Join the new world

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Since starting the Hall Of Heroes series I’ve been fortunate to write about some amazing players. Their understanding of the War Module and dedication to the game have been inspiring. Reaching Field Marshal is a grand accomplishment in this game, as is achieving Resistance Hero or Battle Hero status. We revere the players who’ve soared to such heights, lauding them with praise.

There are other players, however, who may not have the gold to tank or the time in game to reach the top rank. Their heroism is frequently kept from the public eye and unacknowledged.

Inspiration comes in many forms in eRep. My 1st eBirthday coincides with events irl and in game that have given me reason to reflect on the word that dominates the name of this series: Hero.

Instead of the usual birthday personal history piece, I want to take time to thank those who’ve proven their heroism beyond the battlefield and who inspire me on a daily basis. Many of these players are unsung heroes … perhaps it’s time a voice was raised for them.

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Mentors give of their time to help new players navigate through the first weeks of play. Their caring and sacrifice make a difference for everyone who plays as they help with player retention and help build stronger national “teams.”

When I began this game a year ago, I was in the eUS. I was assigned a mentor and am proud to still call him a friend. Wingfield, thank you for your guidance and for your continued friendship.

Other players helped as well. Some in the eUS – Wally Wilson, fingerguns and Greene 12 were incredibly kind.

I never found a sense of belonging on the eUS forums, so turned to the main eRep forums when I had questions about game play. There I found intelligent, generous players who answered my questions and made me feel at home. They can still be found on the forums where they still help guide players.

Thank you to Assato, Kitchen.Sink, Zammuel, Nicholas2000, Piratbox , Balkan Beast, marquis esoteric, John Richards, Lord Moe, Aus Askar, Astra Kat … I’m sure I’m missing names here and I apologize. I appreciate everyone who helped me gain my footing in this game.

Through my time in eRep I’ve lived in 4 countries. I’ve been fortunate to find kind and charitable players in each one.

When I moved from the eUS to eAustralia I made a handful of friends I cherish and who I still look forward to seeing on a regular basis. Cozza, Bass Junkie, Derek Apollyon, Corey Blake, Will Shafer … You make me smile and I thank you. Some, like Ezekiel Thomas, Jake (collection of letters and numbers – lol – I call him Jake), Tim Holtz, Dante, Widds, patti11, CH, AVand others, I don’t see often these days, but they’re still in my heart and my thoughts.

In eCanada I met friends who I simply adore: TCO (see below), jbdivinus, Spencer Magee, Taiwan Panda, saltydog, Coda, Chucky Norris, Addy Lawrence (the first person to PM and welcome me in eCan) … so many of you … your humor and kindness make the game better every time I’m with you.

Currently I live in eSouth Africa, where there is a list of wonderful people constantly ready to reach out to others. Players opened a donation center to help those with wellness issues. The politicians are caring and involved and the citizens band together. I’m privileged to work with the Ministry of Social Development, where giving mentors, educators and creative forces have a daily positive impact on the lives of many. Thank you, South Africa. Thank you to the congress and cabinet and, especially, to the volunteers with MoSD for inspiring me every day. (A list of names can be found here: [url] http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/on-a-personal-note-1-1403728/1/20[/url])

The Crimson Order is loud and rowdy, frequently inebriated and looking for lulz. They’re also supportive, caring, generous and kind. In irl I’ve had challenges over the past few months. The offers of everything from a shoulder to cry on to financial assistance have moved me and inspired me to be a better person. I give great thanks and love to my Crimson brothers and sisters. They are among the finest people I’ve ever known. I won’t list its 120 members here, but I will invite you to the TCO forum so you can meet these great folks yourself: [url] http://bruckscanucks.forumotion.ca/forum.htm[/url]



There’s another level of inspiration, and of heroism, that plays out in this game. For the most part, the heroism of these players is never revealed to the public. When it is, however, we’re all made better people because of it:

Through articles, forum posts, irc and Private Messages, we’re sometimes honored to learn the stories of those with whom we play eRep. Some of those stories are life changing, challenging the very core of those who learn them. I’ve read about people who play this game to escape personal loss and challenge. For some it’s poverty or an unhappy home life. For other players eRep is a way to cope with great personal loss. There are others who play at the edges of the day because the bulk of their time is devoted to caring for children, parents , siblings and friends who have special needs that must be met.

I’ve met players who play eRep between surgeries and treatments. Most of their in-game acquaintances will never know there’s an issue – These brave, giving players don’t make public announcements or use their illnesses as an excuse for their choices. These men and women give everything they can to their friends and their team, then step back when they must in order to handle whatever challenges confront them. They are heroes of the highest order. Their courage and kindness humble me and fill me with wonder. Thank you for your courage, dedication and inspiration.

Many eCanadians know AngryMobMan, a great guy and talented player. We all know he’s facing a serious illness and we’re aware of his courage. He had a friend reach out to our community when he was unable to type himself. He wanted to apologize to his comrades in the game because his illness had kept him from completing a commitment. For many of us, it was the first we heard of his illness. He mentioned it to assure us that it was the only reason he would be away from the game, to ask forgiveness of his team and wish them well. The dedication, fortitude and character it takes to be that selfless challenges me to see beyond my small world, to step into the larger universe and to show more kindness.

Marius "Scott" Coroleone and I knew each other in 2 games – eRep and eJahan. We sometimes butted heads but usually enjoyed the process of playing the game together. In both he was a great soldier, setting an example of what a gamesman should be. I didn’t know about the private war he was fighting until he lost the battle and was taken from us. His departure from our lives has left a void.

And then there’s Tyler. Brash, passionate, patriotic and prolific Tyler F Durden. He was one of the smartest people, let alone players, I know. And though I know he’d get mad at me for saying it … In spite of his grasp of mechanics and his respect for logic, he played this game with his heart. Some days that brought him laughter and some days it brought him rage. He shared both and everything in between with us all. His presence on irc brought me joy. Our conversations, public and private, challenged me to a deeper understanding of what it meant to commit to our community. Tyler died in order to save another, throwing himself into a dire situation in order to protect someone he loved. I’m sure he lived his life with the same abandon and passion with which he played the game. I can see him not thinking twice as he put himself in harm’s way in order to ensure the safety of another, probably daring the world to stop him and letting out a string of obscenities as he charged headlong into danger. Tyler is a hero and, I’m proud to say, my friend.

Yes, I’ve seen many forms of heroism in the past year. I’ve been challenged and inspired by those with whom I share this eWorld. To my friends and fellow players I offer my deepest thanks for the gift of your companionship. You’ve made me a better player and a better person for having known you.

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With great fondness and regard,

Dycey Farley