Dark Age Of Camelot: Roleplay on the Hunt

The Paladin, a Briton by affiliation but distinctly Germanic in appearance, looked into the distance. His eyes held wariness and pain, as if some part of him wished to unburden himself but could not get past the fears instilled since childhood. Finally he spoke in a hushed voice, "My mother...my mother was Norse, my friend."

His companions stared after him. They knew very well that he, indeed, was not fine, and both knew from experience that the past will raise its head at the most inconvenient time. What could they do but follow him into the cursed home? Perhaps, after the Dyer family rested peacefully once more, they could coax out more of the tale.

Some people hold a strange notion that roleplayers cannot be hunters, or that indeed, roleplaying precludes gaining levels at all. Truly, this baffles me. In some cases, the best times I have had roleplaying were inspired by the events of the hunting trip around them.

Admittedly, we have a lot to watch while we fight the dangerous beasts in the lands. We have aggro to manage, adds to mind, and never mind keeping those pesky healers free of interfering creatures! We also have to mash buttons for styles, spells, and songs. With a little effort, however, your hunting trips can turn into memorable roleplaying events.

Mythic has created some truly beautiful and exciting hunting areas. The Dales of Devwy, for example, are full of interesting creatures and, what's more, roleplaying opportunities. How would your character react seeing creatures made from ropes and bits of metal? What about the families cursed by Ris'nir Cruss and Morgana? Most pious characters should find that situation repulsive.

Unfortunately, some of the less seasoned characters cannot reach some of the most interesting places. But what roleplaying guild could pass up the opportunity to educate its younger members? These places make for perfect guild hunts.

Adversity also inspires roleplay. How does your character react under stress? Does he refuse to hunt neutral creatures, or does he rabidly charge into the fray whenever undead are involved? And why? The people around you may never know these things if you do not take the time on the hunt to roleplay a little.

How does your character react to death? Do you believe that your character is only unconscious when a creature kills her, or is she truly dead? Can she speak (via guild and group channels) through her spirit, or is she utterly silent, swallowed in blackness until resurrected? Is she unworried about her companions when they fall, knowing that they will return at the Cleric's cast spell? Or does she believe that each time, the prevalent deity of the land may not necessarily grant life to the fallen?

The unfortunate side effect of using a hunting ground as roleplay scenery, naturally, is creature interruptions. My best suggestion is to handle "Ebon Skeleton Situations" (as they will be forever known to me now) with humor and efficiency. Dispatch that thing and move on! If you have a group of younger folks roleplaying with you in a difficult area, make sure to jump all over the creature. Just because you are roleplaying does not mean that someone needs to lose experience for the sake of the story.

Yes, if you take the time to roleplay, you will pull fewer creatures and, in the end, gain less experience. I hope that most will not let that stop them. The roleplay will make the missed experience quite worthwhile, as will the friendships you have celebrated in the process.

My feelings and prayers go out to the families and friends of those lost on the Columbia, as well as all of NASA. As an astronomy buff and an emphatic supporter of space exploration, my heart breaks each time something happens to the brave souls who risk themselves to better mankind. We should not only mourn their deaths, but we should celebrate their lives.

On a lighter note, come on, folks, send me your love stories! Otherwise, I am going to write a terribly narcissistic column for Valentine's Day about my own experiences. You don't want that. Really. Send them to blackbird@warcry.com and help me out!