If we’re being frank here, we have to admit that a whole lot of the structure and interactions of MMORPGs are quite silly if they were applied to real life. Closely examining the skewed logic of these games is a rich field for parody, and fortunately there is one man who is up to the task.
One Epic NPC Man, that is! Epic NPC Man is a YouTube sketch series from Viva La Dirt League that features one mild-mannered NPC who bestows quests in his hometown while dealing with the weird and sometimes unsettling players that come along to rob him, stab him, and puzzle him. So many MMO tropes are lampooned, including the disparity of male and female armor, assassins that can get you to turn your back by throwing rocks, and rats that drop items that they couldn’t have possibly been carrying.
If you haven’t seen this amazing 27 season-long series, it’s time to catch up (but be aware that a few of them are NSFW in terms of language, violence, and themes):
