We've all been there. Everything is going along fine. You DINGED! WOOHOO!!! And then, suddenly, it's not fine. Boom. Bam. Dead. The world is coming to an end...
Except it isn't.
Death and it's accompanying mechanics in EQ can often do something rather interesting. ESPECIALLY when you de-level. They can result in you, the player, actually going through the stages of grief. All of which occurs during the somewhat aggravating "Loading, please wait..." screen.
Follow along with me.
Stage 1 - Shock and Denial: "I can't believe that just happened..." Your shoulders slump a little bit, your hands drop from the keyboard...
Stage 2 - Anger: "SON OF A B..." You're mad at yourself for being stupid... someone else for being stupid... the game for being stupid...
Stage 3 - Depression and Detachment: "I can't do this. I'm never going to reach max." After all the effort you put in to Ding, the world just ended.
Stage 4 - Dialogue and Bargaining: "Ok, I can do this. I just have to get enough EXP so that I don't lose a level on death." You're starting to rally a little bit here. You're looking for a way out...
Stage 5 - Acceptance: "Ok, just have to be a little more careful for a little while..." Your plan is in place, you're moving forward.
So how does the re-ding play into all of this?
Well, the re-ding is that cathartic moment where you actually start to put it behind you. You climbed a hill larger and more daunting than just the level. You did the level and MORE. It is a moment of growth. A moment of feeling like you CAN succeed... and a moment where you feel just a little more powerful.
And THAT, is the power of the re-ding.
