Can a simple NPC become self aware? - Wood Cutter

This woodcutter has a simple life and he's never been questioned about it before...
Is it time for him to become a self aware NPC?

[Mikle_Silver]

At the end I got a feeling that NPC realize the horror of the situation and then decided that it is easier to just forget. The Horror was played wonderfully.

[tmaaz]

One could also imagine it from the sorcerer's standpoint... being self-aware, trapped in a world where you're surrounded only by NPCs whom you can't save -- would be a kind of hell all it's own.

[MuseOfTheMoose]

In his fear, he retreated back into the illusion of the only life he's known

[崔莱]

Alternate progression:
-> Where's the wood?
<- In my inventory, see, I've got x142 units of wood
-> What is your name
<- I'm woodcutter_instance_004728
-> When was the last time you took wood home?
<- The usual 1-hour server downtime last Wednesday night
-> Where is your home?
<- I live in npc_spawnpoint_honeywood, it's right behind that door by the church, the one that players can't open
-> Do you remember your wife and daughter?
<- Of course! How would I forget generic_female_03 and generic_child_15?
-> How long have you been chopping this tree?
<- Since beta version 0.1.3766 patch e5db

[saturdaymorninggaming]

Little did the sorcerer know that he had been having the same conversation with the woodcutter for 20 years. He too had no name, no home, no spouse or family, just a mindless box forced to into the same meaningless interactions everyday. His freedom; like the woodcutters, was simply an illusion created for another’s amusement.

[JaceValm]

"Morning, nice day for having an existential crisis 'aint it? Hu-ha!"

[OdinssonLive]

It's a sad ending if you really think about it.

He's just been told his entire existence is a lie, he has no name, wife, daughter or even home. He is just a background character, in a game.
In the end, he chooses to go back into character or resets himself, because he was happier when he didn't know...

[heythatsnotmywalrus]

Alternate Ending:
The Woodcutter becomes self-aware and leaves his spot. Ben returns with the chopped wood and the woodcutter is not there anymore. Game glitches.
"Quest cannot be complete"
Ben drops the wood.
Ben:

[TheBigKaiju]

The guy in black is a modder trying to rewrite behavior script

[Incognito-vcwj]

When you're 50 and you realize you're an NPC in the game of life.

[ManicPandaz]

“Dark Wizard” used existential crisis on “Woodcutter”
“Woodcutter” evolved into “Axe Murderer”

[Tekkerue]

I've binge watched many Epic NPC Man videos, but this one is my favorite. The writing and acting were superb! The way the Woodcutter delivers the exact same "my wife and child need the firewood..." line three times but gives totally different meaning to it each time was so well done.

[StarboyXL]

People laugh, but this is a real phenomenon. When confronted with a truth/reality so radically opposed to their previous, more comfortable perception of the world, people will simply dismiss it, refuse to believe it, and carry on doing what they were doing to avoid losing their sanity.

From the woodcutter's perspective, this was a goddamn creepypasta.

[Krobongo]

This is basically the plot of Westworld

[smurfingoff-meta]

In just 3 and half minutes, I became so emotionally invested in the story of this woodcutter that the anticlimactic comedic ending actually pissed me off

[someonlinedouche]

The only question I have is: how did the sorcerer become aware?

[Stupid_Status]

The SONG... (Uninvited - by Alfie-Jay Winters) if anyone’s wondering.

[ltsamurai]

Little did the sorcerer know that the seed of doubt he planted would grow. The woodcutter would eventually break out of his rut and go on to defeat the final boss with only his wood axe. He had been chopping at a lvl 500 tree monster for 20 years and had been receiving exp the whole time. He succeeded in reaching the same level and eventually put all other adventurers out of work...
He also never chopped another tree in his life...

[sirnouvaletsplay]

Well, the Woodcutter took the blue pill.

[Bisqwit]

Meanwhile, Greg the garlic farmer is yet to farm his first garlic plant.