This past week, the Everquest 2 community lost one of its own...known in-game as DJench'la, Imnishalnia, Moreless, and a host of other characters, on Antonia Bayle, Venekor, and other servers. She passed away as the result of smoke inhalation from a fire that engulfed her home. It was a heartbreaking loss for many...more than I had imagined possible.
Over the days since her passing, the community that knew her poured out its collective heart in memory of this woman who touched so many lives with her friendship, endearing spirit, and rapacious wit. Memorial shrines and gardens have gone up all over Norrath, on multiple servers. The Moonshadows have built a small memorial in their guildhall, complete with a Koada'Dal bartender named Jenkitty (DJench'la would tend bar at our weekly pub gathering). Neversea's memorial garden was even featured in a recent Treasure Chest.
This got me, and a few others, to thinking. Jen (as most of us knew her) is not the first member of our extended online family to pass from this life. And I'm sure there are many out there who would like to have a permanent memorial in-game to remember those who have left us, for whatever reason.
What I propose is a house item called 'Memory of the Fallen'. Ideally, this would be a stone or spirit 'statue', which could be customized similarly to the guild hall NPCs, and allowed in multiples in a house or guild hall. If permanent customization is too difficult to code (I notice the guild hall NPCs change appearance often), then a set of statues in male and female of each player race could substitute. Players would be able to 'name' the statues, in order to honor specific individuals. It could perhaps even provide a minor clicky buff to those who honor the memory (click the statue).
These memorial statues could be offered in the Station Cash Marketplace, for a reasonable amount (500-1000 SC), and the proceeds donated to any number of worthy charities, perhaps on a rotating basis.
An item or items of this sort would allow us a way to remember those we've lost, honor their memory, and give them a permanent place of honor in the game they loved.
I'd like to stress that this is a request, not a demand on the developers. Those of you who would like to support this idea, please post here and respectfully show your support.
We've seen that the developers -do- listen to us. I urge them to consider this proposal, for those who loved the game, and those they've left behind in it.
Thank you for your consideration.