Player Spotlight: Kodabear

koda1This month’s player spotlight is none other than Kodabear, possibly the most popular Illy player EVAH. We received more nominations for him than any other candidate — even breaking Mohit’s record! What accounts for that? We’re not enitirely sure, but it’s possible that his magic bear stories (and general chat magic spells) are the key; they are free-flowing journeys that feel silly, deep, enchanting and — of course — magical all at once. He’s also generous and funny. We dare you to look at his profile and not laugh your butt off. So, to the interview!

Who are you and how long have you played Illy for?

I’m Kodabear, the LORD of the Magic Bears. I have been playing Illy for a little more than a year. I first found the game when I was on the Wii U looking for a game that was just HTML5 and I found a website that has a list of web HTML5 games. Illyriad was number 1 on the list. I started playing for a few hours and then quit, and then a few days later I came back and never stopped playing.

Tell us about the race of Magic Bears. When did they start and why are they here?

Magic Bears are the oldest thing in the universe and the most powerful. Magic Bears love to mess with life forms. Magic Bears can only be killed by an Evilbear or by one of the top ranked Magic Bears (high-kings Magic Bears or the LORD of the Magic Bears). Magic Bears started because I was bored one day and I was always giving people food so I thought of casting spells for food. Right now Magic Bears are just watching the people in Illy and seeing if they should invade or not. 😀

Some players seem to think that Illy is a chat room with a game attached. Others believe it is a non-stop game of war. What do you think?

To me, Illy is more of a social game. I’m always talking and helping newbies in my alliance or newcomers to the game. As I’m in T?, a training alliance, we don’t do the war stuff. We are here to help the newbies and to teach them how to play.

When was the last major battle you were involved in?

The last major battle I was in was during the tournament. I lost 6,435 units and killed only 3,787 units.

If you could add one thing to the game, what would it be?

I would love to see some Magic Bear NPCs! But really I would like to add more quests. I loved doing the quests when I was a little bear. They could be faction quests or quests for higher pop. cities.

If you could take one thing away from the game, what would it be?

I can’t thing of anything that I would take away from this game. Yes, things could be better, and it’s nice to see the devs working on that.

What inspires you to log in as often as you do?

The people inspire me to get on as much as I do. I love talking in GC and I love how people play along with my Magic Bear stuff. The game is great, its fun and it takes time, not just something you can do in like an hour. I love my alliance. They are great people and I meet newbies almost every day and it is always hard when they graduate.

Thanks again to Koda for sending in his answers! If you have someone you’d like to see in the Player Spotlight, be sure to send the nominations (along with why they should be nominated) to community@illyriad.co.uk!

Player Spotlight: Mohit

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Another nomination from the community, this month we get to know Mohit! We received SO many nominations for him, probably breaking all previous records. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. The player who gets the nomination can choose between a t-shirt from our shop or from 1200 Prestige! So, to the interview!

So, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, My name is Mohit and I am glad to be given an opportunity to be in the Spotlight. I really appreciate the efforts of all those who voted for me, thank you all!

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

One day I was looking for an online strategy game, and then I found this. It has been a nice experience to play the game since then. I have been playing Illy for more than 2 years now and hope to play it till I finish the game (like Urp! did!)

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

Well to be honest I have played many, many other games where I play maximum for a week and then leave the game. So I have not been as active in any other online community, nothing else gives that Illy-like feel! 😉

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

Oh yes ! Well, I don’t know if that is to be discussed here! But I like to go out with friends, enjoy the moment of laughter with them but most of my time is taken by gaming, work or sleep.

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

As many have said, I also feel the same: it’s the Community. It keeps you glued to the game. General chat can do wonders for you if you are having an off day. Then I have the amazing members in my alliance who make me feel like being in their shoes and doing things like they do ( not talking about you Hoover 😛 lol! ) That is an amazing factor if you realize they have become a family in another world, even if you don’t want to achieve something in the game you want to come online to meet them or chat with them. I love that aspect of the game. I believe through this game that I have made friends all over the world, with whom I may or may not meet in my real life but will be sharing a beer or coffee with them online here in Illy.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

The community is of course one of my favorite aspect of the game. I also love the fact that this game continues to bring something new to the table every now and then. True, this process has slowed down, but heh, this is the favorite and most awaited aspect of the game: something new and awesome from the developer team !

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

Being in the spotlight is the proudest of them all, for the very simple reason is that many people voted for it. It was truly an amazing surprise and I want to send thanks to you guys again! 🙂 The second-best moment was when I was given an opportunity to share in leading Bane. It was an honor and really made me feel proud.

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

First I would like to thank the devs for creating a vision of what we can expect, without it I couldn’t answer this question. I am looking forward to the new schools of magic and hope that it gives a new dimension to the game. Then I am waiting for the use of all the extra t3 resources (advanced herbs, anatomies and rare gems) that do not have any use at the moment, and I wonder how their use will affect the game.  The Live Factions are always a thing that intrigues me. They could give alliances and their diplomatic work a new dimension and hopefully will make quests more interesting.

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

In my view, the defense mechanism needs some improvement. The game supports the attackers too much. Then I would love to see a draft option in the mailing system. Next, an option to make our own chat room would be great! Many times two group of people tend to love or fight each other so much that other people tend not to interfere. Having an option to create a chat room for them would spare GC from the assault and those who want to be part of the chat could be invited in it.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

Play as you wish! This is a sandbox game. You can be anything you like! Just make sure you make friends on the way to the top — and not enemies. And, of course, in case you guys need anything there are awesome people in GC waiting to help you guys! (Rillbot is 24×7 available 😛 ) At the end of this I just want to thank you all, and I feel lucky to be part of such a great community.

Thanks to Mohit for accepting the nomination and for taking the time to answer our questions!

Player Spotlight: Rill

302f295fAnother nomination from the community, this month we get to know Rill as our Player Spotlight. A big thank you to those who sent in nominations. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. The player who gets the nomination can choose between a t-shirt from our shop or from 1200 Prestige! This time we received a ton of nominations, but the most came in for Rill, a player who is one of the most well-known and helpful players in Illy! /cheer

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I searched for a long time for Illy before I found it.  I perused many lists of MMOs and MMORTs, trying many that I don’t even remember any more.  Finally in June 2011 I came across the announcement of Illy’s official launch.  I made a new e-mail address, expecting to encounter yet another Evony clone and was pleasantly surprised to discover Illyriad in all its friendly, deep, complex, carefully crafted glory.  And so I’ve stuck for almost three years now.

Ryelle, by the way, would like me to mention that she is rather offended that this article is not being written about her.  I explained that she hasn’t had an active account in Illyriad for some time and therefore would not qualify for the player spotlight, but she replied that she is merely waiting to restart in the Broken Lands and wishes everyone to know that she thinks of them fondly.

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I have been active on specialty bulletin boards and forums since the days of listservs. My first online game was an Evony clone, which I reached in around 2009 by way of an advertisement on the Los Angeles Times website. I had no idea such things existed. How I wish I’d found Illyriad then! But perhaps I appreciate Illy all the more for first having played something a bit different.

I still experiment with other MMOs from time to time — I’m particularly attracted to city-building MMORTs that have resource allocation as a substantial component. Perhaps my background in finance and investment is an influence here, as I mentally estimate the payback period and ROI (return on investment) of upgrading a clay pit vs. a lumberyard or calculating the most beneficial tax rate. (But I am not obsessive at all!)

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

I love pretty much every creative activity involving fiber, from knitting to crocheting to embroidery, quilting and so on. I get very excited about the combination of fiber and color and have been known to hyperventilate in yarn or fabric stores. I am also interested in the history of textile production, both home production and industrial production, and the role that textile production has in broader history.

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

My alliance. The people of Crows Nest (nCrow) have a special place in my heart. They put up with me on days when I’m at my worst and more incredibly are mostly still willing to speak to me the next day. Behind the members of my immediate alliance, I would say there are many, many people in Illyriad who are special to me and whom I love to see every day — or as often as they drop by. And more than people in general, the new players who are discovering Illy for the first time. Probably one of my favorite things in the whole world is to watch new players dig in to the world of Illyriad, experience for the first time the wonder that I experienced.

I would say secondarily to the people of Illy, what keeps me in Illy is the promise of the game. I believe in the vision the developers have laid out for Illyriad and enjoy watching it come to fruition.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

Other than the people, and especially new players (by far the best part of Illy), my favorite part of the game is that it’s a sandbox. The game is not defined for us — we define the game within basic game mechanics. And we don’t even all have to be playing the same game! Illy is a big, broad, deep, complex game, and it has room for everyone.

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

What I’m proudest of is the everyday stuff. Hopefully encouraging someone when they are down, listening when someone needs to talk. Being a part of the community.

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

I am looking forward to the release of the Broken Lands. I never got the opportunity to be a newb among other newbs in Illy — by the time I got here, many people were fairly well established. I would love to experience an Illy where every morsel of wood, every pebble of stone, every ingot of iron, is weighed carefully. I am also looking forward to the release of the story arc. I love the faction lore and look forward to it coming to life and being shaped by players. (Including of course the inevitable downfall of the puppet of the Council of Illyria, the self-styled King of Illyria, Sigurd. Hail the Undying Flame!)

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

I think what’s most important right now is consistent progress. The developers have identified quite a number of priorities, all important, many of them delightful to some or all players, and I think what is important is that they continue to make incremental improvements. Players have been very patient, and consistent progress, even if slow, is really necessary to restore confidence and enthusiasm.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

I would say that Illyriad is your game as much as it is anyone’s. You will get a lot of advice, some of it conflicting, from established players (me included). We will tell you how Illyriad “should” be played. And some of that is from our own experience of having tried other ways and failed abysmally! So it’s worth listening to established players. But don’t let that prevent you from playing your game in your way. Write your own story. Remake the world in your image. That’s what a sandbox is for.

Oh, and for the sake of all that’s holy: Upgrade your storehouse!

Player Spotlight: Myr

Another nomination from the community, this month we get to know Myr as our Player Spotlight. A big thank you to those who sent in nominations, and to Myr everything that she brings to the Illyriad community. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

It was boring in my cell at the Cook County Prison. I was doing time for possession with the intent to sell again and my cellmate showed it to me on May 25, 2011. Actually after years of competitive figure skating my daughter hung up her blades. I suddenly had an extra 20 hours a week and no idea what to do with myself. I could have done something productive, instead I started playing Illy.

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I tried lots of the games that showed up on the FB side bar, including Farmville, but none kept my interest for more than a few weeks. I didn’t expect Illy to be any different and I’m still a little surprised that it’s been over 2 years. I just started playing Medieval Europe with someone I fought against in the Big War, we’re making an empire but the communication system there isn’t great.

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

I have no talents but I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I love roller coasters, zip lining, white water rafting, canoeing, and hiking. I can’t travel as much as I would like to so I read a lot.

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

I keep finding new things to keep me challenged and occupied. There are so many different facets of the game that I think it will be awhile before I run out of new things to try.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

You meet people from all over the world and I appreciate the fact that it’s so easy to communicate with your alliance in AC while you’re doing other things.

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

My training alliance, The Night Squires. I never imagined it would be this much fun teaching newbs how to attack and defend effectively.

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

Whatever you guys dream up! I don’t play the game for any releases that might come sometime; I play with what is available right now. In fact, I’d rather not know what’s in the pipeline.

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

Battle mechanics. The way things are set up there is no way to damage your enemy without sieging and destroying cities. If I send my troops at a city my opponent just needs to move their troops out of the city and nothing happens. I think troops hitting a defenseless city should burn, loot, and kill, doing damage to a city without completely destroying it. There should be resources stolen, buildings de-leveled, and a corresponding loss in pop. The way to stop the intruders would be to defend. I think it would take a lot of bitterness about war out of the game.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

Listen to all the advice, then try things your own way and have fun! That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Player Spotlight: Pellinell

Nominated by his Alliance-mates, this month’s Player Spotlight focuses on leader of the Alliance, The Order, Pellinell. A big thank you to those who sent in nominations, and to Pellinell for his contributions to the Illyriad community. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I actually found Illy by chance. I was bored and looking for something to do, I discovered Illy through a google search. That was in December of 2011. I was instantly hooked!

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

Illy is my first online game and the only one I play currently.

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

A hobby besides Illy ? I love being outside. Camping, fishing, hunting and just being in nature is something I enjoy very much.

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

The Community is a huge part of what keeps me here. Aside from that the tourneys and friendships I have made here keep me interested. I also very much enjoy the complexity and intricacies of the game.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

Again I would say the community is one of my favorite aspects. But I also enjoy the tourneys and building my cities.

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

Starting The Order and growing from a small 2 member alliance with less than a 100,000 population to what it is today. Of course I share that achievement with my alliance mates. They are great!

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

Factions! I am looking forward to what that will bring to Illy. And of course I am looking forward to Broken Lands.

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

The mail system could really use a overhaul. I would like to have the ability to place mails in folders and maybe a search box to find older mails.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

When I was a newb I was surprised at how helpful everyone was. Within my first few hours Myr and Lurking had sent me res and answered my newb questions. I would say any new player should make them selves into GC and introduce themselves. The players there are very helpful and happy to help with resources and helping with strategy and answering newb questions. For me joining Toothless? was a great help and I would recommend T? to all newbs looking for a place to learn the game and develop friendships that will last throughout your time here.

Player Spotlight: Tansiraine

Nominated by several fellow players, this month’s Player Spotlight focuses on Tansiraine. A big thank you to everyone who sent in nominations, and to Tansiraine for her contributions to the Illyriad community. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I have been playing for a little over a year and a half. I was one of the people that joined through Facebook ad.

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I have played other online games. In each game I ended up in a welcome party for new players or in a teaching role of the basics

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

Hidden talents…if I tell you they are not Hidden anymore. My interest outside of gaming right now are school to get my degree and my grand daughter who was just born May 28th

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

The people keep me playing Illy. The whole community here is so different then other games I played like this. Even when there is a war it is a friendly and warm place to be.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

I love that you can have multiple focus. My cities are heavy military focus but I can still do gathering and crafting,

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

Joining H? I remember when I started to play Illy and was in awe of the Vets. They have such a vast knowledge of the game casue they are soooo Old.( sorry KP and Kumo) That is when I decided I wanted to be part of H? it took me awhile to get here but the things I learned from them are amazing and they also put up with me!

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

I am looking forward to Broken Lands. I think it will be interesting to see how people act when there is not threat of Vet or bigger player stepping in on picking on little guys. There are so many ways to build a city and to see how many people will take the time to be aggressive.

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

The biggest thing I think are the petitions. The turn around rate is terrible. Some are open for over a year.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

There is no need to jump into an alliance. Take your time speak up in Global Chat. There are always Vets and knowledgeable people lurking.

Player Spotlight: Sa’Belle

By popular demand, this month’s Player Spotlight focuses on Sa’Belle. We would like to extend a thank you to one of our positive and influential community members. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

GM Luna

Sa'Belle's RL Avatar

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

It’s a pretty boring story, really. Work sent me to the middle of nowhere during a rotten and rainy winter to open a new office and I needed something to occupy me during the quiet times and while it bucketed down in the evenings, and Illy was being advertised in the chrome store. I’m a big fan of the “Why not?” method, so I gave it a shot. That was 2 years ago in August.

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

Ah, not really. I have previously moderated a forum focused on political, religious and current events discussions, and way back in the day, I wandered in and out of a few roleplay communities, but this is the first game and community that I’ve committed to properly, and now I don’t want to try anything else!

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

I can’t go giving away my hidden talents! That would make them much less hidden!

As for hobbies, when I can drag myself away from Illy, I spend a fair bit of time crafting (usually crocheting) and baking, and I am a big reader. Not particularly exciting perhaps, but it keeps me occupied. Oh, I suppose I could call working an interesting hobby 😉

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

Everyone says the people and the community, and that is definitely part of it. But I also love the challenge of trying to build up my towns to their best potential (with an awful lot of emphasis on trying!), and exploring all the things I can do with them. I also enjoy participating in the tournaments, and I’d love to see a return of the animal hunting one. I wasn’t around for it, and it sounds like fun.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

I spend a lot of time on trading and crafting, and I quite enjoy fiddling with all of that, but I don’t think it will surprise many people that my favourite thing to do is help and explain things to new players. I enjoy being able to share my knowledge with them (as many shared theirs with me when I started) and being around them as they have those moments where it all falls into place and starts to make sense.

That said, after the tourney I’m going to dive into the military side a lot more, and I’m very excited about that. I have no doubts that my 20 trueshots will be the terror of all Illyriad!

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

Oh, this is going to be soppy, but really, it’s eCrow. There are fantastic people all around Illy, of course, but I remain convinced that the highest concentration is found in my alliance. Watching it grow over the past year from 10 players that barely knew each other to the 50-odd permanent members today has been a constant delight and I truly can’t imagine being anywhere else (even if some of them spend half their time yelling at me to go to bed!).

Assisting the crowfed to pull together into a more cohesive group over the past 18 months or so has also been a fun and challenging experience. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve compared (and seen others compare) herding crows to herding cats!

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

I am far too excited about the upcoming quest arcs and faction implementation, both there and in Broken Lands. Factions have been talked about since before I joined, and whacking their NPC camps on the map was a favourite pasttime of mine as a newb. The chance to do that, and have them fight back, has me wriggling with excitement.

I also look forward to the day GM Stormcrow doesn’t laugh at me, and creates an alt for eCrow. No one has ever accused me of not dreaming big. (It’s okay, SC, we won’t tell anyone it’s you!).

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

One thing I was told when I was young(er) and stupid(er) was that Illy should be played as it is now, not how you hope it will be in the future, so I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the things that need improving or I want to change, to be honest.

That said – and I say this only because I was stupid enough to try and claim sovereignty for 5 towns at the same time earlier today – I wish there was an easier way to bulk claim sov, perhaps in the same vein as the update to sending harvesters (a special unit just for claiming sov perhaps).

And I guess it would also be nice to not have to go to an external site to chat with my confeds easier, but I have no idea how I’d fit a 3rd chat window on the screen!

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

Relax, have fun, and don’t give your alliance leader a heart attack by attacking saurians with your first army.

I’d also suggest keeping in mind that Illy will take as much time as you give it and not everything has to be completed right now. There is always tomorrow.

Player Spotlight: The Duke

This month’s Player Spotlight focuses on alliance leader of Shade and long time Illy player, The Duke . The dev team and fellow community would like to extend a thank you to one of our community leaders. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

GM Luna

The Duke's RL Avatar

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I had a real life friend who started playing about a month before me. He more or less convinced me to give the game a try. It just so happened that around the same time i started playing I lost my job and with the excess free time I spent it here getting to know the community. The community was what really kept me intrigued and kept me logging in. I honestly can’t count the times I’ve logged in and just talked to people in Alliance Chat and not even touched my cities.

I’ve been playing since May 12, 2011.

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I played Evony for a couple of weeks but nothing ever came of it. I played stronghold and age of empires periodically against people but nothings ever kept my interest for long. One of the major reasons I feel Illyriad has kept me playing and others haven’t is the interactions with the GM’s and the game is constantly evolving, changing, and growing.

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

My major hobbies are sports. Growing up I was a basketball junkie. I can remember nights at 2-3 am playing at the local courts with the older kids. We moved around a lot, so as a kid I used athletics to make friends.

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

I think I covered this pretty well already but the interactions the players get to have with the GM’s. I don’t visit GC as much as I used to but I have a lot of people I can call my friends in my alliance Shade- and the community that we have built and are building there is great. The GM’s don’t get complacent like in other games. There’s always something coming up and being worked on- whether it’s a tourney/factions/ the broken lands…ect ect.

If I was to quit and re-visit in a year the game would be different from it is now.

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

Tournies. As soon as one is over I’m looking forward to the next one. Most the veteran players can tell you killing NPC’s is fun and all – but it’s not the same as going against another player(s) armies. You don’t have to worry about a NPC coming back for revenge.

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

I’ve had a lot of personal goals I’ve been able to accomplish like reaching the top 10 alliances, reaching 100k population(190k now lol ), making the stats pages for capture attempts and more. My proudest achievement however is simply tenured time here in illyriad. A lot has changed since I started and I like talking about old times with people who were around back then and didn’t just read something in the forums.

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

Factions.

I think this will add a whole new aspect to everything. Trading, sov, and armies. I think factions are going to e the most complex addition we have had.

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

Communication.

I know a lot of players may think a lot of different things here- but as an alliance leader I can honestly tell you the way the mail is done is terrible. Alliance Forums not being able to delete old threads.

Theres no private chat channels for leaders. We can of course make do with things out of game via skype ect… but this is my biggest grievance in the game so far.

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

The game is complex. There’s not a whole lot you can do to kill yourself in the beginning so stick around for a while. Make some friends in GC. Message the people your city was spawned beside. If your anything like me- you can get to know the people- and the fact that your building a city is just a bonus factor.

Player Spotlight: Auraya

This month’s Player Spotlight focuses on a familiar name in Global Chat and on the forums, Auraya. Auraya not only named her daughter after her Illy alt (not the other way around), leads the Quenya and Sindari training alliance and has hosted many fun games on our forums. The dev team and fellow community would like to give a much due shout-out and thank you to one of our friendliest community members. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

GM Luna

 

Auraya's RL Avatar

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I’ve been playing since late Oct 2011 so roughly 15 months. Originally, I was part of the game staff for another game. I handed my notice in after I realized some rather dodgy stuff was happening behind the scenes and went on a tour of pretty much every online game I could find! Everywhere I went, the game was lacking in depth or had less social interaction than I was happy with. It actually took me about a year to find Illyriad but I knew very quickly that I had found the right place.

 

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I couldn’t name all the other games I’ve played! The ones I’ve stuck around on for more than a year are WoW, Neopets (12 years!), Travian, Tagoria, Eudemons Online and The World Called Hollow (which is little rp game, very small at ~200 players only but lovely community – I still play)

 

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

Quite a few! I play flute and piano. I love reading, especially fantasy, horror, science fiction and some of the more gothic classics such as Wuthering Heights, The Picture of Dorian Gray etc. I also write, some of my poetry is on the nCrow forum and Q&S are occasionally subjected to my fanfics. I cook/bake fairly frequently. I used to make a lot of beaded jewelry however since I’ve had my daughter, I’ve been rather lax in that regard as it’s quite dangerous to have beads around toddlers. I’m just getting into dressmaking and cross stitch again which I used to do as a teenager. I’m quite a ‘hands on’ person generally, I’ll give anything a go! When I was 13, I had a phase of carving vegetables. I can now create carnations out of turnips o.O (Like this)

 

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

The people! I think most people are here for the social aspect despite having such an interesting game. It helps that the game requires a lot of thought and in a way, I think that’s why the community is as good as it is. We all have to communicate and work together to discover the mysteries, discuss strategies, help teach the crazy complex stuff to new players so they don’t get overwhelmed etc. I feel I’ve blossomed as a person since coming here, I’m becoming more patient and understanding with people – both in game and out. A lot of that I owe to Rill and Sa’Belle. Others such as Angrim and Tamaeon have encouraged me to form and express my own opinions rather than adopting them from the people I respect. You wouldn’t think a mere game could provide so much personal development but I’ve really matured in the small time I have been here.

 

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

Tough question! Probably the chat channels although I love the idea and complexity of sovreignity too. Usually, if a game even has instant messaging, all chat is shown in the same box which can get quite confusing. I like the different windows and the ability to move/resize them. I know it’s a small thing but it makes my life much easier – no switching between the game and skype, for instance.. or posting important alliance info in GC!

 

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

I don’t think I have a ‘proudest’ achievement. I was exceptionally proud after founding Q&S, when people I barely knew started promoting my alliance for me and telling elflings what a great place it was. I was very honoured and a bit confused! Graduating my first elfling was very special too, as was being offered (and quite heavily bribed by Tamaeon) the position of Rook in CrowW. I’m quite proud of Auraya generally, I think she has a far better reputation than I could ever achieve irl!

 

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

Combat magic! My magic rank is the highest I have but it seems like a cheat since I’ve simply been blighting myself 😛 Once combat magic is here, it will seem like a much more legitimate specialization!

 

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

I think the game works very, very well as it is.. I’d actually like to see the forum improved rather than the game. Right now, the forum is used largely for politics and not much socialising/fun stuff which I think is a real shame. Forums are a great place to get to know other players! GC moves so fast sometimes and you can only talk to people who are online similar times to yourself.. the forum transcends that. I’d love for it to simply be a place where everyone could chill out and chat about their interests, share recipes or knitting patterns, roleplay, post pictures etc.

 

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

Rill gave me the best advice when I was a newbie, ‘Patience is the key to Illyriad’ – remember saving an hour now could easily mean delaying your development for weeks later on.

General tips.. learn first, do second. Listen to people with experience but also think for yourself. Plan long term and always ask why!

Anyone can mail me for advice, you don’t have to be in Q&S. If I don’t know an answer, I will find out for you and explain to the best of my ability why that is what I recommend as well as any alternatives which you may prefer ^_^

Player Spotlight: Garthen

This month’s Player Spotlight focuses on a familiar presence in GC, on the forums and one of the leaders of the snuggly-est alliance in game, Garthen. Nominated by his fellow players, and appreciated by the dev team, we would like to thank Garthen for all that he brings to Illyriad. Learn more about the Player Spotlight program at our website and nominate players by sending an email to community@illyriad.co.uk. 

GM Luna

Garthen's RL Avatar

What brought you to Illyriad and how long have you been playing?

I found Illy through a Facebook ad. Best thing Facebook has ever done for me! I’ve been playing since June, 2011.

 

Have you played many other online games or been active in other online communities?

I’ve tried a few other free-to-play MMO’s, and if I even got past the first few minutes, I never lasted more than a few weeks. They were either boring or just left a bad taste in my mouth. I certainly have never participated in a game community the way I have with Illy.

 

Any hidden talents or interesting hobbies outside of gaming?

I’m a professional musician, actor and singer… writer, singer/songwriter, composer, etc. I also like to exercise, play basketball and read, sci-fi/fantasy and spirituality being my favorite genres. As I get older, I’ve gotten more interested in Geopolitics, Economics and History. Is a pipe, turtleneck sweater and abundant ear hair the next stage?…

 

What keeps you playing Illyriad?

I love the balance and depth of the game, that every choice has a counterbalance to it, and I can choose how much to interact with any aspect of the game without necessarily “falling behind” overall. There is very little that is “required” in the game, which allows players of all persuasions to find enjoyment. The light-hearted approach the devs have infused alongside their passion adds little moments of surprise and delight, even an occasional lol. With this sort of tone set, I enjoy what we have and look forward to what’s coming.

 

What’s your favorite aspect of the game?

My favorite aspect is that I don’t have a favorite aspect! Seriously, though, there are two parts to my answer, one of which leads to the other.

Firstly, I’m most drawn to works that have an integrity to them, and Illy is the first game of its type I’ve found where such an integrity permeates all aspects, from the original graphics/artwork, to the fleshed-out descriptions and histories, to the intricate battle mechanics. And naturally, I look forward to seeing all of this expanded upon. This integrity is also reflected in the approach to such things as Prestige, which has been set up so there is no way to gain a significant advantage in game solely by spending money. If only the real world worked like that…

Secondly, Illy seems to attract a certain kind of player; no matter what their area of passion is in game –trade, military, diplomacy, hugging…– the majority of players I’ve met are a little brighter, a little kinder, a little more aware. There is a great variety of experiences, interests and passions amongst the Illy community, and chatting in GC can go from uber-silly to educational to entertainingly combative in a wink. Without this great community, I wouldn’t spend nearly as much time in Illy.

 

What’s your proudest achievement in game so far?

Being a part of my alliance, HugCr. I was the second person that Fluffy invited to the alliance (after Ryelle), and I’m still there nearly 18 months later! HugCr is the epitome of “community” to me, and has been a source of kindness, endless laughs, and support whenever it’s been needed. I’m humbled to admit how many of my alliance mates, past and present, I consider real friends, though I may never meet them face to face.

 

What are you most looking forward to for the future of Illyriad?

Hmm, can I say “everything”? Or maybe “anything”? I’d love to see Factions go fully live, preferably along with the implementation of Faction quests; new magic schools would be sweet, preferably along with the implementation of Spell Components, so trade really takes off and I can start selling some of these slowly-rotting rare herbs..

Oh, and the next Tourney can never come soon enough!

 

What area of the game do you think needs the most improvement?

I feel the game (and the community, in particular) would benefit from the incorporation of a “third-party” instigator for conflict and competition between players. Sure, we have tourneys, but those are few and far between, and are “grand” events. I’m talking about something casual, optional and always available. This would give a constant supply of the fun-and-competition-without-hard-feelings that we all appreciate so much during tourneys. GM Stormcrow mentioned to me at one point that this concept might be introduced with Faction Quests. I. Would. Love. This.

As an add-on, I’d be interested to see the active part of the battle system fleshed out a bit, and the ability to modify or add to field orders would be a great development. At this point, it’s all pretty much “send and wait”, with the one possible post-sending option (besides sending reinforcements, etc.) being the use of a Messenger to recall the units.

 

What advice would you give a new player in Illyriad?

Don’t be shy! We don’t bite 🙂 Well, the orcs bite, they’re actually quite fond of elf ears…

Whether you are shy or not, please come say hi in Global Chat for a round welcome and probably more than a couple welcome caravans! Much of the community (besides a few meddlesome rogues :p ) has a tendency to help new players, both with resources and advice. You can also find a certain amount of security in GC, as we don’t take kindly to people picking on newbies!

As an addendum, there’s no need to rush into an alliance; you can consider GC your alliance in your first few days, so take your time and get the lay of the land a bit before making a commitment to a group. There are many great alliances that cater to various playing styles.

Beyond that, I think it’s important to pace yourself and absorb Illy in stages, or layers. The game has been developed to be enjoyable at any pace you desire, so don’t feel forced to learn or explore aspects to which you don’t feel drawn. Learning step by step is the best way to become accustomed to the vast array of options and possibilities in the game. Illy is a game; have some fun!!