Permadeath in MMORPGs is a sensitive topic – the upcoming game Chronicles of Elyria dares to tackle it: When your character dies, you have to pay money to create a new one.
Aging and dying do not really matter in most video games. If the hero in an MMORPG dies, he respawns and the adventure continues. In Chronicles of Elyria, this works a bit differently. Your hero ages and can die. If he is dead, he cannot be resurrected. The game essentially ends for him.
Players are then given the opportunity to create a new hero, but this must be paid for. The exact amount is not yet determined. The soul of the played hero will then pass on to his heir, influencing their stats and skills. Then the game starts anew. The lifespan of a hero is between 10 to 16 months.
Everyone Dies of Old Age
Permadeath in Chronicles of Elyria is triggered only when the hero dies of old age. If he is severely injured in battle, he may be dying, but his soul returns to his body. This means you do not die, but your lifespan is shortened by a certain period. Many fans have expressed concerns that the open-PVP system will make them victims of “griefers” who enjoy attacking others constantly to quickly shorten their characters’ lifetimes.
More on the topic: Aging and Dying – What the MMORPG Chronicles of Elyria Does Differently.
The developers at Soulbound Studios are aware of the problem. “Griefing” will therefore be punished with a prison sentence. A character in prison will also have a shortened lifespan. Therefore, players should think twice about attacking another player repeatedly. The developers hope to eliminate “griefing” this way.
One Must Live with Death
This way, they hope to make PvP battles more interesting, ensure fairness, and provide players with an engaging way to play their heroes into old age. By requiring payment for a “new life”, they aim to fund the operation of the MMORPG Chronicles of Elyria.
Thus, each player can decide for themselves if they want to continue playing with a new hero after the death of their character or not. For MMO fans, this means a change in mindset, as they cannot keep playing their beloved heroes “forever”. When Chronicles of Elyria will be released is still uncertain.
