Embracing the Silly

We say it often, but we truly have a remarkable community. We’ve highlighted artists, content creators, streamers, writers, and dedicated longtime fans across our various community spotlights, and today we introduce you to ManOfRohan.

He is a content creator with a background in professional music creation, who uses his talents to put smiles on the faces of his followers and those within the Pantheon community. It’s often said life is too short, and you have to have fun with what’s in front of you. ManOfRohan self-admittedly embraces the silly and carves out his own unique niche as a content creator. Let’s learn more about him.

Hi ManOfRohan, why don’t you go ahead and tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a child of the 80’s so that automatically gives me the best taste in music and movies. I live in the great white north of Minnesota. I have the best wife anyone could ask for and two teenage twins who, thanks to me, are also gamers (I did something right!) I bought Everquest because the box art was really cool. I didn’t realize I needed an internet connection to play but was already $60 in. After three weeks and a lot of pleading with my parents, I was in Greater Faydark. As my name suggests, I’m a giant Tolkien fan and am willing to discuss anything in the history of Ea for hours. And of course, I love to sing and write songs.

How did you hear about Pantheon?

I used to check periodically on any information regarding new “Brad McQuaid” projects (mostly his personal website), cause you know, fan = this guy. In the midst of my excitement about an upcoming Norrathian game, I actually saw the original website for Pantheon and thought, “shoot, well I hope he does really well, but this Pantheon game is gonna have a hard time up if EQ Next gets there first”

But of course, time makes fools of us all, especially me. My hopes in a new Norrath were [honestly] too high and its cancellation was a big blow. So, I thought again, “I wonder what’s going on with my good ol’ pal Brad and his game?” Literally, the day after EQ Next was canceled, the first gameplay stream for Pantheon went live. When I saw the stream and heard the team talk about their vision for the future, I was totally hooked. (RIP multi-colored mana)
And by the way, I went back and confirmed a few weeks ago, definitely the very next day [March 12th 2016], and methinks that was planned, to which I say, well-played.

What got you into gaming?

At a Super Bowl Party 1986, I played my first home video game, Pitfall on the Atari 2600. I believed at that moment that there was nothing cooler than video games. A couple of years later, playing Phantasy Star on the SMS proved that my assertion was indeed correct, and also that RPGs were the best games. (Phantasy Star is still awesome)

What is it about MMORPGs that makes you like them so much?

Like many, my first experience with an MMORPG was Everquest. Those first couple of weeks playing left indelible marks and have formed what I expect and hope for. I love the depth and danger. I love the progression and chance to get something super cool to brag about. I love playing with people that can count on me and I can count on them. I love being able to help guildies with quests and whatever pursuit sounds fun that day.

Do you have a Class and Race combo in mind for your main Pantheon character yet?

My first love is Ranger (Ember Elf of course), but I found when playing SWTOR that I’m pretty good at healing, so it might just be a Dwarf Cleric.

Do you run with a Guild or group of friends?

I don’t currently have a guild but I prefer to play mostly exclusively with Guildies if possible. My kids are now at an age where I can convince them to play with me sometimes as well, so we have fun running together. My daughter is already going through class/race permutations and how to make the difficult decision between Ashen Elf or Gnome Summoner.

Is there any system, feature or mechanic in Pantheon that stands out to you?

This answer is exceedingly difficult to narrow down. I love perception, I love climbing, I love the danger of the environment. But I think the disposition system is probably the deepest and most versatile system. The idea that ANY NPC has a temperament that leads them to make decisions that can change based on what I and/or my friends are doing, is so awesome! How can I get information out of this guy that is secretive but also greedy? I’m making stuff up now but maybe Joppa can license the idea from me, “™” on the secretive/greedy disposition combo.

What got you interested in singing and YouTube?

Well actually, I have a music degree in vocal performance which obviously means I don’t use it for my actual career. I don’t write [songs] as much as I want to, but my family probably thinks I sing too much. I’ve been posting streams to Youtube for a little while now just for fun and posterity to hear my kids’ voices as they get older (sentimental, I know). However, with all the great informational content out there for Pantheon, I wanted to find a niche that wasn’t out there yet. I tend towards “silly” in general, so it seemed like a good idea.

How does it feel to be famous with a smash hit Pantheon song?

Ha! Smash hit you say? Well, to be honest, I made it for a laugh and only hoped others would laugh along. Most of the time making it I thought, “Oh gosh, people are going to find out I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t publish it now!”. The reception has been really gracious and supportive, and I’m really happy that it seems folks like it. Thanks to everyone who has listened and there is plenty more silly where that came from.

Lastly, what would you like to say to your fellow community members?

Thanks for being super cool humans, game developers and community members alike. I’ve been around a long time and have seen a lot of ugly. Also, can you believe that we’re already a community? The game hasn’t even been released yet. We’re not just following a game being developed, we’re already a community, made of humans and not just encounter-mechanics and beautiful scenery. That makes me really hopeful for the future of Terminus and the success of Pantheon.

Thanks to ManOfRohan for sharing a little about his background and gaming experience with us. Make sure to check him out on YouTube for even more fun videos and future Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen content.

We are thankful for the amazing stories our community has shared thus far with us. Do you have a story about how MMORPGs have made a difference in your life? Has it driven your creative urges? Has it made you a better leader? Has it helped you overcome difficulties in your life? We’d love to hear your tale, and show why community truly matters. Drop us a line in the forums.

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