it.  What I find great about the whole beta testing process is getting a glimpse into a game before the final version gets released to the public.   Even thought the game is already out, I haven’t had a chance to go get it yet, so this is my Global Agenda preview of the beta.

The game is set in a futuristic world where you have a choice of 4 archetypes to play with in recon, assault, medic and robotics.  Each caters to different types of game play and has their own advantages and disadvantages.  Missions are gained from a hub where you join a team of players to either complete a PvE or PvP mission.  I was disappointed that there did not seem to be any solo play options.  Character customization is initially limited to just changing the look of the face and hair, unlike games like City of Heroes or Villains which offer a wider range of appearance options.  Any further changes in appearance comes at a price, from changing the paint color and armor upgrades that can be purchased later.

The archetype you choose to play really depends on your game style.  With Assault you get a fair amount of weapon power with a chain gun, heightened armor and health regeneration abilities.  While it was fun to blast away at your opponents I found it limiting and nothing that I have not played before.  The only time I found the type truly effective was having a medic nearby to keep healing me as I dealt out the damage.

With a medic you are essentially the healer of the party, throwing off heal bombs and firing a gelatinous heal ray at your teammates.  Low on offense power, this is great for anyone who likes to be the support member of the party.  I found that if the medic is doing his/her job in the mission the chances of keeping a good tight team from constantly having to re-spawn members goes up considerably.   Even though every player gets a jetpack, having to make your way back through the mission map to your team can be tiresome.

The recon class uses steath and speed to make it’s mark in the game.  Essentially functioning  as a scout you can use invisibility mode which looks great on screen but to me was not very useful when I used it.  I am sure if I were to get into that type of game play it might be more interesting in later levels,  but early on it did not catch my interest.

Of all of the classes I found robotics the most interesting.  It offers the most variety of the four classes, offering both offensive and defensive abilities to the team.  The ablity to create a shield or auto turret on the fly were fun and gave me something more to do than just shooting the heck out of enemy robots.   It is definately a class I would be tempted to play more and see what could be done in higher levels.

Overall the key to playing this game seems to be teamwork.  As long as you keep your party in a tight group and each class/archetype does their job the survival rate really remains high.  Most times by playing this way you can finish in time with very little re-spawning.  While you will do most of your fighting with range weapons,  there are melee weapons for each class that seem to be more useful in the Player VS. Player Environment.

In addition to Player Vs. Environment play I also got a chance to try out Player Vs Player mode.  In this mode it is basically a free for all in an arena where you just shoot at the enemy color and try and survive.  For the most part I kept getting punked by the opposition as soon as I entered the zone. Playing the assault class I found the only way to survive was to find someone else on the same side to team up with on the fly, preferably a medic.  While PVP mode has never been my favorite aspect of any MMO, I can see where this part of the game would appeal to some people.

So after trying the beta will I be tempted to pay to play the game, the answer is more than likely yes.  Despite some flaws such as getting stuck in the tutorial with a non-functioning jet-pack (which you can skip through thankfully) and very awkward looking leg movements, which I am sure will be solved in the final product.  The game works great as a futuristic third-person shooter with some interesting RPG elements and plenty to keep you coming back to it.

This is a typical night in WarHammer. The only issue is finding a warband to join. The main ingredient is other players. You need those to fight against and those to fight with. If you are on a low pop server which has no action, transfer or reroll to a better server. Sorry there are no other options, you need a good balanced to almost balanced population to enjoy this game. I have come up with a formula to maximize my playtime. I will share this epiphany with you.

1-Queue up for all scenarios.
This is the first thing I do every time. If RVR is slow going I can hopefully pop in a scenario for some instant PVP. If RVR is active you can always leave the queue. Sometimes you need to partake in a sc to lock a zone. Either way queue up.

2-Look for Open Warbands.
Use the option on your UI to look for an open WB in your zone. If there is an open WB click on the RVR button to join.

3-Guild
Use your guild. Check your guild roster and see if anyone in your Tier is in an open warband. This is depicted by a red banner near their name. Right click on the banner and select join open warband.

4- The Mighty Map
Open the map; check the zones by the racial pairings. This will present a representation of the tiers by zones. You can see if there are any battles in any zones on the map. If there are battles in a different zone fly there and proceed to step 2.

5-Jump tiers
Don’t be afraid to roll an alt. Sometimes your tier might be having a slow night. Roll an alt and join the battle at that level.

This is my daily formula for WarHammer. I always have something to do. Regardless of Zone or Tier I can always expect to join a battle somewhere. Over all WAR is a good game, it’s full of fun and excitement. Sometimes we just have to go and find it. Good luck and enjoy your WAAAGGHHH!!

I am currently leveling 2 characters. The handsome dwarf you see above is my engineer. I just dinged 19 and I absolutely love the class. I can do decent damage, and I have many, many tricks to get out of trouble. Make no mistake if I am out of tricks I am as good as dead, but that’s part of the game. I am taking a small break from WOW just for this month to experience a break from PVE (WOW). The earlier levels for my Dwarf were somewhat tough, but the higher level he gets the more gadgets he earns, different types of grenades, and just trained landmines. Landmine is a very fun tool. Drop it near the enemy and it knocks all enemies down for 2 seconds in a 30 yard (feet? Not sure what the measurement is in WAR) range.

There is always action in the game. The server mergers have seen to that. It only takes a few minutes to join a warband for some good old RVR action, or join a scenario. The strength of the game is also its greatest weakness. If the server is dead or a slow night, well you just better log out. Let’s see if I can continue past a month. I will let you guys know.. So for now I am off to battle…Bloody Hell!

Many people tend to go to forums. Tread lightly fellow adventurer the game forums can be a wretched hive of scum and villainy ready to devour the innocent. You may be able to find the occasional useful post among a sea of whining. Usually you can find good player created guides that can help you start off your character, or to even help you finish off those final talent points. Blogs are another source, there are many sites available. Some are done really well, some not so much. The great thing about most blogs is that you can tap into a regular guys experience about your game of choice. Some blogs are written by hard core gamers if that’s what you’re into. Whatever you need there probably is a blog for you.

There is yet another form of delving deeper into the worlds of our games. Podcasts are an entertaining way to gain a deeper understanding of the game, as well as listen to other people who share your passion for the game. Podcasts are also great because you can listen to them in the car, while jogging or even exercising. I prefer to read fan sites, blogs and listen to podcasts. It’s a great way to gain a further understanding of the game. Whatever you choose there are many ways to immerse yourself further into the virtual world.

Check out the preview trailer listed below.

City of Heroes-Going Rogue

• The bank in Darnassus

• The lighthouse in Westfall

• Jaina Proudmoore in Theramore

• If you are super cool and play the Horde, your orphan wants to see;

• Mor’shan Rampart

• Lordaeron Throne Room

• Cairne Bloodhoof in Thunder Bluff

It is a bit of running around, unless you have a mage friend to port you around. It is worth it, if you like non combat pets. Upon completing the quests you can choose from these three pets.  Piglet, the Rat, or Speedy .

If you’re over level 60 you can take part in the orphan quests in Shattrath also. Visit the Matron at the Shattrath orphanage, last year you had to take your outland’s orphan to these places;

• The Dark Portal

• The Exodar (Alliance)

• Silvermoon City (Horde)

• Caverns of Time

Caverns of time is probably the most time consuming place to go. Here is a tip, if you’re Hearthstone is set to Dalaran take the portal in Dalaran right to the caverns of time. This is a big time saver. The others are an easy portal skip from Shattrath. I love the pet choices from the outlands quests, here are your choices;  Eggbert, Baby Elekk, Sleepy Willy.

It’s a fun holiday that anyone can complete; the reward is a fun new companion that will remain loyally by your side. Just watch out for Willy, he drools.

Evil is afoot. The criminals are going insane, running rampant, and terrorizing the unimposing citizenry. Purse snatchings, muggings even strange creatures committing all sorts of strange and arcane acts for their bizarre evil twisted rituals. I am not talking about the U.S. congress here people. These events are taking place in a popular city we all know. No not Miami, but Paragon City. It is up to us, the heroes to log in and stop the madness and the chaos.

It just happens to be the 5th anniversary of City of Heroes. NCSoft is celebrating this event all month long. This week, starting today and ending on Sunday, will see the reactivation of any old accounts that left in good standing. It’s our duty as Heroes past to take part in the defense of Paragon City once more.

I just love City of Heroes. I was in the original beta test for the game, and continued to play it for about two years after release. I left at that time due to burn out and needing something deeper at the time. Its strength can sometimes be its weakness, the simplicity in game play. I have gone back many times during free game play, promotions, and just to play for a month or two here and there. I love the way the game is setup. Just log in and go do missions. That’s it, that simple. You can group or solo, either way is a viable way to level and have fun. You can customize your game play by attaining enhancements for your powers. These enhancements augment certain aspects of your powers and help you truly customize your hero.

The game has evolved over time adding PVP, crafting, auction houses, (don’t remember what they are called in coh), and the City of Villains expansion, just to name a few. This is a product that continues to deliver time and time again. The in game community is excellent. I have never had problem finding a group or help for any mission. Everyone I ran into was very helpful. Having such a consistently good, helpful player base is rare in MMO’s. It might be due to its niche nature that holds the community strongly together, or maybe just the fact that everyone is trying to play a truly heroic persona. Either way it works.

The time has come, patch your account, put on your super suit and help defend Paragon City. The best part about Paragon is its complete lack of Night Elf Hunters.