I found Governor Markus in Skara Brae just as he was donating $2,000,000 to help the other city treasuries.    Though he was busy, I was able to interview him.

“Thank for allowing me to interview, as I know you are very busy with your duties.”

“I am always willing to help a citizen of Britianna, ” he replied.”

“My first question is, what city are you governor of and what makes it unique?

“I am the governor of New Magincia.  What makes my city unique is the presence of a vendor bazar.

“My next question is related to the last ones.  “What makes New Magincia special to you?”

“Since I am a merchant, the fact that New Magincia is a city of commerce, it makes it a perfect fit.  I own a well stocked pet vendor.  I enjoy providing needed pets to the citizens of Britannia.” he told me with pride.

“What is you vision for New Magincia?”

He thought for a minute. “My vision is to make New Magincia thrive again with vendors and trade.  There is a great opportunity here since we rebuilt the city.”

“Has your city entered into a trade agreement with any of the trades or cities?”

“Yes, at this time we have the Merchant guild.  We have not made a trade agreement with a city yet.”

“Now for some more personal questions. I promise none of them will be embarrassing.” I said with a wink.

“As I trust you, I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.  But I will hold you to your promise.”

“How long have you been a citizen of Britianna and what city was the first one you lived in?”

” I am one of the older settlers as I  arrived in these land 16 years ago.  I think my first home was in Skara Brae.  Being so old it is hard to remember that far back.” he said with a smile.

“You are not old.”  Smiling back  I asked, “What was you job before becoming Governor?”

“I have had many different jobs.  Since I am a vendor, I tame the animals I have for sell.  I also gather resources for the crafters in my family.  But my favorite job has been helping the new and returning settlers to our lands.”

“Wow, you do work hard.  When you do have time to relax, what do you like to do?”

“I love doing a variety of things. One day you might find me hunting or looking for treasure.  Another day I might be crafting or building skills.  Right now I am becoming a stronger tamer. I am also in the guild TF though another member of the family is thinking of joining another guild.”

“One last question, is there any thing you wish to tell this citizens of Britannia?”

“I live in these lands because I enjoy having so many things to do.  If you get bored of one activity, there are more that you can do.  Community is important. Here you can find support to develop and grow.  You can build a guild with friends and towns or cities with them.  Anyways, I took the  office of Governor to try to help and give back to the community.  To give assistance to new and returning citizens and to communicate with other concerned people who would like to see our lands grow. To develop opportunities to attract more people to migrate to our lands. ” He explained. “Now I must return to my duties.

“Governor Markus, thank you so much for your time to share with the citizens of New  Magincia and Britannia.” I said as I bowed. “Be safe in your travels.

Returning my bow, Governor Markus recalled away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was able to meet with Govenor Garion after the town council.  He agreed to grant an interview.

“Thank you, Governor Garion for allowing me to interview you.”

“It is my pleasure, Tamais.” he replied.

“My first question is why is your city special to you?”

Governor Garion thought and said with pride, ” As the city of warriors, Jhelom has faced many challenges from invasions
and pirates. We have always come out stronger. But while we are known for Dupre and our fighting pits, we have a
rich culture in our islands from farmers to bards.

My second question is related to the one you just answered.  How is your city  unique?”

“We are an island city known for our fighting pits where hearty warriors train for battle, our farms, our navy to
battle pirates, and our cultural pursuits.” he explained

“What is your vision for your city?”

“To try to make it a more vibrant city for which the citizens will be proud. As an island city, we cannot grow as big as other cities, but I want
to see Jhelom known for more than warriors and fighting.” he stated.

“This next question was submitted to me by citizens of Britannia looking for a new home.  Has your city entered into trade deals with any guild and other cities?”

” Yes, We have negotiated agreements in the past with the warrior and assassins guilds. Both guilds have raised the price of their trade deals  so we have been unable to recently due to the costs.  Now we spend more time cooperating with the city of Skara Brae raising funds for the various city treasuries in weekly adventures .”

“Now for more personal questions.” I asked with a smile.

He winked as he replied , “As long as I can not answer some questions.”

Laughing, I reassured him that the questions would not be embarrassing.  “Where were you born?”

” Long ago, I was born in the city of tamers and rangers, Skara Brae. ”

“And how  long were you  a citizen of Skara Brae? ”

“I lived in Skara Brae for almost 15 years ago. I moved to Jhelom when  warriors and tamers were needed to help protect the city.”  his eyes held a sadness when he answered.

Quickly I asked a question that wouldn’t bring back memories of a war long past. “What was your job before you took the office of Governor?”

“I am the guild master of the UMP guild, the Universal Melting Pot (UMP).  It is one of the longest running guilds in  the lands of Britiania.

I am also  the guild’s trainer. However, I do have an affinity for tamer and pets.” he replied giving his mount a treat.

“Knowing you are needed else where, this will be my last question for now. Is there anything you wish to say to the citizens of Britiania?”

“We welcome all those who wish to visit or become citizens of Jhelom. The people in these lands are quite friendly and are always
willing to help out people in need in whatever activity. Do not hesitate to seek them out when you need help. After all, with good friends, you
can accomplish most any challenge in the lands.  Now I must return to my duties.” Bowing, he said.

“Thank you so much for sharing with the citizens of both Jhelom and Britiania.  Be safe in your journeys.” I returned his bow.

With a wave, he recalled  back to his city.

 

 

This interview kicks off, what I hope to be, a series of interviews of Baja’s wonderful and creative residents and a tour of their home. If there is someone that you would like to see interviewed please send me a PM.

 

A Zombie is one of those people who make this game just so much more interesting and tries to make this game fun for others. Below is a brief interview with Zombie. I hope you enjoy it.

          

 

What was the inspiration for the zombie Mausoleum?  

A place to keep brain museums.  Plus zombies need a place to call home too, ya know?  (OOC I just like doing things umm differently and  I wasn’t aware of another “mausoleum” in existence)   Also being placed in Felucca gives non-allied players a chance to “tap the zombie” so to speak .  That’s right, I’m speaking to you “real tough guy!”

 

You’re charging a one brain fee to enter. Do you have visitors that actually donate a brain? I find that rather odd.

 Funny thing is, there are about 20 brains in the box.  And odd is my middle name. Wesley Odd Zombie the 3^rd_.

 

Why do you have exhibits on the Town Guards and the Girl Scouts? 

To prove to all the other zombie wannabes out there that I am one bad mutha…..   I chose the Town Guards because they are my sworn mortal enemies, and I wanted to make an example of what happens to those who dare try to thwart the zombie.  And I chose the EVIL girl scouts out of begrudging respect.  Compared to them I am like the bud light of evil.  There is also the added bonus of managing to creep out our last two EM’s.   That in itself is worth the effort.

 

How did you become a zombie? Do you have a girlfriend?

1^st part long story.

2^nd part  No… 2 words … Dry Rot.  I did have a special she zombie friend a while back.  But she claimed I only loved her for her brain so it didn’t last.

OK so how I became a zombie …  I was alive once, a simple farm hand to a family of nobles.  I fell in love with the beautiful daughter, Buttercup, but I had no means to support her.  So off I went to make my fortune.

 I fell in as an errand boy to a somewhat incompetent necromancer.  This was a huge mistake, becoming an apprentice to someone who calls himself “The Slug” simply can’t end well.  After an unfortunate accident involving demon blood, nightshade, blackrock, mongbat testicles and a cauldron, I woke up feeling kinda funny.  As time passed I realized that my flesh was decaying, I stank horribly and I had developed a real taste for living brains. I had also been freed from the mortal views of “virtue” and good and evil. 

To make a long story even longer, I returned to my family of nobles, and of course, ate their brains.  I offered Buttercup the chance for immortality, but she declined, citing the fact that immortality was far too malodorous for her liking.  I left her alone, since her brain would not have made even a decent midnight snack.  I then built myself a mausoleum and starting slinking around Britain, thinking that there might might be a few decent sized brains left there .

 

Has the way you play the game changed since you first started playing UO? If so, why and how?

Kinda OOC but I’ll answer anyway.   

I’ve been around since ’97 (beta actually) off and on. The game has evolved, obviously, and so have I.  I have gone from being a wide eyed newbie myself (back when you you couldn’t set skills, there were no guilds and spellbooks weren’t even blessed) to pking newbies in chicken form, ( I had a mage named “a chicken” for a while)   Then I got involved in an anti-pk guild (simply called the Knights, then Elder Knights, then Great Horny Toads)   The Great Horny Toads still exist today, but only 4 or 5 real people left and I have no desire to re-grow the guild.   I attempted (key word being attempted) PvP up until about the time of Samurai Empire, when things got too complicated for me.  Since then a few large guilds, UG.K, AFK/UTB 2 stints in C@S and M!S for a short time.  (I am in the Town Guards now) But the drama and rules of being in a large alliance got to me so since then I have been more or less on my own with a small group of trusted friends.

 

Who do you hang with ingame now? Or should I be asking.. who hangs out with zombies ingame?

Hey that’s not nice !!   *hmph*    I even took a bath about 100 or so years ago! 

Needless to say I try to hang out with whoever has a brain, but for some reason, those with brains tend to avoid me or just run away.  *sighs*

 

Who are some of the people that inspire you ingame?

Anyone who does their own thing and goes their own way really.  Corporal Brackus is a major role model, I have nothing but respect for the way he plays this game.  Handalf, of course.  Mama Faith, Jocasta, Al, you Amber, Sally the Pie Girl, and many more that I have either forgotten or just too lazy to list.

What do you enjoy doing ingame?

 Just relaxing and having fun.  EM events are always fun, and doing pretty much anything with my alliance mates, or other like minded people .  I’m not a PvPer, RPer or anything else.  I’m simply me, that’s all.

 

Anything else I should be asking that I’ve forgotten or that you would like to say?  

*moans *    *spits*   *squish*    *flaps*   OK I think I about covered  it.

 

A Tour of Zombie’s Mausoleum

 

 

When I was reporting the last time around I used to do a series of interviews of characters around LA and the UO Community that I called “Twenty Questions.”   This time around when I asked myself who to start to interview I kept bogging down until finally I realized that what I’d really like to do is interview everyone – particularly since I never got around to everyone last time and wished I had!   To make this easier and more immediate I would simply like to put out this list of questions and ask all of you to fill it out and send it back to me in messaging or email!   I will post at least one reply a week, if I get them, that will include any followup questions I feel are needed or that include any other questions you feel need to be added (within reason of course 😉 ).

 

If you feel there is someone in our Sosaria that should be represented in this series of interviews, now or at any time in the future, please present this list to them as well and request that they get it back to you or me with answers so that they can be presented to our shard players and the Stratics readers as well.   If you would like to hear about someone outside of LA or in the programming/administrative staff of UO or Stratics you can suggest this to me as well and I will try to accommodate the request.   If, also, you know of someone that does not speak English natively, I would love the opportunity to try to translate this into and out of English, (or would it be out of and into English?? 😛 ), so everyone on LA’s community can be represented and we are given the opportunity to see the depth and breadth of the community on our Shard because that is global and not limited  by geographic location or method of daily verbal communication!  (Any other community members who speak other languages are invited to participate in assisting me in this endeavor too!)

 

There is no way for me to get to know everyone or run into all the LA players around the world.  However, there is no LA player that isn’t vitally important to all of us as a group and as a community as well.  Help us all to get to know you and your friends and participate in our shard and forum community!  I would love the help in giving us the pleasure of getting to know the Community, and you, better!

 

Here are the questions I’ve come up with.  There are 22 of them in total, but respondents do not need to answer any of them that they do not wish to!  If you think I left something out, please feel free to add it in!

 

Thanks LA Shard!  I look forward to finding out “Who’s Who on LA?”

 

— El of LA

PLAYER PROFILES – QUESTIONS

1. What is your main character name and what profession does this character follow?
2. What is your favorite character profile template to use?  Why?
3. How did you get into playing UO and how long have you played the game?
4. Do you own a house and would you like to say anything about it?
5. Do you prefer group play or do you do a lot of solo gameplay?
6. What is your favorite activity?
7.  Do you play as a guild member? If so, would you like to tell us which one and ‘plug’ it?
8. Do you participate in faction play?  If so, would you like to share which affiliation you play?
9. Do you have a vendor house or placement you’d like to ‘plug’?
10. What do you think is the best thing about UO that keeps you coming back for more?
11. Do more of your family members play this game?  Have you brought others into the game? (not required)
12. Are there any ‘sweet spots’ in the world of Sosaria that you think are particularly cool and a favorite place of yours to be?
13. There are lots of different types of deco and special armor that have been presented as prizes and gifts over the years.  Do you have a favorite that you particularly enjoy or a type of gift that you particularly enjoy?
14. Do you attend in-game events by players or the EM?  If so, what do you like about them?
15. Do you or have you played other MMOG’s?  Do you play them at the same time you play UO?
16. What do you think of the housing architecture program in UO? Do you often redesign your house?  If so, what is your favorite style design?
17. What do you think of UO as a social media tool?  Do you use it as such?
18. Do you play using any other social media tools like ICQ, Skype or another IM/Video program alongside it?
19. Do you listen to the in-game music?  Do you control it using the deco tool “Dawn’s Music Box” or just let it play as it will?
20. What would you like to say about the game personally that I haven’t asked about?
21. What would you like to tell us about yourself as a character or as a person?  (not required)
22. Any last words for us?

 

• If you have any pictures or screen prints you’d like to share with the group, please include them with your response!  I’d love to include them! — El