Back in June I wrote an entry entitled, “Zero to Sixty – Reflections on the Post Progression Era” [http://playlate.blogspot.com/2006/06/zero-to-sixty-reflections-on-post.html]. Rereading that post I realized I can't rewrite it for seventy. I'm a sap. I got emotional just rereading and remembering. Yet, the Via' of today is not the Via' of sixty . . . or even sixty-one. The James of today isn't the James of June 27th, 2006 either.
How do I explain? That's the hard part. I could just fall back on my lyrical lines and alliterate approach [see?]. Yet, that would seem forced and fake. I could once again play the provocateur, but please . . . we've all seen that puppet show. So, now what?
“From the first time I saw a raptor to Hal’ and I backing away from a dragon in the The Swamp of Sorrows to the Un’Goro Crater and finally to realizing what the Dark Portal in The Blasted Lands represented within the mythology of the game . . . ”
It was only a few short weeks ago that I stood side-by-side with Hall' and Twink' as we walked through that Dark Portal into Hell . . . well, the Hellfire Peninsula. Twink' was instantly disconnected, leaving Hall' and I to explore those broken land alone [with two million other people]. It was only a few short days ago that I stood once again side-by-side with Twink' as I went from leveling to leveled. Both for me are very memorable bookends and once again my adventure that starts with Hall' ends with Twink' . . . I like the symmetry.
“Standing there . . . surveying the landscape I noticed something wrong with my interface. I scanned around the edges until I realized it was my experience bar . . it was now missing. The single most important indicator of my progression was gone! My thoughts were to how would I measure my success now?”
This time I watched as the experience bar disappeared off my interface, but this time there was no apprehension, only appreciation. Now, I could get back to doing what I love best . . helping others level. Isn't that ultimately the jorb of a warrior? Otherwise, I'll grind out my rep' or mats'. I'll quip and quibble in chat. I'll give out the obligatory 'grats' as others pass benchmarks. And, I'll be ViaMedia . . . dwarf, warrior, alchemist, herbalist, comic relief, bringer of the quick quip, provocateur, naked dwarf, friend to the weak and the wee, tour guide, guild officer, community member . . . and level 70.
Friend!—spoke Columbus—keep
Trust in a Genoese no more!
He always stares into the blue deep —
Is lured out there too far.
The strange is now dear to me!
Genoa, sank, waned into the sea—
Stay cold, heart! Hold the helm, hand!
Before me sea—and land?—and land? ——
We stand fast on our feet!
We can never return!
Out there, the beyond: from the distance to greet
Us with death, glory, fortune!
-Friedrich Nietzsche
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