It’s kind of ironic the messages I got today. Like Reknor’s post from earlier about his dropping out of WoW, for example. His post was not the only one I got today along those lines. And it made me laugh because I decided a couple days ago to make a similar post too. I just gave it a few days of consideration to be sure it was what I wanted. Part of me suspects some of you knew this was coming.
In many ways, I didn’t want it to be this way, but this is how it happens to be. As has been mentioned, serious events have interjected themselves into my life after I came back from my month long break. While things are improving, it is going to be a long, slow road ahead and has left me needing to have a more flexible schedule to attend to things both physically and emotionally. It has also given me time to think and consider my priorities. And I’ve come to the conclusion that WoW cannot be something I need to work around anymore. No more scheduling/planning of raids or trying to meet self made deadlines and goals to try and keep my characters viable both IC and OOC. Coupled with the fact that the charm of WoW is really no longer there because I’m an oldtimer who remembers the good ol’ days more fondly than I enjoy the current gameplay, I’m just someone who doesn’t want to take it seriously anymore.
Previous to my father’s hospitalization, I had originally planned to make some sort of IC effort to transition the guild into something easier to manage. Not that is was that hard to manage.
But I admit to not having the will to do so now. I do feel fairly guilty that it’s come down to essentially just stopping and dropping it all. But as has always been the rule, real life first. And it came upon suddenly and it isn’t something I can take care of quickly or know when it will have eased enough for me to dedicate more time to the game, assuming I actually wanted to. But yeah, there is that guilt.
I love my characters and the game I’ve played with them and wish I could wrap things up neatly for them even though I feel like I’m the only one who really cares if I do. But more than that, I’ve truly enjoyed my time and experience with all those who have been a part of Ishnu Por Ah, new and old. It’s because of you that I’ve stayed as long as I have, never quitting until now. We’ve been very lucky to find each other in the vastness of this pixilated world. I feel very privileged to have gotten to know you all. I had originally come into this game thinking I would never be very social, but the people I met in WoW did everything right to yank me out of my protective shell and open me up to the internet world, allow me to take leadership and give them a home in game, and make friends across the screens. For those I’ve become friends with outside of the game, I hope our friendship continues. To all of you, I wish that I could give you all more than a simple forum post.
And now that I’ve finished up with all the exposition and mushy stuff, I now turn to you to ask, “What happens now?”
My time in game will not completely come to an end right this moment. I have a subscription until April, so I’ll be popping in game once in awhile to play on my own time. I just cannot be counted on to lead a raid or the guild reliably. And once the sub runs out, I don’t know if I’ll ever be coming back. Having said that, I want to know what people think should happen with Ishnu Por Ah. Do we just let it be what it is and just let things happen naturally? Is there someone in the guild willing to take leadership of either a raid or the guild? Do we let the name of IPA disappear and give it another name?
I admit, I was considering the latter at one point awhile ago, but now I don’t know. Even though it holds little “power” now, the Ishnu Por Ah name is a Cenarion Circle classic. And while before I didn’t want it to die a slow death, I actually don’t mind now. Hell, maybe it won’t if someone wants to take it up and try to work with it. Though, if someone does and wants to take it into a direction that doesn’t fit the classic guild format of a small and friendly casual guild with a theme, I think it’d be better to change the name. “Ishnu Por Ah is CC’s premiere 25 man raid guild horde side” or “IPA is full of elitist jerks” or “IPA is the EVIL GUILD!” just doesn’t sound right to me. XD