Warhammer Online to carve statuary of the top players
The problem with MMORPGs is the ubiquity of heroes: the world's just maggoty with them. Nothing particularly feels epic, evil is never defeated and the greatest heroes only differ from the level one milksops by the rarity of their clothes and the visible smell waves oscillating off of their avatars. In largely static game worlds of unevolving lore and unfluctuating threat, there is no capacity to feel like a legend. Which, when you think of it, is very much at odds with the spirit of Tolkein that largely informs games like Everquest, World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online.
At least the latter game seem to recognize it, though. Mythic's introducing a rather cool little addition to Warhammer Online, aimed at making outstanding players feel more like ineluctable legends of the game lore. Starting with patch 1.1, Mythic will reward the top ten players on each realm with statues of their characters in the main city centers.
I think it's a nice little touch. MMORPGs need more of these sorts of gestures to the player, incorporating their deeds and heroism into the fabric of the game lore to both inspire and garner the jealousy of their fellow players.
Dev Diary: Player Statues [Warhammer Herald]
Anonymous Anonymous
#1 – 7:10 AM December 9, 2008
The problem with this kind of idea is that the top 10 players will not be very heroic. They will just be the most bloody-minded 14 year-olds with the most free time. Chances are they act like jerks towards other players.
As a casual MMO player, I will never be in that top 10. Why would I want to be reminded of that constantly? Why would I want the game itself to tell me "no matter what amazing feats you accomplish, we will love this little idiot savant more than you".
It breaks the suspension of disbelief. That kind of thing could well make me leave the game.
AirPillo
#2 – 7:12 AM December 9, 2008
In practice, though, it's just another excuse for a smug 12-year-old to claim superiority and brag about doing lewd things to your mother.
savetherobot
#3 – 7:29 AM December 9, 2008
I wonder how quickly this rolls over, and how hard people will fight not to lose their statue.
Also, this makes me want to beat Warhammer in my underwear, and with a wicked silly hat on. (I guess I'm helping us identify the target audience.)
shMerker
#4 – 8:33 AM December 9, 2008
This is why I think the whole fiction that MMOs employ is poorly adapted to MMOs. The feeling they go for is that you are some kind of hero, but everyone else can and does do the same things. The only way they can ensure that every player has something to do is by making it so that quests repeat, insulating players from each other to the point that your actions have no lasting consequences for anyone but yourself. One of the big things that World of Warcraft did was jack up this level of isolation beyond anyone else in an attempt to make griefing impossible, or at least avoidable. And they succeeded, basically, by making a massively single-player game.
Savetherobot, you beat me to what I was going to say. Reminds me of the battlefield heroes beta. The game has a serious amount of avatar customization, on the level of some MMOs, and I had a lot of fun putting together a commando named Ernst Jaeger who bore a more than passing resemblance to Fearless Leader. When I got online I discovered that nearly everyone on the Royal side was sporting a trucker cap, sunglasses and no shirt. The only variation on this theme is that some of them had the decency to wear pants.
humanpower
#5 – 9:52 AM December 9, 2008
Or, you could do something in the REAL world that would be worthy of a statue.
skarbreeze
#6 – 10:00 AM December 9, 2008
I play Warhammer, and frankly Mythic/EA needs to get so many things fixed SO badly, this whole concept is pointless presently. Right now nobody knows who is doing the best as a class/realm/etc, as the online statistics are totally fubar'd. They keep trying to add fluff and failing to fix fundamental problems. Meanwhile I suspect the player base is starting to thin out rather rapidly.
cory
#7 – 10:38 AM December 9, 2008
#1 anon: actually this just makes me want to know when the "pulling down the statue" patch will be out. Conquer the town of your enemy race and destroy all their top hero statues. Keep part of the broken head as a trophy. Good times.
Anonymous Anonymous
#8 – 10:42 AM December 9, 2008
LEEEEEROY JEEEEEENKINS!!!!!!
foobar
#9 – 10:46 AM December 9, 2008
What's the point? One Witch Hunter is indistinguishable from the next in Warhammer, unfortunately.
franko
#10 – 12:23 PM December 9, 2008
i don't play warhammer, but i like the idea. i think if (for instance) they did this in warcaft, they should make it statues of the top arena champions for that season, so that it's not a statue of "nöobslayer529" every two weeks.
Anonymous Anonymous
#11 – 1:17 PM December 9, 2008
Anonymous 1--
As a casual player, why should you care if your image is commemorated in a world in which you only "dabble," instead of live?
Yes, this is a feature for hardcore players. It's clearly a carrot for the type of min-maxing rabid players who desire such things enough to attain them. If that's not carrot enough for you to pursue, then you don't really want it. If you don't really want it, why complain?
It's cool; it builds a connection between the world and its active living inhabitants, and more importantly-- it doesn't seem to have any mechanical game effect so how could it possibly be viewed as harmful rather than fun?
Furthermore, Cory is thinking in the right direction!
AirPillo
#12 – 4:04 PM December 9, 2008
Weird, just when SOE gets its arse into gear and actually manages not only not to fuck up an MMO, but to do a good job with it and let the developer make the right changess at the right time...
Some other company comes onto the scene and gets a reputation as a bungling impulsive fool focusing on all the wrong changes and neglecting stability.
( Disclosure: Part of me just enjoys insulting game publishers. Most of them are headed by non-gamers after all. )
bontakun
#13 – 9:41 PM December 9, 2008
I can't help but be amused by the idea. Anyone who's ever played a MMORPG should have some idea of the kind of names that players come up with.
Just imagine...heroic statues dedicated to the likes of "Moomoocow", "Bananas" or "Ilikecake". Now that will be hilarious. The city must feel so proud to have such heroes. :D
thorough
#14 – 2:40 AM May 21, 2009
Every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day. So, patience and attention is required and things will be fruitful in near future.This is what that makes this game the best.
thorough
When you wake up in the morning you have the choice to achieve anything you want. Do not waste another do reading stupid web comments...get out there and live life!
Warhammer Europe Gold
thorough
#15 – 2:41 AM May 21, 2009
Every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day. So, patience and attention is required and things will be fruitful in near future.This is what that makes this game the best.
thorough
When you wake up in the morning you have the choice to achieve anything you want. Do not waste another do reading stupid web comments...get out there and live life!
Warhammer Europe Gold
Megaminis
#16 – 2:30 PM December 1, 2009
Sounds like a good idea to me it's just a shame that it won't be me up there lol.