Meet Seridove from L2 Vault. She has the honour of opening our new community feature section and hopefully you will see a lot of nice players or other game-related people introduced here. So - know anyone who you think deserves a bit spotlight? Be it outstanding game play or "community service" - let us know by emailing me at irijs@stratics.com :)

1. Tell us a bit about yourself (do you work or study, do you have kids, etc). Do you have time for other activities besides running the site?

Time for things other than running the site? *laughs manically* No seriously, while I love gaming and working on a fan site, I do believe that a healthy and active schedule is very important. I'm currently enrolled in school to complete my degree (BS in Professional Communication with a minor in Civil Engineering Technology Construction) and I regularly assist in teaching scuba diving. I travel, race Mustangs, and love my new baby girl puppy Sasha (a rottweiller/mastiff mix) I'm also an avid archer (traditional longbow) and own a violin that I keep saying I'll learn to play someday!

2. How long have you been doing Vault and how you started?

I've been lurking around the Vault since October 2004 when I started out as a staff writer for the Dark Age of Camelot Vault. After about a year and a half (and 4 years of playing Dark Age of Camelot) it was time for me to move on to a new game. When a position as a Site Manager came open for Lineage 2 I thought it was perfect timing to get back into a game I had played before (I played Lineage 2 when it first went live) and move on to more responsibility within the Vault.

3. What do you like about it most and what is the hardest part?

Well the best part about working at the Vault is working with all the creative and talented people, both on my staff and in the community.I've been playing online games for many years now and being able to work closely with so many people that have the same passion and desire for not only the games but the community as a whole is truly rewarding.

I think the hardest part for me is my lack of experience in the technical realm. I rely on my html wizards and graphic artists to turn my ideas into reality. More than once I've described a grandiose feature to them and they've replied, "Do you realize what you are asking us to code?!?" Since I first started, I've educated myself more on html and general formatting protocol so that not only can I code my own pages but I can more clearly describe what I need done and know the parameters that it can be achieved in. (And trust me. . this is an ongoing process.. *grins*)

4. What are the drawbacks of having websites to guide through a game?

First, I think that fan sites are an integral part of online gaming, especially with games like Lineage 2. MMORPG's survive due to a dedicated following that is fostered through fan sites. The only real drawback is when players look to these sites to clearly walk them through every aspect of the game. When you take away the wonder of exploration and get stuck into a systematic breakdown of everything you don't really experience anything.

5. Why Lineage 2, how would you compare it with other games?

Breathtaking graphics, hands down. The detail in the character design, armor, landscape, buildings, it's just beautiful. It's really hard to compare Lineage 2 to other games because it just isn't like any other game. It's pretty..but not soft. The game is demanding for the rewards it gives. While it is a little more hardcore in the time it takes to complete a quest or reach a goal, than other games out there, it seems to make it all that more rewarding when you do complete it. It's nice to play a game where not everyone can max out their characters in 26 hours.

6. Why do you think people like creating fan fiction and art?

Well, from my own personal experience I wrote a lot of fan fiction because it gave me an opportunity to develop my character in a setting unrestricted by the game engine. You spend time creating and developing a character in the game setting, and through art and writing you can really get into personality. Roleplay games, especially ones as beautiful as Lineage 2, inspire creativity in writing and in art.

7. Can you get too involved in a game and "lose touch with reality"?

Of course not! I mean, I'm 237 years old and my address is 1234 Giran Castle Road, Aden...*grins*

Seriously though, I do think that there is a danger for people to get too wrapped up in any game when you start ignoring your real life (your job, family, school, outside hobbies). Because of its anonomyous social setting, it's easy to become someone else, make a new "life" It's important that pepole realize that it is, in fact, a game - a pasttime. If you are losing sleep, stressing, or experiencing anxiety then it ceased to be a game and it may be time to unplug for a while and reassess things.

8. What have been your most memorable in game experiences/events?

Two experiences really stand out for me. The first one was when I first entered the world of Lineage 2. I was standing there. Eyes bright. Ready to take on the world when another dark elf came up to me. I greeted him in a roleplay way. He wanted to dual. I politely declined and turned to walk away. All of a sudden I get a pop up box. 2 minutes into the game and already my first PK death.

The second one is a little silly, but the first time I saw a treasure chest attack one of my party mates just about made me pee my pants. I hate to admit it, but it still cracks me up to see a treasure chest chasing someone down.

9. How would you advise new players? What aspects of the game are the most important to learn?

My advice to any new player is to just have fun. Play a class that makes you laugh or smile - something you look forward to playing. The most important aspects to learn would be how to get around efficiently. I know I've wasted precious adena porting around to cities that don't connect me to the one I wanted to end up at. Learn how to get to where you want to go quickly and as frugally as possible and it will really be a help.