Some of you will be shocked when they know the object of this interview is a level 10 knight. However, Gabe Soo is more than meet your eyes. He goes around the Tibian world vinculated in blood to big dinos like SmokeDragon, Deathwalker, Wonder Man or Lightbringer to name a few. Tibianews had some words with Gabe in Thais depot, between flaming balls of fire, beggars and blood pools...
Q. Level 10. You either die a lot or you don't hunt much. Do You?
A. Well Excessus, I've been asked that question a lot - but in different forms. Players ask "Why are you still level 10?" or "What level are you?" The answer is that I do not hunt with Gabe Soo. Ever since I left Rookegard and devoted Gabe Soo to helping others, I feel that being Level 10 will always keep me in the mindset of "being" a lower level - I can understand the needs of players coming from Rookegard (just as I did) better. Plus with all the things that I have to do, I don't get a lot of time to hunt. But who knows, perhaps one day you will see me in the forests of Edron or someother place "trying" to battle a dwarf or a rotworm.
Q. You can often be found in Thais depot helping young newbies with equipment and such - why do you do that?
A. Well to quote two good friend that has long gone from the game (the old Knight Fang and my brother Ramsus Rajen) "You play the game for fun - for a different reason". My objective in this game from the earliest days (thanks to Lady Christine for telling me about the Tibian world) has been to be helpful to others. I don't care about experience points or items or rares - I get satisfaction and joy of helping others players. I don't judge people: whatever level you are, what vocation - it doesn't matter to me. If I have something to spare, and you ask (nicely) - its yours. It could be an extra rope or a healing rune, to handing out shawls, or maybe some gold I have to spare - it could be support with a chat or a congratulations for someone that has gained skill. I believe that if you treat players with respect - that in their Tibian journey - these players
will be respectful back. Players that need help will ask and I always have time to help - its what I do.
Q. What would make Gabe Soo happy these days?
A. Excessus, it doesn't take much to make me happy. I tell my friends and family in the game "As long as you take care and stay safe, I'm happy". I don't need stuff in the game to be happy. The friendships and conversation are more than I need. I'm an average Tibian that finds
happiness in the simple things. What would make me REALLY happy is if people talked about misunderstandings first, and act later. Tibia would be a much better place...
Q. Like most of us, I'm sure you can sense times are changing. Are Tibians different now?
A. Wow, I have to think about that for a minute. I have only been here a year - but that was before a new world (Nova) and the premium accounts and Edron. I think times have changed - some good and some not-so-good. There are many more mid-high levels. Players are now clustered in different
cities. The Tibia that I knew has changed - many of the "legendary" players no longer make their appearance as much as before, and perhaps the "image" of Tibia in the roleplaying sense has changed too. But I have to say, with time - everything changes. Tibians can take on more difficult monsters - it used to be that a certain number of players could take on the "elite" monsters, but now its open to anyone that wishes to try (in most cases). I hope that answers something hehe
Q. Gabe... did you mistaken your vocation?
A. I have always wanted to be a Knight. My memory fails me sometimes, but I remember standing in the teleport room in Rookegard... and the only thing I wanted to be was a Knight. My mentor Sir Baltar, he's a Knight. Many of my brothers are Knights (SmokeDragon, X-Slash, Chrimson Hellkite, Spectre - to name a few). Knights have always had a sense of "honor" to me. I have a few other characters - my scout Gabe for instance... I wanted to be a sorcerer too. But I don't have a lot of time, and sorcerers do take some time to develop. Unfortunately, Gabe dropped a few level saving a
friend from deleting all of her characters and thus, the sorcerer experiment for me failed. But I have never regretted ever being a Knight :)
Q. You are also a counsellor. How is the counsellor work like?
A. Well being a counsellor is both an honor and a priviledge. But this priviledge is also hard work. The first thing I have to say is that I have a greater respect for the work Gamemasters do ever since my appointment as counsellor. Counsellors out there do so much work - and often are not seen by the Tibian public. There are many messages to us at any given time. We always make sure that the people we go to are helped 100% - so if you do use the #G call, and do not obtain a response as quickly as you would hope to or think - PLEASE PLEASE, we have seen it - so please be patient. Sometimes we have to remove players from difficult and dangerous situations, and then
we need to head to another world or a different area (ie. Newbie) to help another. Counsellors cannot teleport - so imagine trying to log out while other players are asking for assistance, and trying to get to Rookegard to save someone from 10 orcs. Counsellor work is its own reward. Those that have been chosen to be counsellors - they were "counsellors" before the title was given to them. To sum it up: Counsellor work is tough, time-consuming, sometimes it gets on your nerves too, but the rewards outweigh the difficulties.
Q. Again, any fun anecdote you can relate regarding your counsellor job?
A. Hmm.. sometimes we get some "fun" spammers that say some phrases - Counsellors should have soap as part of their powers to help these players "wash their mouths" with. Sometimes we just get some funny requests like teleporting players (which we cannot do) to areas in Tibia that do not even exist. Counsellors do not have huge amounts of rares or money to give away either.
Q. Do you remember the day you arrived to Thais for the first time? What can you tell us about that day?
A. Whoa, that's going back at least a year... I remember being escorted to Thais by Jaymen (who introduced me to Tibia). There I met 4 players I will never forget meeting. One of them was one of my dearest friends and brothers in this game: Spectre. Spectre not only showed me kindness and
gratitude but a sense of friendship and brotherhood I use to this very day. Now my first day in Thais... I was truly overwhelmed. I not only saw a great city, and my own locker, but dead bodies along the way to the depot. That opened my eyes - all I knew up to that point was the safety of
Rookegard. Thais was a new beginning, but also dangerous.
Q. Gabe Soo... is that your real name?
A. Yup, hehe I do use my real name.
Q. There once was a vote on Tibia.org many ages ago about "The Nicest Tibian" and by quite a large majority, you won. Do you still consider yourself "The Nicest Tibian"?
A. Well, Excessus, its a great honor to have. But I have never considered myself to be "the Nicest Tibian". There are many many MANY Tibians that do the same things I do, and are not recognized for it. There are nice Tibians but I do not believe that there is one who is NICEST, what does that
actually mean? If you mean "Have I changed?" - the answer is no. I am the Gabe Soo that started on Rookegard. I am the same Gabe Soo that resides in Thais, and I will forever be "THE" Gabe Soo when it is time for me to leave.
Q. Gabe Soo... you are all light! Who is your Tibian counterpart? I mean, who do you think is pure evil in this world?
A. Well, I cannot say that I am "all light". I have taken the life of a Tibian before. I am not proud of it - two player killers known to many had trapped one of my dearest Tibian brothers and massacred him in the Troll caves near Thais. I was immature at the time, and I dealt fatal blows
to them. I wanted to share this with all your readers - I will always try to be Gabe Soo, but I want everyone to remember that "you can be your own worst enemy". I for one have many high level friends and family and some of my brothers and sisters are gamemasters. But I can tell you without a doubt that I have NEVER abused my relationship with any of them.
Now about the "pure evil" in this world... its called Greed. Greed attacks people without discrimination. I am sure many players out there know of a situation in Tibia that screams of greed and injustice. Greed exists, its up to the individual to either be overwhelmed and overcome by it or to fight it and be free. The other evil in Tibia is one of the most deadly... it strikes silently.. swiftly, it kills everyone it wants to... the evil LAG!!! (hehe).
Q. Does the idea of holding your sword once again appeals you?
A. At the moment I can tell you that my sword still rests. I am still a retired Knight. But I can tell you my heart does long for a good adventure when I hear of others' tales of fighting dragons and heroes, behemoths and demons. Maybe one day, the sword will be unsheathed, and I will wield it
again...
Thanks Gabe! We need people like you in this beautiful and crazy world...
Huhu, thank you Excessus for making Tibianews and allowing this interview to be possible. Thank you to all the Tibian friends and family out there - I want you all to know that you are truly special and I am indeed the luckiest person in Tibia.
And in keeping with tradition:
Take care, be safe and God Bless
Gabe Soo
