To be quite honest, if you are viewing this purely because of the title, you are unfortunately going to be let down…I think. Although, I can guess that the two words that led you to explore this blog are “knight” and “blazing.” If I’m right, well then you are predictable, or you just play Warhammer Online and the title made you think of the Knight of the Blazing Sun, ya know, one or the other. I also think that at this point you are probably confused as to my rambling, and if you are not, well then I have just brought your attention to it. No worries, there is a purpose to this, and there will be a central theme to this post, it just might not deal with what you think it will. In all honesty, the title of this exists purely because I thought it was clever and I wanted to utilize it. It may not be the best course of action to structure a blog post around a title, but, well, here I am.
The title does serve some purpose, as I play Warhammer Online, and my main character is a Knight of the Blazing Sun, so that counts for something, right? Anyway, as I have rambled on, I have begun to narrow in on that pesky and evasive central theme. You see, I find it curious, in my case anyway (and I do believe in other cases as well), that I play a tank, and only a tank, especially because the tank archetype is all I have ever been truly good at and enjoyed in any MMO I have played (World of Warcraft, Warhammer Online, Champions Online, etc.). Sure, I’ve tried other archetypes in each of the aforementioned games, but I either did not enjoy the classes offered or I just was not as effective. So yes, I am starting to make connections between this, what it is I am typing, and the title. Perhaps the title put you in the WAR mindset, or the tank mindset, or the Knight of the Blazing Sun mindset, or maybe you still think I am completely insane. 
Whichever it is (and I seriously hope it is not the last one, though I can not blame you if it is) I find it fascinating that the concept of archetype exclusivity has developed in gaming. Well, obviously there is exclusivity, but the fascinating part is that I am so exclusive that I can not enjoy playing any other archetype than a tank, at least endgame. Of course, I know many people who have characters of all archetypes at endgame (I am looking at you Xavier Morgan). And I suppose it is the fact that there are gamers of both these play styles that makes it diversified and therefore fascinating. Of course, I feel obligated to remind you that I may still be rambling on like a mad man.
I do have a theory. Perhaps character selection is rooted in personality traits. Perhaps many gamers relate their own personalities to certain archetypes. It was pointed out to me by a certain someone that maybe the reason I find the tank archetype so fun and interesting is because of my protective nature. I can certainly believe this to be true, and yes I know, I am actually telling you about who I am as a person, it is pretty scary right? However, thinking about it now, it makes a lot of sense that my protective nature causes my enjoyment in the tank archetype, suiting the need to protect friends and loved ones. Also, in this same light, someone who is often playing the part of the caretaker (like a nurse or mother, etc.) is drawn to the healing archetype. Perhaps this kind of person’s desire to help those in need causes them to really enjoy healing. Furthermore, someone who is more aggressive or competitive (like athletes) are drawn more to the DPS archetypes (and its correlating sub-archetypes: ranged DPS and melee DPS). The DPS archetype helps quell their desire to be aggressive and competitive more so than a tank or healer character ever could. I would also like to point out at this juncture that the title now makes a ridiculous amount of sense, and I am giddy with excitement over it. Oh, and by the way, at this point I feel I am no longer rambling, just wanted to make that point clear.
Going along with this whole personality theory, there is a wild card in all of this. What does one say about those gamers who are interested in all archetypes, and enjoy as well as play all archetypes? Is it enough to say that these wild card gamers have all of the aforementioned personality traits? In some cases yes. However, in most cases I think it is a bit more complicated. Of course, there is always the possibility that someone plays all archetypes simply because they enjoy them all. But, stopping at this conclusion is just no fun. I think we should dig deeper. Since I am of the tank archetype, and the wild card cases are not so cut and dry, I felt it best to ask some of these wild card gamers why they play all archetypes. The answers I got were pretty unexpected. I assumed that I would get answers along the lines of “I just enjoy them all.” This was not the case as it became obvious to me that while these wild card gamers play and enjoy all the archetypes, they still have that one character they play and enjoy the most, that one archetype that suits their personality and maximizes their fun in the game they play. 
And so yes, I do believe personality impacts archetype selection (for your main character that is). I won’t say that it is a make or break factor, but I do invite you to ask yourself why it is you play the character that you do. Ask yourself why it is you enjoy said character so much. Out of the numerous reasons that are brought about by these questions, take note if personality makes an appearance.
