The recent beta release of World of Warcraft Classic has sparked a wave of nostalgia for many, prompting PC Gamer staff to share memories of their very first massively multiplayer online (MMO) characters. These digital avatars represent a significant, and often formative, part of many gamers' early experiences.
Harvey Randall, Staff Writer, recalls his first World of Warcraft character, Leetman, a rogue he created at age 10. Despite not reaching the level cap or mastering poisons, Randall fondly remembers the achievement of affording a mount, a significant milestone in the game at the time. Leetman was later replaced by a troll shaman named Earthborn.
News Writer Joshua Wolens' first MMO character was Karokan in EverQuest. At six years old, he was hesitant to explore beyond the starting city of Freeport, fearing he would get lost in the vast game world. Karokan spent his virtual life near the city gates, battling orcs and rats.
Community Manager Steve Haines remembers Ovidlords, his Druid tank in World of Warcraft. He recounts the challenge of tanking Gruul in The Burning Crusade when it was considered impossible, and his guild's eventual server-first kill of Kael'thas Sunstrider.
Lincoln Carpenter, News Writer, technically began with RuneScape and Star Wars Galaxies before settling on World of Warcraft. His Orc hunter character, Maldirr, was a misclick that led to him playing a warrior for years. He fondly remembers Maldirr still wearing the Stone Guard tabard earned from Alterac Valley.
Fraser Brown, Online Editor, remembers Zarwulf, his World of Warcraft character, though admits his memory of earlier MMOs like Ultima Online is hazy. Zarwulf, a warrior with a large sword and grimace, remains frozen in time, a digital relic of his university days.
Jacob Ridley, Managing Editor, shared a unique story about his RuneScape account. After being banned years after he stopped playing, he successfully appealed to Jagex support. His childhood character, a skilled angler and cook, was un-banned thanks to the intervention of 'Mod Frenzy'.
Andrea Shearon, Evergreen Writer, found her MMO gateway in Priston Tale after trying RuneScape and Graal Online. She recalls playing as a low-level archer and engaging in debates on fan forums about the game's arena mode, Survive or Die.
Hardware Writer Jessica Kinghorn's first MMO was the browser-based RuneScape. Focused on acquiring cute clothes for her avatar, she eventually lost all her in-game items after venturing into a high-level or player-versus-player zone.
Mollie Taylor, Features Producer, spent her early MMO days in Toontown Online, a children's game focused on fighting corporate robots. She remembers her cat toon, which she intended to be black for a Halloween event but ended up being dark brown.
These personal anecdotes highlight the enduring impact of early MMO characters, serving as digital touchstones for a generation of gamers.