Communities of Pantheon – Pantheon Plus

A Community Plus

Our community highlight article has always been a part of our belief that community matters. Whether a long-time follower of Pantheon, a new discoverer, or a dedicated content creator that dissects the evolution of our game, each archetype of our supporters matters deeply to creating a rich community. This richness of diverse thought, experiences, and skill levels is what makes a world like Terminus feel alive. Today we are honored to highlight a dedicated and enthusiastic fan, turned content creator, Desryn. Join us in learning about his journey thus far as a fan of Pantheon, and his dive into content creation while building upon his own dynamic community.

Hi Desryn, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m a 33-year-old MMO enthusiast currently living in beautiful Oregon, United States. I’ve led a pretty varied life and dabbled in everything from backpacking to music to gourmet coffee. I like to keep it interesting!

How did you first hear about Pantheon?

Back in 2014, I’d heard about the sunsetting of Vanguard and logged in to get the last memory of what was one of my favorite, most impactful MMO experiences when someone in chat mentioned that Brad McQuaid was working on another project. Awkwardly, I misunderstood “Pantheon” for “Pantheon of the Ancients” – a zone in Vanguard, which they had to clarify for me. Anyway, it’s thanks to that person that I started keeping an eye out.

What makes you so passionate about the community?

I strongly believe that, with MMOs, the game is secondary to the community. A game can have its ups and downs, but a strong community will weather them all. Games of all kinds have a distinct power to bring people together and, through their interactivity, help them relate to each other in ways other forms of entertainment might not.

In the time you’ve been a community member, have you seen anything that makes our community stand out to you?

There are two things that I find distinct about the Pantheon community: Collaboration and durability. I often see the same names from one platform to another, getting involved and working with others. Beyond that kind of presence and involvement, the community has lasting perseverance that might be second to none in the industry. It’s no secret that Pantheon has been through a lot, and there are so many wonderful people that continue to remain positive and encouraging. They acknowledge the past but move forward, and that’s very inspiring!

What got you into the PantheonPlus content group?

To be honest, probably my incessant calling into the PlusYou streams that take place after the official monthly streams, where I became known as the caboose (for usually being the last person on the show).

What’s the best part about co-running a fan community like PantheonPlus?

That’s a tough question because we have so many wonderful, passionate content creators that I’m just honored to be able to work with…but in the end, it’s seeing the community grow and mature around us. There’s nothing like seeing someone newly come into the community and grow into a knowledgeable member, a volunteer, or a content creator!

You are a big part of the PantheonPlus Rewind, which is now over 120 episodes deep! Can you tell the community about your journey with the Rewind, and what it has meant to you?

Frankly, I’m still blown away by just how natural it’s been. Doing the Rewind with Therek has been, from the beginning, just like talking to a friend about a shared passion. It was a pretty straightforward transition from constantly calling in to the PlusYou show to recording a podcast, and the community has been so supportive.

Give us a quick pitch on why people should check out the Rewind.

That same feeling that we get while recording is what I hope translates to the listener: conversing with a friend. While a podcast can’t be totally participatory, my hope is that the Rewind feels that way, and invites the listener to think, appreciate, and feel involved. If you want to both stay caught up with the official news and the happenings in the community surrounding Pantheon, I’d say the Rewind is just the podcast for you!

You mentioned that you were introduced to the PantheonPlus community through PlusYou, and now you have taken that content offering a step forward by expanding it to a second team for Parting the Veil. Can you talk a bit about the process and what the community should expect?

With our usual call-in show following an official live stream, it was only sensible that we would do the same after the new Parting the Veil format. My hope is that this new PlusYou can emulate the same thoughtful discussion as the other, and help people feel heard by giving them the opportunity to get on the show and share their thoughts. I’ve got two fantastic co-hosts: RedbeardFlynn and ManOfRohan, who I have the pleasure of working with. It’s going to be a wild ride, but with the big ideas coming from Parting the Veil…I’m sure there will be a lot to talk about!

Most content creators are focus on their own brand, but the PantheonPlus team has always focused on how the individuals involved work as a team. What is this like for you, and how do you go about adding creators to the team?

Honestly, it was one of the biggest draws to working with this team. I really appreciate that it’s many parts all trying to raise each other up and contribute to the whole. I think anyone with a similar philosophy will gravitate toward our team naturally, and we’re always spotting people in the community to connect and possibly collaborate with.

Is there a specific feature or mechanic in Pantheon that stands out to you?

As many might say, it’s got to be Perception. The idea of a more D&D-like, environmental storytelling that tracks the decisions you’ve made and things you’ve seen, all in an MMO where other players have their own unique experiences—that’s a new kind of game. As you might imagine, I’m a huge fan of non-adventuring systems that actually make a difference in the world, ala Vanguard’s Diplomacy, and have been longing to see something evolve in the genre in this way for decades.

What will be your go-to main class and race in Pantheon?

I’ll be maining an Archai Druid. The Archai race really resonates with me amongst the other also-engrossing races, and I’ve been a Druid main nearly since the beginning of my MMO journeys.

Finally, is there anything you want to say to your fellow community members?

Treat everyone you meet on the Internet even better than you would in person. There is no “RL.” Everyone is real on the other side of the screen, with their own collective lives and experiences, and acting like it makes our shared online spaces all the better. And thanks for the interview!

We would like to thank Desryn for sharing a bit about himself with us and the community today. It is great hearing his journey from fan, to creator, to builder. We are excited to see him and his PantheonPlus team in the world of Terminus, carving their place in its soon to be written story.

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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