Has it been that long already?

Just saw a reminder today of how long I've been working on things for this module. I'm about to rescript faerie fire, and at the top of the old script is the date when I first made the spell...Nov. 9, 2005 (~7 months before the game even went online). I'd been working on the module for several months already by the time I learned how to add custom spells, and I know that wasn't my first new spell.

I honestly have no idea how many hours have been put into this game (I've been known to play for an hour or three a week, too.). I can say with 100% certainty that it's been at least 3 hours.

Warning: Dave is going to do some gushing in this post.

You've put a lot of hard work, thought, and pathos into crafting the module.

It shows. Take pride in that. You have done things that from my reading, have long been thought impossible/impractical with the tools available. That is not to mention all the things that you've created for NWN that seemed obvious once you made them, but were nowhere to be found before then.

Truly, it shows. It permeates the world, down to some of the smallest details. I dont think anybody who has played here could fairly say otherwise. Aenea is on a whole other level as far as the innovations and options available to players, and the loads of original custom content may just constitute a record of some sort.

It is what inspired me to stick around and dedicate myself to offering ideas and support for making the place even better.

If I didn't see you so active and invested in improving the place, it just wouldn't have made sense to expend the effort or invest the time playing, learning, and reporting issues and sharing new ideas.

I have often wondered how such a thing as Aenea, and all that has been required to bring it into existence in its current form, could ever have been possible.

The original setting, landscape, NPCs, Pantheon, Cosmology, History... all of that has the feel of being very well thought out, and not simply thrown together. It feels like it has been painstakingly organized and presented with a level of polish that requires a very significant time investment, and lots of imagination.

Then you have the time required to learn the toolset basics, and then how to manage the hak file content, overrides, portraits, etc.

Then the even greater time investment to learn how to make NWScript stand on its head and do cartwheels.

Then time invested to learn modelling in Gmax.

And none of that covers the greatest time investment of all: actually using what was learned about these tools, NWScript, and Gmax to create (mostly from scratch) all the new content... and then present it in such a way to players as to capture the essence of the afore mentioned original setting, landscape, NPCs, Pantheon, Cosmology, and History.

All this time, almost 6 years, you have found time for all of these things. I am not sure many human beings could have managed the feat. Let alone with all the extra responsibilities you have. It is truly mind-boggling.

If 3 years ago Aenea wasn't one of the very best servers to play NWN on, it was still very, very good. Now, I don't think a fair argument could really be made that Aenea isn't one of the very best of all.

I am so thankful that I found this place. I was very fortunate.... and as corny as it may be to say, my time here will be amongst the best memories of my life. If some folks think that's a sad commentary on my life, oh well. But I really don't feel that way about it. Its been so much fun, such a priveledge, to be able to play in Aenea. And moreso, it has been an honor to contribute what small amount I have, and to help others enjoy the place.

Let me say, from the bottom of my heart... THANK YOU, . You have given a great gift to us, and I appreciate it.

End Gushing

Now if only we could get the bug report list taken care of....

(sorry, I had to lol)

^ This!

Amen

And folks, because I know will never ask, dont be shy about making a small donation. We all know a lot of time and effort goes into this world we play and love, and what makes all of the above information even more amazing is that has done it all for us for free.

Even a small donation is a way of going beyond mere words in showing appreciation.

see above Make the donation if you can.


AND, Dave...um, er, "WORD!!"

I was online the other night, and I saw a lil lvl 6 player, a noob, with a horse and being followed my a demon-dog familiar, and I thought, "Wow! Where else could a noob get all that help to play in a regular nwn server?" LOL So, being the nosy person that I am, I asked her how she liked the land of Aenea...she didnt hesitate when she told me it was the best one she had found so far, and the implication was that she had tried many of them.
So to the above, let me add, Well Done! and "Yeah!!" I feel lucky to have found Aenea too!
Big thumbs up, and thank you, . You just dont know how great I think you are, and it looks as if there are a crushing preponderance of fans in Aenea.

Um, I have a slightly different perspective. I've helped develop 7 PWs over the course of many years.

This is the only one I've ever wanted to be a player.

Seriously.

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Dave on this one, I still tell people about the wonders that lie in wait in Aenea, even though it has been about a year (guh, I need to get my internet back) since I have had the pleasure and privilege to spend a few (ok a few more then a few ) hours advancing one of the Night Clan. Aenea is the absolute best server I have ever played, and the player base and staff are second to none. So a big "HUZZAH!" goes out to you all, and to close let me say I miss you all dearly, and can't wait to return and continue our adventures together.

Wow. Thanks folks. Makes this dragon feel good to know people are enjoying his little creation.

Some nights I plot how to cheat sleep so I can score a few extra play hours.

Eric of Atrophy wrote:Some nights I plot how to cheat sleep so I can score a few extra play hours.