8 years, 7 months. That’s how long I have been playing EVE.
During that time I started playing for the spaceships, then the pvp and eventually I simply played for the people, especially RvB and the NPSI communities I flew with and eventually lead over the past several years.
However, its time to hang up my hat and call it a day.
Yes chaps, I won EVE.
For many of you this may be sudden and gods do I know it is. Please understand that for me this decision was a very difficult one to make considering how involved in EVE I have been during my time playing this game. From being a simple FC in RvB, to leading one of EVE’s larger, more notable communities right up to trying (not very well) to represent you all as a delegate on CSMs 8 & 9.
However, while I have enjoyed being an enabler for you all, getting you that pvp fix and getting into some amazing fights across the years, it is hard to reconcile continuing that role with not even logging in, let alone actually playing the game. It pains me to say this, but regardless of how much I love the community in EVE (easily the best game community I have been a part of), it is not enough to keep myself logging in, even as the game continues to evolve thanks to the concerted efforts of CCP and every last one of you.
To RvB.
I have been a member of RvB for many, many years. I was there for RvB 1.0 and the start of RvB 2.0 on alts, until that fateful day in July 2010 I realised that RvB would be a great place to while away some time on my main, Mangala. Soon after I started FCing, running events and generally being active and visible for years until you all elected me to the CSM on the back of that. Eventually I ceased to be a CSM, but along the way I had also stopped being the guy you elected, the active FC, the pvper, the nuisance with the Firetail obsession and become an administrator.
A pen pusher, a desk jockey.
Worse still, I took on the Red Fed CEO role hoping that I could do you all proud in a more direct way than ever, but I fucked that up. I delved deeper and deeper into the administrator role, never really grasping that you did not need that. Fun thing is, you never needed an administrator thanks in part to the work I had done (and many better people than me) to pretty much simplify the process of “log in, undock, explode some shit”.
Leaving EVE, and therefore resigning as CEO is probably both the worst thing and the best thing I can do just as RvB starts a new chapter in its story within EVE, but you and all the pilots to come will be better served with more engaged people at the helm.
I can say that it has been a pleasure and an honour flying with and against all of you. Even you on the un-dock.
To Ganked.
RvB Ganked was started way back in 2011 as a monthly NPSI roam, somehow I got involved with it and threw myself into making it something else. I never really planned to turn it into one of the best things EVE has to offer on a Saturday night, but there it is. Thousands of pilots have flown with us over the years, many from within RvB, many more from outside of RvB (including many PvP virgins).
We’ve had some amazing fights – Ganked 100, Ganked 150, the first time we used Eagles & Vultures, to name a few; We’ve enjoyed some great stupidity on comms and during our fights including the time I fleet warped us on a Titan, the numerous times Rooks ‘n’ Kings said hi and any time I broke my overview and we had to try and win a fight regardless. Looking back I still cannot figure out how Ganked survived for nearly 4 years.
Anyway, I really want Ganked to continue in EVE once I am no longer a participant of this game. I have spoken to some people and hopefully it will continue in some form or another.
To the community.
I had played MMO’s before finding EVE, I had interacted with the players of those games, but something about the EVE community is special and its really hard to pin down. It could be the insanity of GD, the viciousness when pvping, the altruism towards those newer than us or even our willingness to forget all in game allegiances when faced with the loss of a fellow pilot. Whatever it is, it really is humbling to be a part of.
Having meet so many different people at various EVE meets over the years, its the community that has made this decision so hard for me. I never thought I would say this, but thanks to EVE I have made some great friends. While I am able to say I won at EVE, I will be sad to leave this community behind. Luckily there are still EVE meets, and even if I do not play, I still like a drink. I’ll keep a weather eye out and attend those I am able, especially this years EVE Vegas (Its Vegas ffs!).
My stuff.
No you cannot have it.