Ouch: Today is Friday November 14th 2008, we have for an interview with The Ralnoth Times an every day player by the name of Wlkalot...
Ouch: Hello there...
Wlkalot: Hello.
Ouch: Thank you for accepting to be with us today...
Wlkalot: Thanks for asking.
Ouch: Do you have any opening statements before we begin?
Wlkalot: No.
Ouch: Okay. Well I have about 10 questions that I prepared for today and we'll spin off a number of other questions depending on where the interview goes...
Wlkalot: That's fine.
Ouch: Why pick the name walk a lot???
Wlkalot: Well when I created him, I wanted it to reflect the mode of transportation in the game.
Ouch: Heh :)
Wlkalot: And it was also an unusual one too.
Ouch: Why skip the "a" in walk? (your name being wlkalot)
Wlkalot: Well I thought that dropping the letter "a" sounded cool.
Wlkalot: I know that it may cause some players some problems in spelling. But they do eventually get it right in the end.
Wlkalot: I also find that it stands out like some of the other names in the game.
Ouch: What other names stand out?
Wlkalot: Well some of them are ones like Madrocks, Cheetah . Those are two that come to mind.
Wlkalot: Cagalli is another name that sticks out as well.
Wlkalot: There are so many others. It is hard to name them all.
Ouch: So... Do you walk a lot in the game?
Wlkalot: Yes, I do walk a lot in the game. I prefer to do that than hopping around by the way points.
Wlkalot: It helps me learn the areas I play in and I'm always finding more and new places to go for experience.
Ouch: Oh really? Is there something you don't like about the way point system?
Wlkalot: No, I do like the way point system. But if I depend entirely on them, I could get lazy... And not learn the overland routes.
Wlkalot: I think it is important for players to know those land routes in order to get around too.
Ouch: Why pick Alter Aeon to play?
Wlkalot: Why do I play this game? Well as a visually impaired person, I needed something to do in my spare time. When I could see four years ago, I was heavily into video games. And once I lost my eye sight, my friend at the C.N.I.B. found Alter Aeon for me to try amongst others.
Wlkalot: But the other games we found had too many windows to flip through so we dumped those. And I continued with this one.
Wlkalot: And I have made so many new friends around the world playing.
Ouch: So does your friend play too?
Wlkalot: No, he doesn't have the time to enjoy the game. He uses his time travelling to other people who need assistance with things that blind people need help with.
Wlkalot: For example, learning to work with computers.
Ouch: Where in the world are you located - if you don't mind disclosing the Country you are in ??
Wlkalot: No. I don't mind at all. I live in Ottawa, Ontario.
Ouch: Do you know if your friend recommended A.A. to other players?
Wlkalot: I have told many people about the game but they all have their sight. The only contact I have with others like me is through the game.
Wlkalot: I think that he has, because he too is blind. And I am sure that if they ask him if he knows of any games they can access, he gets them hooked up to Alter Aeon to play.
Wlkalot: It is so easy to understand and follow that all others are a nightmare to play.
Wlkalot: Smile.
Ouch: How hard was it to learn to play?
Wlkalot: Well I learned quite fast. Only sometimes in the beginning, I would forget to save, and I would have to make a new character. LOL. But other than that, it was really fast.
Wlkalot: I remember playing a game like this back in high school, when the computers were still a new thing. So I was familiar already with how it worked. WOW. I think I just put a date on myself. LOL.
Ouch: What's the most challenging aspect of the game for you today?
Wlkalot: The most challenging thing? I would have to say getting past level 29, with having to get all those fame points. Smile.
Wlkalot: Some of the quests are somewhat of a challenge too. I mean finding them is a lot of work, but that is what makes the game great right?
Wlkalot: But the feeling of completing the hard to find quest is the greatest.
Wlkalot: Pure satifaction.
Ouch: How long have you been at level 29?
Wlkalot: I have been at level 29 for about a month now.
Wlkalot: I am now trying to get my other levels up there as well so that when I finally do get the required fame, they will all roll at the same time.... If that is possible.
Ouch: What is the hardest aspect about getting fame? Or do you feel this is just a time for your character to develop?
Wlkalot: The hard part about getting fame is you never know who is fame and who isn't one. It's just luck if the mob that you fight is.
Wlkalot: Well it is always time to develop my character. I want him to be the best that he can be, like any one else.
Wlkalot: There is always room for that.
Ouch: Have you made friends or enemies thanks to this game?
Wlkalot: I think I have made many friends through the game. I 'm so amazed by all the places the other players live. For example, I know many players from the States, and the U.K., and even from New Zealand. Although I've not met any one from China or Japan yet. But well, maybe one day I will.
Wlkalot: As far as enemies go, I don't think so. Unless there are some that I don't know about.
Wlkalot: I try to get along with all players in the MUD.
Wlkalot: I also try to help some of the newbies if they ask me for it without complaints. And they are always thankful for it.
Wlkalot: They remember me when they get higher in levels and when they need more help later in the game, they know that I will try to assist them if I can.
Wlkalot: So they ask.
Wlkalot: But there are those few that become dependent on you and are not grateful at all, that those of us that do give the assistance need to draw the line.
Wlkalot: And back off and cut those apron strings.
Wlkalot: They tend to use our good heartedness to their advantage.
Wlkalot: And move ahead without giving you a thanks.
Ouch: Yeah I know the feeling... It's people who think that more levels means a better person at the game. And once they have more levels, they completely change their attitude from asking for help to putting you down constantly. Yet, they always come to you, without telling you who they are, once they create a new character.
Wlkalot: Yes. They do that in order to get you to go through it all again.
Ouch: Would you recommend Alter Aeon to your friends?
Wlkalot: Yes, I would certainly recommend Alter Aeon to my friends and have done so.
Ouch: Are you in a Clan? What do you like / dislike about Clan life?
Wlkalot: Well, yes I'm in a clan. But it is not quite up and running right now. The clan elders are away from the MUD right now... kind of making it dead for now. The headquarters building is not finished. The other members, who are on actively, are great and we go on runs by our selves.
Wlkalot: But without the elders, the clan is not growing so it remains very small at this time.
Wlkalot: What I dislike about the clan? Well I guess it would be the missing elders, because I have been asked by some of the high enough players how to join. And having no elders to send them to really chokes me and the other members.
Wlkalot: We all know that a clan's survival depends on its intake of new members and if we don't get those, we could die as a clan.
Ouch: Would you say that the clan aspect has enhanced your A.A. experience?
Wlkalot: Yes. It has enhanced my experience, such as the way the clan is at this time. I mean it is like a status thing, a club where every one gets together for private runs.
Wlkalot: And just having fun... Not that running with a group of players who are not in clans isn't.
Wlkalot: It is just that a clan run is like a family get together. It's like a reunion.
Ouch: Are you in a religion? Do you like the religion aspect of the game?
Wlkalot: Yes, I follow Dentin, and yes I do like the religion aspect of the game. It makes it easier to recall if one needs to get away from a dangerous situation, unlike when not following a god... You don't always get the help you may need to recall.
Wlkalot: It is also a great help when in a battle and ones hp is low. Your god heals you, allowing you to finish the battle.
Ouch: How many followers does Dentin have?
Wlkalot: Now that I don't know. There are so many players from years ago who follow him. I am sure it is well into the hundreds.
Wlkalot: And is growing.
Please see a note from the Ralnoth Times, regarding this question, at the end of the interview.
Ouch: What advice do you have for other players?
Wlkalot: Well I guess it would have to be... Play to have fun and make great new friends, not enemies, and help others in need.
Ouch: How do you feel the game can be improved?
Wlkalot: Hmmm... Well I don't know right now, it is pretty good for now. But like any game of its kind, there is always room for more. But I just take it as it is.
Ouch: Specifically, what more would you do?
Wlkalot: I guess maybe more weaponry, new kinds of mobs to kill that are different mobs, maybe even some different skills or spells. I know that Dentin is always creating new places for us to discover but I really don't know.
Ouch: Unfortunately we are coming to the end of the interview. However it would not be complete without your final statements to us... Please share any advice or anything you didn't get a chance to say or simply something you would like to put out there...
Wlkalot: Well, I'd like to say to all the MUD players, "Be kind to each other and just have fun mudding".
Wlkalot: I do also want to thank Cagalli who, at the start of my game life, took me under her wing and helped me to get to where I am today. I would also like to thank Dentin for all his help an encouragements when I was having problems with connecting to the MUD. But I guess it is just thanks to all the great people and friends I have made so far. And I look forward to continued fun on The MUD.
Ouch: Well I certainly look forward to seeing you get your first level 30 Wlkalot. It will be well deserved.
Wlkalot: Thank you Ouch.
Wlkalot: It has been a pleasure being interviewed by you.
Ouch: Once again, this was Wlkalot on Friday November 14th, 2008, chosen to be interviewed as a representative of every day players, system time is 1024 am.
Ouch: Thanks Walkalot :) Always a pleasure :)
Wlkalot: Smile.
As a special note from the Ralnoth Times, Dentin could not confirm to us, nor deny, Wlkalot's statement regarding hundreds of followers.