I'm sure people will happen upon this even though we're not as active over here as over there, so I'm going to bow out and wish you all the best. Every one of you I've met & known, played with through the years. I'm cancelling my accounts later this week, after I take care of some things and divide up my belongings..the ones Terrance won't be taking with him..among friends. It's been a good experience, a great life. I really have lived & loved this game. I cannot bring myself to continue on playing this Diablo/WoW frankenstein that's being forced upon every single player due to the wishes of some who want 3D this, WoW-inspired that, and EA the company who sees the profits WoW is generating and say "we need this to be like that". When it comes down to it, that's the short of what has happened. This will be UO only in the name on the box.

Enough of that, though. I've played for...a long time now. Sometimes I've taken a break of a few weeks or a month here & there. You can have too much of a good thing. I played this game before "9/11", before The Lord of the Rings had been made into a film. Michael Schumacher was still only a two or three time world champion when I began..I think. Sony's PS2 didn't exist. Neither did Windows XP.

I first began playing sitting beside a very good friend of mine in real life, who many of you know as Balron from SUV (or OtR). He introduced me to the game and I was hooked. We sat there in his computer room, on his identical AMD K6-2 systems eating homemade beef jerky and drinking iced tea. I still kinda miss using those Logitech Trackmans he had.

I was not in the beta. I was not there on launch. I began on Napa and not Great Lakes or Lake Superior. There was no Trammel at first...and no available housing either, heh. There were GMs as well as Counselors. There was this beautiful, neat, fun game with all this spectacular scenery and great sound effects. And there were other people just like me. Many other people.

I fell in love with roleplaying. Grew to despise drama. Got tired of peoples' "romances".

I've been poor and loved it. Given myself a few million from eBay and had fun. Made the accumulation of gold through gameplay into a science and hit that 100mil mark a couple years ago...and that was empty.

The roleplayers..most of them, are gone. I see neon elves saluting one another but...that's not for me. Napa players will remember the Cult of the Midnight Wraiths and their dark gods, the challenge they offered inside the voidal cave hidden within the mines outside of Minoc. Remember Veritas, and their weekly storytelling nights at the Dragon & Llama Inn. Remember Stormhaven and the constant bustle of members of the community within their player-run town, and their willingness to help anyone.

When the mage carried books and the Virtuous warriors carried unhued Order shields.

I remember wandering the land so often, before custom housing. All the classic UO homes dotting the land. Everywhere there was a clearing, there was a small thatched roof cottage or maybe a villa. Towers were impressive. Every home was a castle.

I've played Terrance many different ways..not really as a roleplayed character at first..but then more & more. He changed as the experience evolved. Finally, at the end, I consider Terrance to be what I truly want him to be.

He's a reflection of myself. And while..over the years..he's sworn loyalty to dragons or walked among the darkness of cults..through it all he has come to be simply that man who loves his king, for all time, who will never consider Lord British or Britannia gone so long as his own heart beats within him.

I love this game, this place. I truly do. I wanted to be here until EA shut it down many years into the future. I wanted to be a Stratics reporter and contribute to the community. I wanted to always be a part of UO for as long as it lived on. I cared about it, the world, the people. Not the forums...not my ego...not how big my guild was.

I'll be going now. I really have only one last post..what will be my last ever piece of player-fiction to be posted concerning Terrance's life on these shards. Of course I'd have to do that.

To those who stay and leave both, I'll say...it's been fun. *smiles*

It's a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done. It's a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known...

Good Luck Terrance!

Take Care

Good luck.

I expect atleast 1 attempt to get back in within the next 2-3 years to stay on par with those that quit before.

I hope you enjoy your next endeavor as much as you did UO. Good luck.

Vepl

Good luck Terrance! I am sorry UO disappointed you towards the end... that is just what bussiness do.. they always try to out due themselves and if they can not do that they try to do what the "sucsseful" bussiness is doing in order to get the money as well... sad but true but I hope you find a new land you enjoy and love just as much though I think UO was the last beast the pretty much stand and be known as a 2D game soon it will change I guess it was best before hearing all the "major" conversation on how your world has changed

-RMS Carpathia-

I hear what you are saying Terrance ,and whilst UO still holds much for me eprsonally,I was really moved by your post and see just how passionate you are for a game that has indeed changed ,even in my few 5 yrs of playing.

Its a great shame that a game that gave you such wonderful memories,has left you feeling so let down .

I will look for your written tales and read them with a slightly different outlook I am sure.

Farewell and Good Luck.

See yah, good luck in your endevors

Im sure with KR, they will do a one week reactivation thing again...perhaps there will be something to your liking?

In any event, I wish you all the best and hope that you find something else that makes you happy if it cant be UO.

Terrance Drith is leaving our beloved Britannia...awwww another soul in shining armor to be missed from Napa Valley. Farewell, Terrance. Wishing you a bright future and a land that lives up to your expectations and spirit.

I also want to Thank You for all the knowledge & helpful posts!

Good luck Terrance