In the second installment of our exclusive Rift dev blog series, Senior Design Director Simon "Dead Simon" Ffinch takes a creative look at what it means to be a Trion Worlds developer.

Welcome to the second installment of our exclusive Rift dev blog series! In the inaugural entry, Trion Worlds CCO and Rift Executive Producer Scott Hartsman answered the question, "Why make a fantasy MMO?" For the second issue, Senior Design Director Simon "Dead Simon" Ffinch ran with the fantasy element to take a creative look at a day in the life of a Rift developer. Keep reading after the jump to find out exactly why Ffinch is known as "Dead Simon."

Also, this is the perfect time to remind you that Rift's first closed beta event will be held this weekend from Dec. 3-6. We're still giving away VIP keys that will grant you entry into every Rift beta event, and all you need to do is contribute in our Rift forums. Winners are selected based on their activity on our new Rift site, so keep posting in our forums and commenting on our articles!

A Tattered Page from the Journal of Dead Simon

Checking to make sure my head is still attached, I leave for work. These constant deaths and resurrections can take a toll on the body. It is a long journey from my crypt to Meridian and I have time to reflect on why it was that I got my ass handed to me again by that monstrous pig in Stonefield. After determining that it was no fault of my own and was definitely because the pig had been chewing on some plane-infused tubers and become completely overpowered, I arrive at work.

Most mornings will start in a meeting with various department heads: the Mages from world crafting, the Technomancers from Creature Codification, my own fellow Magicians from Department "D" as well as the Chief Zombies and others. We discuss the issues to be addressed that day. I mention the problem with the tuber-eating pig and, as usual, am told that I need to L2P. I am still trying to figure out what the meaning of this is; perhaps the scholars in Meridian can help me decipher it.

The issue of the day turns out to be the fact that an increase in planar activity has resulted in the lands beyond Freemarch being completely overrun with planar invasions. It seems that the denizens of the planes have managed to gain key footholds in these areas and no one is able to push them back. It is rumored that a fresh batch of ascended are expected at any time and that this new influx of powerful beings will be able to drive the foul creatures of the planes back to where they came from, and that no action on our part is needed.

I also find out that a whole new area has been discovered in Stonefield and that an incredible archaeological site has been uncovered. I decide I would like to go and check out this new area so I can provide feedback on the work going on there. Carefully avoiding the area that I know that my nemesis the pig likes to wander, I make my way to the far end of Stonefield, far past Granite Falls, and do indeed discover the area discussed with the Zombies in the morning meeting. It is a startling sight as the whole place looks nothing like it did the last time I visited. Telara truly does change on a day-to-day basis. The Mages of the world crafting department have been busy and there is a whole new area for me to explore. Unfortunately, the place is overrun with all manner of horrors from the plane of earth and I have to fight ever inch of the way. It seems that the world crafting department were not the only ones who had been busy.

I am feeling pretty good at this point as I have managed to push forward into a large valley where the archaeological site I was told about is located. As I move into the valley I get a sense of impending doom. Things have become way too quiet and that often is not a good sign. My senses do not fail me; unfortunately, I cannot say the same for my legs. As I approach, an enormous Titan emerges from around a large bluff. I cannot outrun the massive stride of this behemoth. I am sure you can guess how this ends. They don't call me Dead Simon for nothing. I will be visiting the resurrection Masters again, it seems. I am getting to know these people by name and will be signing up for their Frequent Dier program.