02.08.2000

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Deepwater

Dardan: Thanks! It's great fun to be here!

Videric: So far so good *grins* To the questions then, this one I've asked from everyone: When did you start roleplaying, what games have you played prior or play besides to Ultima Online?

Dardan: I started playing a Swedish roleplaying game back in -85 I think it was. Since then I have tried almost every title of roleplaying that is out there. The ones I play currently is AD&D, mostly because a friend of mine likes it a lot.

James Bond, the roleplaying game which has its charms, Ars Magica, the game that I am most interested in and still that same Swedish game that I started with.

Videric: As you said about all types of Roleplaying, do you do LARP as well?

Dardan: Yes, I have done it on a few occasions. Both fantasy, future and even on one occasion a vampire live. It's not more then 10 occasions though, for it is too much work and it gets cheesy easily. *smiles*

Videric: What brought you to Ultima Online and how long have you been playing Ultima?

Dardan: I heard about it when it got released almost three years ago and my immediate thought was: "I would never ever pay a monthly fee to play a game!" So I didn't buy it or even went near it. A year later a friend of mine bought it, the player of Khamul and showed it to me. I got interested immediately.

So, I have played a little over two years on a game that I said I would never ever play. *grins*

Videric: Did you start as Roleplayer?

Dardan: Yes, I think you could say that. I started on Chesapeake during the dread days. It didn't take me long to find my way to the Yew abbey. I still have some friends that I visit there, although it was a long time ago now.

*Dardan waves to Marilla if by chance she would see this*

Videric: On Europa -shard you are know for being the mayor of Deepwater, could you tell a bit of history how Deepwater got founded and how it got it's name?

Dardan: Well, when we heard that there would open a new European shard we were a few players from Chesapeake that wanted to create a place where we could play and meet other interesting people. Among those players was Simon of the Fellowship of the Protectorate(FoP) and we shared a lot of ideas.

Even before Europa was opened we started to gather some likeminded people around us and had a blast preparing and planning. When finally the shard doors were opened, we had a few meetings and at one of them we decided to call the name Deepwater.

I thought at the time of names that were linked to the sea and to the surrounding landscape and sadly I didn't come to think of Waterdeep otherwise I would have tried to get another name. Don't want people to think that we do an easy rip off like that. *winks*

For me, the name was of lesser importance really. The important thing was and still is the people that works with this and still exists in this community.

Videric: So the name is related to the fact that the forest around is called "Deep Forest" in Ultima fiction?

Dardan: Yes, the person who came up with the name was the player of Quinn Mordam who is very well versed in Ultima lore.

Videric: What do you think made Deepwater so successful?

Dardan: Good question. I suppose that the answer is "The people". But I can answer it in another way as well.

We were first trying to build up something like this on Europa. What I tried to do was to look for anyone interested in the town and looking at what they did. I tried to give them reason to do good things. Giving news coverage of the good things that was done was a key factor I think. We have had many superb news reporters throughout the years, Palmer Eldritch comes to mind as he did such a splendid job searching for and covering stories from near and far.

Dardan: I suppose that if I continue this chain-of-thought I'll end up praising the people anyway. They are the ones building and making Deepwater such a success. *smiles*

Videric: Deepwater effort has been recognised by Origin as well. I remember stories of Lord British himself visiting, do you have a story about that?

Dardan: A subsection of Clan UK on Europa was called Knights of Darkmoor. I am not sure if they still exist. They were led by a Darkmoor Dragon who was one of the main instigators to the list of names that was sent to OSI as it was called then that gave us the Europa and Drachenfels servers.

He had been contacted by OSI officials and they told that Lord British wanted to make an appearance on the European servers. Darkmoor Dragon suggested that Deepwater would be where he showed up and worked out all the details.

I wasn't aware of any of this until I got a phonecall from the player of Khamul telling me: "You want to log on tonight", as I had previously said I didn't intend to log on at all. He told me that Lord British would show up and I didn't mind logging on at all after that. *grins*

Videric: I wish I had been visiting more often back then *grins*

Dardan: We waited some time and he showed up with two followers. I have forgot the names, but one was a Sage and one was a Warrior. Lord British held a speech out on the porch of the Owl's eye to the gathered people.

Sadly, they had just implemented the Translation Server and I couldn't hear a thing of what he said. The irony of it, I suppose. *grins*

* Videric curses the Translator server

Dardan: After the speech we went into the small study in the back of the Owl's where he continued to speak a little. I have been told that he spoke well of Deepwater and there is an image in the archives where he says: "We need more of the likes of you". I might be wrong on that quote.

Dardan: It is great to have met him however short it might have been. Even though he spelled my name "Darden" *grins*

Videric: Although it is never fun to talk about it, but what kind of troubles Deepwater has faced over the years?

Dardan: What trouble didn't we have? *smiles sadly*

-We have had gangs of pkers caming the town.
-We have had houses disappear from lack of care.
-We have had accounts hacked and all items removed.
-We have had a lot of hard feelings between players.
-We have had difficult discussions with other player run establishments on Europa.

I'd say that we have covered most of the problems a group of players could have although I don't think that we have had far more than anyone else. It's just a difficult world to create something in.

Videric: Shows just how strong the community is to survive it all, doesn't it?

Dardan: Yes, I suppose so. *smiles*

Videric: What have you learned of Deepwater, and what kind of tips would you give people making new establishments?

Dardan: I have learned a LOT from Deepwater. Handling things like massive online meetings and managing all the different aspects of a large community. The internet is a very special environment to create a community within. To not be able to see your friends (or foes) and only share thoughts through the written word makes it all very interesting.

Besides, I have learned to type a lot faster. *grins and winks*

*Videric chuckles*

Dardan: I could give three tips when you create a new establishment

First thing is that you should start small and build from there. Don't wait until you have *everything* set because you never will. Start with your small house or what you use as a base and work from there.

Second thing is publicity. Make everyone aware of what you are doing and where you are doing it.

Third thing is presence. You need to be present at your establishment and greet the people that come there.I read Fenris interview and I agree completely with what he said about being present. By spending time yourself at the establishment you'll get other people interested in spending time there as well.

Oh! And a fourth thing: HAVE FUN!

Videric: So what is Deepwater's situation now? I also that understand there is a town coming on Trammel which you are involved as well?

Dardan: Deepwater's situation right now is debated. There has been a month or so of very few people being there. Much of it has to do with the very heavy spawn that has driven a lot of people away. We are rebuilding some of the community structure and re-establishing the Owl's Eye as a tavern worth visiting.

The new town, Mistweir, on Trammel is a project that I can hardly say that I am involved in. Several others have created a town on the Trammel side however. I suspect more information about that will show up very soon.

I'd like to take the opportunity to invite all that is interested in joining a community and building something lasting to visit the Owl's Eye. Deepwater is still a town to count on. Expect to see more of it in the future.

Videric: Everything has an end, and I am afraid I have only one classic question left... What is your most remarkable or unforgettable moment(s) in Ultima Online?

Dardan: A good question, 'cause there are so many. I think that the most fascinating thing I have seen was the Spiritwood/Deepwater festival last fall when somewhere around a 150 people had a festival in both Spiritwood and Deepwater.

Another occasion that touched me very deeply was the first time I was on an in-game real memorial service for a boy that had been killed in a car accident. Some thirty people were gathered to his memory.

Oh, I can go on, but I am not sure if the audience finds musings of things they can hardly remember interesting. *grins*

Videric: Well this is tales of Traveller... so this is all about tales so feel free *grins* Do you have any final comments?

Dardan: Thanks for asking me about this interview, it was fun! I'll see you and the readers in Sosaria. Don't hesitate to stop and greet me.

Videric: I would like to thank you for coming to the interview, it was great to have you here.