TERA news » Fansite Interview: Tera Templates

We like to highlight the hard work and passion of our fans. Never fails to thrill us. Check out Tera Templates, created by Kestrel. We pulled up some virtual chairs, and asked Kestrel some questions about running a TERA fansite. Read the full text of the interview below.

1.  How did you hear about TERA?

I first found out about TERA by word of mouth. At the time I was looking for an alternative MMO to play since the one I was playing was growing stale, and I was quickly losing interest in it. I absolutely love MMOs. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys single player games for very long. They lack the social element that draws me in and keeps me interested. At first, I was a bit skeptical about TERA, thinking that it would probably be just another Korean grinder—but after I pre-ordered the game and played through the beta tests, I was hooked.

2.  What made you decide to create a TERA fansite?

This project started out simply as a way for me to keep track of the different templates my tailor could make. I love looking at all the different armor sets that can be obtained by my character in any game I play. Not being able to specifically search for template items in the broker, I searched the web to see if anyone had posted the templates online. When I couldn't find any sites that showed me what the items looked like, I decided to try my hand at collecting screen shots of the templates myself.

After the first few screen shots, I came to the conclusion that my guild mates—and others—might also find them useful. Coming from Celestial Hills (TERA's RP server), I knew that many people in the community like to change their character's outfits around. I gathered my screenshots and posted them online, to my web site. My intention was to create a place where all of the craftable armor sets could be viewed on each race. That way people could not only see what templates were available and what they looked like, but also how they could obtain them and what materials were needed to craft them.

3.  Is this a solo project, or do you have others helping you?

I started this project as a personal endeavor, and for the most part it still is. Leveling up each crafting skill, creating the templates and taking the screen shots of them on each race ends up being a fairly time-consuming process. Thankfully, I have had some invaluable support from Sethala of the Feral Valley server in the provision of screenshots for leatherworking and armorsmithing. Without their help I would not have been able to open up those sections of the site so soon.

4.  What is your fansite’s focus, and how is it different from others? Your site’s biggest strength?

Tera Templates is intended to provide people with a visual guide to the craftable templates that are currently available in the game. It is meant to be a resource for people who enjoy trying out different costumes on their characters, and want to know what to look out for. I think that the biggest strength of Tera Templates is that it covers every race, both male and female, and also shows you what materials are needed to make the item. This information should make it easier for people to work out what they want, and how to get it.

5.  What has been the most difficult aspect of creating a TERA fansite? Most rewarding?

The most difficult thing so far is leveling the crafting skills required to catalog the sheer number of craftable items available. The most rewarding aspect is knowing that people are using the site and that it is proving helpful to them. It is very reassuring to know that the work that has been put into this is providing something that is useful to other players.

6.  What plans do you have for the fansite in the future?

I have many plans for the site going forward. Firstly, I intend to delve deeper into each crafting profession and upload information on the higher level items for each craft. I would also, in due time, like to include some details on the templates that can be purchased from the vendors in the main cities.

I'm hoping to expand the site by adding a small guide that will cover some details on the gathering aspects of crafting. It is an important part of crafting, and I think would fit in nicely with the rest of the content on Tera Templates.

7.  Anything you’d like to say to the fansite users? To En Masse?

I truly hope that you find the site useful. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to contact me through the site. I'm always open to suggestions that can help me to improve the site to better serve the community.

To En Masse: thank you for bringing us such a beautiful game, and I look forward to playing it for a long time to come.

That's a wrap. Thanks, Kestrel, for your time, and for your hard work on Tera Templates!