Dying in an MMORPG

Imagine. You fire up that brand new MMORPG you’ve been hearing so much about for the first time. After you sign your will over to the company, it’s time to create a character. Choosing the race, face, place, bod and god, then add the stats, it’s almost time to enter the world. But instead of taking you directly there, you’re faced with one last question. Just place a mark beside your choice: x Mortal or x Immortal? Which do you choose?

The word’s getting around. The decision to play a character that cannot come back after death is going to be an option in the future, but the question is, when? We’re still in the arbitration process on that. Well, why would it hurt having the option to play hardcore and immortal at the same time?

Of course, there would be many decisions to be made. Can an immortal kill a mortal? Everquest took a small step in the direction of a harmony between the two types of players with their PvP vs. Normal choice. The big difference was that no matter your choice, you couldn’t permanently die. Now it’s time for the next step.

J.C. Smith from GamezNet expressed a view on the subject in an interesting article about the costs and benefits of a permanent death in an MMORPG, arguing that it should be a choice as well as giving an alternative to implement having the hardcore mode.

I personally think it’s a good idea to have both. Let’s please everyone! It can be done. Really.