The New Blood in presence, past and future

Presence
Satine, Community Relations Director at Codemasters, has replied to the thread mentioned in my previous post. Check her post here or the whole thread here (Satine's post is #341). There is little to comment on since the answers don't reveal anything new or substantial, except a rather vague commitment saying that Codemasters would try to arrange a character transfer if the need arises. I personally wouldn't overestimate that part of her post, but it's better than nothing. It's obvious that Codemasters have done little to re-assure european players, but it seems that the inactivity and lack of communication is caused, at least partially, by the ongoing lawsuit between Atari and Turbine that they're involved in. I'm fed up with endless discussions on the CM forum and tired of speculations so I'll just wait and see what happens.
I renewed my DDO Europe subscription last Saturday and have been playing there very casually. I don't know how long I'll stay but I have realized that I am attached to the server and the community (or what's left of it) more than I thought I was. Khyr is still playing on Devourer and has no plans to start elsewhere. Marwnad/Wayof is still subscribed, although he's playing on Thelanis simultaneously. Gazz was apparently online last night but I  missed him and haven't had a chance to speak with him lately. I will keep you updated on any Devourer or DDO Europe related news, if and when there are any.

Past and future
In the meantime, I have founded The New Blood on Thelanis. The "newblood" userchannel has all sorts of people from various guilds and servers on it now, which I welcome and have no problem with.. But I think I need something a bit more private, to share with a closer circle of people.
There are going to be some changes to how the guild is run and what it's about. The New Blood has been about for two years, it was first founded at Christmas in 2007 with the purpose of bringing new players to DDO Europe. I've never been too much of an altruist but I've always loved Devourer and its community, and I believe that the best thing an ordinary player can do to help a community grow and prosper is to introduce new people to the game, make the beginning easier for them and make them feel welcome so they stick around long enough to get a feel of the game and learn to appreciate it. I promoted and presented the guild and its goals on the official forums, on our website, on the guild forum and in the game. We managed to gain some reputation and people got used to sending newbies to us, knowing that we wouldn't let them down.
Now, my beliefs and my attitude towards new players remain the same, but my commitment has gradually changed, in the way that I simply can't do it anymore without feeling like I'm doing a half-assed job. I have been playing DDO for more than 3 years, I know it inside out and I've seen everything it has to offer (except Mod 10 :p). My priorities have changed, the youth enthusiasm is gone and all I want to do in the game now is to have fun, play with my friends, work on my characters and do whatever I feel like doing, whenever I feel like doing it. That doesn't mean that I will not accept new players or avoid them, but I would like The New Blood to be a collective of friends and like-minded people who enjoy playing together - pretty much what it's been anyway lately, only without the official "send newbies our way and we'll look after them" part.

Two more personal notes: 1. My opinion on cheats and exploits has not changed. 2. As I said above, from now on I'll only do what I want to do. When I want to play with guildies, I'll play with guildies. When I want to join pugs, I will join pugs. If I don't feel like doing something, I won't be talked into it. When I help someone, I help them because I want to and I don't expect them to help me or repay me later in any way. When someone offers to help me, I appreciate it but don't consider myself obliged to help them later in any way.

All current or recent members of the guild on Devourer who are fine with everything said above are more than welcome to join The New Blood on Thelanis. See you in game. :)

Mic