I still remember the first time I logged on. I was half(all the way) drunk. I tried my favorite Final Fantasy characters to no avail. I then in my poor attempt to spell dismal( I blame the Tequila) I came up with Dizzmal. I joined the server of Hades. Back then there was no videos to teach you the basics. I pretty much ran outside and died to the first Orc that I ran into. Later after talking to some people, I found out how to equip gear and use a weapon. Went outside and died to another Orc... Then a Paladin raised me after killing the Orc. I'll never forget the full white glow of the Paladin artifact armor that he carried. His name was Screamingeagle. He gave me a quick rundown of where to level and how to make a little gil along the way. Soon enough I was leveling and on my way to a life of adventure.
I met many adventures along the way, but few were like the first Linkshell I ever joined. I ran into this Dark Knight name TheShadow. He bought me into this den of lions, in my eyes at least. Very shortly after a bunch of people up and left and I was the only person still in there. Not wanting to abandon the Link Pearl, I stayed until someone came and gave me a pearl to the new Linkshell ACROSS. That person was Godofdeath. Probably the most cynical person I have ever met. I'm fairly sure his entire goal in life was to give me hell. Did a damn good job of it as well. In ACROSS I met the people that gave me the biggest impact of my gaming life. Theshadow was the leader with Ladymidnight (his wife) at his side. Of course there was Godofdeath giving everyone hell. We also had Nega, our tech junky, Nyiiyu, the one everyone hit on. Exodus, My brother, Yokorye, one of the respected leaders, and many others that I'm sure I have forgotten over the years.
It was in ACROSS I met one of my best friends that I have ever met. Toprob, my brother from another land. Still to this day I have never met someone that I shared so much in common with. We did everything together. Many hours of sleep were lost trying to keep up, but I always knew that Top would be with me every step of the way. This game was never the same for me after he left.
After joining many Linkshells throughout my travels(OnWingsofDragons, Aristocrats to name a few) I decided to start my own end game Linkshell. ShieldsofValor was born. My leaders were Toprob, Tetsuiga, Swordman, Nega, and myself. With the recruitment of Dannik, Allyrose,Yudaman, Sylnome, Miae, Gooky, Neojuggernaut, Tidus, Fahzewn, Fayrra, Orangecrush,Twist, Alfster, Lind, Jacinda, Dierdren and many others, we accomplished great things over the many years that we ran. The only thing that could stop us was the dreaded zones of Abyssea. Abyssea effectively killed ShieldsofValor as well as many other Linkshells. I don't know if people just didn't want to relearn the game or the fact that it made everything so easy that everyone was just in a mad rush to get all their items and didn't care about getting items for the team anymore. But in anyway, a few months after Abyssea came out, ShieldsofValor ended its reign.
My FFXI career carried on for a few more years. I finally finished the Aegis with help of Allyrose, Neojuggernaut, and countless other people. I'm sure that I will fail to mention tons of people just from the pure amount of people that have touched my life over the past 10 years, for that I apologize.
I will always hold fond memories of my adventures though Vana'diel. There were bad times, but there were a lot more good times. Every time I hear the songs of FFXI I still get chills. Dizzmal will now go to someone I hold in the utmost respect. Someone that when I first met he was a massive blurple Paladin, but grew into one of the most talented and skilled players I have ever know. He surpassed my own skill at Paladin and many other jobs over the years and I have never told him how proud I am of him. He knows who he is.
From the bottom of my heart I thank every one of you for our times together.
Sincerely,
Dizzmal the Paladin.
Welcome to FFXI retirement. I'm sure it was a fun-filled ride with many moments of accomplishments. Nostalgia has a funny way of reminding us the many fond memories we had with the people that impacted our time together. Miae and I wish you and your family the best. /poke
ReplyDelete~Gooky
Thanks Gooky. I see y'all's pictures on Facebook all the time. Man those kids are getting big!
DeleteShadow here just to say you suck one last time. Just kidding, I'll keep saying it beyond this! Nevertheless, I was an on again off again player for various reasons, but friends like you are what kept me coming back. The game itself was never kind to my play style since I'm a take it all on alone man. I eventually had to try groups, but then preferred them small & skilled. When Godofdeath told me there was a man remaining in the old LS, I told him to get that guy. You were always loyal and forced a LS of loners to get together & accomplish something. Some say PLD & DRK are complete opposites, but we proved that wrong. We didn't allow ourselves to be placed in a box & limit ourselves to what others thought our jobs were. I disproved that a DRK can't tank, solo, or take care of others. You proved a PLD was more than a meat shield & could DD. While we did die a lot in the name of fun, when shit hit the fan we both prioritized looking after others.
ReplyDeleteYou had the balls to take on our almost famous trio, & slaughtered us. You later fought us again & lost that one. You was pissed at the time, but I'd like to think you were a bit proud eventually. That tactic was later used on many high defense mobs. I know it was not the fight you expected, but hopefully the one you wanted.
We've had many great moments over the years. I drug your corpse across a zone of undead to raise you. We helped some random guy just waiting at a dragon fight even though we didn't have any gear. We beat that dragon naked proving again skill beats gear. You entertained my crazy plans & saw the logic behind my madness. When they said the last limit break HAD to be done by a specific set up, we went in & did it without a full party & destroyed it. I watched a giant dragon slaughter you over and over as you helped me with some gear, & it never got old! You introduced us to your dynamis LS, & you were not afraid to piss people off. I recall another DRK asking why my drain was twice as strong as his even though he was higher level. Before I could answer you told him "cause you suck & he doesn't!" When we combined our strengths we pretty much won a besieged on our own with our backs to the Astral Candescence. You would keep using provoke even at low health, & I would use Soul Eater sacrificing my own health trying to kill the enemy before you died (or just after...)
I was proud when you started a LS, & sad that I wasn't far enough along to take part in it. I was a reluctant LS leader. You were suited for it. I don't know if anyone else recognized it, but in my mind you were the #2 in ACROSS. We were the antisocial network, but we all wanted to help others. We just didn't talk much while doing it. You were inspired & raised by a PLD, but you became that PLD & more. You never were so busy that you couldn't toss a cure to someone needing it. We would help a stranger, & in the next zone clear an area of mobs because a party was being dicks to our members. You & I have been the unfortunate end to a lot of parties.
When I saw your message saying you had left for good I said BS. You said that once a week trying to pull one on death. Now we are trying to come back & knowing we won't have you as a safety net really bites. You guys were the anchor that kept us coming back. As they do shit to break the game & run people off, I'm not sure I can keep coming back. Then again my character is like a reflection of me. So many memories. I used to say the game was much like the real world. It's full of assholes, but there are bound to be 1 or 2 assholes you will like in it.
I won't say goodbye. If you see me in another game,wave me down & we will do it all over again brother. Also since you left yourself in the hands of someone you know, maybe they can let you have some visitation occasionally.
Until then, keep being that douche bag we all know and love.
The Shadow
Man that was awesome. That brought up some memories I had forgotten about. I remember getting drug for over an hour just to finish that mission. I don't remember how much exp I lost, but I remember losing a level or two. I will always have fond memories of the people that fought by my side.
ReplyDeleteThat fight between the 4 of us was epic. Yes it did piss me off at the time, but I realized that it was the way it should have been. The skill of you three to try something that no one really did at that time. You three were unbeatable in that trio.
I do miss everyone from Across, Shields of Valor and some of the people from Aristocrats. There will always be another game though I guess. I am currently playing MechWarrior Online which is f2p and my long term goal is to for the The Elder Scrolls Online. Hopefully I will see y'all there.