237: The Tao of Leveling

[coldfrog]

I'm an embarassing level 22 I think. My college education launched me quickly to 20, including a lot of life lessons (Though I didn't level up more than maybe once until near my sophomore year I believe, after which I gained a lot of levels quickly). Then, assuming this was a certain type of game, I lost a level after that. (if not I went all the way back to the beginning of 20) I spent my time moving very slowly, and I feel like I am on the brink of breaking level 23 soon, but I need to push through hard soon.

My professions, however, are much better. I'm a level 37 video gamer, a level 26 programmer, a level 34 literature aficionado and a level 28 board gamer.

 

[JeppeH]

lvl 35 Perspektivator. lvl 25 Gamer. lvl 5 programmer.

But maybe life is more like the X360 and you unlock achivements?
Then I would have the finished School, X-wife, Got-Fired, Existential Crisis and Super-lover badges unlocked by now. - Hope that unlocks a pet or something nice and not a Broken-Condom-Surprice

 

[Vinticore]

Whoa thats deep, thanks for the good read

 

[Sniper430]

Id have to say i enjoyed the fact that the author used titles along with the Lv, hopefully you've put most of the work in your life towards specefic goals, and that gives you a title to be proud of...

Im going to have to go with Disgaea for my level, 1400ish, reincarnated a few times (thought it would be good to rethink my goals a few times) but have my weapons and armors with maxed innocents (been handed great tools in the form of successful relatives and friends,) so i may be ready to take on "The Land Of Carnage" (life past school) pretty soon. I haven't experienced enough to obtain a title yet though.

very well thought and written article!

 

[Wildrow12]

I play my life like I play Shadow Run: no levels. Just points to be assigned.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Like you said, there is no simple answer. My goals (now that a good many of them have been met) are a lot harder to define then that of the amnesia stricken hermaphrodite we usually see in rpgs.
Even in the origin of level numbers (old fashioned pen&paper rpging) , they were only used as a rudimentary summary of everything else that had been picked up, it's not a good indication of what the character has done or can do. As such they've become a bit unnecessary in video games but we do see a drifting away from it in games like Borderlands and Fallout where a character of a higher level is given a title on top of the number which indicates skills or experiences.

I think Miso should've shared another bit of wisdom with you: like the map is not the place, the level is not the character.

 

[MeTheMe]

Many of my own personal monsters have yet to be adressed, and maybe I just lack the certain skill set to challenge them. Other demons have long since been vanquished, like confidence speaking (or singing) in public, and confidence enough for another chess game. I'm sure more troubles show themselves as life goes along, but for now, I guess we can only take it a level at a time.

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here, and say... Level 16 Choirmancer

 

[Mattteus]

I'm level 100, and as soon as I get better at something, I go up to level 100. (sic)

 

[ninjajoeman]

*nerdgasm*

I guess I am a level 5 apprentice engineeroreroch thingy
I who have gotten high grades in my classes and I who have the ability to put my leg behind my head!

Do not look down at my level for I am a veteran player!
I also have a fair amount of hats"tf2 reference ftw"

speaking of tf2 is levels just as meaning full as weapon levels?"tf2 reference again and again ftw"

 

[DSEZ]

that was a awesome read

id say im level 9 or 10 im not done with high school yet but since ive played sports basically all my life and on varsity wrestling team as a freshmen in high school

 

[JohnTomorrow]

A brilliant piece. What a concept!

And yet, when i think about it, i find myself realizing that i've thought of that as well - what level am i, in this great Mumorpeger that is life?

And its not as simple as a mathematical algorithm. Like Staebell said, its difficult to place down exactly how good at a skill you are. I know for a fact there are things that i can do almost to perfection, without thinking - but there are other skills that require a touch of thought before i peform properly.

And thats just physical skills. The mental and personal skills are harder to perform, and to master, especially the emotion aspect.

I suppose, if you wanna look at life like a video game, then Real Life is one of the hardest, most indepth game out there, with out of this world graphics and interaction.

 

[LittleMikey]

From now on, whenever I achieve something in life, I shall make the Final Fantasy Level Up sound.

 

[D-Ship]

I can honestly say that not only do I not know my level, I don't want to know it.

That probably stems from my belief that once you clearly define yourself you tend to limit yourself.

I had a similar epiphany at one phase of writing this piece, and actually ended up axing a paragraph that addressed it. Too many thoughts, not enough page space I guess. As I'm glad a lot of you are finding in the comments, divining your level is a pretty complicated maneuver. I ended up going down a lot of the paths people are exploring here, but - as ever - you guys are expanding the possibilities beyond the breadth of my own digging. Expand on!

 

[inpachi]

TO MANY WORDS MY SMALL BRAIN CANT HANDLE SO MANY WORDS! But im level -0 because i havent even figured out how to walk in a straight line yet.. HOW DO MOTOR SKILLZ?

 

[The Random One]

erm. It's very rare for me to be critical of an Escapist article, and especially one on the Editor's Choice issue. but this article seems to have missed the point. it's a very deep issue, which leaps off a gaming analogy all of us can relate to but shoots off in deep philosophical waters. But the writer seems to be more interested in semantic and shallow metaphors, only glimpsing at the true meaning of it towards the ending. A great topic more or less wasted.

I guess I'm level 11, because I haven't done anything I like with my life since I completed college, and barely so before.

 

[carpathic]

I've often struggled with this myself. I think I am likely a level 1 philosopher, but I am a level 20 employment counsellor coupled with a level 20 dilettante/flaneur.

 

[JohnTomorrow]

To: The Random One

I think you're the one who is missing the point. The point is that there is no clear definition. He has no more ammunition then semantic and metaphor, same as any Zen or Buddist teaching.

The sound of one hand clapping, if a tree falls and no-one hears it, who are you? They are all vauge, deep questions which require actual meditation before the true meaning is revealed.

 

[edcalaban]

I feel like I might be Level 18. I've handled a few beasts and grabbed some levels, but too many of my quests are sidequests. I need to get back to the main questline after grinding some more.

 

[DeAvatar]

if Miso is around 36ish level , i'd go with 26? 27? This Grasshopper still has a looong way to go.

 

[JonnoStrife]

>9000.