My first MMO character #6: Jacob Ridley
Jacob Ridley shares his memories of his first MMO character in RuneScape, a nostalgia piece reflecting on early gaming experiences. The article details his experience creating a character named “Don L Legs” when he was a small child, focusing on his unconventional gameplay journey through the game’s fishing and cooking skills.
According to Ridley’s recollections, he became proficient at fishing and cooking, eventually reaching high levels in both skills. Rather than engaging in traditional combat or questing, his primary activity involved trading cooked fish with more advanced players in exchange for rare armor and equipment. This resourceful approach to progression earned him the black armor with golden highlights that he had long desired, along with a red face mask and black halberd—items he treasured as achievements of his early MMO experience.
The article captures the wonder and simplicity of early MMO gameplay, where foundational skills like resource gathering and trading formed the backbone of player interaction. Ridley’s approach demonstrates how MMOs allowed players to find their own paths to success, whether through combat or commerce. The piece is part of a series exploring players’ first experiences in massively multiplayer online games, highlighting how these formative gaming moments shaped their interest in the genre. Though his memories are admittedly hazy and he acknowledges potential inaccuracies in his recollection, the piece serves as a window into early 2000s MMO culture.