Derbarbar

Derbarbar is my new warrior in World of Warcraft. He's only little, level 8 so far. His future however, is painted large with fist-like brushes, blood as paint and the whole World of Warcraft as his canvas.

Let me tell you why Derbarbar excites me so.

I'm a serial alt creator. I have 2 85's (this will increase :S), 3 more at 80-81 ready to join the 85's, a 61 and a handful of 50 -> downward characters. Most of these are on one server to facilitate my gold gathering needs.

With this amount of 'experience' in game you'd think I had no interest in starting more characters, that the world around was dull and lifeless to me.

Well Blizzard, those wily foxes, anticipated this with Cata and rejigged the old world. So folks can play through with shining tears in their new character's eyes. They did a fine job I must say.

This wasn't enough for me however. I've still to try out the Worgen or Goblin starting zones (contrasting with the Draenei and Bloodelf and Deathknight starting areas of previous expansion - I was all over those) or new quests in the world because I had, until recently, yet to find the inspiration for a new character.

One night after work last week, I downloaded and watched Conan the Barbarian. A rush of memories came back to me. As his chronicler says in the intro: he wishes to tell you of a time of 'high adventure'.

And I remembered.

This type of adventure, for me, was what an MMO was all about. It's what fantasy games and novels are all about. I'll confess in the rush to 80 (five times) and 85 (twice so far) I've forgotten why I played games in the first place.

My new Orc Warrior, was dubbed 'Derbarbar' (official German translation - Conan Der Barbar) in honour. He is symbolic of the perennial soul of adventure sprouting to life inside me once more.

Upon login and logout he greets the guild with a roar and says farewell in a similar fashion. Like a Lion trying to ask directions.

He tears flowers from the soil and ore from the earth to trade with corrupt city officials for sharper weapons and heavier armour. He is incapable of creating, but adept in the art of destruction.

He does not loot for he has no time for the shiny accoutrements of life. He is a national noise... and he hates treasure.

He buys items from the auction house only to tear them from his mailbox and destroy them - such is his lust for destruction... and hatred for treasure that you cannot hit an enemy with.

He is played with the Conan the Barbarian track looping endlessly in the background, every shaking step with which he pulls the world behind him on the way to his goal is purposeful.

Animal-like he knows no self doubt, no pity, no remorse. Only the moment, only the kill.

His is a world of instant flavours, smells, sounds, sensations of touch and sight and these senses spend 90% of the time marinating in the blood of his enemies.

Personally I can't wait to P(ick) U(p) G(roup) a few instances and get accused of 'RP lol? WTF WARRIOR?!!' as I pull the whole of an instance, nude, with a mighty axe, my 'roar macro' answering them in kind.

A character is a life. They need a backstory. Whether you believe in the great lord 'RP' or not, I assure you that for the majority of players he will make a new character stand out, become something, nay someone you have to play now and then.

Enough 'now and then' playing will get you a new character at 60, and by then you're practically level capped already. It'd be rude not to get the next 25 levels.

Derbarbar will meet you there.