Letters to the Editor

Queer Eye for the Gamer Guy

In response to "Parting Ways With Our NPCs" from The Escapist Forum: I can really sympathize with missing NPCs. Even as a tabletop gamer I feel that. When I create an NPC that I really love I want to keep them around, but alas they must end at some point. I think the worst is to put so much effort into making an NPC or an enemy really cool and not getting the right reaction from the players. Seeing something you absolutely love mocked and ridiculed by your player characters. Even when you've put a lot of effort into designing an interesting boss battle with a boss you've spent a lot of time and effort on (I do concept art for my own D&D campaigns) creating, which is conquered after about 3 or 4 rounds. I recently had an experience where I designed a mini-boss encounter that I thought would be cool and difficult for the players which they defeated in (no joke) 2 rounds. I was pretty bummed.

I almost get this sense of sadness when I finish a game because I know I'll never see those characters again doing something new. I think that's one of the reasons for the popularity of the sequel, people want to see all their favorite characters again and I can only assume the developers have similar feelings on the matter.

- Fightgarr

As a player, I really really miss Durandal from the Marathon series (Bungie's glory days). Talk about a multi faceted character! He left deep marks in my perception of NPCs that last to this day. Poetic, psychotic, grand, self centered - very human and also very alien. And through all the games, just bright green words on a black background.

- kboman