Of the destiny of the crew(s)

So, it's been a couple of months now since I am no longer logging regularly on Puzzle Pirates. At the beginning I thought I would have waited to see how busy I would be after the changes I made in my life, but apparently things are going slower than expected and I can't still say whether or not I will be able or willing to play the game in the near future. However, I feel that I actually won't.
I am in fact struggling to get a job in a field I like and since this is a big opportunity as well as a challenge, I think I'd better spend my free time broadening my knowledge and improving my skills rather than chasing pixel brigands on virtual oceans. Not to mention that, while in Romania I used to spend a lot of time home because I didn't have anything better to do, in Italy there are a lot of outdoors activities to do and events to attend, so again it doesn't seem like I am going to be online that often. Nonetheless rather than speaking of retirement, I'd say that I am going to become a very casual player as I wouldn't mind logging on from time to time.

That said, I think it's time to make a decision about the destiny of the crew. If any SO cared enough to rebuild it or just keep it alive, I would be glad to pass the captainship to anyone of them and If I had to drop a name, that would be Azeitona. In fact, besides being the only active SO at the moment, it looks to me that the game is nowadays played by a younger playerbase and I believe Aze could be a good link between the surviving old generation and the new one. In my opinion another move we should make in this perspective is promoting Defrass and Korte to Senior Officer and merge with Glimmer of Light: we have always been like a family and since none of us is in good health, maybe joining our forces could really help. And while in the past I've always been reluctant to take this step, because each crew has its own personality, I believe under a brand new leadership the experiment could work.

As for the flag, I don't feel the urge of making any change here, but if the new leadership had a different option, I could consider it.

I am looking forward to hearing what is your opinion about this proposition, especially from Azeitona, who should figure out if his real life commitments allow him to hold the office.

Sad Pish, things have been quiet even in here without you.

JamesStGeorge wrote:Sad Pish, things have been quiet even in here without you.

I noticed.

So, what shall I assume concerning my proposition? No one cares?

Pishkirlin wrote:
So, what shall I assume concerning my proposition? No one cares?

That's just not true, I couldn't respond yesterday because I was studying for a test.

In my opinion another move we should make in this perspective is promoting Defrass and Korte to Senior Officer and merge with Glimmer of Light: we have always been like a family and since none of us is in good health, maybe joining our forces could really help.

I have admit I too don't know how long I will keep playing this game. I have never been really active for the last couple of months, so a merger with new leadership would likley be the best choice for our crew as well.

Pishkirlin wrote: At the beginning I thought I would have waited to see how busy I would be after the changes I made in my life, but apparently things are going slower than expected and I can't still say whether or not I will be able or willing to play the game in the near future. However, I feel that I actually won't.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you'll be able (and willing) to play as soon as possible.

Pishkirlin wrote:That said, I think it's time to make a decision about the destiny of the crew. If any SO cared enough to rebuild it or just keep it alive, I would be glad to pass the captainship to anyone of them and If I had to drop a name, that would be Azeitona. In fact, besides being the only active SO at the moment, it looks to me that the game is nowadays played by a younger playerbase and I believe Aze could be a good link between the surviving old generation and the new one.

I totally agree, I always thought that Aze would be the only person who can replace you as a captain.

Pishkirlin wrote:In my opinion another move we should make in this perspective is promoting Defrass and Korte to Senior Officer [...]

I totally agree I think I don't deserve it, but if you think this might be a good solutiun, I gladly take the position

Pishkirlin wrote:[...] and merge with Glimmer of Light: we have always been like a family and since none of us is in good health, maybe joining our forces could really help. And while in the past I've always been reluctant to take this step, because each crew has its own personality, I believe under a brand new leadership the experiment could work.

Agree, agree...

Pishkirlin wrote:So, what shall I assume concerning my proposition? No one cares?

I care, I can prove it with a long reply...

Pishkirlin wrote:So, what shall I assume concerning my proposition? No one cares?

No, it may take time for people to come by and read it yet.

No idea of crew activity, concentrating my time on main to try and get to top carp experience.
However I am not likely to be giving up the game, if that is of any use somehow.

Ok, first about no one cares... we do care, i actually saw this yesterday, but i was studying for a test, and was suppose to be a fast break before going back to studies that i used to check the forum, and i didnt want to answer this fast... and because i wanted to think about it a little bit

i agree with defrass and korte as SO and a merge with glimmer of light.

The first time i heard about this, 1 or 2 weeks ago, that this might happen, i felt a little bit sad that pish would kind of stop playing, but glad to be "choosen" to take the captain place.

The truth is, i would like to take the captain place and rebuit the crew, but while this day(and the last 2 weeks actually), i was asking myself if i would be able to do it. My time is not the same... more and more i will have less time to play. College is just starting to me (the subjects are easier = less studies), next semester i probabily will get a job, what would take me the whole days... making me a weekend player... plus that now i have a girlfriend... what before was just girls at night, that dont take a lot of time, now i will spend a lot of time with her, and as pish said, that he has a lot of outdoors activities and events to attend, more and more the same happen to me... i live in an island with 42 beaches... and i spend a lot of time on it, and a lot of parties and events are happening all the time, and if i really get a job i would have more money and i would be going to more and more events...
of course that entering in vacation (first or second week of december) i would have more time to play... but when classes starts again everthing would be back to what was this last months, with me mostly away and logging more in the weekends.
so i guess if i would really be able to rebuild the crew... and i guess would be really hard... for me feels that entering just during weekends would make me an away captain, and to be rebuild this crew would need someone more available
so i as pish said, if any SO cared enough to rebuild it or just keep it alive I would be glad to let the captain badge for him/her, if no one appears i will take it and if i really have all this problems to play during my class time, we can think in what to do it...

Ok, I am glad we all agreed on promoting Defrass and Korte as well as merging the two crews (although I would like to hear the voice of more members of GoL before taking this step). I think that probably we should actually merge both crews into Blades of Ascalon (or any other newly founded crew that could make a reference to Ascalon in its name), to underline the new identity, the fact that both crews are equal important and it's not just one eating the other and that Ascalon is our common root.

I still think offering the captainship to Azeitona would be the best solution, at least for the transition period in which the new crew will gain its own personality. If Aze will then feel that he won't be able to hold the office once his vactions will be over, then the new soul of the crew will choose another leader.
Speaking of soul, I am designating Aze as my successor mostly because I feel that he could embody better the new one, but I would like to hear also what the old generation (Acerin, Blackie, Sparky) think about this handover and what their intentions regarding the game are: will they ever return or keep on playing? I am willing to offer the rank of SO also to Sparky and Mmiimmii (and to James, if he feels he could be interested) so that in the new crew the adults will have enough representatives in case that the "old soul" could come back... and in that case maybe Acerin could actually lead the crew. I hope it makes sense.

As soon as we decide to merge, I would like to work with the leaders of GoL to make some cleaning and adjust a bit the ranks where needed. As you know we used to have very strict promotion requirements and discipline so I would like to make sure at least that all the FOs are trustworthy.

Pishkirlin wrote:Ok, I am glad we all agreed on promoting Defrass and Korte as well as merging the two crews (although I would like to hear the voice of more members of GoL before taking this step).

here is my voice xD:i will be glad to merge

I see one major problem, though. If GoL merges with the rest, we loose its crew hall, wich was quite expensive.

I suggest, and this will sound selfish for obvious reasons , that everyone merges with GoL and instead we change the name and leadership of that crew. Thus keeping the hall.

Piratus wrote:I see one major problem, though. If GoL merges with the rest, we loose its crew hall, wich was quite expensive.

I suggest, and this will sound selfish for obvious reasons , that everyone merges with GoL and instead we change the name and leadership of that crew. Thus keeping the hall.

Good idea! I hate it
I think we should make a new crew where GoL and KoSG are equal. The crew hall is not enough to make us merge with you in my opinion.

Pishkirlin wrote:Speaking of soul, I am designating Aze as my successor mostly because I feel that he could embody better the new one, but I would like to hear also what the old generation (Acerin, Blackie, Sparky) think about this handover and what their intentions regarding the game are: will they ever return or keep on playing? I am willing to offer the rank of SO also to Sparky and Mmiimmii (and to James, if he feels he could be interested) so that in the new crew the adults will have enough representatives in case that the "old soul" could come back... and in that case maybe Acerin could actually lead the crew. I hope it makes sense.

I have been watching the forums over the past month and wondering when this would come up. Things have been really quiet and I wondered whether or not anyone was actively still playing. It reminds me of what happened with my Wolves when I and my SOs discovered Real Life.

I'd hoped to be more active but honestly, it's not happening. Senior Officer would just be a upgraded title on a hibernating pirate -- I don't feel I could do it justice. I just hope that whoever succeeds Pish will let me keep my Fleet status!

Having been through a few mergers... the soul of the crew will change, the old will never replace it. The trick is changing without forgetting the past and what made the crew strong; as long as the "old guard" sticks around and influences things, the crew will remain a comfortable home for everyone here. I also believe that either Azei or Ace would be excellent Captains.

I don't know what I think of merging the two crews. I guess because I don't see the point. They are both still there, flying the flag of Ascalon, with crew halls and souls. Combining them may have the alternate problem of forcing active pirates out because of the patchwork nature.

Wofl, don't forget how small and inacive our crews are. Bringing us togehter would mean more people have access to the same chat and it would be easier to make pillages. Right now there is hardly ever more than 2 people online at the same time in GoL, peaking at around 4 during "prime time".

A good decision. May God bless you and guide you in your life.

Well if the decision results in any way in the KoSG potentially disappearing, by moving to a different GoL or Blades I would be interested in taking over the 'empty' KoSG, For obvious reasons of the link to my player name. (This is linked to my intents to have a pirate hall as a personal house)

Piratus wrote:I see one major problem, though. If GoL merges with the rest, we loose its crew hall, wich was quite expensive.

I suggest, and this will sound selfish for obvious reasons, that everyone merges with GoL and instead we change the name and leadership of that crew. Thus keeping the hall.

I am with Korte here. The Pirate Hall alone is not good a reason for choosing the crew in which we should merge. Besides, the Knights have a PH too, we'll lose one anyway. Personally I would care more about the founding date, but we shouldn't argue about these kind of silly details. Actually a new crew with a new date as a brand new start could be a good option too.

Sparky wrote:I don't know what I think of merging the two crews. I guess because I don't see the point. They are both still there, flying the flag of Ascalon, with crew halls and souls. Combining them may have the alternate problem of forcing active pirates out because of the patchwork nature.

Piratus wrote:Wofl, don't forget how small and inacive our crews are. Bringing us togehter would mean more people have access to the same chat and it would be easier to make pillages. Right now there is hardly ever more than 2 people online at the same time in GoL, peaking at around 4 during "prime time".

You know I have always been against merges, but I reckon this time is a bit different.
First because there are so few active members in both crews than rather than of proper merge, it is more matter of moving a couple of people from one crew to the other. The merge is just a tool for sparing us a headache without leaving behind the inactive members who could come back from dormancy one day.
Secondly, because I believe the crews really are a family and won't make a lot of difference sharing the same home. KoSG and GoL have been flying together the glorious flag of Ascalon for two years and a half now!
As Piratus said, there are barely 2 members online nowadays, maybe if we make it 4 they could start a pillage.

James wrote:Well if the decision results in any way in the KoSG potentially disappearing, by moving to a different GoL or Blades I would be interested in taking over the 'empty' KoSG, For obvious reasons of the link to my player name.

I am afraid this is impossible since there won't be any empty KoSG. The crew will just vanish if we merge into another or change its name if GoL join us. Granted, when the name will be "free" anybody could take it, nonetheless I don't believe it would be a good idea. I wouldn't be happy at all - and I think I am speaking on the behalf of most Officers as well - knowing that someone else is using a name that still has such an incommensurable sentimental value to us. If KoSG disappear I could actually make sure none could take over its name for this reason.

Here is one more technicality that requires our attention. I am willing to keep two crews in Ascalon anyway, so that if the new leadership decides to leave the flag, the latter won't be disbanded... and since my main character shall not leave the flag, I am actually pondering to keep it in this second crew and play one of my alt (Roscovan, most likely) in the new crew.

Pishkirlin wrote:I would like to hear also what the old generation (Acerin, Blackie, Sparky) think about this handover and what their intentions regarding the game are: will they ever return or keep on playing?

After 5 years playing this, the time has come for me to retire as well. So that's my immediate plan. Who knows what will happen in the future though, I might log on from time to time to see how things are going lol.

I agree with everything that has been said here so far. Merging the crews sounds good right now, under a new name, new life, new everything. Both crews have so few active members lately, that merging sounds good and logical to me.

I wish the future new crew all the best

B.

I want to wish you a lot of luck in this new adventure, my plan involves a Semi-Retirement as Blackie's and Pish's.

Just remember always that the game is about fun and friendship, if you have that in mind yuo crew will grow and prosper.

Well, I'm an alt that joined the gang because my main's flag was dying and not much fun anymore. Early in my main's sojourn as a pirate there was much fun with this crew and flag. Alas, shortly after I joined my life changed and I rarely log on anymore. I don't really have much interest for the game anymore. I won't die because of buying dubs. However, I doubt that I will be on game enough for any change to effect me much. In fact I just joined the forum today to see if these types of changed were going on. I had noticed Pish being away from game. All this to say, when I am on game I will support the leadership that arises from the changes. And if I don't log on again - best to all.

Well as many maybe have guessed, ive stopped playing puzzle pirates, I dont bare much atention checking the forum either...
New stuff comes into your life and your getting tired of the game..

I think a merge would be the right choice aswell, maybe this is the only choice to make the crew's staying alive and making pillies..

It wont keep me away that im maybe come visiting you one time in future!
So I hope it will be active when I maybe one time in future logging in, will be able to talk with some of you and lissen to how it is!

WIth best regards! Grodanknorr or whatever you would like to call me!

Given how many are retiring of near enough, it may be worth trying to see if even a merger has much point. Anyone tried a head count of those who will be regularly active, running pillages effectively, recruiting. That is what made the crew, for example I was jobbing in frequently for good pillages, such that 'you ought to join'. Without that dedicated, quality, and long term leadership, as Pish provided for a long time, there is not much of a crew anyway. We lost several good others along the way as well, let's not forget, to their own created crews and the like. Casual gamers may as well be in bigger crews or none.

Sorry, I should have already made that poll, but I haven't checked the forum in the last few days.
Anyway, I start not to be that sure about the merge. James is most definitely right.
Besides, apparently I can't stand the idea of disbanding the crew. The last time I logged I started redecorating the Sovereign Dragon and I stored in a display case all the cards we wrote on the occasion of our first two anniversaries... I suggest you paying a visit to the xebec (it is ported at Scrimshaw) and then tell me what you think about disbanding the crew.

I don't think anyone would really like to disband the crew. I'm sure if you asked any of us we would all agree that no one would really like to see that happen. It's been our home and family for a long time and I'm sure it is and has been very important for everybody here, one way or another.

The thing is that now, when faced with this issue and current state of things, with most of us semi-retiring... would we rather see it neglected and not taken care of as it is now? Maybe like waiting for everybody's return and being home for the ones that remain? Or turn into ashes like a phoenix and maybe see something rise from it? Would something new really be able to rise from it?

I'm not sure of anything... but as I have always said, you are the father of the crew Pish, and I think we would all respect and agree with whatever you decide.

B.

Pishkirlin wrote:Sorry, I should have already made that poll, but I haven't checked the forum in the last few days.
Anyway, I start not to be that sure about the merge. James is most definitely right.
Besides, apparently I can't stand the idea of disbanding the crew. The last time I logged I started redecorating the Sovereign Dragon and I stored in a display case all the cards we wrote on the occasion of our first two anniversaries... I suggest you paying a visit to the xebec (it is ported at Scrimshaw) and then tell me what you think about disbanding the crew.

I wouldn't like to disband the crew, and if we have some chance to continue without a merger, I think we shouldn't make a merger. The question is the following: Do we have that chance?

I agree with Blackie and Korte.