Never was one for good byes but at the same time I was known for epic nostalgia to those that knew me. Let me tell my tale.
I joined the game 7 days after its launch in November of 2004. That was odd in itself because I had never played a MMORPG and laughed at those that did - hearing of EverQuest addicts and vowed that it would never be me. I had bet a friend that Rome : Total War was a better game than WoW and he would quit and be playing RTW in no time. I loaded the WoW demo, he loaded the RTW demo and within a week we both were running rampant in Trisfal Glades. I never looked back.
Soon after we hit level 15, my friend, an Orc Hunter named Attilax was caught up in some guild called Transcendence. I was left on the outside looking in, but went on my way. I did not think the guild life was for me. Not too long after that, Kriechentod was having his way with the Razormane in the Barrens and decided to help a fellow warlock out named Octavian who was having a hell of a time with the buggers. After completing his quests he invited me to join a new guild named Friends of Darkness. The guild was small and never topped 70 total toons with 2/3rds being alts. Regardless, we had a blast, running almost every night in that endless march to 60. I even managed to make the rank of officer. That was a big deal because I earned the trust and friendship of the original founders of the guild and was promoted to a position to make decisions on behalf of the guild. It was also great because I still keep in touch with the original members outside of the game. I never thought that was possible. Our greatest claim to fame is that 5 of us, my lock, Octavian, another lock, Him - shaman, Her - a priest and Crusk, a great tank cleared Uldaman the very first try without a death or having any idea what the instance was about. Small potatoes compared to today's instance geared guilds, but this was without any mods or voice. It was all done by /w or /r. We ran that place so many times I can still go through the whole thing in my mind.
It was also during this time with Friends and our run to 60 that this game took a tremendous toll on my personal life. I was playing 6-8 hours a day after my day job often going to bed just 2 or 3 hours before I had to get up for work again. I neglected my home and most importantly my wife. We had several heart to hearts, and in the end I decided that I would play less and be a husband more. Thats when my casual life in WoW began.
Friends of Darkness broke up shortly after that. The guild founders went back to Age of Camelot and the rest went to other guilds or servers. This was also during the dark days of realm stability where crashes were a daily part of the game and hour login queues were the norm. The guild chat of the day was "I was 879 in line when I logged"
With the guild gone, I soloed for a long time, but came across a guild called ShadowLords. It was for locks and shadow priests. It was a novel idea and I can say with 100% certainty that 4 well played locks and 1 shadow priest can run any 5 man instance with little to moderate difficulty. This was during the game when Molten Core was the last instance. That guild broke up too and I was once again alone.
I then turned to PvP being a solo guy and lived every time I logged on in Alterac Valley. I became obcessed with reaching the rank of Warlord and soon forgot my promises to my wife. Although I fell short of my in game goal I finally settled for the rank of Blood Guard when all the dust settled in my real life. I once again crossed that boundary into addiction.
With renewed vows of casual play I continued to solo and just raise hell in the Alliance lands until I came across Novus Suscipio. I felt at home with these people and their pace was to my liking, and my wife's. Along the way I became attuned for MC during my solo/pug days but had no idea how but soon was a regular in running MC with the guild. I had worked out a deal with the wife that I would play MC raid nights and be the husband on others...and thats how it mostly ended. I ran MC with the guild 47 times and was 2 pieces away from my full tier 1 set when the guild went through some changes with Burning Crusade on the horizon and finally split. Most know that story.
I hung on the fringes for a bit and ultimately went solo again until catching up with some friends in the newly formed Maelstrom. I joined up and did some questing and random instances. My casual rate however saw most off at 70 long before me. I went back to my PvP roots so to speak at that time and had tons of fun in Halaa. In the end however I became guildless as Maelstrom went through another incarnation. I was quickly losing interest in the game at this time, being 3+ years in.
My last hurrah saw me splitting time between 5 alts and Kriechentod about 5 hours a week. I tried to make my rogue the new main, but Totungrand just didnt do it for me - he will be for now stuck at 64. I thought that Joining the Horde Defense League would rekindle my interest in the game but it did not. I didn't have what was needed to be a good guildie.
The decision to walk away was not as tough as I thought, remembering all the times I told myself, just one more hour, or tell the wife the guild needs me tonight for a run or whatever. I survived. In the near 4 years that Wow has been out, I have logged 351 days of online time across all alts. I have lost countless hours of sleep, wrecked a keyboard and monitor because of realm crashes, called in sick to play, and almost lost my wife. I cant do that anymore. The decision was made so easy when I found out that my wife is pregnant and we are expecting little Kriechentod in March! Its time to get ready for a new MMORPG of sorts...fatherhood.
Thank you to all for everything, great or small. It was a blast, a fun time and a real life learning experience in more ways than you know.
If you knew me you will get it, if you didnt I expect the 'who the fu*k is Kriechentod' - thats fine. Of all I have met, thanks Xiana or whatever you are called now, you were always cool, and to Nemhain, Pat - you are wise beyond your years and just plain righteous. Thank you.
If you ever find yourself in Uldaman and kill Archaedas - Stone Guardian of the Vault, drink a Volitale Rum for me!
Night
Gratz, man! I'll miss having your around to gripe about the other DPSers with, but sounds like you are making the right decision. Don't be a stranger - feel free to hop on to Ventrilo any time you need a break from the diapers.
Hey, K-tod. Best of luck, bro, in your post-WoW adventures and it was enjoyable playing with you. And with the new one on the way!
Kriechentod, I went through 3 guilds with you, and though we never ran that many instances together, I do have fond memories of epic pvp-fests (while Novus Suscipio was active) in Arathi around Refuge Point, with you telling me to stand on the highest bank and call out the incoming direction of Alliance toons. ( I had to, I was about 20 levels below everyone else... back when 60 was the max). We did go without a lot of sleep those nights. Feel free to heckle us anytime you have a free moment. Oh, and post some pictures of K Jr.