Thursday was difficult for me, a mixture of emotions to be sure. A large part of me would stay and be an EM forever, telling stories to those who would still listen, giving loot to those that were willing to work for it, helping to shape, guide and entertain the community as best I could...
Another part of me looks back at the past decade, and realizes it's time to focus on something else, something lasting. My own offline writing career has started to bear fruit and warrants a full time focus. So in 2018 I will be focusing on writing full time, not just my EM time, but full time period.
I wont gild the lily too much, many of you have put up with my inane and often droning soliloquies for the better part of a decade, so no need to do that anymore. I did however want to say thank you to Mesanna, and the rest of the Ultima Online team for giving a nobody a chance at the act of storytelling. There were many times where it was easier to say "No" to my eccentricities but was told "Yes" instead. My being hired as an EM being a large part of that.
I have always been a storyteller, it is one of the few things I fancy myself genuinely good at. For me, being an EM has always been about organic and group storytelling. Much like telling a story around a campfire, or being a DM sitting around a table with your friends playing off their characters to tell a story. We have gotten away from that more recently as interaction has fallen by the wayside, but we told some really great stories together.
I will always remember how loved Claudia Raym and Addie were, how hated Aragothias was, the respect and compassion shown toward Danica Amandine, and the concern for Charlotte Wellings. Not to mention the hundreds of other characters we have gotten to know and enjoy over the years.
Throughout the 10.4 years I have served this community in some official capacity I have only ever told one story, what started with a young Lord named Arrion Wellington, spread across years and generations to Charlotte Wellings... and a happily ever after with Adamu, Danica and their daughter learning to be a family again. I was probably the only one to witness the whole story, I suppose it was serialized and possibly even episodic like a soap opera, but maybe that was the point, and the draw many people felt. You didn't have to view the whole to enjoy the parts.
I am not the type to burn bridges, or to drop the mic and walk off stage. I choose to focus only on the good things. I hate goodbyes, like the good Doctor said, "Nothing is ever sad, until it is over." But I did want to say thank you, the good in this community has always outweighed the bad and the ugly parts of the EM job, so thank you for that.
I have been here before... In a month or two, I will be forgotten, and rightfully so. Another storyteller will come. I just ask that you treat them well, help them grow and give them friendly feedback. They will give you their email, use it. We receive far too few letters of feedback these days, all EMs need that out of game feedback to become better.
I wish you all the best, I will be retaining the [email protected] address if there are ever any questions from anyone about something, especially from my future replacement, or if anyone simply wants to say hello.
TL;DR: Bennu is taking 2018 to write full time, God bless and be excellent to each other.
A note to my replacement, being an EM is a job, treat it as such. With the coming of Endless Journey the EM program will have to change and evolve into something bigger, better and stronger. But at our core we are hired to fill a community role, to tell a story and to be above reproach. Do not allow temptation to ever muddy your integrity, tell these wonderful people a story worth telling and they will love you for it. Start small, gain their trust. Be firm, but fair, be friendly but do not cater to cliques or play-styles. Above all, have fun and help others to enjoy their time in this world, and remember it is a shelter for many that need it, take it seriously, you have a duty of care.
Another part of me looks back at the past decade, and realizes it's time to focus on something else, something lasting. My own offline writing career has started to bear fruit and warrants a full time focus. So in 2018 I will be focusing on writing full time, not just my EM time, but full time period.
I wont gild the lily too much, many of you have put up with my inane and often droning soliloquies for the better part of a decade, so no need to do that anymore. I did however want to say thank you to Mesanna, and the rest of the Ultima Online team for giving a nobody a chance at the act of storytelling. There were many times where it was easier to say "No" to my eccentricities but was told "Yes" instead. My being hired as an EM being a large part of that.
I have always been a storyteller, it is one of the few things I fancy myself genuinely good at. For me, being an EM has always been about organic and group storytelling. Much like telling a story around a campfire, or being a DM sitting around a table with your friends playing off their characters to tell a story. We have gotten away from that more recently as interaction has fallen by the wayside, but we told some really great stories together.
I will always remember how loved Claudia Raym and Addie were, how hated Aragothias was, the respect and compassion shown toward Danica Amandine, and the concern for Charlotte Wellings. Not to mention the hundreds of other characters we have gotten to know and enjoy over the years.
Throughout the 10.4 years I have served this community in some official capacity I have only ever told one story, what started with a young Lord named Arrion Wellington, spread across years and generations to Charlotte Wellings... and a happily ever after with Adamu, Danica and their daughter learning to be a family again. I was probably the only one to witness the whole story, I suppose it was serialized and possibly even episodic like a soap opera, but maybe that was the point, and the draw many people felt. You didn't have to view the whole to enjoy the parts.
I am not the type to burn bridges, or to drop the mic and walk off stage. I choose to focus only on the good things. I hate goodbyes, like the good Doctor said, "Nothing is ever sad, until it is over." But I did want to say thank you, the good in this community has always outweighed the bad and the ugly parts of the EM job, so thank you for that.
I have been here before... In a month or two, I will be forgotten, and rightfully so. Another storyteller will come. I just ask that you treat them well, help them grow and give them friendly feedback. They will give you their email, use it. We receive far too few letters of feedback these days, all EMs need that out of game feedback to become better.
I wish you all the best, I will be retaining the [email protected] address if there are ever any questions from anyone about something, especially from my future replacement, or if anyone simply wants to say hello.
TL;DR: Bennu is taking 2018 to write full time, God bless and be excellent to each other.
A note to my replacement, being an EM is a job, treat it as such. With the coming of Endless Journey the EM program will have to change and evolve into something bigger, better and stronger. But at our core we are hired to fill a community role, to tell a story and to be above reproach. Do not allow temptation to ever muddy your integrity, tell these wonderful people a story worth telling and they will love you for it. Start small, gain their trust. Be firm, but fair, be friendly but do not cater to cliques or play-styles. Above all, have fun and help others to enjoy their time in this world, and remember it is a shelter for many that need it, take it seriously, you have a duty of care.
Last edited: