Guides of the Month (March)

Pathkin – EQ

1. Why did you become a Guide?
   The best thing about an online community is other people and interaction with them. (Or may as well play a solo game?) In my years of playing EverQuest I & II and playing alongside many diverse players, I find my favorite reason to log in for is to be an asset to a great team. In larger formats (guilds/raids) oft I have seen negative or selfish actions or influences. Being a Guide allows me to do what I like to do with a stronger common purpose akin to my own, rather than greed or competition.
2. What games do you guide in? For how long?
   I am currently a Guide on EverQuest. Perhaps the future may hold a second challenge, but I am currently only focusing on developing my skills, knowledge and abilities.
3. What is your guide race and class?
   I am a Dark Elf Enchanter
4. What is your favorite color?
   I sadly can't pick just one. I am partial to Blue, and Silver. Preference depends on what item, and depends on the shade.
5. What is your favorite land (zone)? Why?
   Generally it's the one I'm exploring for the first time, or one I am learning something new about.
6. What has been your best or favorite moment as a Guide?
   One day when logged in as my avatar I was notified by a player, who wanted to thank me for assisting them on a previous occasion. They were very gracious about their praise and I was really taken aback by it all, as I had been merely doing what I like to do and being able to be there to help out was my reward. I joined up to the guide program to be an asset and be able to help out, and even though I would likely be the last person to recognize my own achievements this occasion really showed me I had achieved my success.
7. What is your favorite quest, event, or knowledge circle? What do you do the most of?
   To date, my favorite quest has been Dragon Story Telling. There is no limit to the number of participants, and none are hindered by level, class or equipment. It's a really creative process that's fun for everyone. One such occasion the group was having so much fun we had managed to attract spectators for it. All we needed was a stage, and someone to hawk food and drink.
8. What has been your worst of least favorite moment as being a Guide?
   I have had stumbling blocks on my road to the successes I have achieved, but I try to use them as learning tools which then can make them in part a success. It can be true that sometimes learning what not to do can be a greater teacher than learning what to do. I do my best however not to dwell on the negative.
9. As a player have you every run into any Guides and events?
   Prior to becoming a Guide myself, I would at rare occasions run into Guides or the event messages. I must admit I was intimidated by them, and I did my best not to be a tax upon their attentions or impede them in anyway. I never suspected that a lone player like me would ever warrant any acknowledgement. I did not have a large group of friends to play alongside, nor am I famous or well geared. I am pretty much unremarkable in every sense of the word. I didn't at that time have the understanding about the program and events as I do now, and wish I had been brave enough to try them out. Knowing what I know now, I didn't realize how wrong I was, and that the programs are designed for all players, including the player I was. While Guiding now, I remember how I felt then and do my best to ensure all who participate feel encouraged in case they were like I was then.
10. What is your favorite thing about this Game?
    Being a part of a great team to achieve successes one alone cannot reach, and being accepted for who I am in that team. I've been really happy to experience this as a Guide.
11. What do you plan to do in the future as a Guide? Any goals?
    I take every day as it comes, and look for new challenges or learning experiences to grow from. This will make me stronger in my goals to be the asset to the team I seek, and make me more versatile which also feels rewarding. I'd like to learn as much as I can, to get the best and most experiences I can. That, have fun, and eat cookies... lots and lots of cookies.

Ajoh – EQII

1. Why did you become a Guide? / Warum wurdest Du Guide?
   Before the Guide Program's start on the German Servers I have been playing EverQuest II for a while and experienced the game myself as a player. To give the game and its players even more I came to the conclusion I should apply for the Guide Program to actively give something back. The moment I got the email with the positive answer telling me I will be one of those chosen ones I have been very proud and happy.
   Bevor das Guide-Programm auf den deutschsprachigen Servern startete, hatte ich selbst bereits sehr viel Erfahrung als Spieler in EverQuest II sammeln können. Um dem Spiel und seinen phantastischen Bewohnern noch mehr zu geben, hatte ich mich entschlossen aktiv etwas dazu beizutragen und mich als Guide beworben. Als ich dann seinerzeit eine positive Antwort bekam, war ich sehr stolz und glücklich ausgewählt worden zu sein.
2. What games do you guide on? For how long? / In welchen Spielen trifft man Dich als Guide?
   Only in EverQuest II! The server Innovation is something quite special and gives me all what I have been looking for.
   Nur in EverQuest II! Der Server Innovation ist etwas ganz besonderes und füllt mich vollends aus.
3. What is your guide race and class? / Was ist Deine Guide-Rasse und Klasse?
   I am a Barbarian Guardian. Hmm, why do you ask me this question? *fills himself a mug of Halden's private stock*
   Barbar und Wächter. Hmm, warum die Frage? *füllt sich einen Becher von Halden's Privatvorrat nach*
4. What is your favorite color? / Was ist Deine Lieblingsfarbe?
   Black *hmm* Okay, black and green-black
   Schwarz *grübel* Na gut und Schwarz-grün
5. What is your favorite land (zone)? Why? / Was ist Deine Lieblingslandschaft (zone)?
   This for sure is a question not easy to answer as I love all those zones with their many details and things in. So it somehow depends on my mood. I love to be among other people and you often will find me in the large cities amongst others like in East Freeport or Qeynos Harbour. However – there are those special moments where one loves a nice and calm place and I make my way to those special places upon Norrath. Do you know about this romantic place high upon a cliff with the bench on in Timorous Deep? This is the right place for such special moments …
   Das ist definitiv die schwerste Frage, da ich alle Zonen mit ihren vielen Details und Eigenschaften liebe. Es hängt von meiner Stimmung ab. Ich bin eher ein geselliger Stadtmensch, daher bevorzuge ich die großen und überfüllten Plätze der Großstädte von Ostfreihafen und Qeynos-Hafen. Doch in gewissen Momenten ziehe ich mich zu den besonderen Orten in Norrath zurück. Kennt ihr die romantische Bank mit dem großartigen Ausblick aufs Meer in Timorous Deep? Dies ist so ein Ort für die ganz besonderen Augenblicke...
6. What has been your best or favorite moment as a Guide? / Was war Dein bester Moment als Guide?
   Every day as a guide has its special moments. Of course there are also highlights like the wedding I organized and officiated some time ago. However, my best moment was something not so fulminate or super special. After a quick-tempered and very exciting role-play session a player told me with the whole of his heart he thinks we Guides give this very "special" influence to Norrath making this place special. It is a great feeling to make other inhabitants happy and to motivate them.
   Jeder Tag als Guide hat besondere Momente. Natürlich gibt es auch Highlights wie zum Beispiel die Hochzeit, die ich vor einiger Zeit durchführen dürfte. Doch mein schönster Moment war klein und bescheiden. Ein Spieler sprach mich nach einer hitzigen Roleplay-Debatte an und sagte mir aus ganzem Herzen, dass wir Guides das ganz besondere „Etwas" nach Norrath bringen. Es ist ein tolles Gefühl, andere Bewohner glücklich zu machen und zu motivieren.
7. What is your favorite quest, event, or knowledge circle? What do you do the most of? / Was ist Deine Lieblingsquest, Event oder Knowledge-Circle?
   The Dating Game. It is not easy to find candidates, however as soon as the quest really starts, something quite unusual will begin: Even the most quiet and shy participants start to become inventive, active and get role-playing like they didn't expect themselves before. It is great to see which creativity can be developed if it is about the possible woman or man one dreams of.
   Das Dating Game. Es ist nicht einfach Kandidaten zu finden, doch wenn es dann losgeht, beginnt etwas ganz außergewöhnliches: Selbst die ruhigsten und vorher sehr schüchternen wirkenden Teilnehmer kommen im Verlauf der Quest mehr und mehr aus sich heraus. Es ist toll zu sehen, welche Kreativität entwickelt werden kann, wenn es um die mögliche Traumfrau oder den möglichen Traummann geht.
8. What has been your worst of least favorite moment as being a Guide? / Was war Dein schlimmster oder am wenigsten beeindruckende Momant als Guide?
   If players walk around Norrath with eyes and ears shut not seeing the small but quite special details. Many of the Quests or Events we run aren't always recognised as such. To make a Quest successful this also requires players getting the idea and to get into the flair of the quest.
   Wenn Spieler mit geschlossenen Augen und Ohren durch Norrath wandern und die kleinen, aber ganz besonderen Details übersehen. Viele der von uns durchgeführten Quests oder Events sind ja nicht immer als solche zu erkennen. Dies erfordert auch von den Spielern das gewisse „Gespür".
9. As a player have you every run into any Guides and events? / Hast Du als Spieler jemals etwas mit Guides oder deren Events zu tun gehabt?
   Oh yes, I already got to know dwarf Halden in person to check out his tasty drinks with him together.
   Oh ja, ich durfte Zwerg Halden bereits persönlich kennenlernen, um gemeinsam seine leckeren Getränke auszuprobieren.
10. What is your favorite thing about this Game? / Was magst Du am meisten an dem Spiel?
    I like the variety of EverQuest II. Whatever your kind of play style is – you will find something. Defeating the biggest and most dangerous dragons in a Raid to afterwards being proud on me and my friends are unforgettable moments. But also the small things, friendship, conversations and moments in the cities make EverQuest II quite special. The continual change and enlargement of the dynamic world fascinates me.
    Ich mag die Vielfalt von EverQuest II. Für jeden Geschmack ist etwas dabei. Die größten und gefährlichsten Drachen in einem Raubzug zu besiegen um nachher stolz auf sich und seine Freunde zu sein, sind unvergessliche Augenblicke. Aber auch die kleinen Dinge, Freundschaften, Gespräche und Momente in den Städten geben EverQuest II die ganz besondere Note. Mich fasziniert die stete Veränderung und Vergrößerung der dynamischen Welt.
11. What do you plan to do in the future as a Guide? Any goals? / Was sind Deine Zukunftspläne im Guide-Programm? Hast Du weitere Ziele?
    I have much fun as the Training Coordinator on Innovation as I love it to show "our" world to our new Guides and to help them in learning the ropes that are needed to become a successful Guide. I think I will be very happy in fulfilling this task for a long time in the future still but if there are new and exciting tasks showing up – I will take the bull by the horns.
    Meine Tätigkeit als Training Coordinator von Innovation bereitet mir sehr viel Freude. Ich mag es, neuen Kandidaten unsere Welt zu zeigen und den Weg zum Guide zu ebnen. Ich kann mir vorstellen, diese Aufgabe noch lange durchzuführen, doch auch für neue Herausforderungen habe ich immer ein offenes Ohr.

---