Momanguise
05-02-2005, 15:20
05 February 2004
Another lazy day, sat at the computer with little purpose or interest. I have just read a topic on the Che-Lives! forums, something about controlling your own country. That, I think to myself, sounds like a laugh. I follow the link, so innocent and pure, www.nationstates.net. Little did I know that at that time, a new world was being born.
*click*
The website interests me, well it interests me enough.
*click*
I choose Create a Nation.
*click*
I try random names, 'Chiba' is taken. Bummer.
*click*
I sit alone for five minutes pondering my decisions. Eventually, inspiration comes to me. Slowly, one letter at a time a name, but so much more than a name, my identity, my destiny, spells itself out on the screen. M o m a n g u i s e. I choose Create, and my entire world falls apart around me as a new, glorious chapter begins.
05 February 2005
Now I sit, my fingers racing across the keyboard as I remember. All those memories, all those times, all those people... I loose my train of thought as it all comes back to me, the wars, the lies, the deceit and the honour. A warm glow comes over me as I recall it all, the workings and the day to day happenings on the game that I love.
Of course, for me the world of 2005 is very different to that of 2004. Of my original allies, British Communists, The Second Mosky, Muggles and Animals, Sambollaka, Camewot and a host more, none remain active. I am, truly, the last survivor. Even now, I pause to observe a moment of quiet solace for those who are not with us today, nations yes, but also my friends.
The days of the Communist Alliance are gone. They occupy a place in my heart, but so do the nations I have met since, indeed I continue to meet. From the RBA to the NWO to NATO, I have met some fantastic people and some amazing writers. To all those nations that I have role-played with, and to all those I am yet to, I salute you.
I have seen a lot of changes since February 04. The forums changed, Automagfreek rose again from the darkness, the insane FWS period and his eventual mod bombing came and went, yet still I feel the same sense as I did three hundred and sixty five days ago. A sense of respect, a sense of honour, a sense of community. More than any other forums, games or online services that I have enjoyed, I feel it here. I have enormous respect for almost every player here, and I thank you, the Mods and of course the almighty Max Barry for making it all possible for me.
This game has become a true occupation for me. It consumes vast amounts of time and effort, and I would not be lying if I said that I failed at least one GCSE to this game, yet, and yet, it was all worth it. I feel the same familiar thrill as II opens as I did when I stood alone, defending the nation of Camewot whilst artillery thundered, blood ran on the streets, and in that cry of humanity battle was joined. The same thrill as when millions of my soldiers stood, battle ready in the artificial lines drawn across Europe as massive and unwieldy armies and alliances circled each other, ready eventually to back down. I feel that, if I was to close my eyes and open them again, I would see Momanguise, see the people that I created as they lived their lives, died and waned upon my whim. And yet I love these artificial, cyber people that began as five million in 2004 and stand at two billion today. I love them to the bones, and as I blink again and see only a computer screen, I well up with compassion for these souls that exist only in my mind. Is this madness? Quiet possibly, but a year is long and it has taught me that belief and reason must be suspended, if the bountiful rewards are to be reaped.
Thank you, thank you all who have made this possible. I do not know what I will be doing on February the fifth 2006, but I will have you all in my hearts. And so thus I end by passage, my dreams and my memories, as I stand and salute you all, you who have inherited the earth. Happy Brithday II.
Happy Birthday.
Another lazy day, sat at the computer with little purpose or interest. I have just read a topic on the Che-Lives! forums, something about controlling your own country. That, I think to myself, sounds like a laugh. I follow the link, so innocent and pure, www.nationstates.net. Little did I know that at that time, a new world was being born.
*click*
The website interests me, well it interests me enough.
*click*
I choose Create a Nation.
*click*
I try random names, 'Chiba' is taken. Bummer.
*click*
I sit alone for five minutes pondering my decisions. Eventually, inspiration comes to me. Slowly, one letter at a time a name, but so much more than a name, my identity, my destiny, spells itself out on the screen. M o m a n g u i s e. I choose Create, and my entire world falls apart around me as a new, glorious chapter begins.
05 February 2005
Now I sit, my fingers racing across the keyboard as I remember. All those memories, all those times, all those people... I loose my train of thought as it all comes back to me, the wars, the lies, the deceit and the honour. A warm glow comes over me as I recall it all, the workings and the day to day happenings on the game that I love.
Of course, for me the world of 2005 is very different to that of 2004. Of my original allies, British Communists, The Second Mosky, Muggles and Animals, Sambollaka, Camewot and a host more, none remain active. I am, truly, the last survivor. Even now, I pause to observe a moment of quiet solace for those who are not with us today, nations yes, but also my friends.
The days of the Communist Alliance are gone. They occupy a place in my heart, but so do the nations I have met since, indeed I continue to meet. From the RBA to the NWO to NATO, I have met some fantastic people and some amazing writers. To all those nations that I have role-played with, and to all those I am yet to, I salute you.
I have seen a lot of changes since February 04. The forums changed, Automagfreek rose again from the darkness, the insane FWS period and his eventual mod bombing came and went, yet still I feel the same sense as I did three hundred and sixty five days ago. A sense of respect, a sense of honour, a sense of community. More than any other forums, games or online services that I have enjoyed, I feel it here. I have enormous respect for almost every player here, and I thank you, the Mods and of course the almighty Max Barry for making it all possible for me.
This game has become a true occupation for me. It consumes vast amounts of time and effort, and I would not be lying if I said that I failed at least one GCSE to this game, yet, and yet, it was all worth it. I feel the same familiar thrill as II opens as I did when I stood alone, defending the nation of Camewot whilst artillery thundered, blood ran on the streets, and in that cry of humanity battle was joined. The same thrill as when millions of my soldiers stood, battle ready in the artificial lines drawn across Europe as massive and unwieldy armies and alliances circled each other, ready eventually to back down. I feel that, if I was to close my eyes and open them again, I would see Momanguise, see the people that I created as they lived their lives, died and waned upon my whim. And yet I love these artificial, cyber people that began as five million in 2004 and stand at two billion today. I love them to the bones, and as I blink again and see only a computer screen, I well up with compassion for these souls that exist only in my mind. Is this madness? Quiet possibly, but a year is long and it has taught me that belief and reason must be suspended, if the bountiful rewards are to be reaped.
Thank you, thank you all who have made this possible. I do not know what I will be doing on February the fifth 2006, but I will have you all in my hearts. And so thus I end by passage, my dreams and my memories, as I stand and salute you all, you who have inherited the earth. Happy Brithday II.
Happy Birthday.