City Of Heroes: Another Hero Hanging up His Cape

I was rather shocked to see this today as I am sure most of you will be too. Gilgamesh, CoH Content Writer/Editor, is hanging up his spandex once and for all to pursue new interests. We are sad to see him go but he has vowed to lurk in the shadows of Paragon City as much as possible. Please take the time to visit with Gil and bid him a fond farewell.

To Gil from all of us at CoH.Warcry, good luck and Godspeed. Delay not; swift the flight of fortune's greatest favours.

My fellow Heroes, I am here to bid you all a fond farewell.

The time has come to lay down my worn and battered keyboard and bring my own special brand of madness to other projects and challenges. I do this with very mixed emotions. I have faithfully served the heroes of this great city and this great game for nearly two years (where did the time go?) and in that time it has been both a privilege and an honor being the content editor for City of Heroes.

To the best of my abilities, I have endeavored to add a bit of character and history to an already fascinating universe. True, I have stumbled from time to time (Sister Psyche article, anyone? Or how about that Ernie Lardner Arena travesty?) as not a few of you have been quick to point out! But for the most part, I think I accomplished my goal of bringing you a few of the untold (or unexplored) stories of Paragon City. From the dark mystery of the Malleus Mundi to the architect who shaped Paragon City, to poor Azuria's woes to the recent Sunburst-Siren's Call investigation... they've all been journeys of exploration, history and character that I hope brought some illumination to the game world around you. Not to mention giving ace reporter Jackson Turner something to do besides covering the annual Paragon City Flower Show.

Ah, poor Jackson, I hardly knew ye... I hope you are well, wherever the hell you are....

And (shameless plug) the articles are all in here folks: Archive. Yep, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It's been a tremendous labor of love. Mostly though, it's been about you-the hero, the gamer. Without your continued support and love for City of Heroes, this would all be a moot point. Never have I forgotten that without you, City of Heroes would be no more that an ambitious screen saver.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to write for you, to serve as a jumping-off point for discussion, for allowing me to participate in your debates (having spawned a few of them myself), and for tolerating my seemingly strange writing choices. I can honestly say that the City of Heroes community, in my experience, is by far the most knowledgeable, discerning and mature (stop that snickering!) I have ever encountered. Likewise, the CoH Online Community Relations team that I have been a member of since January 2004 deserves a major ovation. They are simply the hardest working group (in the hardest working department) in the industry. Period. From coordinating (and creating) special events to throwing exciting contests, to clear and concise web and board communications, and much, much more, NCsoft's Community Relations Department is second to none. They are also some of the funniest, most intelligent and dedicated people I have ever worked with. And strange as it may seem, they rarely get the recognition they deserve. So give them a big hand. It has been my great honor to be part of this extraordinary family. And you, the community, are fortunate indeed to have them!

Time to wrap this up...

Thank you for loving this game as much as I do. Thank you for your insightful comments and ideas. Thank you for your good-natured ribbing (and even for the not so good-natured). Thank you for bringing City of Heroes to life. I truly feel sorry for those who have missed out on the adventure that is City of Heroes, and who have missed out on the sheer joy of your heroic comradeship. To steal from Mr. Shakespeare:

"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of heroes;
For them to-day that shed their blood with me
Shall be my brother and sister; be they ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle their condition;
And gamers around the world now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their honor cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us in Paragon City."

I have had an immense amount of fun and have received a great education in the process-one that I will draw from regularly in my new position. I can only hope that the communities I encounter in the future will be half as passionate and supporting as you have been. While you will no longer see me around as a "Red Name" you can be sure that I will continue to play City of Heroes (how can I not?). To use a Lincoln phrase, there will always remain "the mystic chords of memory" stretching between us. I shall never forget this community.

And please, when my successor is officially announced, extend him all the warmth and support that I've been blessed with. I think you'll find that I have left the CoH content editor's position in very good hands.

You are indeed Heroes.

I salute you all.

Take care and farewell!

-Gil