Welcome!

[TheResidentBuddha]

This is the second time in my career as a Zoids RP'er that I've had to write one of these posts.

It's not any easier the second time. In fact, it's a little harder. Unlike Metal Machine Music, where I was a mere supermod and came in late to the game, ZWF is a site I have helped to build and shape. I've created things here and done things here that I am prouder of and happier with than I have done on any other RP site I've been on - and trust me when I say, that is saying something.

Through Zoids RP, I have met amazing people. I have made friends who have lasted past the end of several RP sites and who have come with me to other RPs, other adventures and other stories.

But when I look back at Zoids RP, I see things I have seen in no other RP fandom I've participated in. I see stories that stand the test of time, that people keep coming back to, again and again. I see people who fight hard to make themselves better writers, better storytellers and better pilots. I see people working to become better thinkers, learning the how of creativity; the why of teamwork and the the power of building a real, lasting community.

I know of very few other communities who keep drawing people back, year after year after year. I know of no other fandom that has endured, sitting in the corner of the internet, full of people still passionate and full of ideas, long after the series has ended. Long after the manga have gone out of print; after the DVDs have become obscure collectors items and the shows have been forgotten by even Cartoon Network - people are still telling stories set in that world.

I think a lot of it has to do with the ethos of zoids. The characters we love all follow some version of the warrior's path; trying to become better, be better at what they do, striving to become the best in the world - whatever world they're on. Whatever 'kind' of character they are doesn't seem to matter; all of them end up on some path or another as they try to find their ultimate potential.

If that's not the kind of story, the kind of game - the kind of world - that we should strive to create, I don't know what is. And it is that drive, that ambition - that dedication - that makes ZWF and all of the other zoids sites out there special. What sets us apart from the morass of gaming sites on internet and the vast, uncountable games for sale everywhere.

It's why, I think, so many of us keep coming back to Zi or Arawn, back to zoids.

I have seen zoids RP transform people; I have seen people find forgiveness and redemption here. I've seen people exorcise demons and discover that all of us have stories to tell, all of us can learn and grow, no matter what kind of people we think we are, or what we think we lack inside.

There's a part of me that knows even though I'm retiring for the second time, this won't be forever. There's a part of me I will leave behind here, with all of the friends I've made and stories I've helped to tell and I sincerely hope I will someday come back to those stories and those characters - to that drive to become better than I am.

I know zoids RP has made me better than what I was; Winter War on MMM taught me what kind of an effect good stories can have on people and what it means to people when their actions and their characters matters. ZWF has taught me that anyone can rise to the occasion and have their epic moment. And once they've had their epic moment, they will continue to seek out those epic moments, where they shine brightly and do things they never thought they could do.

I hope I have left ZWF a better place than I found it and that you will all continue to have epic moments and tell epic stories long after I'm just a name, just a guy people remember from the 'old days.'

And when ZWF closes its doors, (hopefully) many years from now, I hope the people who found their epic moments and epic stories here will go on to build another place where people can learn to find their potential - and their epic moments - just like they learned it here.

With that, I must take off my Red Hat and let other people step into my place. In this, I am confident that the staff I have worked with for so long and the people I've seen write and play here, will do with class, style and no small amount of wanton destruction.

Which is as it should be.

[Stryker]

You know what? I never did properly thank you for showing me the way to this place; even if it was on accident and because I never remove people from my AIM list.

Actually, I never really thanked you for a lot of things in RP, but that's not what this is for.

I can't even say I saw the full extent of what you did... but what I did see? Was great. Significant in all the meanings of the word.

Good luck, sir, in all your future endeavors. I'll make sure there's always a beer waiting for you any time you want to come back.

And my AIM handle'll always be the same if you ever wanna say hi.

[blindblood92]

*Salutes*

Farewell Jayiin, you shall indeed be greatly missed. Your contributions to ZWF and the world of Zoids RP as a whole shall never be forgotten. I regret the fact that I was never able to face you one on one, but I shall do whatever I can to learn from your legacy. My AIM will always be open should you wish to talk. Also, should you ever want to kick some ass, you know where to find me.

[Cheltsea]

You will be very missed indeed, Jayiin. Thank you so so much for everything you taught me, I would still be sifting around in the dirt if you hadn't.

[Aphrodite]

I'm sad to see you go. I remember thinking for a long time that you were this hard-ass and that it would just be best to stay out of your way. But in reality, you've probably given me the most advice and encouragement while I've been on this site. You praised my improvement and motivated me - I, for one, don't take compliments coming from you lightly. I want to thank you for everything and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

[Atmos]

So passes a men of greatness into the halls of legend.

I came here knowing that I've no right to show my face to many of the people on ZWF, that I ought to have been drawn and quartered for even applying, and of all people who I expected to receive nothing from you were the most open and forthcoming with forgiveness. Mord reminded me that it is never too late to try and ask for that forgiveness, no matter what I might have done, but that I had to be the one to extend my hand. You proved him right, and showed me that the people I hurt the most can still be willing to give me a chance to explain and do what I can to right my wrongs.

I'm rather sad to see you are leaving, and beyond that I wanted the chance for us to do a little more together. I believe we both agreed that in time there was a battle coming where we could shed some of the bad blood between us, and cut away a bit of the cancer so that we could grow anew and become friends. It appears that will have to wait for a time yet. Understand Jay, I'm not going away, and my door is open for you at any time. Unlike the last time I will rise up to fill a portion of the gap you're leaving, and I will do my best to continue making ZWF a home for those of us who might not have one, or feel they need another.

Live long, and prosper.

[Lance]

Jayiin.

My friend, my old co-captain, my ass-kicking tag-teamer, and he who is the only one I acknowledge as a stronger hand at the way of the dakka.

You deserve your rest.

You challenged me, you dragged me kicking and screaming amongst the various projects with a giggle, a smirk, and of course a carrot to keep my ADD in check. You made me set a bar, break it, and dared me to do better.

The rivalry and friendship of Johnathon Kingston Warsaw and Tahiri Adametria will always be quite a giggle-fest in the back of my mind. You have always been a strong influence on my writing and when you throw down a post of epic it had always been a gauntlet for me to rise to the moment and fire one right back.

Thus did I help raise you from the ranks of unknown pilots, you were the one that helped me bludgeon my way to my first blue hat on MMM and the mutual destruction we caused on the battlefield, in staff chat, and the groans that we elicited from judge and admin alike always brings a smirk to my lips. It is you who helped forge the lore on both MMM and ZWF where nobody else dared to or just couldn't bring proper justice to.

When you come back from your retirement. It'll be your Jet and my Fuhrer in the single most violent UX brawl we can bring to bear. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while like I always do.

You have my thanks as your friend, you have my thanks as a pilot, and you have my thanks as an ex-Staff Member. But you also most importantly have my thanks of being your rival in many things.

Take a break, enjoy your rest, smoke a few cigars, feel free to hang around.

But when (there is no if with you and me) you come back Azreal and I will welcome you back in the only style I can think of. Epic.

After all...

I'm not sure old hands like us will ever quite quit the habit that is Zoids.