Real Name: Robert
Character Name: Aaikan (pronounced "I Kan")
Character Race: Human
Character Class: Paladin
Deity: Mithaniel Marr the only True God of Norrath
Server: Luclin
Guild: Triad Continuum
Guild Rank: Guild Leader
Guild Website: http://www.triadcontinuum.net
Length of Time in Guild: 6+ Years
Real World Location: Sunny Southern California
Career / Employment Industry / Current Level of School:
Hobbies: Besides EQ? My family, movies, dining out, running around with my dog, Rebel (a Boxer), occasional sweat sessions at the gym. I also do geeky things like collecting comic books. I also maintain the guild website and forums (which is probably why the website looks so bad).
Allakhazam Name: Aaikan
Allakhazam Profile: 247072 (probably needs updating)
Your Website: http://www.triadcontinuum.net

Family? Yes. I have a wonderful and gorgeous wife who loves to shop but, she’s low maintenance. If I could get her to play EQ, my life would be perfect. I have a 16 year old daughter who’s a very smart junior in High School. She’s in Color Guard which means she travels a bit for competitions, some local and some quite a distance. Unfortunately for me, she just got her Driver’s License. I also have a 15 year old step-daughter who’s on the school Golf Team. At 15 she looks like she could be a model when she grows up, but she’s interested in starting her own business when she graduates. I also have a precocious 7 year old daughter who’s going on 30 and a 5 year old son who is nuts about Lego Star Wars. He’s my pal and best friend though and there isn’t a better kid a Dad could ask for. We also have two dogs, Rebel (my Boxer) and Lola (an ugly shite eating Pug...which my wife desperately wanted). It’s a seriously ugly dog, even among the Pug community. But my wife wanted her because she thought she was cute. Then again, she married me, so I guess there's something to be said about being ugly.

Besides EverQuest, what other MMORPGs have you played?
EQ was the first MMORPG that I've played but I've also looked at Dark Age Of Camelot, City of Heroes, World of Warcraft, Star Wars Galaxies, Everquest II, Anarchy Online and Guild Wars. Each has their merits but I'm a die-hard Everquest fan and I've always stayed loyal. Even when I was playing other MMORPGs, EQ always came first.

How did you find out about EverQuest, and when did you begin playing?
I started playing in February of 2000. I was in a computer store, looking for a new RPG and I had never heard of Everquest but I picked up the box anyway and was comparing it to the other MMO of the day, Ultima Online. Being a huge fan of the original Ultima games, it was a difficult decision but I finally decided to give Everquest a try. I'm happy to say it was the better decision of the two. I never even considered giving UO a try after that.

Do you know anyone in real life who plays EverQuest?
I feel like I know several of my guildies on a personal level, even though we’ve never formally met face to face. I used to have a few employees who played, back in 2003 but most of them have since moved onto other games. My daughter and my step daughter both play when they have the time. But as I said, both are in high school so they keep pretty busy with school and other activities.

How did you come up with your main character's name?
Hmmm... what's the statute of limitations? Never mind. Back in the day, I used to run a BBS that was frequented by "unsavory" pirate types. One of my users used to go by the name of Aikan Drum. I researched the reference and found a book by Julian May entitled "The Many Colored Lands". It's main character was Aikan Drum. I fiddled with the spelling and came up with Aaikan. Later I added the surname "Drumm" but around level 40, I dropped the surname and just remained as Aaikan.

What factors affected your choice of race / class for your main character?
I've always favored a Knight class (we won't talk about reincarnation but...) and a Paladin is a Holy Knight, an Icon of Virtue (yeah, that's me). Growing up I was a bit askew in my values and morals but eventually I saw the error of my ways and decided to use what I'd learned for more positive endeavors. So the idea of being a Holy Knight, smiting evil appealed to me.

How I chose my race and original stats was quite by accident. I was playing around with character creation and was still tweaking the stats when I accidentally hit the button to confirm creation. I decided to check out what I could of the game and got so wrapped up in it, that before I knew it I was moving up in levels. Aaikan was born and rather than delete him and start over with the stats I wanted, I kept him and have been playing him ever since.

About how often do you play EverQuest, and how long is a typical playing session for you?
My play frequency varies. A typical week is 4-6 hours a day for 3 to 5 days a week, depending on what's going on at the time, both in game and at home. After The Serpent's Spine expansion was released, many of my Guild members decided to grind through the new levels as fast as we could. We quit raiding for a full two weeks to give everyone the opportunity to do some experience grinding. Those were long 6-12 hour days on average, but that's a rare occurrence.

How do you spend your time in game?
I like to explore new areas of the game and revisit old areas as well. Most of the time I'm in game, I'm either in a group or on a Raid, though I'm very familiar with soloing as well. Because of play time and availability, Aaikan played most of his first 55 Levels solo. These days, I have to carve out some time to do my job as Guild Leader, which includes chatting with members and Officers, helping to maintain the Guild Bank and trying to keep everyone motivated and focused. When I can’t log in, the Officers are there and keep things moving. Much of our success is due in no small part to the Officers of TC as well as a few incredible players who are encyclopedias of knowledge and driven to help other Guild Members. I can't say enough about these guys and gals.

What other class/race combinations have you levelled past 35?
I have a 68 Dark Elf Cleric that I use to accompany me now, mostly when I'm not in a group and when I'm playing solo. I also have a level 35 Iksar Monk that's rarely played as well as a Level 56 Wood Elf Druid.

Approximately what percentage of the EverQuest world have you experienced?
Quite a bit, considering how large the game has become. Triad's goal right now is to become intimately familiar with TSS and PoR Zones. We've been working on getting folks completed in their ToB progression and in farming TSS Armor Molds and upgrades. I haven't seen End Game content in PoP or any of the expansions since then. This is partially due to our "casual guild" status. But for a casual guild, we've accomplished and seen quite a bit.

What is your favourite expansion?
I liked Kunark, it was new and different but to date, Prophecy of Ro and The Serpent's Spine seem to have done things well. Achievable upgrades for Triad's members, quests that don't take weeks to complete and rewards that actually offer some decent stat upgrades.

What is your least favourite expansion?
Lost Dungeons of Norrath. Achievement and gear was determined by the number of points you would accumulate and you'd need to spend these accumulated points to buy spells and gear upgrades. Which is fine, except that things start to turn redundant after a while. Not to mention that you had to get a whole group together to do them. They've since lowered the required number of people to obtain the events but it's too little too late. And the Leaderboard... um.. who cares? I’m also a little disappointed in the numerous bugs we're finding with our push in ToB access but... We're not letting them get in our way.

What is your favourite zone?
Being a Paladin, I like places that have lots of undead mobs. Castle Mistmoore was fun and still is a hoot to go back and clear solo. I enjoy Veksar and The Hole, where I can still get a little bit of experience for myself and my cleric, and the Crypt of Decay is also fun. On a boring afternoon, I like to troll the Tower of Frozen Shadow. That was a nicely done zone, imho. But basically, anywhere there are undead would be a favorite zone of mine.

What is your favourite NPC?
Llara the Mysterious, because she's mysterious of course! Ok, in the real Norrath, Lord Mithaniel Marr is high on my list, partially because he is, afterall, my deity. But I'm also fond of Irak Altil. For a dead guy, this NPC gets around. He's a best friend to any Pally seeking his Epics.

What is your favourite raid encounter (if different from NPC)?
Rallos Zek the Warlord. Ok, I lie but he is the first Raid mob to come to mind and he stands out to me because it was a well earned and well deserved victory. I do like Dragons though. Gorenaire would be a favorite just because she's part of the original Pally epic and one that was a roadblock to me for a time, back in the day. Now she's all but impossible to find up as most old world dragons tend to be perma-camped by farmers. I do have my eye on some of those DoN Dragons though.

If the war between Firiona Vie and Lanys T`Vyl erupted again, which side would you take?
Hard to say. In the realm of Norrath, they're both hotties. I like the fair damsel types but there's something steamy and demure about those Dark Elves! Still, being a Paladin and all, I should stay true to my vows and take a stand against the evil Lanys.

Describe your most memorable moment or proudest accomplishment in game.
Hmm... Epics always come to mind when this question is asked and I am proud to have acquired my 1.0 and my 1.5. But my biggest and proudest accomplishment is being a part of my guild, Triad Continuum. "Freaks" as we're known by the oldschoolers. TC has had some of the best talent in the game come through our Ranks. Originally founded by Odomora on the first day that the Luclin Server opened, it was a new guild made up of guild members from three other servers. As the oldest active Guild on the (original) Luclin Server, we've had our share of ups and downs and the "accordion" effect with guild members. But in the wake of guilds that come and go TC's been like a steady light, staying the course. Having the right people as Officers certainly make the difference and I've been fortunate in having some of the very best this game has to offer. As the Guild Leader, I draw upon the strength's of these people who are the real leaders of the Guild. I direct and make final decisions based upon input from the Officers but it's really they who deserve the credit. (Insert shameless plug for Malifon, Einile, Zeespeede, Caellus, Tnesy, Jalcea, Violette, Elanaina and our Officers Emeritus Xotic and Belinda!)

What are some things you would change or implement in order to improve EverQuest?
Absolutely, irrevocably, I'd fix the "non-bug" bug associated with the Samples of Corruption quest and other ToB progression tasks. I don't care what UI you're using, you should not be forced to repeat these tasks because an instance hiccups.

I think I'd also do a reset of 'Raid Timers' on non-raidable mobs. IMHO, Skylance mobs should not have raid timers associated with them. Those events are strictly one-groupable, why should they have raid timers? I'd also like to see an easier way around backflagging and progression quests. For our Guild, many cannot raid often or stay on for 3+ hours every night. While I don't like /task adding people for flags it would be a nice option to have available as an alternative on more progression tasks.

What types of spells, skills, disciplines, and/or alternate abilities would you like to see added to your class?
Okay, you asked for it! I'm really glad you asked this question... The first thing I'd do is get rid of the "Palycorn" AA (as it's come to be known) and get Paladins a REAL Holy Warhorse! A Unicorn is great for myth but it's not something I'd ever associate with a Holy Knight. Not to mention some guildies have offered several suggestions on what to do with that horn. Quite coincidentally, it’s usually after I work as puller too. But truthfully, look at those evil Shadow Knights. They get a great looking steed. Flaming hooves and snarling nostrils... And we Paladins, we get someone's idea of "My Little Pony". I know the Devs at SoE were having a good time when they came up with the Unicorn idea. Rumor has it that it was Brenlo's idea, getting even with the Pally playing employees he had who used to steal his coffee mug =)

I'd also like to see Paladins get an upgrade to their Pacify spell line. It's totally useless in the higher Levels. I will occasionally pull when we're lacking an appropriate class on a raid (or when my Guild is feeling suicidal). But seriously, I'm great at it and have become renowned for my elite "Pally Pulls" and the fact that I never over-pull. On those rare occasions when I’m pulling and we do wipe it's usually because my Clerics couldn't keep up with the heals /nod but they’re getting better with more training. /grin

If you were responsible for organizing and running a GM event, what would it be and how would it play out?
GM invasions are a blast. There's just something to be said when you get 5-10 GMs and Guides in the zone going on a killing spree and then catching up to them for a little payback. I think I'd also like to see a Raid mob break free of his zone and rampage his way to a neutral zone, waiting for someone to build a strong raid force to defeat him. Of course, loot would have to be something more than just a Bag of the Tinkerer's and it should drop multiple items for those who participated.

It would also be fun to host a raid on Crushbone with hundreds of Level 1 Gnome players determined to loot the Emperor. Can you imagine the carnage of little level 1 gnomes scattered about?

If you had to start over from scratch, what race/class combination would you choose?
I think I'd stay with the Human Paladin. I might be tempted to experiment with a High Elf Wizard though. You gotta admire their DPS. But I'm a hack 'n slash fan. Jump into the Fray, kill as many as you can and let the Gods sort them out.

How do you describe EverQuest to your coworkers or computer-illiterate friends?
I've given up trying to do so. They don't really get that I'm online with a group of real people behind the toons, planning, plotting and strategizing on how to take on a new mob. Seriously, it's all I can do to help my wife understand the concept of dozens of people in my guild, waiting on me while I’m AFK and having to help my son off the toilet. There's just some skills there that he'll have to develop faster...that's what soap and water is for, right? "You have become better at Wiping! (18)"

What is next for you in the world of EverQuest?
We'll continue to focus on Theater of Blood for a while and do more exploring and farming in TSS. There's too much that these zones have to offer that our Guildies can use. I'm also still working on my AAs, though I have deviated from my Defensive AAs in favor of some Pally Eye Candy.

** Pick the winner in a battle between...

Felwithe vs Neriak - Felwithe for the win! Classic example of Good vs. Evil. (Unless of course, Neriak's army was all made up of hot female Dark Elves, in which case I might have to reconsider).

Solusek Ro, Lord of Flame vs Karana, the Rainkeeper - As much as I hate to say it, Sol Ro would win this one. Sure, Karana's got wind and rain but it takes more than that to put out Sol's light.

Muramites of Discord vs the Drachnids of Darkhollow - I hate 'em both but I think I hate Drachnids more. There's just something creepy about having that many legs and a human head staring at you. Although the female Drachnids are kinda hot looking....

Tradeskilling vs Questing - Tradeskilling has it's place and it's something I hope lives on with some continued high quality items. But I'm a fan of Questing. I like traveling to exotic locales, meeting interesting NPCs and eating the local foods. Just be careful not to drink the water.

Instance Zones vs Static Zones - Hmm... It's a tie. I like instanced zones because it's only you and your party and nobody can come in between you and your goal, nobody's camping your target and you don't have to wait hours or days waiting for your target to spawn. But you have to admit, the old days of Naggy raids created lots of opportunities to meet and interact with new people.

Monster Missions vs Project M (PvP as Monsters) - Ehh.. I never cared for either.

Soloing vs Pick-Up Groups - I think I'd prefer to Solo. I've been in some good Pick-Up Groups before but I've been in my share of 'Pick-Up Groups From Hell' too.

Guild Raiding vs Grouping With Friends - Both. I enjoy the intimate time with just me and 40 other close friends going after a single goal. I also like the comfort of a small group where you can let your hair down a bit and not have so many people asking why they let the Pally pull.

GM (real people) Events vs Scripted (computerized) Events - GM Events, hands down. We need more of them. A lot of players don't appreciate these events but consider how much time and effort must go into putting those things together. They're nice distractions from the typical EQ day.

Arena Royal Rumble vs 1-on-1 Duel - Royal Rumble. Although at one of the first Rumbles, I remember our Guild Leader at the time (Odomora, a Necro) being told that the rules had changed on the fly by the GM. This upset her entire strategy and so she sat and allowed herself to be executed by the opposition as a protest. She probably would have won anyway but it was the principle.

Faydwer vs Odus - Both have fun Undead but I think I'd lean more towards Odus because it's home to The Hole and some mean and nasty critters.

Kunark vs Velious - Kunark. I like the dragons of this continent. Velious is great but it's soo... white.

Planes of Power vs Gates of Discord - Hmm.. I like PoP but we've spent so much time there this year, I'm going to go with GoD.

Depths of Darkhollow vs Omens of War - OOW. Tough Zones but compared to Monster Missions, I'll take content that doesn't ask me to suspend my disbelief further than it already is.

Bard vs Enchanter - Both are good but I've seen Bards do amazing things. I used to know a Bard who could type to his wife who played, give Raid Instructions, pull, Fein Death, and Cyber his girlfriend all the while twisting songs and chatting /gu. Amazing talent.

Monk vs Rogue - Monk. They appear to be a dying class right now but they were the original prized pullers of old.

Paladin vs Warrior - Really, you have to ask? Nothing beats a Warrior as an MA, but a good Paladin can catch and hold aggro faster and better, not to mention our ability to LoH and backup heal.

Allakhazam vs Illia - Very close. Alla's has quite a bit of info but Illia's has mob specifics necessary to plan successful encounters.

Before closing here, I wanted to thank you guys at Alla's. You're arguably the best reference site out there for EQ and we appreciate all that you do. I also wanted to acknowledge all the Guildies and Officers in Triad Continuum, Past and Present, who have made it what it is today. Special thanks to those who have stuck with it (and with me) through thick and thin - you know who you are! =). It takes a lot of teamwork to make a guild successful and it would not be so without everyone's contribution.

- Aaik

Good to be King	Pally Epic Mob
Pally Epic Final	Solusek Ro
Halloween 2006	Pocket Cleric
Rare Spawn	E3 2005
Heyda Fadesong	HUT HUT HUT
Halloween 2005	TC 2005