Immersion issue...

[MrKusakabe]

You know, I am happy you posted this thread.

Sometimes I wonder so hard if I am the only one who does not change the race (actually species), haircolour and profession every week but stick to a certain rule. And this can often get in conflict what the writers of a game have planned for our characters.

I do not have many characters in video games (actually, there exist 3 Zedeks: A Lalafell and 2 Asura twins in Guild Wars), but all of them have a certain concept behind.
My Lalafell's lore is basically written in my Lodestone profile, and as you can see, I kinda try to justify my actions and choices in the game within a certain limit of the backstory.

From a fired store clerk to the "Warrior of Light", oh well...

No, I did not plan to have an "adventure". I am a mere 92cm in size, and in my late 30s. What would I do? Probably dying from the next bear or being trampled by a wild Chocobo. Never settled for family or relationships and being a maverick. That was also the reason why ultimatively lost my job - and thus my home - as my employer, a grumpy old fart, fired me on the spot when I came too late to work in his little, murky general store. As I threw my uniform into his face and, ahem, flipped him off, I felt the urge to break out of my life, breathing fresh air so to speak. I left basically all - or nothing as I had no own possessions- and headed to Gridania.

Thanks to the nice people and a slip from the Quiver's Hold, I had access to a surprisingly nifty inn room - for free. But now my planless moves became clear: I am not a killer! It was just a hobby to fire some arrows into trees and such, I never killed someone, or something, before. Aiming at a living, sentient creature made me shake; I never released the arrow.. I trusted myself to Athelyna, who directed me over to Luciane Corne. First real contact an Elezen but she didn't mind so much as she kneeled down to instruct me the use of the bow. Over and over. Her patience is baffling, and eventually, I can even hit the mark. In order to gain money, she took me to some smaller jobs and it was that day where I killed my first enemy. It felt..rather thrilling, and my skills developed over the next years...

Something inside me changed though. The gain in self-confidence kindled a blood lust. Downing foes became my hobby, but arrows have a physical limit of damage - especially the small arrows I shoot. What is not bound to body size? The power of mind. MAGIC!

The first steps of becoming a Thaumaturge were tough, but swinging a wand was easier for me than wielding bow and arrow. Manipulating the Aether to roast, freeze and shock enemies is an exhilarating feel, but to a cost. My soul changed, my once blonde hair turned black and a tribal mark appeared the more I got sucked into the art of Black Magic. But still, for some reason, it felt incomplete, despite me being a Scholar healer at the same time.

One fateful morning, I woke up with a ridiculous idea. A view in the mirror: Me, a middle-aged male Lalafell in his 40s, growing some white hair already. I have not unlimited time...

"Now or never!" I said to myself as I stepped up to this tall, old Miqo'te who sat in this filthy drinking hole. He was easy to identify: A noble Red Mage.. With me having a mage background and asking too much questions, he accepted me as his student. Oof!

As I put on my apprentice Red Mage attire and wielding magic in form of a crystal in one, and a sharp, silver blade in the other hand, finally combining not only black and white magic, but also ranged magic and melee physical fighting abilities I knew:

I found my real, final professions: Red Mage and Scholar

This way, I do rule out several things at once: I never tank, White Mage is not a thing, and I am too old for brawls!

So with this in mind, I see myself as a sort of "mercenary". I do not walk around the place and be the shiny hero. Actually, I am here to get myself skilled in the arts of Red Magic - and this "skill" (cough..cough-cough) is then asked by people or groups in distress. And then I might show up - or not.

I mean, there were many "urgent" calls for me, e.g. breaking into the Cathedral in Ishgard to rescue someone. What did I do? I went to my Gridania inn room and went to bed. As in: "Not now. Maybe later!" And not always happy with what I should do...

There are obviously many other Warrior of Light walking around. The "Adventurers". And many are ready for duties, and all of them have a certain profession to help each other. The "WoL" is, in my eyes, not supposed to be a hero that does everything alone. If I am tasked with [insert task] in MSQ, I always feel like I've been selected at random. I talk to [Quest giver] and I accept. He could've given the task to someone else, too. And not as if they wait especially for me.

So the WoL can be a buff tank, but also the Viera that heals you. Or me:

I will stand by your side with my crystal and my sword, and I will use them to fight, to kill side by side with my fellow WoL -- and to heal and resurrect my allies (as seen in my signature) so we can keep on fighting.

And if not, well, I will find myself another person in need that I can help while my collegues - you, the other players - save the world...


Sincerely,


Freelance Warrior of Light