It's been three and a half years now. But I still remember the beginning. Joining this league was weird. It was something new, but also not. I've been in various RP leagues/games for a good 20 years now, some involving sports, some more D&D like, and some that are just completely unlike either. The roleplay aspect is what brought me here, mostly. Which is why you'll see me write most PTs in character, and why I built the wiki, and so on. The best thing about this league is the shared narrative. It's not even a debate for me. But in the early days, I wasn't really clear on how this all worked. There was a lot to take in. I was used to a far simpler "write something, and your chances of winning go up" or "write something, and you get better stats so you win more" ... there was never really a team aspect to any of the other things I did. I never really had to consider how well other people were writing and how that affected my chances of improving, winning etc. Except when I was against them, I suppose.
As a result, I guess I was always sort of a lone wolf type of guy. Even the people I'm closest to in this league will probably tell you they don't actually know me that well, or that we don't actually speak that much. It's just how I am. I go months without speaking to my closest friends IRL, too. Being here has helped with that though. I've been lucky enough to have two very good sets of teammates, who -- often without knowing it -- kept me active here when I honestly wanted to quit. So now I try not to be so... aloof... in locker rooms and stuff. I'm still not that talkative, except on certain topics -- some of you will be very aware, lol -- but I try not to be as distant. Even if it's a throwaway comment on discord every now and then. It's difficult sometimes because I'm fairly sure I'm among the oldest members of this league, and as far as I know, I'm literally old enough to have fathered a decent chunk of the member base here, but that's why the narrative is so important. As long as there is a shared narrative -- and the historic stats of the league are a part of that; when we talk about the NFL, people talk about the Freezer Bowl, or the first team to go undefeated, and the numbers that players put up fully 30 years before we were even born -- people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience can be a part of this league, and by extension, the community.
I've had a great time talking to other writers who somehow found their way here, about their plans for their character and how they immerse the character and ideas in the existing world the members of this league have built. The more people we can bring in, the more ideas we'll have, and the more that world will evolve and develop. When I formed the "dev team" originally, I didn't really have any set goals or aims. I just wanted a bit of help with all the ideas I had for the league. Things I thought would improve the experience for everyone, by making the history, the narrative, more accessible. But that I knew I couldn't do it alone. Gradually, I took a back seat on that, because I was exhausted. And frankly, there are people far better suited to it than me -- at the very least, my uh... customer facing skills... are lacking. As long as that process keeps moving forward, and we ensure that the history of the league is easy to find, there's no reason this league can't keep growing imo. I don't know how much help I can be with that anymore, to be honest. But even if I don't recreate after this player, I'll probably be around to chip in where I can.
As a result, I guess I was always sort of a lone wolf type of guy. Even the people I'm closest to in this league will probably tell you they don't actually know me that well, or that we don't actually speak that much. It's just how I am. I go months without speaking to my closest friends IRL, too. Being here has helped with that though. I've been lucky enough to have two very good sets of teammates, who -- often without knowing it -- kept me active here when I honestly wanted to quit. So now I try not to be so... aloof... in locker rooms and stuff. I'm still not that talkative, except on certain topics -- some of you will be very aware, lol -- but I try not to be as distant. Even if it's a throwaway comment on discord every now and then. It's difficult sometimes because I'm fairly sure I'm among the oldest members of this league, and as far as I know, I'm literally old enough to have fathered a decent chunk of the member base here, but that's why the narrative is so important. As long as there is a shared narrative -- and the historic stats of the league are a part of that; when we talk about the NFL, people talk about the Freezer Bowl, or the first team to go undefeated, and the numbers that players put up fully 30 years before we were even born -- people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience can be a part of this league, and by extension, the community.
I've had a great time talking to other writers who somehow found their way here, about their plans for their character and how they immerse the character and ideas in the existing world the members of this league have built. The more people we can bring in, the more ideas we'll have, and the more that world will evolve and develop. When I formed the "dev team" originally, I didn't really have any set goals or aims. I just wanted a bit of help with all the ideas I had for the league. Things I thought would improve the experience for everyone, by making the history, the narrative, more accessible. But that I knew I couldn't do it alone. Gradually, I took a back seat on that, because I was exhausted. And frankly, there are people far better suited to it than me -- at the very least, my uh... customer facing skills... are lacking. As long as that process keeps moving forward, and we ensure that the history of the league is easy to find, there's no reason this league can't keep growing imo. I don't know how much help I can be with that anymore, to be honest. But even if I don't recreate after this player, I'll probably be around to chip in where I can.
I impersonate a programmer for a living
Father of the League Wiki • Friendly Neighbourhood Angry Black Guy™ • NOT British
Originator of the Sim League Cinematic Universe (SLCU)
Super capitalists are parasites. Fite me.
Alternatively, if you agree, you can support a grassroots movement dedicated to educating and organising the working class by buying a digital newspaper subscription. Your support would be greatly appreciated.