Come in and sit by the
fire as the cold rages outside (at least, here in the USA it’s pretty cold).
Listen to a tale about brave men, selfless sacrifice, deception, and love. The
Last of the Mohicans is this week’s theme. If you haven’t seen it then you
should at least listen to the soundtrack as it is one of the best soundtracks
this writer has ever heard.
So what do we pair down
this week? In this column, I’ve gone pretty gaga over story and characters. The
games we play are pretty devoid without at least some bit of motivation behind
what our characters are doing. Even in games where story is not the main focus,
there is still some semblance of an overarching theme. There is also, I’m
willing to bet, something the player pictures or has written in their heads for
every action they decide their avatar does.
Perhaps your character
is only very broadly defined. The nuances to their behaviors have nothing more
apparent than a gruff exterior and tactical acumen. Perhaps they are overly
emotional. When it comes down to it, the player has some reason for making
their characters they way they are.
Here’s where I will get
straight to the point in this week’s article. Major Duncan Heyward, played
brilliantly by Steven Waddington, deliberately mistranslates a key point in
Hawkeye’s words and takes his place at the burning stake. The heroic sacrifice.
It is a device that is used relentlessly in literature and film but hardly
seems to feel cliche. This single act shows truly how good of a person Duncan
is despite his earlier actions. It can do wonders for a character who is a
heart-of-gold type. It will spark memories for years when a player takes a
character he’s lovingly and painstakingly crafted and acted and sacrifices that
character for another’s benefit.
I challenge you, the
reader, to relive a memory like that in the comments. Give us a tale or two (or
three!) about a time when such and such did something that saved so and so.
Keep that memory alive and maybe it will ignite your own character to take that
step.
Until next time dear
readers when the wizards tackle The Evil Dead. Remember to shop
smart...shop S Mart!
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