I started playing DDO back in April of 2006 on the Aerenal server. It was the first 3D MMO I'd ever played and after paying UO on and off since 1997, it was quite a change.
After founding a small but active guild (Cursed Knights of Aerenal, baby!) that started shrinking I eventually merged CKoA with Voice Chatter Apotheosis and had an absolute blast raiding, running quests and hanging out with great people.
Then the server merges came and Aerenal became Sarlona. I have to say that I had some trepidation about coming over to a new server and wondered if it'd compare to Aerenal, which had a great community and very low drama.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did it compare, but in some cases it surpassed good ol' Aerenal! Unfortunately VCA, which at one time was one of the five largest guilds dwindled in members and eventually disbanded. I was close to leaving DDO for good when I came back from a break and saw VCA was no more, but the great folks in Black Mantis happily took me in and became my new home.
I've enjoyed the nearly four years of playing DDO and have enjoyed my time on Sarlona. There truly are some very dedicated, talented and great people to party with here. Of course, that could be because us Aerenalites showed you how it was done!
Sadly, its finally time for me to move on from DDO. I've taken breaks on and off over the years and each time I wind up staying for shorter and shorter amounts of time. I'm not going to enumerate my gripes with the game or Turbine, I'll simply say I'm just not having fun anymore and that's due to several things, not all of which are within Turbine's control. C'est la vie.
So, Sarlona -- those of you who know me and have grouped with me in the past, thanks for the good times and the memories and I hope you continue enjoying your time here! There are too many people to name and I'll inevitably leave somebody out. I'm grateful to have been a part of Aerenal/Sarlona as well as VCA and Black Mantis!
Game on, Sarlona!
p.s. - my stuff is reserved for guildies!