June 3rd, 2012.
That's the date I happened upon this server and found a community that (to me) was unparalleled in it's tight-knit playerbase, friendly administration, and perfect blend of town creation and resource gathering fun. I looked everywhere for a server that could meet the criteria of having a mature playerbase and administration, and a simple yet fun shops and town creation "tycoon" plug-in. It was here that I found it, and I delved into a very special find that would consume a good 2 years of my free time.
This was my first real PC online experience, and what came with that meant a lot to me. I learned the ins and outs of the plugins, I spent many hours talking to players new and old, and watched as my town grew into (what was back then) the largest city on the server. It was the most fun I had ever had in a video game, and that social human element was something that made it feel real, that I could share and interact with everyone to make a virtual world that we could call our own.
What we had was special, and anyone here can attest to that. The resolute quality of the community and the administration would inevitably lead to the community growing larger, and this period of rapid growth was awesome. We had all of these new people coming in and introducing themselves, and everyone was so quick to welcome them in and show them the ropes of the server. A process that I found so fun to be a part of, I became a moderator.
This, perhaps, was the most interesting part of this server, and why it was so memorable. The way that the internal "ebb and flow" of the community played a part in how the server would grow or lose players. It all played out like a long story. From its humble beginnings to its "Golden Age" to its turmoil during the CrueltyGaming era and then back to its (somewhat) previous state through the will and determination of the community.
Why am I writing this? Because every few days I watch that "Current Players" number drop, and I feel like that unique spark of determination is dying. Although I quit this game long ago, I don't want to see this veteran server fall. And if it is to die, I just want someone to know that this meant a lot to me, it was a long ride, and it would be sad to see this 4+ year project to be wiped clean.
I'm sorry for rambling, there's a lot more to be said about this server and it's community, but I don't feel like writing any more than I have to. Thank you for all the great times.
-Tony
(Read my comment below)
