Hero's Hall Interview with MorneBlade

Ok. Single, 37-year-old male living currently in Maryland, USA. Near the beach. I was born in Knoxville Tenn., but have moved around quite a bit both as a child and as an adult. I have lived in, Fla. (twice) Conn., Va., Ga., Washington DC, and KY. I’ve been married once. I have a dog and 3 snakes currently as pets. My first name is Jonathan, but most people just call me Jon.

I can’t remember exactly where I heard about HJ, but I’m thinking it might have been E3 last year (2005). I’ve been following it closely since then. I found Hero’s Hall via MMORPG.com, and have been spamming the forums since, and giving Frosty nightmares!

A really in-depth quest system, and I’m hoping for an “endgame” that is quite different from what has been offered in MMO’s as well as having real choices when you hit the level cap. I like the character creation tools they are going to provide (need more races though, heh), and combat looks to have some really, different, interesting ideas in it.

Games I’ve played: Meridian 59, EQ (through Velios), DaoC, Horizons, City of Heroes/Villains, Saga of Ryzom, WoW, Guild Wars, Star Wars Galaxies, DDO.

Beta tested: DaoC expansions, City of Heroes, Horizons, Lineage 2, WoW, ROSE Online, Phantasy Star Online, Knight Online, RYL, Irth Online (alpha/beta) EQ2, Wish, Hero Online, Saga of Ryzom, Guild Wars, DDO, Darkspace and a couple other

Pong. I remember when I used to get 8 tokens for a dollar and be able to spend 5-6 hours in an arcade on that single dollar. Good times!

I’m not currently playing anything right now. I plan on going back and look at Saga of Ryzom after I replace my failing hard drive. I’m looking into TCoS as well, but those are more than likely going to be filler for HJ.

Well, I’m going to take Ranger as my primary class; I’ll wait till more information is released on classes before settling on a secondary class. I usually play a ranger (if archery isn’t totally borked) due to the “nature” background in the class. And I’m a nature freak, so it’s something I can really through myself into.

Well, it so hard to say. The game looks great artistically, and I think they have some really good ideas. A lot depends on how things are implemented, how well they are able to address issues, ect. Then there is the tech stuff. How does the engine run on average systems, frame rates, and lag, ect. So many things can really hinder a MMO, even if it has great ideas. Simu has a pretty long track record, but they are really stepping up in their scope. I guess we will have to see. I’d like to think they blow the doors off people though.

Actually I think there are a lot of things you can do to fix it. “Raiding” in EQ was a nightmare. You had to suck up to uberguilds just to get in. Raids were incredibility long, 10 hours was nothing. 15+ not uncommon. And trying to organizing 60, 70, 80 or more people was well, awful. Then you had 5 things drop. That has pretty much been raiding as it has been done in every MMO to date. As to how to change it for the better? There are many things you could do. Keep raid times down. Anything over 3-4 hours is going to keep out most casual gamers. Have something drop for everyone, instead of 5 people out of 80. Give an alternate reason for raiding. Make it quest oriented. Make it part of a larger event. Make it so you need to raid a boss, or his minions grow in strength and start to encroach upon player cities. Make it be about something other than time-sinks and loot. I’ve run that treadmill for years, and I really want a change. I don’t think I ever found it fun, but at one point I was very much about being better than everyone else. Now, I would just like to actually enjoy playing, and not have it be such a rat race. I understand why players want it (I’ve been there, trust me) but I’ve outgrown it, and to be honest I’m a little resentful of felling like I needed to play like that.

I generally don’t, the one exception was Horizons, where I finally got to play my dream race/class combo: a Sslik Ranger. For me I have to really be able to identify with my character to be able to RP, RP for me is more of an extension of myself rather than playing a certain “role”. In that respect I supposed I don’t RP, really, as to project my personality on my character. I think Simu however is going to give some real reasons to RP in HJ, and reward Rpers. I probably won’t be rewarded for RP, but I like that fact that HJ is not catering to power-gamers.

I do web design on the side, I played tennis, soccer, football, and basketball until injuries took its toll. I’m a guitarist and that takes up quite a bit of time. I like to read when I get the chance, mostly High Fantasy or Gothic Horror. I have a degree in Marine Biology and although I haven’t really used it, I still love the ocean and it’s life. Trying to get back into surfing, just haven’t found the time yet. And I take care of my APBT named Baby, My 10 foot Burmese Python named Eve, my baby Carpet and Blood Pythons, Pompeii and Loppy, respectfully.

*laughs* I’m a hard core gamer. I min/max. I have 2 boxed in games (DaoC) before. I love RvR type PvP. If I had a lot of time I’d be playing my MMO of choice 12+ hours a day, as I have in the past. I’m very competitive, but more against myself than other people. I constant compare myself to how I can play at my best, and work to get better. Not because I died. I don’t mind getting killed by a better player, but playing below my “standards” and winning irks the hell out of me.

I’m also pretty laid back about most things.

All time? Wow, I’m not sure. Recently I’d have to go with LotR (I’m a big Tolken fan).

Yep. Couple of DUI’s. So I gave up drinking.

Probably being in court for my last DUI. I couldn’t remember anything about it (I blacked out) and listening to the arresting officer give his statement was horribly embarrassing for me. Enough to not have a drop for the last 10 years.

Six hours. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Yes, I work for a major Restaurant chain (Red Lobster); I do part time web design and play professionally as a guitarist

I got “Morneblade” from the Elric Saga. Morneblade is the Twin to Elrics massive rune blade, Stormbringer. I took the “u” out of it so I wouldn’t have as many problems getting it in game, and so far it was worked.

Oh yeah! But by far the stupidest thing I ever did was try to drive drunk.

Yes. The Bahamas for a week. Loved it. Surf was lame though.

Crazy guitar stuff mostly. Neo-Classical Fusion, Progressive Rock/Metal, Jazz Fusion. Bands like Dream Theater and Fates Warning and Yngwie Malmsteen (his older stuff). Then there is the pure instrumental stuff. Guys like Greg Howe, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Paul Gilbert, ect. Basically, virtuoso guitar playing.

Lead Guitarist in a big-time Progressive Rock band. Or do field research on Mako Sharks.

Hmm, I guess the general first impression I hear about is: “Really nice guy, but a bit odd”. I ask, what is so odd about sleeping with a 10-foot python?