The Monk

The Monk
Stoic Philosophy


Well, rather than talk about the corporation, let's talk about me for a bit. Now I am certain that your interest is peaked, after all I am fascinating am I not? Hehe. Okay maybe not, but still, what am I all about?

As early as fifteen years old, I was thrown into situations where I had to lead, or be led. I was given the opportunity to work regularly as a technical stagehand at the theater in my high school which sat +1400 people and brought in such critically acclaimed acts as Marcel Marceau and others. Now, although there were seniors on hand to train me the first year, along with my boss of course, I quickly determined that my actual peers, were up for shenanigans more than experiences, so I took charge once the old guard had graduated. By the time I was a senior, I was the main student help, the stage manager for the fall musical, and pretty much the goto guy for all things student-worker related. The reason for this? Well, as I said, most of my peers just wanted to mess around rather than do honest work, so the only way it was going to get done properly is if I took charge.

During this time, having grown up on the original Nintendo console from the age of 8 and beyond, I got into my first MMO, the original Diablo. Almost at once I found myself gathering up people I met along the way, and protecting them from PKs, God Moders, Teleport hackers, and all other levels of household vermin. I found it was easier to define this group with a name and a website, something they could all feel a part of, so I formed my first social group online. I believe we were called the Shadow Knights. Once again, I was a leader. And you know, I think this is the point at which a trend started forming for me. Protecting people, so satisfying, no matter the cost to my personal life or well being, it was just the bee's knees to watch the fruit of my labors (the social group) frolic carelessly before me, having been freed from the burden of responsibility they would have otherwise had to bear alone and in silence.

The days of Diablo and the online gaming environment it supported came and went after only a short while, maybe half a year or a little more, as during those days, hacking an MMO's gaming environment was as easy as logging onto the game, and turning on your trainer, downloaded straight from some public website. Duped items abounded, even in my own inventory. Those days, no one policed the hackers, and they ran rampant, so you were forced to hack the hackers. Thus the terms PK, PKK, AntiGod, Teleport Hacker, Punting, Flooding, Session Freezing, and the like were all born to a more mainstream audience in a discernibly frustrating way. The social group eventually went its own ways, as of course, being in high school and somewhat transient, I maintained only a loose and infrequent amalgam of hosted games and meetings with my new friends, who just simply stopped logging on one by one over the course of my time with the game.

Then came college, and through living with one of my best friends in a tiny dormitory without air conditioning, and being nervous as all get out about the vast unknown of adult life, we found ourselves playing as a total escape and arguably one of my first multiplayer FPS experiences ever, Rogue Spear. Oh the joy of those days when one would host a game online that you were in complete control of until the round started, sitting in some dark nook in the back of some special spot that you loved popping people off from, setting your fully automatic UMP20 with silencer on single shot, and picking off that hostile who leaned out a window for literally a split second. "Clak clak," goes the trigger on your small unimposing firearm, the only sound emanating from its silencer fit muzzle as it fires off a round. Head shot! Holy crap! And once again forming a player group, The §hadow Clan, my roomate and I valiantly played four to six hours of Rogue Spear a night for nearly half a year, until the hackers took over with their Vertigo and their Heartbeat Hacks, and Auto-Aims to which we had to bid an unfortunate and fond farewell to a game that was so extraordinarily ahead of its time and is so fondly remembered even today by what I am sure are many of its prior players.

Now, at this time, I had enough real life gaming friends, that most of my subsequent activities centered around doing fun stuff with them (as Varian had set out to do a few weeks ago when he and his real life friends left the AU-F to start their own shop). I played untold amounts of Unreal Tournament, Rune, Starcraft, Halo, and other competitive multiplayer online games until I was blue in the face, but I never started another player group. I had not really soured on the idea more than I got caught up with just having fun with real life friends and not being tied to anything in particular. This was college after all, that was kind of the point.

However, around the time I finished up college, got married, and moved into my first real apartment with a new fulltime job, I picked up a little known *snicker* game called Warcraft in the fall of '05 after hearing my new coworkers lauding its amazing gameplay and unimaginably fun content and social landscape for months on end while I was stuck with dial-up until we moved out of my in-law's house and into an apartment, the horror! Thus began a journey through hell in a hand basket, filled with laughter and tears, that is all too voluminous and inexplicably complicated to go into with just the amount of material I am discussing as it is in this post. What had previously been a pastime for me, to lead player groups, to protect them from hackers and other unscrupulous players, to help ensure they were entertained, had a good time, and were less concerned with the why of things and more with the fun itself, now become a part time job. Where I had led groups of a dozen or so to maybe fifty people at any given point, I now found myself within less than a year's time, in charge of almost three hundred people, a hundred active and anxious raiders, countless casuals, hangers on, friends, associates, and yes, some unsavory elements as well. I named the guild Ara Noctis (Are Uh Knock Tiss), which means The Altar Of Night. This. Was. Sparta. And I, and the officers I surrounded myself with, were the line between complete dissolution and unparalleled entertainment and enjoyment of content that at the time was still so revolutionary that everything else absolutely paled in comparison. The release of the AQ gates alone was something to which still mystifies me today, how so many people literally took a day off from their real lives, to participate in the grand opening on their particular server. Madness. Pillars littering the landscape in nearly every zone, spewing mobs with countless riches and treasures, for weeks on end, leading up to the grand opening of the gates, where towering mobs almost too direct to be an allusion to the god Anubis in Egyptian mythology spilled forth and began obliterating the unfortunate few who managed to aggro them in all the chaos and lag on the server, was just the most amazing thing I had seen in gaming up to that date. I found myself leading raids of forty people, almost a different mix every time, three nights a week, for months on end that seemed to stretch out into eternity. This was epic. But like every game that ever came before it, for me, the developers eventually ruined the atmosphere and ambiance of the gameplay experience by either ignoring or not resolving its shortcomings or inundating it with hooks, lines, sinkers, and fillers, to the point that the people themselves, so unable to really pursue alternatives (there were really none at the time) were being led hand and foot from one month's subscription fee to the next. A story for another time, but I burned out, and retired, passing the torch to a trusted friend and co-leader, and hanging up my sword for a year.

So, that leads me up until the early Spring of '08, having come back for a short while to Warcraft to visit with old friends, and unfortunately doing more harm than good when I saw that the game had warped everything I had held near and dear to me and had protected for more than a year with my blood and sweat, I found myself finally disillusioned with the whole MMO process and set adrift and alone in the gaming industry with no place to call home. What is this MMO phenomenon, that eats away at life's precious moments, and leaves you with this untold longing for more and more, even as you morbidly realize that you cannot take any of the pixels with you? Well, it's the people I met, and helped along the way. I do not lead groups because it makes me feel powerful. In fact, I hate power, and the only reason I gravitate towards it, is to secret it away so others cannot abuse or be abused by it, corrupted either willingly or unwillingly. Thus, much as in previous games, I formed the Aurelius Federation to provide one of our longest running members, Jacob (Kuroda Tsu) with a safe place where he could simply enjoy the game and be himself, without anyone breathing down his neck or trying to take advantage of him (like his CEO then was doing). Having found myself, absolutely and entirely without intention, in fact I purposefully came to EVE and fell for its spacey goodness, with the particular hope that it would be a wide and expansive enough gaming environment that I would not get stuck or tied down to any social strata, in charge of yet another player group, I ran with it, and have not looked back since.

And so here we are, having this long discussion, about stuff that matters greatly to me, but with uncertainty to others, about what makes MMOs so captivating for people like us.

There are two things I live by in real life and in an online environment and they are:

[True power is in not having to use said power in order for its effects to be felt]

[...and they will respect a line in the sand more than forgiveness]

I champion your enjoyment and the entertainment value you get out of this and other games, because that is what matters to me. And after having lead groups for a decade now whether in real life or virtual reality, I have come to understand that the only thing we really ever remember or hold onto are the people we meet, and not a single pixel will ever shape our experiences the way the people around us will.

I am unmovable in this respect, like a monk, or Stoic philosopher, and will do whatever it takes to provide every suitable member of this corporation with a playing environment where they can truly enjoy themselves and more importantly feel free to be themselves. Simply a group of friends and nothing more.

So to you, I salute, because in ten years I will remember you, and not the Nighthawk of which I am so fond of.

Fly safe,
Your Friend

P.S. Edited with a WarcraftRealms link to the members who passed through the guild in the year and a half that I led it. Click on the Ex-Members link for a full list.

Anaz = Rasnow
Andolar = Mendolus
Strathelar = Naeisha
Candwe = Rasnow's Wife

The Boys

The Boys
Are Back In Town


Yes, those scallops, those punks, those dirty hooligans, oh wait... I mean to say, our favorite RL crew, responsible for many a fun time in our past, and now once again in our present and future, have returned after setting off on their own to sights unseen and lands unknown.

Of course the officers were notably upset and distraught over having to part ways, in some sense, with friends and compatriots, but I believe we are all grateful that they are returning, and that once more the party will begin anew, with talk of sips and lighting things on fire (Hey Chris!), funny nicknames (Hey Kylie!), random low security splattering, (Yes, Denis, that is you in the Myrm getting owned by a Taranis in low sec!), and new friends we had just gotten to know (Lucas, o7). The unanimous Senate vote to bring them back to the corporation is a testament to that, I believe.

And while our friends did enjoy and were very proud of their journey into the unknown and we hoped for them that they were able to enjoy and be entertained by their continued gaming experiences wherever they may be, I am certain most of us cannot help but be secretly overjoyed, that it led them back to us, for whatever reason.

So here's a shot to you guys; vodka, clean , straight up, and just how I like it, because the boys are back in town!

That Mendolus Guy

That Mendolus Guy
And That Damned News Blotter
He Never Explains To Us!

Ok, so am I like the worst chief editor or what? I always post these updates in the This Week section of the blog and even my officers are uncertain from time to time what the French Toast I am talking about. And, I can only imagine your surprise, when I gain your undivided and entertained attention on my blog at long last, only to frustrate you with vague announcements and little explanation.

So, from now on, when I update the weekly blotter, I will also followup with a short synopsis of what the holy fubar I am getting on about, and why it should matter to you. Also from now on, the blotter will be known as In The News rather than This Week as it has been mostly comprised of past, present, and future events from the start anyways.

So, beginning with this weeks most dubiously cryptic announcements, the following summary is due:

• DUST 512 - What's up with this, an FPS tethered to my EVE? Say it ain't so CCP, say it ain't so. Who pays the price if the FPS flops? Yeah that's right, we do.
• August was a quiet month for the AU-F. A few upsets, a few welcome homecomings, and a pint of beer later, and it ends with rather little fanfare or momentous occasions.
• I haul for the corporation, as do many others, but the smattering of reds in and around all of low security space every night of the week lately has made it inconvenient for any reasonable haulers to do business outside of blockade runners.
• Kane Deckard, a real life friend of EldraNiColarus, joins the Aurelius Federation.
• Gertimus has been appointed a seat in the Aurelius Senate, an oligarchy of our most active and dedicated members who help us make decisions at the corporate level on general or all-encompassing goals, directives, and day to day operations.
• Sometime this week, we are going to undock, and there will be wrecks in 0.0 space, and they will not be ours nor will they be NPCs.
• Varian Knight (Chris) and his real life friends are homesick after experimenting with maintaining their own house, and finding that while fun and rewarding, they would much rather share those rewards with us than amongst themselves as it was a lot of hard work. Hey, let's face it, corporations are hard work, the more friends you have to help you throw the weight around, the more fun everyone can have as a whole. The Senate voted unanimously to reinstate all previous corporate members, a testament to their status as our friends and associates, wherever they fly in space and under whatever banner.
• Devin, officer, friend, and Skunkworks Commander, has started college courses again, with some night classes, and a lot of hard work ahead of him. As such, he may not be as active as we are used to, so please offer your time and assistance to him when able, should he ask you to participate in any activities he is sponsoring or involved in. It may be the one time every week that he has more than a few hours free, so it will mean a lot to him.
• Jay (Mia), the Capsuleer Formerly Known As Staigor, has a planned suicide gang this week to operate within inches of the CONCORD laws, hopefully to wreak bloody burning vengeance on our enemies, somewhere special, in Empire space. Check the corporate mailer for details.
• Public recruitment for PvP pilots is closed. For the time being, recruitment of PvP pilots is only available through invitation or sponsorship from an existing member of the Federation. Public recruitment for Industrial players remains open.
• The Senate voted unanimously a week or so ago to raise the SP limit for incoming recruits to 3,000,000 Skillpoints. Those excluded from this rule are so by invite or sponsorship only. This means, public recruitment of any kind, where an advert is placed, and responded to, can only let in people with 3,000,000 or more Skillpoints unless they are specifically scouted or sponsored by an existing Federation member.

So, that's last week and this week's comings and goings. Thanks for reading!

Uneasy Truth

Uneasy Truth
That Hair On The Back
Of Your Neck Feeling

I typically try to keep these entries fairly upbeat or at least cursory and nonchalant but we have some things to discuss of a more serious nature given the continuing influx of new members. The same members whom thankfully have so far by majority become our new friends and worthy corporate brethren.

SECURITY

Yes, that simple word, which strikes fear into the heart of any person(s) in EVE who have material or liquid assets that are accessible to more than they alone, who have entrusted in their fellow gamers with an informal contract a good portion of their more valuable tangible and intangible possessions. Security is by far half the battle when it comes to player groups whether they be a corporation, alliance, or both.

So, as Jay has pointed out recently, and as Varian is always very concerned with but not always vocal about, security is our primary means of protecting ourselves from the unscrupulous and unforgiving elements outside of our own corporation.

Here are a few ground rules that I expect everyone to follow for the future when talking about corporate business to anyone who has only been with us for a very short while:

• Sure we have POSs, but they are located in the magical land of sugar plum fairies and candy cane roads upon which only the most beneficent of souls may enter upon or have knowledge of. In english, POS locations are private, only managers should be responsible for revealing their location if they so desire.
• Sure we have fleets, but they are comprised entirely of rookie ships and we randomly undock once a week in a swarm of legendary proportions to cleanse the Providence region of the foul stench of filth that hostile alliances bring down upon us by stepping into CVA space. In english, PvP fleet information, scheduling, composition, and common operating locations are private and only myself, Jay (Mia), or Chris (Varian) should ever be responsible for discussing these things with the newest of recruits. A simple we fly a few times a week and these are our FCs should be enough for the curious recruit. If they want to know more, like where we stash our plethora of Titans and the shield harmonic for the POS they are in, there is a problem.
• Sure we have mining, in fact we regularly schedule mining operations in unannounced wormhole space garnered from jumping through twelve distinct wormhole nodes until we are so far beyond the known reaches of space, reason, and location that not even a GM himself could find a way to pinpoint our juicy fleet of Hulks teaming with officer mods. In english, all Industry related endeavors are private, and only those courteously invited to the AU-F Mining channel hosted by our Industry leader Meatay, should ever need to know what we do, when we do it, and where we do it. Our orgies involving hard merciless rocks and long icy objects are a private matter.
• Every member we have, seventy at the time of this blog, goes to sleep at downtime and wakes up maybe an hour later to resume their patrol of our known operating systems, in their T2 ships with all Vs in skills and fit with officer gear, in fleets of dozens upon dozens. To stay awake, our members often drink excessively dangerous levels of energy drinks, snort unidentified and often illicit substances in copious amounts, have quit real life, denounced all women, moved into their mother's basements, and shit in a pan through a hole in their computer chairs. We will not talk about the stench that wafts out of the basement and throughout the neighborhood. In english, our activity levels are our own, and unless you like being snooped by possible spy alts and losing your T2 ship worth a few hundred million ISK, a response of we are an active corporation that operates mainly between 00:00 EVE to 06:00 EVE every night of the week should be sufficient for any new recruit.
• The existence of or presence within the corporation or alliance of any ship or asset worth more than one billion ISK as a whole is a complete fabrication and constitutes libelous slander with which we will petition the known CCP universe in its entirety in order to slam any heinous rumor spreaders with the good book, that is to say, the EULA, straight back into the Commodore days, from which they shall never return. In english, our capital ships, freighters, POSs, and anything else worth more money than your Depression Era grandmother's mattress are of no concern to the newest recruit who just stepped off the boat and onto the docks. If they cannot read the corporate mailers and ascertain what services are available to all members from the start, whether they be services stemming from capital ships, freighters, shiny baubles, or otherwise valuable commodities, you should not be pointing them to the character who owns the most valuable asset in the corporation and when he will undock it next or leave it publicly accessible for a brief but adequate enough amount of time with which the wandering eye might reconnoiter it.
  

Okay, so that is pretty good I believe, and covers most of the pertinent issues concerning security related matters.

Yes, I do of course realize that the new recruit, eager, fresh, green, and willing to supplicate our every desire may read this, or get the sort of cold shoulder as noted above, and get a negative impression of our almost wholly friendly, warm, and welcoming corporation, but we have already been fooled once, so shame on the fooler from hereon out, and not us please. Though a testament to our corporate infrastructure, the tight ship I run around these parts, and the continuing work of our members to protect our corporate assets, and despite the mere fact that this grievance was imparted upon members at a personal level and not a corporate level, we are still vulnerable to the usual espionage of scouting fleet formations, locations, movements, and the like. Whatever undocks into the depths of space or resides in a publicly accessible fashion, becomes anyone's game, so please remember, if it resides in space or a corporate hangar all of or part of the time, protect it not only with your actions but also with your words.

Trust me, those members who join, and may not at first understand why we remain so secretive, will appreciate it when the expensive ship they just bought is not obliterated upon undocking because some new and seemingly perfect and normal recruit was actually a spy who alerted a hostile force of their presence and what they were about to undock into space. This is not to mention the plethora of other such scenarios both at the personal, group, corporate, or alliance level.

Besides, if that new recruit is going to also become our new friend, he needs to show us he has earned it, right? Otherwise what do we want him here for? Shits and giggles? Hehe.

/Uneasy Truth