Ricco Interview
From An Evolution in RP :: Database
For the month of July the Spotlight shines down on a veteran member within SWE. The focus on members and their talents within our community is the most important element for the Spotlight. This month the shine is on an English guy named Zack. Come to find out the man behind Aston, Ricco, Arthon and Marquis is actually named Craig. Currently, most community members know him as Ricco Dartnell and Arthon Drake. Confused yet? Well, the name game can get confusing so to keep it simple our interview brings to light the man behind all these characters.
Zack tells Spotlight that he is poor and unemployed. That is ok, SWE doesn’t charge taxes or membership fees. Being a member of previous boards Zack explained those “boards’ story and quality was pretty inconsistent”. He was brought to SWE sometime in 2006 but was unable to stay because of computer trouble, but later came back to the board in mid 2007 and we have been blessed with his presence every since.
“Aston was my love of James Bond and other characters of the same nature” Zack explains what inspired the creation behind his characters. “I was looking to have a character with that life style minus the killer aspect”. His characters are not lacking action, as Aston was drawn into the Imperial Fleet and killed. Zack further explains his other motivations as “Ricco was unfortunately a meshed together character to just get myself back into writing as it had been around two months between Ricco and Aston dying, he was kind of based on a man who was against violence who got drawn into it via being framed for drug crimes. Throughout the rest of his life to this date he has, over time, came from the young innocent pilot to a Black Sun killer. Arthon is written on my passion for the Royal Navy and anything nautical. I really wanted an Admiral type character and with the then Rebellion Fleet without a lead I pounced like a caged lemma. Marquis was just to push on my non combat characters which I love to play here, I wanted someone with power but without a Military career. I saw an opening for a businessman in the Empire and well a month later, tar darr!"
Zack touches on the future aspirations of Arthon in that the character has goals of the Republic Grand Fleet he would like to come true. Hopefully; he explains, he can do that by getting Arthon closer to Lanaan.
An interesting part to all characters is what personal traits a writer puts forth of themselves into the characters actions, personality, etc. “Ricco’s cheek and sarcastic elements with his rambling mind is pretty good interpretations of my own” Zack explains. Zack also has a strong passion for the Navy and Arthon shares that passion and life beliefs along with a sense of chivalry. Those aren’t bad qualities at all.
All of us have a few things in our characters we wouldn’t mind changing. For Zack its no different. He wouldn’t mind making Ricco a bit younger, but the character’s history has prevented this. Zack states his youngest character is 32.
The scenario A Struggle Within has been a great thread for Arthon Drake as the thread has offered Zack to “write deep parts for Arthon”. Another scenario he loved was Take These Broken Wings as “it was really the first proper GaL I got in here”.
Zack was asked by Spotlight if he was looking forward to writing any specific story arcs with his characters? He expressed, “I think continuing Arthon into the Republic political side and his demotion will be fun to do, plus there is a big thing in his life which has happened but has yet to be spoken of IC’ly.” Zack adds another comment, “The others I’m not sure where they’re going yet” In all fairness, many people feel like that at times.
The characters played by Zack have been diverse but he has an interest in playing a Sith here at SWE. He explains with his previous board experience he wrote for Sith characters. Even though there was some previous experience with a board and Sith characters Zack shares he got bored with the supped up mentality of the Sith and Jedi and multiple storylines. “I have looked around but nothing pops out like SWE!”
Zack is also involved with the Art Team. Members taking a active part within SWE is something that makes our board special and Zack’s talent is well appreciated. He gives a wonderful testimony to why he is involved with the Art Team, “I think the Art Team is a great part of SWE. It is one of the teams which make up the backbone of SWE. I think it adds an element of polish to the design and is a great Image to show to new members. The reason I participate with it was that I really wanted to give something back to SWE after all the great writing it has given to me; the Art Team was the one way I could really do this. I admit outright I’m in no comparable league to Astrade and Kali and I think Alice as well, but I am there to try and pick up whatever is left and try and suck up some extra talent they leave around. It’s my way of helping out here and that’s the biggest and main reason I joined the Art Team.”
Thank you for your service Zack and for participating with SWE July Spotlight member recognition.
