My first MMO character #1: Harvey Randall
PC Gamer’s personal feature series “My first MMO character” debuts with an author’s nostalgic retrospective on their inaugural MMO experience in World of Warcraft. Created around 2004-2006 when the author was 10 years old, Leetman—a Human Rogue—represents their first true MMO character after successfully convincing their parents to purchase a WoW subscription.
The piece captures the earnest enthusiasm and learning curve of early MMO players, with the author candidly admitting they “were not a good rogue.” They skipped fundamental class mechanics like leveling poisons and never reached the level cap, instead spending formative hours exploring Un’Goro Crater and gradually accumulating gold. Despite limited mechanical mastery, the narrative emphasizes how even modest achievements—such as earning enough currency for a mount—created genuine moments of pride and engagement in the virtual world.
While the author had technically played Runescape prior to Leetman, that earlier character exists only in forgotten memory, making Leetman their definitive first MMO character. The piece frames this character as the beginning of what they describe as a “life-changingly debilitating enthusiasm for videogames.” As the opening installment of an ongoing series, the feature illustrates how early WoW experiences profoundly shaped player identities and created lasting gaming memories that resonate across decades.