What the Player Wants, the Player Gets

I was chatting with the other artists in a Warhammer fan group, and then... I made a player OC too!

A boy, small build, about 1.9 meters tall.

This player has both the Fourth Disaster player trait and the avenger trait, since the Emperor conscripted him and his Earth mom only had time to give him a player cheat.

Then the player goes berserk: You fucking took me away from Him! I'll kill you!

He's a player with PTSD from being separated from loved ones and being abducted and trafficked, so he really empathizes with Big Ang.

A mix of wandering son and avenger: a wanderer forever separated from home, and an avenger furious that he was taken away.

But since he can't die or feel pain and can see health bars, his player side is strong too.

He does whatever he wants. After all, this isn't his home. So he'll do things on a whim, out of "impulse," "emotion," or "desire." But thanks to his hometown's moral education, he still has a basic sense of right and wrong.

You could say he has a basic moral compass and Earth values. He counts as a normal person in the 2K world, a remnant of the civilization back home.

He'll take Big Ang and run without a second thought, not caring what happens to the World Eaters. Then he'll casually pay a huge price to deal with the Butcher's Nails, and egg Big Ang on to massacre Nuceria's nobles, before impulsively hooking up with Big Ang. They're soulmates, after all.

With Little M, he's the type who loves teasing the moth, dumping all his inner impulses on him. But his methods are nothing compared to Warhammer standards, and the moth just accepts it.

With Curze, they're bad influences on each other because their ideas and values match too well. The player believes in simple good-is-rewarded, evil-is-punished justice, where crimes must be paid for and punishment should fit the crime. Basically, an old-school Chinese hero who'll draw his sword and kill someone for a promise or an idea.

So they're mutual tyrant and treacherous minister, egging each other on and helping evil flourish.

As for Pepe, they're a pair of bickering rivals.

He'll trade barbs with Pepe, give him little annoyances, and tease him, but he'll also praise him with absolute sincerity, side with him without a second thought, help him without asking for anything in return, and, genuinely, want to eat him.

That's right, the player is pretty open-minded. He'll eat them.

His basic moral code is the kind of morality that would barely count as "being a decent person" in 2K. He's not a good person, just a normal one.

For example, the way he treats the elderly, children, women, and the weak.

The main thing is that he grew up on 2K Earth and received old-school Chinese schooling and family education. A lot of it is carved into his bones.

He doesn't see Warhammer as home, just a game. I mean, it has health bars! It's a full-immersion game you can't log out of.

But no matter how much bullying, cruelty, and malice there is, it's still... um, nothing special. The Primarchs and Astartes might even think this guy is so fucking weak, kind, and naive.

Also, the player is a player playing a game, so he doesn't care about a lot of things that matter to others.

It's a game. Having fun, following impulses, and satisfying desires matter most.

So he'll run off with Big Ang, trade the points he worked so hard to earn from missions for a way to remove the Butcher's Nails, spend a long time working to resolve the joys and sorrows of ordinary mortals, and impulsively hook up with Big Ang.

He bullies the moth, but the moth might not even notice. (Sigh.)

The player thinks he's pretty awful, but the moth thinks it's all so-so, and might even offer suggestions.

Then the player is shocked: You're such a pervert!

The moth is confused.

After all, he's a normal person from 2K. The worst he might do is, well, whip someone, stab them a couple of times, or fuck them while really angry.

The moth: Oh. You're going too easy on me. Want to stab me a couple more times?

Compared with the horrific things that go on in Warhammer, the player is practically just being affectionate.

And he might even think he's gone too far and awkwardly try to make it up to him.

When normal people get too angry, they regret it once they calm down.

The moth: Ah. (Confused) (Amused)

Especially since the player is a plot enthusiast. He'll spend a lot of time and effort on some sudden interest or impulse, without regard for the cost.

You know how martial arts and xianxia games sometimes have a plot where someone travels a thousand miles to send someone home? That's the kind of guy the player is.

He acts on a promise, an impulse, or an idea.

And because he has PTSD, he'll really pay a price to reunite ordinary people with their loved ones, avenge parents who've lost children and children who've lost parents, or make someone smile.

Also, the player doesn't care at all about status, rank, ability, or things like that.

Because it's a "game."

And besides, this isn't "my world" or "my home."

So he doesn't care about anyone's social status here.

In his eyes, there are just "my people" and "outsiders."

So Pepe, Big Ang, Khami, and Little M are all, in his eyes... my friends, lovers I occasionally hook up with, my baobeis.

So he'll offer companionship and help without a second thought.

He doesn't expect anything in return.

It's mainly because... they're friends and lovers in a game.

And because those deeply rooted beliefs shape him.

But the main thing is that the player really doesn't care about all that. I mean, would any player care more about in-game resources than about the friend playing alongside them?

No.

So to the player, Pepe is Pepe, Khami is Khami, Little M is his moth, and Big Ang is the Angron he cares about most.

In other words, their abilities and such don't matter to him. He'll admire them and be impressed, like in a game: Holy shit, you're amazing! But in the end, it all comes back to chatting and running instances together.

Of course, if a friend isn't free, they'll just make plans for another day. It's no big deal.

If a friend gets bullied, say by the Emperor or the other Primarchs, the player will also step up out of loyalty. He doesn't care about the cost. If a friend gets bullied, of course you call your buddies and fight back. It doesn't matter how long it takes.

Theme: Even in death, a hero's spirit lives on!