The View From Down Here

Here at the end of all things…

(cross posted from the Dead Code Elimination forums)

I think it’s been obvious to me for a little while now that the end was nigh.

Dead Code Elimination, and all the people who have been members, past and present, made it what it was – a fantastic place to play with both friends, old and new. It’s very sad that it’s come to an end.

The last week, however, even more than any other time, has reminded me that the thing that the guild was founded on, was the real-life bonds that forged it in the first place. Without those bonds, it just wasn’t the same place any more.

That isn’t to say that those of you we picked up along the way are at all lesser in my eyes. Many of you joined us and immediately embodied the DCE spirit completely. Without your input, we’d no doubt still have been wiping on Prince

Anyway, in no particular order, I’d like to pay particular respects to some of those people who have been with us at different times, and who I’m not likely to see around soon:

• Saletha. It was fun racing you to get to level 60, even if you did beat me in the end by two hours because my PC packed in
• Libby. You weren’t with us for long, but that time you did spend with us helped remind me what DCE really was about.
• Devia! Your time with us was cut far too short. Every raid since you left us, you were missed. Hopefully one day you’ll be back in WoW and we’ll cross paths; I certainly hope so.
• Pablo, of course. DCE would never have happened without you. ‘Nuff respect.
• Alune. The Big Bear Butt still raises a smile, and it always will every time I see a feral…
• Ric. You took the bull by the horns, and you lasted a fantastically long time. And I’m sure that the Shade of Aran just needs another hug…
• Grav. DCEdoodle was a work of genius. Not to mention everything else you did for the guild…
• Matt. You led our real first raid, way back, Zul’Gurub. I think I still have the small prismatic shard that I won that day :). You’ve done so much for so long, and deserve all our thanks.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but if I try to say something nice about everyone I’ll be here all night. Needless to say that there is something good that I can say about each and every one of you. There is a special mention, though, for those people who have come to me in the last week and said they still believed in our leadership, even when everything looked to be falling apart. It means the world to me that you thought so highly of us even that late in the day.

Of course, there were the downers, too. But they don’t matter any more. What matters is that DCE was a place where all could enjoy themselves. I wish every one of you well in the future. I don’t know how much I’ll be about, but feel free to hassle me whenever you need a tank, or a sneaky bastard

It’s been a pleasure. The fact that in my entire time as an officer, I only needed to kick one person from the guild is testament to the greatness that each and every one of you contributed to.

DCE is dead. Long live DCE!

Postscript: What’s next for me? I’m not sure. But however things turn out, I’m looking forward to a change…