What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

I have played this game since it started, almost immediately I fell in love with the creation of your character, deeper still when I got into Galaxy City. My first (and only) choice I start my characters. Sadly, over a year ago, my time with the city I enjoyed flying in was to dwindle. Eventually, I had to close my laptop and the account completely. No time to come in to the forums and give a proper farewell to the already amazing development team who, in my eyes, are comparable in quality to their game and their respective universes as Nintendo and Blizzard, but to the fans and community that made just even a mere day sitting in Portal Corps a good day. Reality took major events and a course of change in my life, filtering out what I thought were good people and deal in experiences I cared not do deal with. I lost friends and love, I buried family and gained pets, lost a home and found shelter. Given the time I was given in real life, I took these moments to relish in the moments that felt epic to me, moments that reminded me that City of Heroes "is/was my game." Now, I would like to take a moment and share the moments that, even as I type this, brings a smile to my face only my god daughter has been able to do in years.

- My first log into Paragon City
I first tried out the game's creation on my brother's account, when the name was nothing but new to me at the time. I created a character, Katana/Reflexes Scrapper name Fei Lin. I remember her in the entire buckled outfit, pinkish-purple and dark red/black hair. The moment I logged in, I saw a city abuzz with heroes of all levels, sizes and styles. Some using AoE storms for confetti as a victor won a Rock, Paper, Scissors match. The game was bustling. I remember still a large hero landing behind me to challenge me to a game of Heads-or-Tails, for money. I won. He then shouted, "Hark! I hear distress of... Distressing distressness! Away!" and suddenly leaped away into the distance. From that moment on, I thought to myself "This is my game."

- My own account and the duo of brotherly thugs
Now I have gotten my own account, and my brother and I made a pair of sharply dressed "Family"-esque looking Assault Rifle/Traps Blasters, the smallest Huge models you can make. Our names, Thug One and Thug Two. Alternated black and white colors on our suites to our ties. Super Jumping everywhere we went, terrorizing Independence Port the way we saw fit. I even remember the time a family of players designed as a deck of cards unofficially "adopted" us into their Supergroup during an Atlas Park "Adopt-a-kick" program. I still have the SG photo on my USB drive.

- Issue 2: Troll Tunnel All-Nighters
The time my brother quit playing was a time the community shined for me. Games were fun cause my brother and I both played them, from Marble Madness to Pokemon, Trogg to Joe & Mac, Counter-Strike to City of Heroes. We played them all together. When he quit to pursue personal vendettas, I was loosing interest in CoH, and gaming all together. I gave CoH one chance with Issue 2, the Hollows are to me like it is to everyone else; Hell! Though it had moments it shined in it's first introduction to the game. A team of players and I decided to take out Atta in the final mission, with him being conveniently in the last room we look in. Our run, clearing out massive amounts of Trolls last 6 1/2 hours. I remember at our 5 hour mark we decided to take a break and one was to scout ahead. He was defeated around a corner we couldn't see, his claim to why he died; "I tripped and fell on a sky bullet." Nearing our end of the adventure, he fell a couple more times, our Tanker proclaimed he was astounded by the tenacity he used to tank the cave floors for the good of the rest of the team. We all had our laughs, and gave me hope this community was not like ones you find in Everquest or the like.

- The day I entered Shadow Shard
Even now, after all the new zones and enemies, Shadow Shard remains my most favorite zone with my most favorite enemies. I remember the very moment I zoned in, and like a moment of serendipity, my CD skips 4 tracks to play a song, Soulsight by SGX, in timing so perfect I couldn't explain. The expansiveness of the zones, the colors and the enemies, the Task Forces still remain my most favorite of all. The Arch-Villains and the lore behind what Shadow Shard is gives it so many questions and mysteries begging to be asked and explored, answered and discovered. The moment I flew high enough over the Firebase's walls the game hit me like no other game has before. It took my breath away, it made me think "This is definitely my game."

After then I stayed true to just enjoying the game, getting what I can of the shiny badges, even designed some of my own (some sold to NCSoft, but didn't see many (unless altered) used in either games I played). I enjoyed every Issue with excitement for the next, happy to see other enjoy certain aspects I myself did not find use for. Seeing the previews and new enemies added, playing Villains for the first time. Beta testing and helping with many many of the Issue I played through. I kept my account active for what I could afford, it was a game that got me away from diving too far into my pocketbook for new games all the time. The developers here were not like others I have seen, they involve themselves into the community, and the community in this game has never been like any other MMOs I have played, it was always and forever be refreshing. Suddenly, real life struck me, and hard it did strike. To put it in a giant nutshell to avoid all negative and off-topic discussion, I was fooled out of my life. Fiance and best friend took my house and car, a tornado took a life of a dear friend and cancer took my dog all in the same month to start. I had no choice but to immediately close my account, no good byes to the game or it's wonderful community that shaped it. Real life called for me, and it was screaming.

Last night changed something for me.

I never bothered to check on the game except the website every month and thought to myself how awesome it was. The game was great, the people were amazing, the developers were skilled, it was just a flat out fun experience all the way around. She knew of this and wanted to preserve what I played, what characters I made, what badges I earned. She commissioned a 12" model figure to be made of my main Villain and Hero fighting one another, as well made a memory mural which I received last night of many of my characters in interactive 3D program. To top it all off she revealed to me that my account did cease, she however kept the information from my old computer and changed the billing to her in order to do all of the things she did. To top it off, she bought her own to play against and with me from all the way in France.

So, for almost two years of scarcity, I have returned to be a hero once more. If only for a little while.

Here I am, back to the stomping ground of the second MMO that I felt a great immersion from. Too long has it been to go an enjoy the subtle playstyle of the game, longer still have I had a decent discussion with the community that was involved with the game as deep as the developers themselves. It was a shame I had to take my leave so suddenly from a game that kept my interest and imagination as nuts as I kept my parents in my childhood. Never have I been as grateful to experience such fun and experiences in a game, let alone and MMO, than this one.

Thank you, Paragon Studios (formerly Cryptic members) for an astounding game that is like no other. Thank you, the community that made the unique game even more chaotic and enjoyable as such.

You all rock the scissors, never forget that.

I am excited to experience Going Rogue and the new powersets. Hopefully there is many Task Forces to come along with it.

The Cursed Sorcerer welcomes you back to Paragon City!

The Hound barks with pleasure at a returning player! Welcome back to Paragon City and its dystopian twin, the Rogue Isles!

dang, nice, glad to hear that you are back, and glad that you made it after a circuitous journey.

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

Sounds like you had a serious grinding of levels in real life, but good to see you back in the game.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Welcome back, Shaded one!

EMBRACE THE DARK SIDE! >=D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Thank you for all the kind words, it really is good to be back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Respite Sounds like you had a serious grinding of levels in real life, but good to see you back in the game.

Lord you have no idea, even now it feels like I'm up a creek without a paddle, a cook without a flame, in The Hollows without a travel power.

Welcome back Cel!

*struts into thread*

Welcome home, Cel!! We've missed ya on Guardian.

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Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

You're one tough cookie! It is good to have you around again. Even though at the very core, this is just entertainment, it is also much more to me. As you have said before, it is because of the developers that care very much about their craft as well as the community that is so much fun to be around that make it a little more than just entertainment.

Love that song you mentioned in your post. Cheers, and see you around the City.

We saved you a seat because we knew you'd come back. Glad you made it after all that.

*checks status*
Lights On - Check
Bacon Goodness - Check
Cookie Plat...er ULLI!!!!!!!!

Ok, so you'll have to fight the cookie monster for the welcome back platter, but...

Welcome Home!

Welcome back, Cel. You need an avatar!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

What a lovely, heartfelt read; thank you for sharing, Cel, and welcome back.

Big WB Cel

hope your stay is longer than you expect it to be

Can I have your.... oh wait... nvm.... welcome back!

Welcome back!! Thanks for sharing! Made me think of all that's happened to me also since I started.

I hate you so very very much, Cel, for reminding me of the horror that Children's Week is going to be. >_<

A hearty 'welcome back Cel' to you!

An incredible set of events in your life, yet, as mentioned, you're a fighter! Good for you in beating the odds. You obviously were missed!

Glad to have you back with your CoH family!