I have a few powerful, in-my-character's-shoes moments, but my most recent one happened in Guild Wars 2.
If I had been alone in the room I would probably have had myself a good cry.
When I joined the Durmand Priory I was placed under the tutelage of Magister Sieran. She is a Sylvari, a plant like race that dwells in Tyria. When I first met her I didn't really care for her recklessness and chipper attitude. After a few close calls (most of which were caused by her) I began to grow to like Sieran. She could always be trusted to be at my side and we always got out of trouble. I rose through the ranks of the Priory with her at my side until the day I finally became a Magister myself. She was so happy for me and we continued to travel together as equals.
Then came the time for us to warn the watch in Lions Arch about in impending Risen attack. As we were speaking to the commander, the undead came in droves from a ship at sea. Sieran and I fought our way through the courtyard with the army of Lions Arch trying to hold their ground. We fired a trebuchet into the ship and sunk it. Before we could celebrate, a dozen more ships of undead rose out of the sea.
Sieran and I ran back to the commander while the wounded army tried to hold back the Risen. As we were talking to the commander he was shot and fatally wounded. He sent his second-in-command to bring word of the isle's fall to Lions Arch. We had to get the remaining soldiers onto ships and sail back to the city, but the only way to do that was for someone to fight off the Risen to buy the soldiers time. We all knew it was a suicide mission, but Sieran volunteered to stay behind. She said that she was always getting into trouble anyway and that death would just be another adventure. The last I saw of her was the gates of the courtyard closing behind her as she was surrounded by the Risen.
Then came the time for us to warn the watch in Lions Arch about in impending Risen attack. As we were speaking to the commander, the undead came in droves from a ship at sea. Sieran and I fought our way through the courtyard with the army of Lions Arch trying to hold their ground. We fired a trebuchet into the ship and sunk it. Before we could celebrate, a dozen more ships of undead rose out of the sea.
Sieran and I ran back to the commander while the wounded army tried to hold back the Risen. As we were talking to the commander he was shot and fatally wounded. He sent his second-in-command to bring word of the isle's fall to Lions Arch. We had to get the remaining soldiers onto ships and sail back to the city, but the only way to do that was for someone to fight off the Risen to buy the soldiers time. We all knew it was a suicide mission, but Sieran volunteered to stay behind. She said that she was always getting into trouble anyway and that death would just be another adventure. The last I saw of her was the gates of the courtyard closing behind her as she was surrounded by the Risen.
If I had been alone in the room I would probably have had myself a good cry.
I had to hunt down the Spirit who controlled the Risen that attacked Lions Arch. I was still in awe at losing Sieran. I had grown to like her as a person, as a friend. Even typing this story brings back those feelings of loss like very few video games I have played before.
So I fight through droves of the undead searching for their master when he finally appears. He looked like a formidable opponent, but all I could think of was the fact that he had just killed my friend. I chopped away at his health not caring about my own. As his HP bar closed in on the last few hits he said something along the lines of "Ahh yes hero, I know your name well. It was the last thing that plant-girl screamed before she died." After hearing that I felt immense rage and yelled "F**K YOU!" as I delivered the final blow. (That part kind of freaked out my friends as I had headphones on and had no idea what was going on in game)
That moment in GW2 was unlike any I had experienced in a long while. I couldn't stop thinking about it at work the next day and it was hard to explain to my friends who were in the room while it happened. I still think about that character and they are my driving force to finishing Guild Wars 2.
So I fight through droves of the undead searching for their master when he finally appears. He looked like a formidable opponent, but all I could think of was the fact that he had just killed my friend. I chopped away at his health not caring about my own. As his HP bar closed in on the last few hits he said something along the lines of "Ahh yes hero, I know your name well. It was the last thing that plant-girl screamed before she died." After hearing that I felt immense rage and yelled "F**K YOU!" as I delivered the final blow. (That part kind of freaked out my friends as I had headphones on and had no idea what was going on in game)
That moment in GW2 was unlike any I had experienced in a long while. I couldn't stop thinking about it at work the next day and it was hard to explain to my friends who were in the room while it happened. I still think about that character and they are my driving force to finishing Guild Wars 2.
