I wasn't sure where I wanted to post this; and maybe it will be re-posted in other places so that the people I want to see this do. I am writing this formal "goodbye" because I have realized that my constant withdrawal is based mostly in that I never really said goodbye. I don't know if I'm actually gone for good, but I need to write some things that I've been saving for the day that I quit.
Playing Final Fantasy XI has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I know how lame that sounds to the average joe, and how in the scope of the entire world, that's a pretty pathetic accomplishment. However, only those who have played Final Fantasy XI can understand how you can truly be changed by a video game. For me, it was one of the most destructive changes of my life. I started FFXI in my last year of high school, and played more frequently as time went on and into my first year of college. In the first year of the game, I had clocked roughly 100 days into the game. Thats nearly a third of the entire year that I spent playing FFXI. As you can imagine, and some of you may be able to even relate, that causes problems in your personal life. It became a genuine addiction for me.
However, it was because of that that I was able to take a step back and examine myself. I saw my school counselor, and it was a very difficult process, but I was able to cut back on playing time and improve myself in real life. However, I believe I still developed as a person within FFXI. Leading Neobahumut was one of the most incredible character building experiences, and every single person who had a part in making that linkshell what it was also played a part in helping me as a person grow.
I learned how to be a leader, I learned how to mediate disputes, and as a dragoon I learned how to be a minority. I learned how to be emotional support, how to boost morale and to never give up. I was able to experience the thrill of exploring the uncharted and the unknown. I learned a whole new culture; that of the japanese and that of the MMOs. I learned a new level of patience.
I'm listening to Final Fantasy XI music as I write this post, and its killing me inside. The memories I have tied to so many of these songs... its a testament to how deep this game touched me. I want to give credit to every little thing that I and Neobahumut have done, but I'm afraid that I'm going to leave something out. I will give it my best shot, and if I forget names or events, please forgive me, I truly don't want you to think that any event is less significant than another.
I want to thank players first, and I wish I had POL accessible so I could go through my friends list. I have no doubt that 90% of the people I see I can remember, but I doubt I can remember all the names. I also doubt that all the names I name will see this, but without further ado, I owe a piece of my heart to the following people:
Tenka
Kerbochard
Villain
Krashna
Serrin
Sukasa
Tanat
Baudan
Brightblade
Muteki
Alarie
Arroes
Cowlander
Pierce
Lance
Ephron
Quishka
Riven
Jit and the A-Team
Masterroshi and Hellonurse
TheRefused
Dartlionhart
Spikedragon
Darkmage
Corwyn
Deciple
Teto
Missrox
Kiona
Alazar
Sirflaw
Mythic
Jest
Xspartan
Zydricas
Hammy
Loreck
Suzuken
Dyce
and as I remember people (perhaps by looking at my POL friend list) I will add them.
Some quick memories:
I remember exploring Ronfaure and the tomb with huge newbie parties, wondering where we were. We sometimes would try to get experience points, and sometimes just explore. That happened a lot, even later in the game. I think my fondest memories are of teaming up with people and exploring some area that we knew nothing about. Getting killed didn't even matter then.
I remember going to the dunes with the people who I had started to become friends with at the beginning of the game (and being shocked by 100xp a kill!). We gathered one day and decided to get a linkshell. The first person who could afford it would buy the linkshell (guess who that was!). The founding members included Coreno, Bahamut, Baudan, Quishka, and Ephron.
I think it was because that the linkshell was founded by a group of people who were just having fun, and not caring whether they were doing the right thing is how neobahumut became what it did. We came to have fun, to do what we thought was right, and help each other out because we were friends.
I remember breaking the shell by accident one day; I was in bastok, I remember that much. And the instant I broke the shell I was flooded with tells as people tried to find out how they lost their pearl.
I remember trains in the dunes, in the jungles and everywhere else. It created a different kind of strategy that doesn't exist anymore.
I remember a spectacular party in the delkfutts tower with therefused and several other NB members, back when we were still noobs. It was around then, when we were all nearing 30 that we all stood on a stairwell in delkfutts and decided on jobs to take past 30. I was a warrior til then, Coreno a white mage and bahamut a black mage. We tried to get everyone in the shell as a different job, and core was the most undecided, and wound up being bard.
I chose dragoon because a japanese dragoon had helped our linkshell get the items for the sub job quest, I remember thinking how cool and how powerful the jump attacks were. That dragoon essentially became my role model. I made it a point to occasionally go back to the dunes by myself as dragoon, and take some random noobs to the mines and get the skull. Unfortunately the name of the dragoon escapes me.
There was one summer where I didn't play as much because I was working on trying to get off the game, and the LS all but died. I believe sukasa was one of the few people left, and was able to help me restore NB to what it used to be.
Of course there was the wedding and the collosal pain in the ass lance.
My favorite memories as a LS are killing the HNMs, the one in rolanberry specifically. We got the claim over some pretentious bastards, who taunted our small linkshell the entire fight. We didn't have the right gear, but we had such good players in our linkshell, that we were still able to beat that bird and get the drop! And those assholes who tried to ruin the fight were sent home crying
I'm going to end it here, and again, I'll probably add to this as I remember names and stories. Please, add your own! I thank everyone again for helping me get through the game, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I still want to chat with you guys, too. I'm all over the internet, just type "omnibahumut" into google
Take care guys, and good luck on where ever life takes you!
