Ah Myrage, it's been ten years since it has launched. I still remember joining the game on launch day, after having to sell all my other consoles and games to get a game pod. This only meant that I have only one game I was going to focus on. I was very excited to finally be a part of an online society from the first day. With high spirits, I opened up the pod and signed up. "Hello, brave warrior! We, the citizens of the world of Myrage, require your help to save us from the many dungeons that have spawned. Will you lend us a hand?"
After the lovely angel AI gave the introduction, she took me to the class selection room. There was an immense hall with many items present in front of the wall representing the various classes. A regular sword for a knight/warrior, a bow for an archer/sniper, two knives for rogue/assassin, and many others. There were so many choices that it dumbfounded me. Usually, I am the type of person who goes through forums and finds out what is the best choice by looking at what the other players made and from their experiences. So this was new to me. While going through the hall, at the end there was another door. 'Secondary Class' was written above it. I had heard that you have to choose two classes before entering, one primary and another secondary. So this was the room for those classes. I entered inside to see what all classes were available. A hammer for Blacksmith, a sewing needle for Tailor, an apron for Chef, and so on. It seems like you could have a good amount of uniqueness in the game with the plethora of options that were available. I took my time looking at these classes too. I was in this hall for twenty minutes at least, observing every possibility available. I started going back to the primary abilities room when an invisible wall stopped me. I wasn't able to go back at all! Later I learned that this was a bug that they fixed in an update the same day. Now the door to the secondary classes does not open until you choose a primary class. But for me, I was stuck there. Why was I the unlucky one to get caught with a bug? It wasn't fair. I didn't even know what was going on. They had already mentioned a rule where you are allowed only one account per person to avoid smurfing*. At that moment, I just forgot about all my plans. All the possible combinations and strategies I could have chosen, all the thought I put in were wasted. At that moment, I decided that I would just play the game to enjoy it. It was a VRMMORPG**, after all. Just the experience of living in a fantasy world was enough. I blindly decided to choose one of my favorite hobbies, fishing. I went and picked up the fishing rod on the wall, and with a celebratory sound, my status window showed me that I had successfully become a fisherman. "Now please choose your second class, " said the system voice. I had just assumed that I could get only one class since I could choose only a secondary class, but since it allowed me to choose one more, I could choose another favorite pastime of mine. Even if some might call it weird, I enjoyed collecting rocks. So naturally, I went ahead and picked up the pickaxe. I looked at my status window. I was now a miner as well.
Now here I am, still sitting and playing. Tomorrow marks the 10th year anniversary of the game. I am still level 29, the same level as those who would have started just a year back. Leveling up is very difficult in Myrage and usually requires lots of combat work to gain. I have been fishing and mining for 10 years, selling high-quality goods from both. It's what I am famous for. I always wear a mask when I go to do my sales, so no one knows who I am. Many assume and run rumors that I am the only player with 3 classes, a secret primary class, and 2 secondary classes. They even call me "Daren the Fishner", as Daren was my ign***. If only they knew the truth of my pitiful state. I have never partied with anyone as that would show my teammates, both my level and my classes.
Leveling in the classes was different, however, and was even more difficult. Not a single player had maxed out their class stats. I was very close, though. Level 99 in both fishing and mining. Never had I thought my life would change once I reached 100.