An Interview with Lord Krake

Namarra · Jul 1, 2017

Greetings, Renaissance! I am back with another interview. This time with the magnificent Lord Krake! The format is the same but unfortunately I don't have any good screenshots past the introduction because I failed to realize that RPV apparently don't show houses. Or maybe it's bugged, I don't know. With that said, let's get to it!

1.) How long have you played UO and what shard did you play on OSI?

Krake: I started UO less than a year after it came out back in the late 90’s. I had to use the mail in 3 month passes because my dad didn’t want our credit card number on the internet at that time. Which was smart, the internet was just invented like 2 years before that. I played on Napa Valley. Napa was fine. I had no clue what I was doing because Wiki was not invented yet and I was the only one of my friends who played UO. It was brutal. I didn’t know about macros or last object stuff so everything was point and click and every single skill was gained naturally for the first few years of my UO life.

Namarra: I started in 2001 myself and that’s all there was for us: natural gaining.

Krake: Aye, 2001 is when I kinda left the game. Started college and other stuff had come up. So I played a bit after the facets split, Tram and Fel. Don’t recall if I ever played into Age of Shadows. I don’t think I did…

Namarra: When did you officially stop playing? Do you recall?

Krake: Yeah it must have been 2001 or late 2000. Graduating high school and moving onto the next part of life.

Namarra: I can understand that. And when did you start playing private shards like this?

Krake: I guess my first venture into private shards must have been…2007? I got that itch to play this game again and so I looked up how it was being run. Saw that EA took over and the official game was a travesty. A horror on par with Hitler. *smirks* So I look around and saw that lo and behold there were free shards! I tried a few, but people got ahold of the code and turned everything to crap! 100.0 in all skills, 700 stat cap, taming everything; it was really bad, some of these other shards. I recall having fun on just two before finding UO:R. The first was a complete rework of the game. So same system and graphics and all that good old feel. However, the shard admins created a new world, it was not Sosaria. And it was 100% roleplaying. They crafted a few new races and I had to apply to even play on the shard. I had to read the lore and history and answer questions and then pick my race and class and explain how I would fit into the world. It was entirely intriguing. So I did that, got accepted, and played a Dwarf Paladin, the most hated class in the lore. The Paladins were responsible for some huge cataclysm, so I was like the outcast on this server with maybe 20 other players, all hardcore RPers like I was back in the day.

Namarra: Is your current character sort of a paladin? I notice you use a sword and spells.

Krake: Yes I would say that, support paladin type. Swords, a few spells, peacemaking.

Namarra: Seems like a fun way to play though.

Krake: Yeah I favor the warrior classes over the mage types most of the time. So this other server, the second I had fun with….Oh, oh! That hardcore RP server was around for about 3 months, by the way. Then the admins left. Fun 3 months, skill gain was insanely hard there. Like out of balance.

Namarra: All that effort to just leave in 3 months?

Krake: Aye people are fickle. But alas, I found another shard. It was very much like this one. Old feel, nothing crazy. This was in 2008 I would say, and I started Project Sanctuary there. I don’t recall the name of the shard, but I remember being there for over a year.

Namarra: It’s not The Shard Which Must Not Be Named is it?

Krake: Nope! Some other shard. I ran PS there and also did T-Maps with my solo T-Mapper. Just the two characters for over a year. I must admit that I played on The Shard We Don’t Speak Of for maybe 2 months, then someone from this shard recruited me and I fell in love with this place.
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2.) What’s your favorite thing about UO?

Krake: The music. The old school music. I love it, it triggers so many memories.

Namarra: You know what, I get that completely. The music in this game has a weird impact though, for sure. Nothing can make me as nostalgic as hearing FOREST_A start.

Krake: Right?! Or Stones. Always Stones.

Namarra: Did you want to provide a more systematic answer? Haha. I liked your music answer personally.

Krake: Yes, hehe. So I would have to say the player agency. The ability to really do kinda whatever you want here within the game mechanics and ruleset. I tell my friends about this game and some stuff that we do and they just are amazed at the agency of this system. Like, no other game really compares. You wanna tame 100 birds and name them all KRAKE? (Fullmetal) So many things. Also, the other few things that really draw me to this game: player housing and the vast amount of options with decoration, the lack of official quests, the high learning curve, and the perspective: three-quarters eagle eye like Diablo. Best perspective.
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3.) What is your favorite playstyle and why do you like it?

Krake: Well, as you might imagine, I like running events and gathering people up and giving them experiences. That is how I feel I am being useful. However, if we are talking straight adventuring, Dexxer for sure. I love running around a dungeon and just trying to survive.

Namarra: Any specific weapon skill? Or Dexxers in general?

Krake: Oh, swords. I love polearms, so hally and bardiche. I use axes here when needed for the damage and katana for the speed. But in my heart of hearts, I love my hally.

Namarra: Swordsmanship seems like the most versatile, wouldn’t you agree?

Krake: Agree, and the most weapons types too, in terms of drops. Maces has a lot too, but swords seem to beat them out for quantity.
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4.) Do you have a favorite memory of “time” of UO?

Krake: Oh man, yes, how much time do you have?

Namarra: As much as you need to share.

Krake laughs.

Krake: Well, I will try to keep it to a few select memories. The first one that jumps out is my guild back on Napa. I was a leader, but not the Guildmaster, of a guild called Great Napa Nobles. GNN, we were. I can recall a time we all went to Deceit, all in colors and uniforms, like 10 of us, and completely laid waste to everything there. And our GM, his name was Ragnar, was the best player I had seen. The guy never died, and kept us all alive. It really had an impact on how I saw guild leadership. He was in the middle of everything getting attacked, but kept us alive and managed to stay alive too. A good leader that fought right beside us.

Then starting P’S on the other server, years later, and posting about it on the forums there. The first reply I got was from one of the shard admins telling me it was a great idea and promoted it to others. Felt really good to have the shard admin on board and responding to little old me cus I wasn’t anyone special there, just a guy who wanted to help others get into the game. And P’S took off there, so that was edifying. We had a few houses outside of Yew.

Another fun memory, and this will be the last one. But warning to everyone who is listening or reading this, I am going to speak about a time that I was a jerk. Oh man this is going to ruin my reputation here! Anyway, I was in my early 20’s and someone showed me how to scam others in town. Using a series of commands and last targets and what not, get them to get my own animals to attack me in town and then they get guard whacked and I loot them up. I targeted the guys who had the best looking gear on and it all hinged on if they were willing to follow me to a secluded place and help me with my “animal commands cus I can’t figure it out.” Yikes, I am actually feeling ill in my stomach talking about this! But wow, was it fun for those few weeks. So there it is, the black mark on my record.

Namarra: I’m quitting P’S.

Krake: Hah. And lastly, not going to lie. But getting P’S up and running on this shard has been an amazing experience. Like, way more than I thought it was going to be.
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5.) Do you have a favorite unique UO:R event? What about a recurring one?

Krake: Well, I didn’t really do any events on OSI, or other shards for that matter. So in all honesty, UO:R is my first time that I have seen such amazing events. On this shard, I like Night of Horrors the best because it’s catered for Dexxers! It seems other events are heavily reliant on Tamers and whatnot. I don’t think there has been anything more fun than hunting down supplies and ripping through undead. It’s a great event all around, at least for me. Most players here had Night of Horrors-specific characters.

Namarra: So that’s your favorite recurring event?

Krake: I would have to say yes.

Namarra: Do you have a favorite unique one? Like the Roots of Abaddon?

Krake: Oh! Rise of Tiamat I think was one of the best ones. The reason that one was so fun was that Chris allowed for a 3D model mob to be in play, the Hydra model.

Namarra: Could you share details about those events?

Krake: Yeah I will do you one better, I will send you a link to that quest.

Namarra: Is there a Keza video?

Krake: Yup. I miss the old style quests we did, I am going to bring them back for sure. The Rat King, Awaken the Sleep, The Lost Shoes. I mean, we did unique quests all the time.
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6.) What is the biggest reason you started and continue to run P’S?

Krake: Because my skill set and personality gravitate me toward that type of leadership role in pretty much every part of my life and so it makes sense to have that aspect of my life here too. Help others, teach them, create amazing experiences. I have been helped a ton in my life and I need to make sure to pay it forward. And this game is great, right? So I wanted to make a community that edifies that greatness and not really myself, even though I am the “Guildmaster” here. I just had an idea and people followed it.

Namarra: It’s been a very positive force on the shard. Critical for player retention, I think. Even known PKs steer newbies in the P’S direction.

Krake: Thank you. I am glad to hear that. Aye, I have heard and seen that as well!
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7.) If you could change one thing about UO:R what would it be?

Krake: Hmmm.

Krake thinks really hard.

Krake: So…probably the most trivial thing, because I think that the community here can really change nearly everything we want, for the most part, with patience and direction and self-control. But I want gardening. I, and others, just want to relax sometimes and play a gardening sim and UO is the best game…so…UO gardening.
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8.) Do you have anything to say to the community?

Krake: Be patient with each other. We all have bad days, we all mess up, we are all damaged in some way. If getting PKed is the worst thing that happens to you today, feel lucky. Be patient, take some breaths, and get back at it you guys. And lastly, I need to mention two players in particular: Jupiter and mikek85

Jupiter was my mentor when I started here and was instrumental in helping me create a relationship with the staff here. He showed me how to run some simple quests and then allowed me to run a few myself. And now he is my best pal here.

MikeK was with P’S from the start. Second longest member, aside from myself and Jebidiah who does not play here. MikeK was, and is, my second in command and helped grow the guild to what it is today. I have other council too, as you know, but MikeK was the backbone when we started. So I need to make sure he gets his dues!
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PaddyOBrien · Jul 1, 2017

Excellent work, I love these interviews!

Namarra · Jul 1, 2017

Updated to add part of Krake's message to the community that was accidentally cut off. Specifically the ending to his shout out to MikeK.

Cherry · Jul 1, 2017

Great Interview, like it

MikeK · Jul 1, 2017

Love the interview and concept, kraken also rocks.

Bayara · Jul 2, 2017

Love this interview idea!
Very cool.
There are more of these I take it?
Hope so.

Lord Krake · Jul 2, 2017

mikek85 said: ↑

Love the interview and concept, kraken also rocks.
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I mean, my name is Krake, not kraken.

HOW LONG have you known ME?

:: storms out ::

Namarra · Jul 2, 2017

Bayara said: ↑

Love this interview idea!
Very cool.
There are more of these I take it?
Hope so.
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Krake and snap have been the only two so far, but they are the first of many.

MikeK · Jul 2, 2017

Lord Krake said: ↑

I mean, my name is Krake, not kraken.

HOW LONG have you known ME?

:: storms out ::
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lol autocorrect. Kraken is pretty cool though!

Pekka · Jul 10, 2017

Krake means more or less a poor bastard or a starving horse that cannot stand up in Swedish.
Put a ring over one a, and it is Kråka, which mean crow.

Very nice interview as allways @Namarra

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An Interview with Lord Krake

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An Interview with Lord Krake

Namarra Active Member Server Supporter

PaddyOBrien Well-Known Member

Namarra Active Member Server Supporter

Cherry Active Member

MikeK Well-Known Member UO:R Subscriber

Bayara Well-Known Member

Lord Krake Well-Known Member UO:R Subscriber

Namarra Active Member Server Supporter

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