Of Heroes and Heroines

Continue from my previous post where I mentioned about my games day with my brothers last Sunday, we also played a nostalgic game of Dungeon & Dragon - Dragon Strike. It is a very very old game we bought some 10 years ago when we were Sec 2 or 3. At the time of purchase, it was priced at $90!!

When I played on Sunday, it brought back many good old memories. I think the fun part was not just the memories but also how our play changed over the years. When we first started, we were fighting our own way through the maze regardless of the dangers ahead (traps, monsters etc). Unity was the last thing on our mind; FOR Honour and Glory was the motto. In the first few quests, we were ruthlessly beaten up by our Game Master - Winston Lim. You know your quest is not going smooth when your warrior is killed halfway and the rest of the team is struggling to stay alive. We were all running in different directions and no one was listening to anyone. It was only in the final quest where we began to learn how to cooperate as a team. And that was the last time we played the game, 10 years ago.

10 years later, more or less the same people playing, but with a much more different attitude and mentality. The game scenario is the same; maybe the Game Master toned down abit this time =) but evidently, the team spirit was very strong. No one tried to be hero, no one was fighting for their own merits. Everyone tried to listen to each other's opinions and suggestions. Everyone did their part to the best of their ability, even if it meant staying there doing nothing. In the end, we completed the quest successfully although not in the order the Game Master wanted it but we still did it (hehe). We have grown much since then. And we have shown what we can accomplish if we all work together.

That made me reflect alittle. Few games around are encouraging such spirit of camaraderie. Sadly, more are portraying individual greatness where glory is only reserved for the last man (or woman) standing. How I miss those games where we need to work together as a team. Coming back to our successful quest. Even though there's no ranking of any sort for that game (like who's the MVP, who has the most kills, most no. of successful dice rolls etc), which so many games nowadays have, the good thing about it is that at the end of it, we are all heroes and heroines. And as far as I'm concerned, that's a good game.