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Max Dirks
11-07-07, 11:48 PM
Hey everyone!

I wanted to let all of you know that after the conclusion of the Gisela Open (in 45 minutes), I am officially retiring from the Althanas staff. After 5 years of working with different staff members, I think the current group finally has it right. Under their leadership, I am confident that Althanas will continue to be the most innovative play by post forum on the Internet. Their ideas are fresh, and the devotion is true.

The current staff aside, however, throughout the years several players have motivated and inspired me. It would be a hassle to write out everyone, but here are a few of the players that stand out to me:

ACDragonMaster, who stressed to me that every piece doesn't have to be a masterpiece.
AH21, for giving me with crazy ideas.
Hyakureiki, for making the best damn story that I can remember.
Sighter Tnailog, without his guidance the majority of the features that Althanas has sponsored would have failed miserably.
Christoph, who will keep features innovative for years to come.
Lorenor, who constantly reminds me to be a player first and a moderator second.
Thoracis, the best damn friend any Althanian could wish for.
Atzar, who stuck with me through thick and thin.
Sorahn, Twisted, numbers, Logan, Dissinger, Ranger, Cyrus, Urei, for inspiring me to keep playing. You guys are the true heroes of Althanas.
The legends: Renzokuken, Hawke, Devon, Treslizn, Etheryn, who give us something to shoot for.
Santhalas, for creating Althanas and showing me the importance of brevity.
AND, most importantly, who everyone who feels I helped them become a better writer.

For those who are curious, I've had my hands in many things around Althanas. Here is a brief listing of the things I've helped create. As an aside, I have asked the staff that Christoph be the one that takes over creating features such as these when I am gone.

Tournaments (LCC, Gisela)
Theater of War
Power Groups (original rules/new rules)
Clan Wars
Scara Brae
Dajas Pagoda
Athylia's Verse
Lornius
Terrinore
Bazaar Rules (old version, the update credit goes to Findelfin and nekoprince)
Original Rubric
Warning System

Hopefully, as the years continue to go by, I'll be able to look on Althanas and see the spirit of those features and systems live on through you guys. Of course, I'll be around to help.

One of my biggest problems with being a moderator is that moderators often get so overwhelmed, they have no time to play. In retiring, I plan to become a full time player on Althanas. You all have given me so much, I think it's time to return the favor. Also, it's pretty sad that I've been around so long and am still at level 6 (with most of my EXP coming from tournaments). If anyone wants a go at me in the Citadel, I'm more than willing to entertain your challenge ;)

I might run the LCC in the future, so keep your eyes out for that. Otherwise, I'll see you on the flipside! It's going to be tons of fun.

Seth_Rahl
11-07-07, 11:53 PM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgh,

No! You can't leave us! Well, you can, but come back soon. Official retirement my ass....>.> *snorts*

Max Dirks
11-08-07, 12:04 AM
Official retirement from staff, my friend, not from Althanas.

I'll still be around to school you in the game ;)

Seth_Rahl
11-08-07, 12:11 AM
YEAH--I mean, oh thats too bad, you should leave you newb.

lol.

Hope to roleplay w/ ya with mah Bullet de Witch sometime then. Wee.

Rayse Valentino
11-08-07, 01:22 AM
By which means can I get your gun(s) ?

Wait, full-time player now? I thought Dirks was dead, are you playing your NPC or what?

Twisted Infinitum
11-08-07, 03:49 AM
The Gisela got me clearly thinking about the things my writing gets hung up on. Thanks for that.

See ya in the game.

Breaker
11-08-07, 03:54 AM
Numbers!

Frankly I'm just glad to see you're sticking around. It sucks when mods retire and leave the site entirely. I'm sure you'll still be helping lots of people on Althanas, just without an italicized username.

Happy retirement, and enjoy Florida.

Reiko
11-08-07, 07:12 AM
hey have fun with Retirement^^

Elijah_Morendale
11-08-07, 07:38 AM
Does this mean you'll get your own porch now, and whenever anyone steps on it, you'll greet them with shotgun shells full of rock salt, screaming, "Get off mah' porch, ya' whippersnappers!"?

Witchblade
11-08-07, 08:23 AM
Does this mean you'll finally have the time to write and I can actually do a quest with you!?

Bullet Witch
11-08-07, 08:52 AM
Does this mean that my orgasmic fantasies can actually come true?!?!?!

*ahem* I mean, does this mean you'll share some of that "firepower" you....;)..."possess"? *evil chuckle*

Eyes of...
11-08-07, 09:12 AM
I've talked with you about this already, and I'm sorry to see you leave the staff. Of course, times change and it's always good to see fresh ideas come from newer members that can dedicate more time to the behind the scenes aspect of Althanas. I'm glad that your not leaving entirely, and hope that we can do something in the future.

Plus, I didn't realize I did anything (this being Ranger), lol.

Hope to see you around.

Oh, and Florida is nice, if you live in southern florida.. it's cold up here in the north central part. But you can retire here, lol. No snow, so your old bones don't hurt from shoveling it... or whatever you do with snow. Not sure really, never been around it too much.

Max Dirks
11-08-07, 10:48 AM
Actually, I plan on setting spring loaded shotgun traps (which apparently is against the law) to keep you kids off my porch.

Quests for all, if I can remember how to write.

Atzar
11-08-07, 12:02 PM
Enjoy the freedom. It's nice.

Witchblade
11-08-07, 09:35 PM
Yay! I call the first one!

*kidnaps Max and keeps him all to herself*

He's mine, back off! :p

Cyrus the virus
11-08-07, 10:06 PM
Your mention of me is shitty and short.

But like enjoy getting your ass beat by Luc.

Sighter Tnailog
11-09-07, 05:19 PM
Your resume is impressive. Almost as if it had been padded somehow... ;)

Dissinger
11-10-07, 05:29 AM
Your resume is impressive. Almost as if it had been padded somehow...

Right....

Welcome to the other side Max. Like I said it really IS greener.

Sighter Tnailog
11-10-07, 12:25 PM
Max knows what I'm talking about, and I regard him with a respect so infinitely higher than the respect I have for you that I shall choose to ignore your chicanery. While he did do a large number of the things he list, there are others that may be more the result of looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses.

But the thing is this: not matter which of those things Max may or may not have participated in, his legacy is still extremely important. Max has been a great addition to the forum and to the staff, and will continue to be an asset to our site. He has a real sense of duty and devotion to Althanas that is unparalleled by many of us here. And what is more, he's never been willing to let a few personal vendettas get in the way of serving Althanas, but has instead been a consistent devotee of working with people both friend and "foe" alike to get a good job done. The recent PG rules were in large part due to his willingness to compromise and work with a variety of opinions contrary to his own in order to get the final job done, and he's never been one to go with the flow of the staff just to get by. He's always willing to be the lone voice crying in the wilderness, and for that the staff will miss him immeasurably.

That is the legacy Max claims and should be proud to own. Far more than any single feature Max has created or participated in, he brought a voice to the staff of caution and warning whenever things were going in the wrong direction. I hope he can re-invest the players with a similar sense of civic duty and a desire to be caretakers of what Althanas is. And I would hope his erstwhile fan base on the forums would see him for this singularly great achievement.

Dissinger
11-10-07, 02:47 PM
Say what you will about me, believe what you will. I KNEW that the politics of being a mod was NOT was I wanted and left, so someone who COULD get the job done could. I admitted my fault and got out.

However, this isn't about me and you. It isn't about what Max has or has not done, its about the fact he's getting a chance the play the game he's worked so hard at maintaining. And so even what seems like small insignificant marks about it isn't really necessary.

Hence my chicanery.

I have no doubt in my mind about Max's contribution to the site. I've helped with a little I've probably argued with him over a little. But the fact is, I know about what he's done behind the scenes.

So lets not tarnish this thread any more with the cat and mouse, if you want to argue any of these points further PM me, so this thread can go back to celebrating someones return to the roleplaying scene.

Rayse Valentino
11-10-07, 06:52 PM
Seriously though, give me your gun.

Sighter Tnailog
11-10-07, 10:41 PM
Please don't lecture me, Pat. I made a lighthearted comment about something Max and I have joked to each other about for centuries (that is to say, that we can pretend to have done anything in the storied past and we can get away with it because, compared to us, most vets are still n00bs!), and you turned it into a reason to get all pissy. I was celebrating the career of a very important person on Althanas, and you used it as occasion to take what seems to be an irrational grudge you have against me to the boards. So no, I won't take this to PM. If you were so concerned, you wouldn't have started it in the first place, so take the self-righteous act someplace where people want to hear it.

And you can have his gun, Trunks, if you can pry it from his hands. My personnel file on Max Dirks says that he will be loathe to part with it!

Seth_Rahl
11-10-07, 11:06 PM
>.>

<.<

>.>

<.<

Did I miss something? I am confused. When did this turn into an arguing thread? *blinks* Usually its me who does that.

Anyhoo..........Max-ey ol' boy, all I can say now is welcome back from your godlike modly duties to the realm of us commoners. *yawns* Well, time to hit the sack for me....*commits suicide* Night.

Sorahn
11-10-07, 11:26 PM
Wow... Max retiring... Seriously you've been a mod/admin for as long as I can remember, which is at least 5 years. So kudos to you for helping us out that long. There's no way I could do it. I remember a brief stint I had as a simple bazaar mod and I couldn't even handle that pressure. I had to quit. So to think you've been doing all the awesome things you do for so long is impressive.

BTW I'm honored you mentioned me. Never expected that one. Thanks, though. And I understand what you mean about still being low level. I've been around for 5 years and have 4 levels to show for it, and I'm not even a mod, so I have no excuse. :p

Anyways, congrats on finally getting a chance to play the game you helped create.

On that note, I haven't forgotten the bazaar war (jeez that seems WAY back in the day), where you so rudely shot Sorahn in the back and left him for dead. I'm sensing a vengence quest/battle, maybe? ;)

Cyrus the virus
11-11-07, 05:54 PM
I'm still looking for at least a 4-paragraph 'essay' detailing how important my existence was to you.

And if you still want to do that quest idea, we can do that.