Nic "Kap" Stransky
Staff Writer

My interview with Morg'th N'throg was held on the Stratics IRC network. (http://chat.stratics.com/content/java/chat.php) We met on a Monday at around 5pm while I was at work. I had my headphones on so people wouldn't bother me, and was hanging out in #worldofwarcraft. Morg'th sent me a PM and I made him wait 15 minutes. Then we started talking.

WoWS: How would you describe your site and its intended role in the WoW Community?

Morg'th: Only-WoW was created to, and is dedicated to showing people that all play styles can come together in a community and enjoy one another. We were the first Role-Play community around WOW to get ourselves Authorized by Blizzard in the FSP and we are really thankful for that, because we really want to repair the damaged image that role-players have. There's a lot of needless friction in MMORPG communities. There's this misconception that's been around for years that have RPers being seen as Elitist Carebears, PvPers seen as l337 dewds and PKers as griefers and this really isn't the case. Everyone and anyone is welcome at Only-WoW, as long as they respect everyone else. Unity while promoting Role-Playing is our intended role.

WoWS: Respect everyone? You mean like listen and debate and not flame?

Morg'th: Exactly. People can voice their opinions without getting nasty, so far it's worked out.

WoWS: Why would anyone ever visit a forum like that?

Morg'th: Because flames really never get anything done. What can flames prove? That you can insult someone over the internet? That doesn't get your point across.

WoWS: But can't verbal abuse prove useful sometimes?

Morg'th: How?

WoWS: Hey I'll ask the questions here.

Morg'th: Someone that says "I disagree and here's why" works a lot better than "you're a retard and I say so" to us.

WoWS: I hear that a lot.

WoWS: Which MMORPGs have you played in the past?

Morg'th: Our staff is VERY experienced in the MMORPG genre. I have played and beta tested MMOs starting from Ultima Online and all of it's expansions. Then came EverQuest, Shadowbane, Earth and Beyond, Star Wars Galaxies, Dark Age of Camelot, Anarchy Online, Horizons -- I even tested the Sims Online. Kederessa, Vetox, Pok and Skrubb have all played / tested UO, Shadowbane, EQ, DAOC, and SWG. Most of our experiences come from Ultima Online, Shadowbane and EverQuest.

WoWS: On the home page there are quite a few people posting news. What sort of things drive them to contribute so heavily to this community?

Morg'th: I tend to post on [the news] the most, with Kederessa and Vetox. We have features done weekly by BoneCracker and Grishnak Blagtoof. We also get contributions by Glokkpod and Slail Silverblade from time to time and we are actually working on more feature sections. Most people take part because they've never found a site like ours and are happy to help out in any way they can, and of course we welcome any creative input. After all, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. =)

WoWS: What are some of your goals for the site?

Morg'th: That's a great question. ;) Our original intent and constant goal is to bring all of the play styles together for maximum fun. To make people feel and know they have a place to go that is devoid of flames and judgment. Where people can go for the latest news and voice their opinions without worrying about the backlash that comes with forum communities sometimes. Not to mention to continue to come up with unique and entertaining features. This is all about a game and supposed to be fun. All too often people forget that. We're here to keep reminding people what they got into this for in the first place.

WoWS: I think the people like fun. Would you agree?

Morg'th: Totally. Fun is what it's all about.

WoWS: What do you like best about the community you've nurtured at Only WoW?

Morg'th: Wow, that's a really hard question to answer without rambling on and on.;) The staff is just amazing. Kederessa, Pok, Vetox and Skrubb all have such very distinct personalities and look at everything in so many different ways, and that's what helps keep things interesting. They're always coming up with ideas, always looking for ways to keep things fresh. The community members themselves have just been incredible and we can't thank them enough for their fantastic support. What do I like best about the community at Only-WoW? The community and staff itself. Without them, we wouldn't be here.=)

WoWS: I think i'm going to think about that one for a second.

Morg'th: okay

WoWS: Hmmm ok, the judges will accept that.

Morg'th: heh

WoWS: You know lets talk about me for a second.

Morg'th:  ... alright.

WoWS: I am a screen shot freak and I really appreciate your gallery and its fast loading and easy navigation. Who was in charge of that and who helped them?

Morg'th: Well, our code is kept as clean and optimal as possible and that's all because of Vetox. He makes sure that I don't clutter things up. =) As far as the shots themselves, as soon as we find them,  find out about them or take our own (once in game), I get them uploaded to our server and in their appropriate monthly section.

WoWS: What do you think about the very likely scenario that beta testers won't be allowed to distribute screen shots?

WoWS: Keep in mind -- it has been suggested by blizz that the beta period would be around two months.

Morg'th: Well, according to what Blizzard posted, there won't be an NDA to adhere to. So I think we may see a lot more shots than we are accustomed to. It'll be up to sites like ours to come up with the most unique shots to keep the community in the kind of info they want

Morg'th: Over saturation is what we all face without the NDA.

WoWS: As a site administrator you seem to be concerned with trying to provide unique content.

Morg'th: Very.

WoWS: So are you interested in spreading your shots to other sites, should you get exclusives?

Morg'th: Oh absolutely.

WoWS: Why?

Morg'th: This competition some sites have doesn't make sense to us. We're all here for the love of the game. No one gets a medal for being first.

WoWS: Gotcha.

WoWS: Lastly, you have had many compositions submitted by visitors and fans. With "WOS Genesis written by Heckler of the Warriors Of Stranglethorn" and "An Assassin Born written by Cazo of The Blooded" and their vastly unique voices I would expect to find more of the same in the future. What will you do in the future to attract more submissions like these?

Morg'th: We continuously encourage the community to submit their works to us for public posting. We will keep making sure people feel comfortable enough to submit stories and essays so they can have their time to shine and feel really a part of something bigger. Creativity is always encouraged and supported with Only-WoW.

WoWS: Anything you'd like to say to sum it up?

Morg'th: We're fans like everyone else, and we're working on getting everyone as involved as possible.

WoWS: No, no. Sum up your site.

Morg'th: oh. heh

WoWS: :)

Morg'th: Okay..... *cracks knuckles*

WoWS: k

Morg'th: We really do just want to have a good time with everyone.

Morg'th: The game promises to be what UO was 7 years back.

Morg'th: We all could be on the verge of something huge, why not make the most of it and have maximum fun? Ya know?

WoWS: Morg'th it's been a great few minutes with you here. Keep up the hard work.

WoWS: We hope your site crashes soon.

Morg'th: Hey! We love Stratics.

WoWS: That's great! Bye.