A Grab Bag of Broadswords.

For something a little different, one of our players from the Postcount forums, Card, sent some questions to us wanting a spotlight behind the scenes at Broadsword, and the people behind the name :) So here's a special "Card Bag" for you, and our regular Grab Bag will return next time.

Our 5v5 event kicks off tomorrow at 1PM EST/6PM GMT/7PM CET! With 21 teams registered it's looking to be another 5v5 event jam packed with excitement! Tune in live on our official DAoC Twitch channel, and maybe even win some prizes :)

If you have any game related questions for our DAOC Devs, please send them in through our Grab Bag submission form. Please note this is for game questions, feedback should be sent in through our feedback form.

Your site broadsword.com puts a saying, quite boldly, “Every Player. Every Day.” on their front page. How is Broadsword™ committing themselves to the communities of these great games? Perhaps something players may take for granted, or, just not know about that your staff works hard on that may otherwise miss the patch notes?

A game, most-especially an online game, is very little without its community of players. Broadsword’s company Vision Statement: “Every Player, Every Day” wasn’t a result of long planning meetings or the best of a selection of options. It was the first suggestion, and the founding members knew it to be the best and most sincere statement of our goals. We are all gamers. Moreover, we find ourselves in the unique position of being able to contribute to our favorite games. More than 3 years on – we have not lost sight of this, and we are still sensible of our responsibility to the community of players that share our love and passion for these products.
 
That responsibility comes in many forms, not least of which is communication. Whether reciprocal dialogue, reading the feedback from players, or posting our development decisions as patch notes, producers’ letters, or on forums – we have always sought to hear the voices of community, engage in healthy dialogue, and respond by translating what we hear into strong development decisions for our games. 

What is the culture like at Broadsword’s studio? How are ideas worked on and how might some of the many things Broadsword™ is working on get prioritized?

We are very fortunate to work amongst kindred spirits and long-time friends. The culture is one of respect, dedication, and fun. There is quite a bit of effort that goes into creating great content for our products, and it is not without its stressful moments to be sure. However, at the end of the day, we are all doing what we love and though we may sometimes find ourselves on opposite sides of an idea or concept, we find resolution and common ground as we have for many years; with nerf-gun battles and compromise.

Who is the office clown? Can you share a moment with us that brings a smile every time you think about it?

Just about everybody in the Broadsword family has a tremendous sense of humor, which is why each day at work is a true pleasure. If I had to choose one moment among many, I would tell you about the day that [name redacted] placed a life-sized cutout of an axe-wielding Valkyn directly in front of one of our elevators. That was an interesting morning. I can still hear the screams, and it brings a smile to my face. 

What’s the biggest or most prized piece of memorabilia at the office and how was it acquired?

This is a tough one. As many know, Broadsword was formed by members of Mythic Entertainment. Mythic was beloved to all of us, and its spirit lives on in our hearts and minds. When decorating the studio, we were certain to include our heritage, and there are many items from the early days of Dark Age of Camelot and other early Mythic games which can be found throughout the studio. Going back further, Ultima Online memorabilia may be found, some dating back 2 decades. Broadsword is a living museum, so it’s extremely difficult to choose a favorite. Everybody has their own, and that speaks to the diversity and (very) long history of our veteran developers in this studio.

One thing which I can confidently say is prized by each-and-every Broadsword employee is the beautifully engraved sword which is bestowed upon you when you are hired.

   

I believe that Broadsword was made out of admiration, passion, and love for these games. Nothing is more important to these games and the people who play them than your mission looking forward. Tell us what that mission is.

Broadsword was indeed formed by a core group of developers with a fierce dedication to the games we serve. In this expanding industry where developers move from product to product in pursuit of personal or professional growth or change, it is often the products that experience the most change. We at Broadsword feel as though we have found our calling with the products we serve. Dark Age of Camelot and Ultima Online are institutions in the online gaming world, and we want nothing more than to see these games thrive and remain available to the communities that call them home.

Ours is a significant responsibility, one that may be difficult to understand for those whom gaming is not a regular part of life. We are unbelievably proud to have such dedicated players, and in cases beyond count, we have quite literally watched our players ‘grow up’. Many begin playing at a very young age. As a result, over the years several players take a break from the games and come back having completed their education, having been married, or returning from service in the Armed Forces. One my favorites is when we watch as players open-up these wonderful worlds to their children.

Our mission, simply, is to invest the same love and dedication into these products as our players. To maintain the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that exist in the worlds of Dark Age of Camelot and Ultima Online. To give back to the community that has given us so much.