I remember a time in Nov. '99 when my roommate heard me talking about making a new character on CT. I had been playing a monk up to that point, but after getting smacked around by various mobs faster than friends could heal me I started to explore other options. As a rule, I don't play casters in most RPG's, but I did feel I could at least keep people in my group alive if I played a cleric. As I moved over to the Character Select screen of EQ (old UI and all!), my roommate chimed in:
"Mike, I really think you should reconsider making a cleric. I think you should try a shaman". (bear in mind my friend didn't have ANY experience with either class at this point, and this is before Kunark).
"Why? The problem with folks in group appears to be healing. Clerics can do that better than others, right?"
"Yea, but as a shaman you get SoW before any other class. You get all sorts of interesting spells that 'buff' stats and abilities. You can melee, you can cast, you can heal, and you provide alot of utility for other people in the group. You won't be doing the same thing in every group. Heck, you can probably even solo moderately well."
I ended up not making a cleric. A day later, Tanuden was born on CT. A few months later (after I had barely hit 19), we switched servers to EMarr, where we had to recreate characters at level 1. Tanuden was my first character on EMarr (for me), and everything was a trip to the circus after that. During this timeframe I began to lurk extensively on Shaman's Crucible to gain knowledge of my new character. This became a daily place to visit as I absorbed knowledge from folks like Chukzombi, Gloriana, and others.
Tanuden played in Norrath for 6 years, 67.6 levels, and 161 AA's (certainly not lofty numbers). More importantly, I met several awesome people by going to at least 10 Fan Faires through the years. EMarr always had about 20 to 30 minimum at the gatherings, and tipping a few back with people was and still is a fun time. I regretted not going to Vegas this year for a number of reasons, but I didn't regret the activity that supplanted the trip (more later).
In any case, my time has finally come to an end in this realm. The spear that carried me for so many years is now another trophy over the fireplace gathering dust. As for a reason: the game became a "not fun" thing to play. This is no fault of Sony or the folks here. Compared to other activities, EQ recently kept coming up third or fourth option behind numerous other pursuits in my life, and when something isn't fun you stop doing before it destroys you.
Some quick thanks to various folks I have met IRL and online over the years:
Lady Gloriana
Simply the best. End of discussion. Sorry for missing Vegas this year m'lady. For you:
Snoww
Good person, great roleplayer. He had so many different characters on EMarr I thought he was suffering from schyzophrenia (sp?). In my early years he was the person that showed me how multidimensional shaman truly are. Thanks for that, and I am sure the people I grouped with after that meeting we had in South Karana thank you as well
.
Solemneyes, Wildane, Jaidan, Klutch and the rest of the VoE shaman team, Sispis and the rest of the CE shaman team
In various ways, you folks all had an impact on my character. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Shaman Crucible members
Without all the knowledge I gleened from the boards over the years, I wouldn't have been able to get all of my totemic, I wouldn't have been able to help three other groupmates handle what became a 16 pull in Seb, I wouldn't have been able to lead rescues into Fear and other old world zones, and I wouldn't have been able to play this character as effectively as I managed. I can't claim much to fame as far as exploits: instead, I was the shaman that grabbed his spear and lunchbucket to go to work everytime I logged in with whomever I could. The new forums are now in some seriously capable hands, and I sincerely hope you folks continue to make the shaman class the absolute best in Norrath.
In the meantime, I am going to finish the sailboat racing season on Lake Michigan, deliver two or three boats to their winter berths, take up sport climbing in the fall, start going back to hockey games in Chicago (now that they have resumed), and who knows what else. As far as online worlds, I am now playing EvE as Karthik with some friends.
My email address is current, and anyone wishing to contact me can feel free to do so. Those that have other methods of contacting me can also use them at anytime. If you are passing through Chicago and want to get together, let me know. My door is always open.
Until whenever, one final time: good luck, good hunting, and godspeed in whatever realm (real or otherwise) your life pursuits take you.
Tanuden
Venerable 67 Shaman, Erollisi Marr
Honored husband of lady Oriana (ret.) of United Partisan's Service
Proud member of Vanguards of Excellence
Former (interim) Guild Leader of Crimson Eternity
Shaman for life, retired to life.
aka
Mike
Bowman, Tsunami
Crewman, Das Boot
Crewman, CanCan Deux
Beneteau 40.7's on Lake Michigan
