Here was his goodbye message which was OOC so I assume it's okay to post to the forums:
Dear Melites,
After much thought I’ve decided the time has come for me to step away from Battlemaster. Battlemaster no longer has the draw for me it once did. Lately my arthritis pain has worsened considerably. I’ve switched careers from customer service to freelance writing. I'll be writing a memoir about having been a part of a Buddhist cult until 2012 (true story). These changes require a lot more mental energy to handle, so I must now close the chapters of House Tandaros.
For the past two years I’ve had a blast taking part in the high politics of Beluaterra and Dwilight. I fell in love with the roleplaying life in D’Hara. I liked being the underdog and basically thinking out loud with other characters to make something interesting. Somehow my alt Maya stole the show away from Ismail and became my lead character and the on-again-off-again Queen of Melhed. When it comes to underdogs, Melhed is the epitome, so I loved it at first.. but eventually I learned how the hot dogs are made.
Lately its been our job to get beaten up on and insulted around Beluaterra. The latest war of the north has disillusioned me greatly to the state of the game community. Many people on the forums just seems intent on slagging on Melhed, or D’Hara, or whatever realm the “winners” deign to sneeze at. The atmosphere has grown more toxic and reminds me of high school - which should be an evident warning sign to the Titans. These same forum names were in the superior realms I found myself opposing in Luria and Thalmarkin, many of which also had devs as dukes, ambassadors, rulers, etc. This is poor balance and is obviously a conflict of interest.
A very Lannister-esque “F&*% you, title me” attitude has taken over the game and it seems that respect for the player behind the character has evaporated - unless the player is your friend, familiar, and collaborator. I admit I’ve played this way too just to stay alive, or better put, relevant. If people have to do this, the game is broken. I liked Battlemaster for being able to play casually from a storytelling angle. The powergaming contingent seems to be taking over across the board and simply running roughshod over the opposition. The stagnant Far East after Arcaea’s total victory is a prime example of what happens when people focus more on “winning Battlemaster” than fostering community spirit and a fun atmosphere.
I’d like to thank all the people who have made Battlemaster a fun, vivid experience; JeVondair, Mormont, Octavius, Graves, Ulthuan, Blakeshadow, Bar-le-duc, Lanze, Windblack, Forbes, von Genf, de Coivos, Dragul, Levine, Mersault, Jeffrey, Serpentis, and Meneldur who championed in-game storytelling, and I pour one out for Vellos, Nosferatus, d’Espana and Hossenfeffer. Also anyone in Melhed I forgot to mention. Whatever my humble new writing career might evolve into is largely due to your inspiration, so I offer you all-due praise and much-gratitude.
To anyone who would like to keep in contact: please feel free to email me at gbonn418@gmail.com… seriously, I love pen pals. Or if you’re a PC gamer add me on Steam (Tandaros). I’ve been known to play M&B Warband and Crusader Kings II and would appreciate new comrades-in-arms..
In Blood & Glory,
I’m out.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)
Geoffrey Bonn
