Friday 25 January 2002

Pic of the day: How can something that is so wrong, feel so right? (Actually, the color of the tights feels all wrong too, I bought light green dye but somehow the bleach did not work. But that's not what I mean.) Screenshot from Dark Age of Camelot of course.

It feels so right ...

Isn’t that the excuse used by "classical" sinners? The ones who have carnal relations with someone they're not married to. When the fact comes to the light of day, there are some who refuse to regret. Instead they ask: "How can something be wrong that feels so right?"

And this, dear readers, is how I feel about playing Dark Age of Camelot online. It costs me nearly €1 per hour, money that could have gone to feed the starving. (Well, actually ¼ of it could have gone to feed the starving, and ¾ to "administration" in relief organizations. But I digress.) So my brain says "no" but my heart says "yes, yes, oooh god YES! Don’t stop!" I guess it’s kind of like cybersex only without the sex. Which makes sense once you think about it.

***

For instance, as Porcupet I am an armorsmith. I have friends, some I have helped in the past and some who are member of the same player guild. Currently I can make all bronze and iron armor and most tanned leather, and I have learned to make the simplest of steel armor. But my friends are getting to higher levels too, and now they need alloy mail, which is the type after steel. I hope to be at that skill over the weekend. It is not entirely a crisis if not, but being able to make our own armor would save the guild quite a bit of money. Basically, you get more or better armor for the same money. More and better armor means you can fight harder monsters earlier, and gain more experience, and improve character in various ways. The poor Albions are hard pressed by the Hibernians, and can use any advantage they can get. The more money we can keep in the player community rather than pay it to merchants, the stronger we will be. While online, this feels entirely too real.

As Prismagrrl[1], I am a newbie helper. I spend some time each night when there are most people on, and using my speed spell I run all over the newbie and almost-newbie areas, casting power-up spells on the newly hatched players who fight against wolf pups and such. These spells make their weapons do extra damage, sometimes more than doubling their effectiveness. Another spell increases weapon speed, allowing them to attack more often than their opponents. This means again that they can advance faster and amass more money and experience, quickly growing into the more advanced classes.

[1] "Prismagrrl"? Wait, I can explain ... no, actually, I can't. I guess perhaps buying that Supergirl movie on DVD wasn't so smart after all. Or creating and playing a character while listening non stop to Infinity's happy dance CD, either. But it sure is fun.

Having experience from several different classes, I give advice to less experienced players on a wide range of topics. I teach them what enemies to hunt and where, at different levels. I show them different strategies for groups to be more effective. I help them find various computer-controlled characters in the city. I even teach others to make armor or weapons, though few have the patience to keep doing it.

In DAoC I am a productive member of society, doing good deeds. I make the playing experience happier and more fulfilling for other players. "It feels so good, it feels so right" in the memorable words of Infinity, the Norwegian technodance band. (I think that quote was from their smash hit making out (in the parking lot) but you get the point.) How can something that feels so right, be wrong?

***

It can be argued, and probably should, that there is a reason why sins are forbidden. I mean, if they did not feel good at some point to some people, there would be no reason to make them into a sin. You will notice that world religions don’t spend much energy fighting against people’s urge to eat puke, stuff dog hair in their nose or sleep naked in the snow. Things that don’t feel good or right at some point are simply not an issue. On the other hand, extramarital sex and eating too much appeal to a lot of people. And being greedy appeals to almost all people.

At least until others do it.