10 Years of Everquest: Our Interview with Lydia Pope

In honor of Everquest's ten percent anniversary, WarCry will be featuring some days' worth of interviews and a screenshot retrospective.

Today, WarCry begins with an consultation with Lydia Pope, who has been with Everquest from the beginning. In her role as Community Manager, she has the inwardly track for great anecdotes. Lydia will be featured prominently in this week's celebration.

We've heard it said that you are the 'grand old dame' of SOE and EverQuest. Number 1 off, what do you think of the title?

Is that what someone called me? I'm non sure I want any title referring to me as being an old dame, though I suppose it's true in some regard. There are others that make considered me the SOE Historian – that title I think I'm more comfortable with. 🙂

Secondly, give United States of America what you suspect are the reasons behind the glorious title.

Well, I guess people might give Pine Tree State that title because I have been around Equivalent weight and the accompany since back in the solar day when it was still Verant. It became SOE in 2000. I first was conterminous with the company during the years of Tanarus, being in beta in 1998. I got into EverQuest in the beginning form of the avant-garde beta back in 1998, and, I started working on EQ in Whitethorn of 1999. There are many people in the company that receive been hither longer than I have though. I cognize well-nig masses in the ship's company and World Health Organization to blab ou to for what. I also know the history of projects and true when I don't know the perfect answer someone is looking, I usually know where to find IT. Just the other day someone told me that they usance to evidence people, "Just call Lydia I'm indisputable she knows…" and I did! I have my own archives of single projects, lore, and random information. I ne'er throw anything away; holding most of my netmail, old documents, old pictures, etc. I also have a really good memory!

Tell us a bit about your background with the EverQuest community and SOE. How have your duties denaturized over the age?

Over the tense 10 years, I consume worked in various positions in the company including, Game Master, Senior Secret plan Master, Lead Game Passe-partout, Quest & Events Master, and Game Architect and Community Relations Manager. I feature worked happening many of our games including EverQuest, EverQuest II, EverQuest Online Adventures, PlanetSide, Tanarus and a little bit for Star Wars Galaxies and Vanguard. As a community manager, I have helped out in some aspects on all of our games, American Samoa does everyone in our department.

How involved are you with the website and its continually changing content?

See all the content over in that location changing? That's me doing the changing! Getting back thereto historian title, I've also been referred to as a traditional knowledge guru. While I won't pretend to make love everything there is to know about the lore of the huge world that is Norrath, I do recognize a band. I also collect every imagination I can possibly produce my work force on. Having worked as a house decorator on the game in the past, I have oodles upon oodles of documentation. I actually created the Player Nexus on the EQPlayers website so that I tail have a place to get storing all the information that I take over in folders and in my caput!

So you've been in that location from the start hmmm? What do you take to be the game today as compared to 10 years ago?

I consider the game macrocosm of EverQuest (across all the games) has become thusly huge; it has get ahead Sir Thomas More of a lifestyle rather than a game. Each year as the globe grows with raw areas and new content, the world expands into something that cannot be compared to. The community for each of the EverQuest worlds grows stronger and nigher together. The lore of the game gets even deeper and more intriguing daily. I think the "game" is like one of those bunnies that just keeps going, and going, and will preserve to go for quite some time.

Any favorite in-game memories?

My favorite in-game memory for my play characters was getting my Moving Black Robe for my sensation back in beta. I drooled complete them for so long and the day I at last got unitary, I was nearly in tears! In general, I think my favorite memory was the Red Kithicor battle. I was G on The Rathe at the metre and Alan "Brenlo" Crosby was a guide connected the server. The whole series itself was very complex and traditional knowledge-driven. It was great portraying some of the characters and watching the players enjoy the series. The final battle took aim in the Kithicor Forest. I got to portray Innoruuk! In this event, Innoruuk cast spells that basically killed everyone. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen reasons, it also killed the host! The funny thing is when people returned to the game, they created roleplay reasons of why the server crashed. Behind the scenes, we were cleaning upward things for a couple of days. I'm equitable willing that the community was competent to enjoy the event. It's one of those events that if you were there, you'll never forget it.

Any favorite 'assembly moments'?

*smiles with an evil grin* Not far after I took over as Community Manager for Equivalent, I created my special area on the forums called The Torture Sleeping room, but I didn't pull in a post ethical away. Community members started creating togs in the in that respect with all sorts of cabal theories and display of awe. The torture had commenced!

In your estimation, what have been the unexcelled profession events over the years?

Actually, one of my favorite events was back when I was a Gramme on The Rathe. The server population there was brimful of role-players, to my pleasure! This was back in 1999. A series of role-represent events ended in a Gild War between dark and light-footed. Several people nigh their guilds to choose a lateral and so one of the biggest battles in EverQuest history took place in the Commonlands with Zatozia the Torturess right on that point in the middle there to enjoy the bloodshed.

What is the most satisfying part of your Book of Job?

What makes me feel good at the end of the day is seeing people enjoy depicted object, activities or news I provided for them in-game or out-of-stake. I must admit, it's also fun having people bow downhearted to me at Fan Faires!

What's the best frivolity that an SOE-ite has played on another?

During people's birthday's people like to fill leading each others cubes or offices with various toys, balloons, streamers, etc. Still, Jason "Pex" Ryan and I once baby-treated Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske's cubicle one clock time. We mangle those long pool noodles and fastened them to the edges of her desk and walls. She socialistic it like that for years. The funny thing is, she actually bumped into one of the walls of her cubed that same day. No worn spot though, the pool noodles came to the rescue! She kept the noodles on her desk for a while. Even though she doesn't have them thither anymore, they placid linger round the office. Ashlanne has a bit of a job with standing and walking right. *ducks from a pool dome*

Can we arrive a description or a photo of your office/cubicle?

My cubicle, The Torture Chamber, was changed back in October 2007. After Halloween ended, everyone kept asking me when I was taking blue my Halloween decorations. I kept responding, "What's Halloween?" The Distortion Chamber is presently in a state of confusedness. I moved to a different location over the winter holiday interrupt and haven't had prison term to put it punt together the way I prefer it. Normally my cubicle is pretty dark, evil and tidy. Currently, its fractional decorated and incomplete full of stuff that needs to be sorted. Yes Brenlo and Grimwell, I'm going to straighten it up soon!

Explain that mess on your desk. *g*

Oh nary, who told? I truly let been trying to observe the time to complete it up! I give birth different evil creatures lurking about. I do fitting happen to already have the story backhand down for the Portrait of Zatozia the Torturess:
Plump for in 1999, a great artist from The Rathe Waiter, Quinne, Order of Polaris guild leader, drew this portrayal of my avatar. Thanks once more Quinne! The image was supported the screenshot version that was up on the Harpy's Chief Tavern profile when that website was live.

Quinne, along with numerous other notables from The Rathe residential area, was deep into roleplaying and I enjoyed interacting with him. As a ranger of Tunare he was destined to be my enemy, however, he never claimed intrinsically and always tried to convince me non to torturing and tried to intercede betwixt me and others, especially during the groovy dark versus light warfare that took place. For this, atomic number 2 was spared from being punished himself.

He sent me the artwork long agone and I printed it out. I didn't realize how big the actual sizing would embody. I thought it would print out on an 8 ½ past 11 page. The image ended up impression exterior outspread across nine 8 ½ by 11 pages. Oops!

I could suffer reprinted it using match on page option merely instead, I tape-recorded it in concert carefully and placed it inside Jeff Butler's office, who was the Customer Service Manager at the time. I had planned to take the taped version home to get a frame for it only frame it in Jeff's office temporarily to keep it from getting mashed up around my desk.

Later that day, John Smedley went into Jeff's office for a meeting of approximately sort and happened to see the picture. Atomic number 2 came out of his office and asked me to charg him the electronic version of the image. He so had someone get it printed out on select poster paper and had it framed! Thanks again John!

Back in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr., it utilised to hang dormie on the wall of my office, however, as you can see, I have a block now! Yes, I got NERFED! I had IT hanging up at home awhile just one time I came back working on EverQuest, I felt the need to set the mood for torture!

What are you ignoring and so you can finish this Q&adenosine monophosphate;A?

I'm ignoring Brenlo, who happened to be looking over my shoulders spell I was answering the first question. Actually, I have few web articles that I'm ignoring. But I'm a study-a-holic though so I'll finish them before I permit myself to leave for the day.

When you look into your personal crystal ball, what Doctor of Osteopathy you get word in the future for EverQuest?

I see the EverQuest franchise continuing for years to come.

Now for both in-game thrust. Coiffe you still diddle fairly regularly?

Yes I still play regularly. Not as regularly A I would equivalent to though referable having a busy own life. I tend to take breaks from playing and past jump off back into the game and play in marathon sessions with work breaks in between. It makes it hard to keep abreast with my guild though.

What class and race is/are your fictional character(s)? What class and rush do you prefer overall and why?

My main characters are a human druid and human ecclesiastic. Yes I cognise humans are good allied character and not evil. Zatozia forgives Maine for IT! I as wel enjoy performin wizards and warriors. I be given to wish healers and classes that can do a peck of damage chop-chop.

Can we see what your toons look look-alike please?

Unselfish a picture of my play characters might give inaccurate their identity. However, I am willing to divvy up some of Zatozia.

Do separate players know which characters are you and/or do you have a 'stealth' character for when you bu lack to fiddle sooner than manage?

When I log in to game to work, I usually log-in with either Zatozia Oregon a character that is not premeditated to comprise my play character. Those characters I don't mind telling people who they are. When I'm logged in to crippled to sport, I normally log on at home and with my make for accounts. Only a small number of people know my play characters.

Are you in a guild? If so, can you tell us which one?

Yes I'm in a guild. No I will not state you which one! For the protection of my /tell windowpane and saneness, I don't similar to reveal my guild. My order has been a successful offensive guild though. Unfortunately, I father't bugger off a chance to raid with them anymore due to my time constraints.

What are your favorite quests?

I love all the epic quests because they give the classes a feel that they are following the path for their classes.

What areas in crippled are your favorites and why?

My favorite zone is Blackburrow because it one of the maiden dungeons most of my characters old. I justified like the tree trap. Likewise World Health Organization doesn't like audience the gnoll barking and run from trains? I also like the Plane of Earth and the Rathe Council raid from Planes of Power. I think out its one of the top raids in the game. I'm sure people handle the confrontation otherwise these days, but at the time it gave everyone a chore to do throughout the fight. It made everyone sense equally important.

Which elaboration have you enjoyed the most? I mean, we know the answer is, "ALL of them!" but there must be one that holds a special place in your heart. Which one and wherefore?

The Planes of Power was my favorite elaboration due to the bust progression. Traditional knowledge-wise, I retrieve Seeds of End has jumped upbound amongst my favorite because of the history information technology unfolded.

What critters do you slay that bring together you perverse pleasure at the end of a tough day?

Rats and Snakes! And yes, I mean the ones you find in the newbie yards. Back before changes were made to the model, I use to leap finished rats. Basically, I would lark about the fledgeling yards, bump into a tell on and it would force Pine Tree State to bounce finished it. Afterwards I would and so kill the rotter! I like to kill snakes honorable to listen the sounds they produce when they die!

Please ADD anything else that pleases you!

The EverQuest community is the true privy seat what has kept the game releas for wholly these years. Give thanks you!

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/10-years-of-everquest-our-interview-with-lydia-pope/

Source: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/10-years-of-everquest-our-interview-with-lydia-pope/

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