Hello darrrghh! Fo-Rum-ites...
Firstly this is going to be a long one, there’s a TLDR at the bottom so scroll down if you prefer. :)
It’s that time again. Time where we all try to band together to make our voices heard. Time to ask the developers to release the forums from the ferry of the damned and actually use them again. Time to return these ancient waters to there greatness instead of leaving them like Atlantis, full of myth, questions and wonder. Time to get back on board, grab some planks and equip there buckets and rejoin the crew.
For some newer members, or even those who have been with us for a while now but not long enough to know what a few of us old timers speak. These ancient isles used to be the centre of the Sea Of Thieves. The first port of call for all things Sea Of Thieves related, the Thieves Haven If you would. A place of life, wonder, mystery, great companionship, camaraderie and of course... Developers.
Back before the launch of the game we had the TA (Technical Alpha) and with that we had the insider program. (Yes the one where you have to fight a kraken to get a verification email) I know it actually had a use at one point!
Through it the developers would release all manner of information on the game and dev team. Things like:
- Interviews
- Upcoming features/Riddles/Hints
- Competitions
- #SeaOfTeases
- Joes unintentional Leaks
- Memes
- Feedback threads
- Monthly insider reports
And many other things I know I’m forgetting but will add when I remember or am reminded. A place, like I said above was the center of the universe for SoT, the community was unheard of in kindness and compassion and the developers where just as active as members of the community. You got the sense that they where genuinely interested in you and your views and opinions on the game. You could have long conversations about anything, be it about the game, the aspects of there job role, gaming in general or... well basically anything. Like us they are human...I think 🤔 :P
However as the game launched the ship took a new direction, there was some backlash over aspects of the game and the developers went silent. Which was to be expected, they was hard at work sorting out the launch issues and had there heads down working hard and planning for the future of the game.
The community grew a lot and with a lot of new members, most joined to show there displeasure or complain the forums took a sour turn for a while. But through all that there was still the old timers and epic members standing strong, staying vigilant and trying to keep the name we had all built for the place alive. That name still stands true today for me.
But we where told that the community had grown to much for the developers to be using the media’s now. A response what wasn’t nice to hear, but one was accepted at the time.
However that, unfortunately was not the case at all. Rumours and screen grabs started appearing of the developers actively engaging in new communities. (Reddit, Twitter Ect)
We where told they was not allowed to respond or interact because of how big the community had become and there words would be a twisted and misconstrued. Yet all evidence pointed to the opposite of that, the developers had all left the forums and had taken residence in new waters, with new communities and marooned the long and faithful crew on the ferry never to return it would seem.
And with that the decline kicked in, what was once a bustling haven for all walks of life and characters started to decay. The lack of interaction from the developers on these shores left us all confused and wondering why? Questions never got answered, so members made up there own responses. Thoughts and opinions didn’t feel like they where being heard so people started making there own views on what certain aspects of the game should be and what they believed the developers thought.
Old time members, deckhands and many other fair and good folk left these shores as they saw no reason to stay, the captains abandoned ship and left the crew to fight for power amongst themselves. The old ways where gone and we lost many good pirates. It felt like the English had come to Nassau and the goldenage of piracy was drawing to an end.
Not all hope was lost though, since then through a lot of hard work from a lot of great members and albeit a lot of positivity and restraint. Old legends who remained and even new ones who have forged there name around these parts have fought hard to keep this ship sailing! To go above and beyond to help, debate and encourage conversations, answer questions and keep the lifeblood of these forums alive with there stories and great personalities. (A few that spring to mind who are old and new legends alike: @Skulliah @Erinom3 @Murkrage @NoFears-Fun @king-deka @x-crowheart-x @Sshteeve @thor-Von-blitz @a-cranky-Eskimo @PirateCraggy @Clumsy-George @Genuine-Heather @stacky-a @sgt-palooggoo @tre-oni @xCALYPT0x VHombre @ClosingHare208 @LucianSanchez82 @JE0RGIE-P0RGIE @JetOrchidee97 @mr-dragon-raaar ) And even then, I know I’ve missed so many awesome members, those where litrally names that popped to my head so I’m so sorry if you are not there! It probably wasn’t the greatest idea to list people but alas it be done now! I tip my hat and raise a grog to those above and beyond! Your the true legends of these parts!
Pirates who are named and unnamed have kept this ship sailing in times of dark and held there lanterns high to help and guide us.
And of course your probably wondering hang on a minute Knife, your forgetting some people...
Of course not only do we have the user legends above maintaining the ship but the biggest applause (Or hook clanking) obviously has to go to our @Deckhands and @Quartermasters who not only are awesome community members but have in my opinion one of the hardest jobs you could ever want! Maintaining and guiding our motley crew without letting emotion or biased views get in there way. There is no harder job in my eyes then one of a position of power. Yet, these brave men and women go above and beyond to guide, help and steer us all in a friendly and civilised manner without losing there tempers, while I’m sure getting a whole load rubbish thrown there way! It’s a job you couldn’t pay me to do, the biggest irony is THEY DONT EVEN GET PAID! (And I thought I was one of the nutters around here! 😂)
But truly through all the good times and bad they have been here for everyone doing, at times I would guess, a soul destroying job, yet they push through it always and still log on everyday because of there passion for not only this game, but the community to. And while we may be bailing the water as members it’s the these guys and gals who are the nails keeping the ship together in the first place.
TL:DR
So to wrap up before I break my fingers and touch screen, this is a call to get the developers back to this great ship which they once launched and have unfortunately left. They started this community and have brought all these amazing people together and them not being here anymore is not only a big loss for us, but in my honest opinion it is an even bigger loss for them.
So my idea is, recently we had the hashtag from the developers #SoTandMe we all shared stories about how the game has helped, changed and done different things for us. What I want us to do is make a new one.
#TheForumsAndMe
If you have any stories from these parts, memories or friendships made, legends forged. Write them below, show the developers the power of this place and what it means to you. Remind them why this place is unique and why you choose to log back in, maybe this time we can make the diffrence
Even if we don’t it would still be awesome to hear your stories and maybe forge new ones. You are all legends in my eyes and for me this will still only be the place I come to for my SoT Fix! Remember to #BeMorePirate!
Have an awesome day and keep being the amazing people you are and I hope we have many more great adventures and memories on these shores for a long time to come!