While there have been questionable events involving kids and online community games, to be honest, there is a brighter side. Experienced players don’t hang themselves because they couldn’t get some “uber 1337″ item, instead, they often can apply concepts learned in an online fantasy environment to improving their offline experiences – and there’s little way to tell them apart from people who learn the same skills elsewhere.
1. Sure you can get an okay price from official stores, but the best deals are buying from the mom and pop businesses.
Example:
A certain NPC sells warhammers for 800gp. Another NPC buys them for 200gp. Gamer1 could sell a warhammer to Gamer2 for 600gp, a 400gp profit for Gamer1 and 200gp savings for Gamer2.
2. There’s glory to doing something by yourself, but there’s more chances that you’ll actually come in the lead when you have buddy support.
Example:
Questing often involves a long series of tasks that can range from more tedious than difficult to virtually impossible to figure out alone. Sometimes, someone needs to stand on a lever on another screen while the other person grabs the treasure.
3. Being an ass only works until a bigger ass comes along.
Example:
When a game allows PvP, it can sometimes be difficult for some players to get over their emerging power. Fortunately, those who take things further that thwacking a random newbie (and even then) will often find themselves gained up on by people who do normally behave themselves as good citizens. It’s law enforcement in action.
4. Your can’t discriminate based on superficial details, it just doesn’t make sense or work.
Example:
When you meet another player, you must judge them completely on their actions. Little intelligence is required to realize that anyone can be behind the avatar of your buddy, even people you would normally call less than kind words just because of some skin pigmentation.
5. House is home.
Example:
Nothing beats being able to arrange things just the way you want and having a nice stash of food in the icebox. Don’t forget the pride pieces either.
6. Budgeting means I get what I really need and want sooner.
Example:
Gold has to be earned, even if that means spending time collecting thousands of daggers to sell for 2gp a piece (yes, I have sold hundreds of daggers at 2gp a piece). The longer I hold off on spending those precious coins, the better stuff I can purchase.
6. Life is not linear
Example:
I don’t have to give back the princess’ ring, I don’t even have to look for it, if I don’t want to. I’ll just go do other stuff and ignore that quest. If I do choose to engage in her quest, I don’t have to remove the mermaid’s curse from her boyfriend. I can instead go find his piratey buddies that are willing to fight and pillage their no-good encampment. Or I could decide to become a pirate myself and instead war with the denizens of the sea.
6. When dealing with the clueless, ignore that they actually asked a ’stupid’ question and answer with a brief reference to where they should have seen the answer (politely).
Example:
Invariably a new player was in such a rush to actually log in that they forgot the most basic part about joining a game – reading the instructions. Even limitless MMORPGs come with official guides that tell you things as simple as how to move your character, speak, and barter goods with NPCs. The best way to deal with these newbies is to explain that they will find the best information on [whatever they're asking about] by going to the main site and looking at [whatever section contains more information].This generally will distract them long enough to make you appear as a index of information at best, rather than a encyclopedia. Thus encouraging the newbie to actually explore rather expecting everybody to tell them what to do.
Just a note on this – Many players are happy to help in-game with genuine “newbie” questions, this example more references people who seem unable to do anything without first having been told to do it by another player
Terms Explained (for the non-gamers):
GP – gold pieces, basic currency of most games. Additionally, there may be bronze, silver, platinum, and even crystal coins. Some games will apply local names (such as game Kings or Deities) to the coins in the same way that real bills may be referred to as the person the money is branded with (Lincolns, Franklins, Sacajaweas, etc).
MMORPG – online game that encourages people to act in character while playing a fantasy character in a large community setting
NPC – computer-ran character simulation. Usually distinguished from “monsters” and “baddies” by the fact it will respond to talk from player characters, even helping them.
PvP – this is where one player character can attack and potentially kill other player characters in the game.
For the infernally curious, I got a lot of inspiration from the MMORPG I play when I have time for it, Tibia.
