For many Dagorhirrim, as the years roll by, foam fighting becomes less like a hobby and more like a lifestyle. Friendships, bonds, and a love of the game brings folks out for decades. Even after taking long breaks and having drastic lifestyle changes, many people find themselves pulled back into our world. How can someone extend the life expectancy of their Dagorhir experience and continue both having fun, and keeping the thrills fresh? Here's a couple ways that you can use to reinvent your game experience.
Don't Expect the Past to Repeat:
Sometimes you just get a perfect storm of personalities and conditions. Everyone gets along beautifully, everyone is motivated to improve and people's attendance is strong. These Golden Ages can galvanize an entire region into building itself up, or fuel the establishment of well-attended large-scale fighting events. But people grow older and life happens. Some folks will start families, some will move away, and others will just slowly and silently fade into the noise, never to be heard from. As fantastic and inspiring as these golden ages can be, when they pass, they can leave a vacuum in their place. Like a train forced to slam on its emergency breaks from full speed, the absence of the leadership that prompted the explosive growth can cause a drastic shift to the opposite of the spectrum. Dagorhirrim become accustomed with their group's idealized dynamics, and without a smooth and measured leadership transfer, there is a high chance of a period of stagnation. When things are too perfect, everything that follows can seem bleak in comparison. Newer members who only ever knew a period of strong, careful leadership, and pristine organization, may not know how to react to the new way of things.
Sometimes you just get a perfect storm of personalities and conditions. Everyone gets along beautifully, everyone is motivated to improve and people's attendance is strong. These Golden Ages can galvanize an entire region into building itself up, or fuel the establishment of well-attended large-scale fighting events. But people grow older and life happens. Some folks will start families, some will move away, and others will just slowly and silently fade into the noise, never to be heard from. As fantastic and inspiring as these golden ages can be, when they pass, they can leave a vacuum in their place. Like a train forced to slam on its emergency breaks from full speed, the absence of the leadership that prompted the explosive growth can cause a drastic shift to the opposite of the spectrum. Dagorhirrim become accustomed with their group's idealized dynamics, and without a smooth and measured leadership transfer, there is a high chance of a period of stagnation. When things are too perfect, everything that follows can seem bleak in comparison. Newer members who only ever knew a period of strong, careful leadership, and pristine organization, may not know how to react to the new way of things.
Even within a single unit's evolution, there will be points in time which each member considers the "Best of Times". The most important thing to remember is that this game is what you make of it. Constantly reminiscing and comparing your current situation to past glories is a sure-fire way to become discontent with your status. Meet new faces and personalities, and let them influence your game experience in a positive, open-minded manner.
Embrace the Entire Game:
If you've spent your entire 5 years fighting being a pure-stick jock, and find yourself bored of Dagorhir, maybe it's time for a change of pace? The game is a multi-faceted jewel, and there are many different ways to enjoy it. You could explore the worlds of crafting, fashioning fine arms and armor, or elegant garb. You might find it enjoyable to participate in Bardic competitions, or flesh out your long-neglected character into a story-tale hero or villain. Or perhaps you've done everything but take fighting seriously? When treated like a martial pursuit it can be very fulfilling. Attend some practices!
If you've spent your entire 5 years fighting being a pure-stick jock, and find yourself bored of Dagorhir, maybe it's time for a change of pace? The game is a multi-faceted jewel, and there are many different ways to enjoy it. You could explore the worlds of crafting, fashioning fine arms and armor, or elegant garb. You might find it enjoyable to participate in Bardic competitions, or flesh out your long-neglected character into a story-tale hero or villain. Or perhaps you've done everything but take fighting seriously? When treated like a martial pursuit it can be very fulfilling. Attend some practices!
How about trying something that's new for you in the game? Come up with ideas for new games to play, battles to fight or events to run. Mix it up and try different weapon combinations, or fight with a less than ideal setup. Try to attend more out of state events and meet new people across the nation! There's a thousand ways to enhance your experience, you just gotta be willing to put some thought and work in.
Dagorhir can be as much or as little as you want it to. What you receive from the game is a product of the effort you put in and the people you surround yourself with. If it's not working for you, try to change the variables. It's your free time, you should enjoy it.
-The Golden Lion
Really sound advice. The game of Darkon should be beaten with a monitor with this on it. As a group they cling to the past in a way that stagnates growth, then they come up with something new and ignore what was good about the past... or other aspects of the game and the new thing is ALL there is.
ReplyDeleteWell done sir, as per usual.
-Thrush