Post by Layla Littlenymph on Nov 30, 2015 18:20:08 GMT -5
I first ran across Karen Souldancer on a fan forum for the late, great, SOE game, Free Realms. Since then, I have had the pleasure of reading her on more than one forum, playing with her in more than one game, and even sharing memberships in a couple of the same game guilds. Karen is one of those people that helps to define what a good game and forum community is, and it has been my pleasure to have known her over the past few years.
Because of past connections, I know that some of the members of this forum have had an opportunity to meet her as well. She was recently singled out for a player interview in The Ardent Monthly Ledger, a web publication Of Villagers and Heroes, by Mad Otter Games. You can read that interview, which includes a pic of Karen's character in this issue of The Ardent Monthly Ledger but I will copy the full text of the interview [below] for those of you that would like to read it, but are short on time.
I have always liked the fact that Mad Otter thinks enough of its player community to recognize them in this manner, and they made a good choice this month in their selection.
Way to go Karen! Looking forward to seeing you in-game, soon.
~LL
Player: Karen Souldancer
Server: US2 (with character by same name on US1)
Class: Hunter
Q: Villagers & Heroes has often been referred to as being a “niche game.” What are your thoughts on this? (Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not?)
A: I don’t think it is a niche game. Is being family-friendly what makes it niche? If that’s the case, there really is something wrong with the game industry! I don’t always want to play a game where the girl toon’s armour just doesn’t look like it’ll do the job!
Q:If you could pick one Elder Boss in the game to be in your guild, and help on Village Projects, and go on bounty runs with, who would it be and why?
A: Probably Undadar in the Rift. He’s a Leafwad and seems to really like me. Village projects always need beams. I hope he doesn’t mind donating limbs to craft into beams.
Q: As a Hunter, what are some of your favorite aspects about the class? And least favorite?
A: My least favourite aspect of being a hunter is that being ranged dps, the event boss fights just aren’t that interesting when there is a decent sized group. You could mash keys, or go AFK most of the time and probably no one would notice.
My favourite part is solo play or with partner. Whether you use sneak or retreat, you have to be aware of the monsters around you, and what happens when you come out of retreat to fight, or how retreat affects how monsters aggro your partner. How you attack is important too, since the order of attacks can change whether my character wins the fight or dies. Hunter also has several buffs that can be put on yourself or your partner.
Q: How would you describe yourself in five words or less?
A: Ugh! I really don’t know how to answer it. If you have to put something down: “Crazy, lateral, analytical.”
Q: What aspects about Villagers & Heroes first drew you to the game, and keep you playing today?
A: I have friends on both US1 and US2. A bunch of us separately found this game after the game we used to play shutdown. It took me a long time to get into it, as it is a bigger challenge and not as fast paced as other games out there, but eventually I enjoyed the challenge.
Q: If there were to be a movie about your life, who would you cast to play yourself?
A: Is there a female equivalent to Seth Green? Ha, I have no idea why that popped into my head but it seems so appropriate. If not, then Natalie Portman…hey this is a movie right? doesn’t have to be a realistic portrayal!
Q: If you could select and organize a future live stream for V&H, what would it be of? (Specifically, is there anything you would like watch within the game, and possibly learn more about?)
A: I’d love to see someone who understands all the spell fusion combos demonstrate them, and show how much more powerful they can make a party of mixed classes, if that’s the case.
Q: What are some of your all-time favorite board games, and why?
A: Ooh, most of them don’t have an actual board. Are those allowed? I like Munchkin, Chez Geek, and Pictionary. I also love Boggle, if only because I can win by pure brute force – I’ll get more 3 letter words than anyone – it’s not elegantly played at all so no one wants to play against me.
Q: If you could create a new village project of any kind, what would it be?
A: With the training grounds, the empyrean machine, and the improved crafting stations, I already got most of what I wanted in village projects, but I’d love to have a board that gives you a small buff for all villagers. You’d have to complete a task that earns you a buff for the week, such as hero or villager XP bonus, extra loot, or extra supplies.
Q: Do you enjoy PVP games? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of PVP?
A: I play another game where I play a lot of server vs server. I really enjoy that, as the options are really endless. Once you finish all the fixed content, PvP let’s you keep enjoying a fresh challenge. You aren’t fighting an AI which once you figure out, is the same each time. The con is that there are always people so much better than you that you’re dead before you hit 2 keys – that’s frustrating!
Q: If you could live in any zone in V&H, which would it be and why?
A: Lake Kiwa. With the mountains, forests and water, it really reminds me of where I live. And it’s peaceful, so I could go for a hike in the mountains and forests, or go kayaking in the lakes and streams…. Of course I’d have to visit Shiverspine and hike up to Villar Summit to go skiing.
Q: Which author, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with?
A: Roald Dahl was my favourite author as a child. He wrote fantastic stories about children who were very poor (poorer than my family had been when I was very young), but they were rich in family, and went on fantastic adventures. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Danny, the Champion of the World were my favourites.
I’m currently reading Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. He has a very humorous way of making social and political commentary combining anecdotes and statistics. I’d love to talk to him to hear what else he has to say. As crazy as some of his stories sound, being a hiker, I can really seem them happening.
Because of past connections, I know that some of the members of this forum have had an opportunity to meet her as well. She was recently singled out for a player interview in The Ardent Monthly Ledger, a web publication Of Villagers and Heroes, by Mad Otter Games. You can read that interview, which includes a pic of Karen's character in this issue of The Ardent Monthly Ledger but I will copy the full text of the interview [below] for those of you that would like to read it, but are short on time.
I have always liked the fact that Mad Otter thinks enough of its player community to recognize them in this manner, and they made a good choice this month in their selection.
Way to go Karen! Looking forward to seeing you in-game, soon.
~LL
Player: Karen Souldancer
Server: US2 (with character by same name on US1)
Class: Hunter
Q: Villagers & Heroes has often been referred to as being a “niche game.” What are your thoughts on this? (Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not?)
A: I don’t think it is a niche game. Is being family-friendly what makes it niche? If that’s the case, there really is something wrong with the game industry! I don’t always want to play a game where the girl toon’s armour just doesn’t look like it’ll do the job!
Q:If you could pick one Elder Boss in the game to be in your guild, and help on Village Projects, and go on bounty runs with, who would it be and why?
A: Probably Undadar in the Rift. He’s a Leafwad and seems to really like me. Village projects always need beams. I hope he doesn’t mind donating limbs to craft into beams.
Q: As a Hunter, what are some of your favorite aspects about the class? And least favorite?
A: My least favourite aspect of being a hunter is that being ranged dps, the event boss fights just aren’t that interesting when there is a decent sized group. You could mash keys, or go AFK most of the time and probably no one would notice.
My favourite part is solo play or with partner. Whether you use sneak or retreat, you have to be aware of the monsters around you, and what happens when you come out of retreat to fight, or how retreat affects how monsters aggro your partner. How you attack is important too, since the order of attacks can change whether my character wins the fight or dies. Hunter also has several buffs that can be put on yourself or your partner.
Q: How would you describe yourself in five words or less?
A: Ugh! I really don’t know how to answer it. If you have to put something down: “Crazy, lateral, analytical.”
Q: What aspects about Villagers & Heroes first drew you to the game, and keep you playing today?
A: I have friends on both US1 and US2. A bunch of us separately found this game after the game we used to play shutdown. It took me a long time to get into it, as it is a bigger challenge and not as fast paced as other games out there, but eventually I enjoyed the challenge.
Q: If there were to be a movie about your life, who would you cast to play yourself?
A: Is there a female equivalent to Seth Green? Ha, I have no idea why that popped into my head but it seems so appropriate. If not, then Natalie Portman…hey this is a movie right? doesn’t have to be a realistic portrayal!
Q: If you could select and organize a future live stream for V&H, what would it be of? (Specifically, is there anything you would like watch within the game, and possibly learn more about?)
A: I’d love to see someone who understands all the spell fusion combos demonstrate them, and show how much more powerful they can make a party of mixed classes, if that’s the case.
Q: What are some of your all-time favorite board games, and why?
A: Ooh, most of them don’t have an actual board. Are those allowed? I like Munchkin, Chez Geek, and Pictionary. I also love Boggle, if only because I can win by pure brute force – I’ll get more 3 letter words than anyone – it’s not elegantly played at all so no one wants to play against me.
Q: If you could create a new village project of any kind, what would it be?
A: With the training grounds, the empyrean machine, and the improved crafting stations, I already got most of what I wanted in village projects, but I’d love to have a board that gives you a small buff for all villagers. You’d have to complete a task that earns you a buff for the week, such as hero or villager XP bonus, extra loot, or extra supplies.
Q: Do you enjoy PVP games? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of PVP?
A: I play another game where I play a lot of server vs server. I really enjoy that, as the options are really endless. Once you finish all the fixed content, PvP let’s you keep enjoying a fresh challenge. You aren’t fighting an AI which once you figure out, is the same each time. The con is that there are always people so much better than you that you’re dead before you hit 2 keys – that’s frustrating!
Q: If you could live in any zone in V&H, which would it be and why?
A: Lake Kiwa. With the mountains, forests and water, it really reminds me of where I live. And it’s peaceful, so I could go for a hike in the mountains and forests, or go kayaking in the lakes and streams…. Of course I’d have to visit Shiverspine and hike up to Villar Summit to go skiing.
Q: Which author, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with?
A: Roald Dahl was my favourite author as a child. He wrote fantastic stories about children who were very poor (poorer than my family had been when I was very young), but they were rich in family, and went on fantastic adventures. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Danny, the Champion of the World were my favourites.
I’m currently reading Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. He has a very humorous way of making social and political commentary combining anecdotes and statistics. I’d love to talk to him to hear what else he has to say. As crazy as some of his stories sound, being a hiker, I can really seem them happening.