This month, the award goes to the famed GD member DeathAndPain! DeathAndPain is known for his encyclopedic answers and knowledgability about AoM and other technical difficulties. I thought it would be great to get to know a bit more about him!

AoMH: Welcome to this month's Member of the Month Interview, DeathAndPain. Most people probably know you for your encyclopedic answers, but there's always more to a forummer than what he types. Let's hear more about you as a person.

DeathAndPain: Well, I am a 35-year-old systems administrator, living in a flat in Berlin with my girlfriend. I also have a kid, but that is with my ex, from whom I am currently divorced. He is also living with her. My hobbies are comprised of computer games as well as astrology and esoterics in general. Sports-wise, I like to ballroom dance or play table tennis. I occasionally play chess. So far, I have encountered one guy on the German chess server who correctly guessed who the real player "DaP" was. Most people there have no idea for obvious reasons.

AoMH: So where did you get the name "DeathAndPain" from?

DeathAndPain: I chose it a very long time ago, and decided to stick with it. It was my nick back on StarCraft, easily 10 years ago. I then joined a German StarCraft clan, in which I was known as [57th]Death. When I'm not in a clan, which is most of time, I stick with DeathAndPain. I believe a nickname is an identity. You should choose it carefully and not change it like your shirt, as some other people do.

AoMH: That's an interesting philosophy, I'm inclined to agree with you.

DeathAndPain: I have played StarCraft since v 1.00, and the same goes for AoM. I will most likely continue that way with StarCraft 2.

AoMH: Did you get started with RTS games with StarCraft?

DeathAndPain: No, I started with the first RTS game ever, as far as I know, Dune 2. Then came Warcraft, followed by Warcraft 2. These were pre-internet times, but I played with friends in LAN. Back then, a friend and I believed we were the best players on earth because we found no matches, due to the nonexistence of the internet. We learned better when we started to play StarCraft online . He is now on Warhammer: Dawn of War because he is more the tactical combat type. I am more into RTS economics, which is why I chose the AoM path after StarCraft got too old with its 640x480 graphics.

AoMH: So how did you come across AoM?

DeathAndPain: A former classmate told me about it before it had come out. I used to play AoE 1 and 2 before, but not on a serious basis. I found them nice, but not thrilling enough, because you just had human soldiers silently fighting on all sides. StarCraft was more thrilling. It was the introduction of myth units and god powers that drew my attention to AoM, along with the advancing age of StarCraft. Graphics are not everything, but 640x480 is, well, no comment .

AoMH: How did you find AoMH?

DeathAndPain: I started to Google for AoM-related pages, the first one was MrFixit Online. It was the best AoM-related page in the early times, but over time, AoMH outclassed it, because of the superior forum and structure. AoMH was at the top until AoTS came up with the great replay database, thus drawing the experts there. However, AoMH has the nicer community and less braggarts, which is why I stayed. AoTP is really draining people from AoMH, but it is a priviledge to be a normal member there, since most people are mods, and that's pretty ridiculous. I'd rather stick with AoMH .

AoMH: Good to hear that. Now, how often do you play AoM and do AoMH-related things?

DeathAndPain: Well, almost daily, although that is also a matter of girlfriend-related negotiations . I recently also started playing Pirates! (Sid Meier) again, but that will certainly be a temporary thing, although I find the scenario interesting. I am considering buying Pirates of the Burning Sea, but the pay-per-month system is repulsive. I have always been a big fan of the Master of Orion series, especially MoO2.

AoMH: Have you ever done anything with the AoM editor?

DeathAndPain: I used to create scenarios in StarCraft, but hardly with AoM. I have experimented with it, especially to create testing scenarios to research things and clear up rumors. There are so many AoM scenarios out there, mine would be but yet another one, and when it comes to scenario making, the way is not the goal for me. So I leave that to others. I am a dedicated 1v1 rated player, the rated aspect is what motivates me. I feel that a game is not in vain when it has ended, I can achieve something lasting, something is at stake. In unrated games, I have a feeling that what I do does not matter at all, which can be boring.

AoMH: Can we expect to see you at StarCraft 2 Heaven, spreading your RTS wisdom?

DeathAndPain: Most likely, but that will likely mean that I vanish from AoMH.

AoMH: Lastly, is there anything else that you would like to share with your fans?

DeathAndPain: Play to win, read the corresponding article, which can be found here, That is the most important thing that I want to urge. However, note that rating doesn't mean everything.

Thank you DeathAndPain for the interview! Everyone, be sure to congratulate DeathAndPain on his honor this month!

[This message has been edited by Shanks13 (edited 04-27-2008 @ 08:03 PM).]