So, how am I doing? One aspect of the Multi-Game Hopping Lifestyle they don't tell you about, is the splintering of self that it entails. One night, I'm a Superhero, another I'm a Swordsman, and yet another, I'm a Space Trooper. All of these are theoretically different people; the alternative is to RP it up as if I'm some kind of secretly time-travelling do-gooder, Dr Who style, which is just going to get complicated very quickly indeed, and not a little clichéd in the bargain!

So while not much of a role-player in the traditional sense, I guess at some level there are quite a few different 'Me's out there across the MMOsphere; multiple fragments of some greater self, each with little imaginary lives of their own. Either that, or I'm heading for that inevitable psychosis much faster than I thought. Whichever is the case, I'm sure it'll help to have a bit of a stocktaking session anyway; work out who is where, doing what and how well, so here comes one of my most self-indulgent mini-series to date, one that is entirely about MEEEE! I'll kick off with Guild Wars...

Guild Wars Van Hemlock

Who?

I have three characters in here that I'd consider 'mains', in that they've completed a campaign, a Ranger, a Ritualist and a Mesmer. It's this last that's the real main though, and who I mostly play as. I've long had a fascination for the somewhat complex gameplay involved with the basic Mesmer class, and find it is an excellent starting point for experimental dual-builds, from the obvious, Me/E, to the less so; Me/A. There is a certain stylish aesthetic to the class too that I like, all gypsies and masques and elegance.

As well as that, I'm also a guild leader. This is a bit of a departure for me, who normally runs a mile from any positions of responsibility. It can be a bit stressful, in that sometimes you start to feel responsible for the entertainment of others, but also rewarding when that entertainment does seem to come together. It's a small friendly affair; the Tuesday Noob Club, and leader or no, it changes the game a great deal having a regular gang of mates to tackle the various missions and overland with. I can't actually remember the last time I soloed Guild Wars.

When?

Guild Wars is a twice a week game for me; the guild night on the Tuesdays, typically three or four hours, and then another couple of hours on a Sunday evening, in a more relaxed and less formal sort of session, just pottering about. Perhaps six hours a week in total, but with a kind of religious regularity that rarely sees me take weeks off at all. I suspect this is mostly because of the people; in particular, the Guild. Indeed, I'm finding that spontaneity in one's gaming is all very well for the habitual soloist, but if I actually want to play with people, it helps to prearrange a time to meet up!

Guild Wars is about the only Free To Play MMO I seriously spend time in, and this lack of monthly subscription is quite a boon to the once-a-week player, removing any pressures that I should be 'getting your money's worth'.

Where?

My time in Guild Wars is spent largely at out Guild Hall, which is the Isle of Solitude map, all Vabbian Splendour, and the grubby brown Kournan bit at the far end that we really need to renovate one of these days. If functions as a decent enough chat-room and staging area for the evening's events. Our PvP nights are even fought on this very map, which is a nice touch.

For the other nights, we roam the four campaigns as the mood takes us, largely dictated by who can get to what outpost or town. This is a large part of our current guild philosophy at present; to be getting these unlocks for everyone we can, everywhere we can, as unless everyone in the team has visited a place once, we can't go there as a team, which can be a bit limiting for some of the endgame activities.

Personally, my Mesmer almost all of these places unlocked, which you'd expect after three years of wandering, although a fair bit of the Southern Shiverpeaks, Central Kryta and Far Jade Sea is still fuzzy on the world map, and the Underworld, Fissure of Woe and Urzog's Warren are all mysteries to me still, so I've by no means run out of places to see.

Why?

I think I keep playing this one because of the Guild, mostly. I'm very proud of them all; the casual-but-interested outlook, the carefree-but-motivated progress we're all making and the good times I look forward to on a typical Tuesday. I have personal goals of my own too, but these are quite secondary, and largely about 'filling in the gaps'. A couple of us are picking away at the Black Moa Chick Minipet missions, an appalling cash and time-sink, but it's a big old treasure hunt encompassing all four campaigns which sounds fun, so we'll give it a go! There's a number of Elite Missions I'd like to see us have a go at too.

My own drive toward the Cartographer and Skill Hunter titles occupies me still; 94.5% Elona, 90.0% Cantha, 74.5% Tyria and 51/140 Elona, 45/120 Cantha and 35/90 Tyria respectively. I like uncovering the worldmap and like collecting the little icons, so both of these are pleasantly lengthy tasks that'll keep my own sense of progress ticking along for quite some time to come. As yet, the only bar I've filled in is Protector of Elona, gained by completing all Nightfall Missions with a Master result. Quite pleased, but lots more to do, and any number of other Achievement-Grade progress bars to pick at,despite having 'won' (completed every campaign) quite some time ago.

Of course, there's also the No Subscription thing which counts for something in these belt-tightening times; it's effectively impossible to 'quit' Guild Wars in the traditional sense. It matters less to me than you might think though, and I don't presently anticipate giving up on this title for the foreseeable future. When Guild Wars 2 comes along, well, who knows?

More on my other selves to come!