Post by Alexander on Aug 21, 2005 15:10:30 GMT -5
Since he doesn't want to go back there, I will provide what I typed there here.
The same rules apply.
Today marks the end of one full year of my time on the THoG Jedi Academy Clan forums. On August 21, 2004, I joined the THoG extended family by signing up to post on these crazy forums. After about a month, I became a part of the THoG clan, the latest addition in a proud and prestigious family of Jedi warriors who had been fighting for all that is right to adolescent males since 2002 (when JK2 Outcast came out).
Naturally, I came into THoG at a end of a Golden Age. Recruitment had been slowing down, but everyone managed to get online a lot to train, duel, merc battle, or just have fun. I couldn't get on all the time, but when I did, there were always fellow THoG clanmates ready to have a good time.
This went on for two months. I even saw the addition of another new THoG, AbelNox (simply known as Nox). I would spar with my erstwhile equal, [THoG]FrozenPaladin, and would occasionally receive sage advice from my Master, [THoG]Kale. I was promoted to Padawan level, and things seemed set for my gradual rise through the ranks, and the ever growing THoG family.
Not to say there wasn't conflict. We had just come out of a protracted conflict with FoG, and had made an alliance with them. Lamers, JA players who had no clans and killed senselessly to create anarchy, filled the JA servers. One annoying entity who constantly tried to place himself in THoG was one Picklemanclone, and he marred our forums. Our leader, [THoG]Skipstorm, started to feel the effects of married life more and more often. Then, tragedy struck. [THoG]Tiger's computer broke, and so did Kale's. Even the THoG server fell. Dark times were imminent.
Nevertheless, into December I could feel THoG's great influence, and I had much fun on a temporary server created by Royd. Old rankings were re-established, and I became a private in the THoG army.
Then I left the JA world for a while to enjoy KOTOR. School was also beginning to take it toll on me, and I just did not find the time. As it turned out, neither did my THoGs. We became seperate, and anxious. Attempts were made to get back online, but they were half hearted. Tiger and many of the higher-ranking members had vanished, and Age, who was perhaps most talented in swordplay, was ejected from the clan. Even Picklemanclone disappeared, his last great posting spree coming in January 2005.
By February, when I was back looking for some JA action, it was non-existent. Everything focused on the forums. And indeed, many fun things happened here. We had Kale's "The Circle is Almost Complete Topic," which we anxiously followed awaiting the release of Episode III. I started the infamous Girls Topic, in which I orchestrated a frowned-upon (by [THoG]Anklebiter) signature rebellion consisting of 95% nude girls (Vida Guerra!111!!111!). Several fun games were started, such as my Never-ending Story and Kale's Acronym Fun. The forums themselves experienced expansion, as new forum areas were created. We were still a happy community, despite our apparent lack of server time as a whole.
The server had died. No one trained. No clan matches were carried out. As a whole, the JA community was falling to pieces. Episode III all re-sparked our interest in Star Wars games, but it seemed JA was not really one of them. Unfortunately, Skipstorm had entirely withdrawn from the forums, and Ankle had taken control. By May, however, he too quit. He joined FoG, on the basis that he was tired of having no one in THoG to play with. This loss struck us hard; we just lost a guy to FoG because we weren't getting on. The issue had become serious.
I was gone from June 24th to August 7th, 2005. I corresponded with THoG members in my absence via the forums, and I could feel that times were changing. They seemed so empty, and we had trouble having enough topics to talk or spam in. By the time I returned and got AIM, it was time for affirmative action.
My old Master, Kale, had decided to take up leadership of the clan. He secretly reinitiated Age, who had been in contact with Kale ever since his banishment. He created a Chill Server for THoG, and the first time I got on, it felt like I had just played online JA for the first time. For if you remember, when I went online back in July of 2004 to play on a server, it was THoG I randomly picked from the list to play in...
Anyway, on the Chill Server, Kale, Age, Ghost, myself, and even Screwo had a blast. We dueled. We shot the bull. We shot each other. It was just like old times. In a meeting between myself, Kale, Age, Raden, and Ghost, it was decided that the Triumvirate (new leaders Kale, Age, and Raden) would expand leadership to we five die-hards, and that THoG would be reborn gloriously in the upcoming year. Kale, as my former master, promised me I would start to advance again, and gave me my first level of Admin pass. The Chill Server would become home base, recruitment would start up again, and THoG would become the fiercely-burning light in the growing darkness of the JA playing world.
But that never happened. Eventually, Kale's action were seen as treason. The rest of us are closely watched for similar behavior. Kale, feeling pressured and lost for the first time, left the forums for good. Age was not given a chance to rejoin THoG, and all hope of a cohesive family were marred. The old leaders of THoG, Ankle and Royd, are trying to maintain THoG for what is was. Kale looked to a future. Now everybody is confused. Loyalty to the clan is one thing, but what if the clan really is only a clan in name? We have become individuals once more, united by name. Those in the extended network of THoG allies are upset, and have laid blame on people. Those in the clan are unsure of their fate. If someone like Kale can leave, what is to stop THoG from disappearing entirely?
Now it has been one year. I have just summarized one year of THoG history according to me, as I saw it. I have left out many details and several of my own opinions of events. However, I do this to present an unbiased view as possible of events in our little clan. I have not come this far to quit THoG, nor will I. I do not agree with the recent actions of some individuals, which to me have seemed rather childish. I had greater expectations of all you than that (yes, even Ghost).
In the coming year, I cannot say I shall be as active as I once was on these boards. I will make it a personal mission to play JA more often, and I will visit the Chill Server. I make no inhibitions about that. Just remember that Kale was my master. He greeted me when I first visited THoG as AlexanderKnight way back in July of 2004. And as Aradorn pointed out, he practically was the backbone of the clan. He was a constant. I too, aspire to be one such dependable. I hope that in one year, you have all come to trust me as one of your own. I am happy to have become a part of your group.
I leave this topic for reminiscing and discussion. Any protracted arguements will force me to request this topic's lockage.
Naturally, I came into THoG at a end of a Golden Age. Recruitment had been slowing down, but everyone managed to get online a lot to train, duel, merc battle, or just have fun. I couldn't get on all the time, but when I did, there were always fellow THoG clanmates ready to have a good time.
This went on for two months. I even saw the addition of another new THoG, AbelNox (simply known as Nox). I would spar with my erstwhile equal, [THoG]FrozenPaladin, and would occasionally receive sage advice from my Master, [THoG]Kale. I was promoted to Padawan level, and things seemed set for my gradual rise through the ranks, and the ever growing THoG family.
Not to say there wasn't conflict. We had just come out of a protracted conflict with FoG, and had made an alliance with them. Lamers, JA players who had no clans and killed senselessly to create anarchy, filled the JA servers. One annoying entity who constantly tried to place himself in THoG was one Picklemanclone, and he marred our forums. Our leader, [THoG]Skipstorm, started to feel the effects of married life more and more often. Then, tragedy struck. [THoG]Tiger's computer broke, and so did Kale's. Even the THoG server fell. Dark times were imminent.
Nevertheless, into December I could feel THoG's great influence, and I had much fun on a temporary server created by Royd. Old rankings were re-established, and I became a private in the THoG army.
Then I left the JA world for a while to enjoy KOTOR. School was also beginning to take it toll on me, and I just did not find the time. As it turned out, neither did my THoGs. We became seperate, and anxious. Attempts were made to get back online, but they were half hearted. Tiger and many of the higher-ranking members had vanished, and Age, who was perhaps most talented in swordplay, was ejected from the clan. Even Picklemanclone disappeared, his last great posting spree coming in January 2005.
By February, when I was back looking for some JA action, it was non-existent. Everything focused on the forums. And indeed, many fun things happened here. We had Kale's "The Circle is Almost Complete Topic," which we anxiously followed awaiting the release of Episode III. I started the infamous Girls Topic, in which I orchestrated a frowned-upon (by [THoG]Anklebiter) signature rebellion consisting of 95% nude girls (Vida Guerra!111!!111!). Several fun games were started, such as my Never-ending Story and Kale's Acronym Fun. The forums themselves experienced expansion, as new forum areas were created. We were still a happy community, despite our apparent lack of server time as a whole.
The server had died. No one trained. No clan matches were carried out. As a whole, the JA community was falling to pieces. Episode III all re-sparked our interest in Star Wars games, but it seemed JA was not really one of them. Unfortunately, Skipstorm had entirely withdrawn from the forums, and Ankle had taken control. By May, however, he too quit. He joined FoG, on the basis that he was tired of having no one in THoG to play with. This loss struck us hard; we just lost a guy to FoG because we weren't getting on. The issue had become serious.
I was gone from June 24th to August 7th, 2005. I corresponded with THoG members in my absence via the forums, and I could feel that times were changing. They seemed so empty, and we had trouble having enough topics to talk or spam in. By the time I returned and got AIM, it was time for affirmative action.
My old Master, Kale, had decided to take up leadership of the clan. He secretly reinitiated Age, who had been in contact with Kale ever since his banishment. He created a Chill Server for THoG, and the first time I got on, it felt like I had just played online JA for the first time. For if you remember, when I went online back in July of 2004 to play on a server, it was THoG I randomly picked from the list to play in...
Anyway, on the Chill Server, Kale, Age, Ghost, myself, and even Screwo had a blast. We dueled. We shot the bull. We shot each other. It was just like old times. In a meeting between myself, Kale, Age, Raden, and Ghost, it was decided that the Triumvirate (new leaders Kale, Age, and Raden) would expand leadership to we five die-hards, and that THoG would be reborn gloriously in the upcoming year. Kale, as my former master, promised me I would start to advance again, and gave me my first level of Admin pass. The Chill Server would become home base, recruitment would start up again, and THoG would become the fiercely-burning light in the growing darkness of the JA playing world.
But that never happened. Eventually, Kale's action were seen as treason. The rest of us are closely watched for similar behavior. Kale, feeling pressured and lost for the first time, left the forums for good. Age was not given a chance to rejoin THoG, and all hope of a cohesive family were marred. The old leaders of THoG, Ankle and Royd, are trying to maintain THoG for what is was. Kale looked to a future. Now everybody is confused. Loyalty to the clan is one thing, but what if the clan really is only a clan in name? We have become individuals once more, united by name. Those in the extended network of THoG allies are upset, and have laid blame on people. Those in the clan are unsure of their fate. If someone like Kale can leave, what is to stop THoG from disappearing entirely?
Now it has been one year. I have just summarized one year of THoG history according to me, as I saw it. I have left out many details and several of my own opinions of events. However, I do this to present an unbiased view as possible of events in our little clan. I have not come this far to quit THoG, nor will I. I do not agree with the recent actions of some individuals, which to me have seemed rather childish. I had greater expectations of all you than that (yes, even Ghost).
In the coming year, I cannot say I shall be as active as I once was on these boards. I will make it a personal mission to play JA more often, and I will visit the Chill Server. I make no inhibitions about that. Just remember that Kale was my master. He greeted me when I first visited THoG as AlexanderKnight way back in July of 2004. And as Aradorn pointed out, he practically was the backbone of the clan. He was a constant. I too, aspire to be one such dependable. I hope that in one year, you have all come to trust me as one of your own. I am happy to have become a part of your group.
I leave this topic for reminiscing and discussion. Any protracted arguements will force me to request this topic's lockage.
The same rules apply.
