Druss

It is time for the Source to have a new monarch. I have long said that the Source is just a good group of people, it doesn't have anything to do with me being leader. So now, I request that someone else be monarch for a while.

I wrote this letter two days ago, sent it to my wife and she said "let is sit for a few days." And it has. And I feel no different. I desperatly need a break from the responsibility. I know you all understand.

Reasons?

1. Mare and I are enjoying Darktide, and I don't like feeling like I am abandoning people. While HG is still our primary home, we do play over there about 50% of the time lately. I think the Source of HG should have a monarch that plays there almost exclusively.

2. Mutt just bought me a copy of EQ and I know I will want to at least look at it. I might actually play there a bit. The devious bastard actually bought it and sent it to me to try and get me hooked.

3. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

What that means is - I just want to be another member of the Source for a while. I want to come and go as I please, play where I wish, when I wish, and not feel like I am doing something wrong. I want to be able to leave this game if I feel like it, and not feel like a cad. I want to go on group expeditions and not worry so much because I am the leader. I want to leave responsibility behind for a little while. I'm sure you all understand.

I nominate Miko K-sun (Or Simone) to take over for me for a bit. If they will have the job. He probably won't.

But

1. He's the man I most trust with the job

2. He's the best fighter of all of of us.

3. He's the richest of all of us.

4. He's one of the few people that I could pledge too

5. He has a lot of respect from a lot of people on HG

6. He has no kids and a significant other that plays.

All these are essential.

thanks

Jamie
Druss

Beryl

My lord, I concur. If you must step down, Miko K-Sun or Simone are most worthy.

Miko K-sun

for all waiting for me to respond ... well I have a lot to think about and say and have to get to work .... I guess I will have to write something later ... but we all know Druss is our monarch thru thick and thin

keith

Miko K-sun

I have just a few minutes and thought I would check the list and was surprised with little discussion on Druss stepping down .... I expected a full set of e-mail on it ... is everybody waiting for somebody (or me) to write a reply to follow up on .... is everybody waiting for me to say yes or no to being monarch so you may express your opinions? ... well let me start then

Jamie I don't think anybody has a problem with the amount of time you play .. (well maybe me .. but I miss giving you crap while you try and hunt ;-) ... I do not feel the need for a new monarch ... if we have a new monarch we lose our identity in some ways ... we will always be the source but no longer will we be easily identified by reeve druss ...

So for me to say yes I would be monarch you need to convince me that it would make your ac time better .... you can do this public (here) private (e-mail me) or private (I will stop and see you in person tomorrow)

Poll time: bash me if you wish

how many people think that it would hurt our group identity and how well we work together if Miko K-sun was the monarch .... you may do this anyway you wish .. do a pros/cons ... just come out and say it's bad ..... or even stand up and say it would be the same for you ... everybody in this group joined for different reasons, but we are like a family ... so we all have our own voice how about expressing it..

Mhon-ti: you write so well on this subject your post last time Jamie wanted to step down was awesome please express yourself again

Keith

Rojon

Bottom line for me is: I want Jamie to be happy.

I would prefer to always see Druss as monarch. If Druss "died" I would want Miko to succeed him.

Might even do you wonders about your feelings for the game to have a "job", which I know sometimes range from pure enjoyment to disgust.

But the most important thing for me is for Jamie to be happy.

I've a feeling right now he's not.

If he wants to take a break, don't we owe him at least that much?

Remember this?

"If you love something, let it go.

If it comes back to you, its yours forever.

If it doesnt...

....hunt it down and kill it."

I COULDN'T RESIST, OK???

Anyway, you get my point. I'd like him to stay monarch but not at the cost of
him being unhappy.

'Nuff said.

Hakeem

>
> Mhon-ti: you write so well on this subject your post last time Jamie
> wanted to step down was awesome please express yourself again

Ok. Mhon Ti/Dhali/Hakeem/Dave here.

The last time Druss sent us an e-mail on this, I was against it, because I think I know why he was doing it. Last time, Druss asked if we should go under a different monarch who can support us with cool items, and was already much higher level. I don't recall who the other monarch was, but I knew deep down that Jamie didn't want to go under someone else. But he wasn't going to hide the opportunity from us either. So he presented it, actually wholeheartedly encouraging us to all join this other monarch if we wanted to. He
held nothing back and made sure we had the opportunity if we wanted it.

We staunchly refused, and that was the end of that.

Now the same type of scenario is being presented, but for much different reasons I think. Jamie is enjoying Darktide, and his wife is REALLY enjoying Darktide. But it's hard to split time between two places. In order to succeed on DT, you have to get big, and get big quickly. To get big, you have to invest time, which is what Druss and Sister are starting to do, more and more. It's also more enjoyable to play in a lag free environment. Regardless of his reasons he wants to spend more time on Darktide, which naturally means less time on Harvestgain.

I think that Jamie would rather see someone who can dedicate his full attention to The HG Source have the responsibilities than to be unable to meet everyone's time and attention needs. I'm sure Jamie doesn't mind, and enjoys doing it. But at the same time he probably feels that his time is spread pretty thin, and with everything on his plate, he'll be hard pressed to do everything he wants to do, let alone what everyone else would like for him to do with them.

Without coming across as selfish, and hoping that Druss comes to DT for personal reasons, here are my thoughts. To me, the Source has always been about people. Yes, Jamie is our monarch, but he's no dictator. He's an outstanding leader, and a fine person. He always does the right thing, and he always puts others before himself. I can't think of anyone who can replace him as a person in the game. But I feel that Miko K-Sun would make a fine replacement for Druss as a leader. Miko has many of the same characteristics that Jamie does, and probably knows about as much as the game as well.

I'm sure that Jamie would still log into HG, probably as much as he does now. But he'll be able to enjoy his time doing what he wants to do, without the guilty feeling that he should be helping someone else.

If Miko agrees, I'm not even certain that Miko would have to be monarch, nor that he would wish it. Then there is the question of "Well what will others think when they see Miko as Monarch instead of Druss? " I think that's the least of the considerations. But I would like to see Jamie enjoying the game as much as possible, without feeling guilty that he should be doing something else.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Monty

Farik Il'Kadar

Well I thought about writing something, earlier this morning when I first read the message.
But it would have taken a long time, and I *am* supposed to be working... This might be afflicting others too.
The finality in Jamie's letter is a lot different from the ranting quality of the last time he wanted to quit.
Perhaps, people are sitting back and pondering before submitting opinions.

Let's say someone else takes over as monarch. What's going to change? It won't say "Monarch: Reeve Druss" on your E screen anymore. (as an aside, does anyone really want that to change? I know I don't) Going into a dungeon, is someone else going to call the shots? Is someone else going to get all frustrated when the group goes off in ten different directions? Is someone else going to handle all the BMG tells with aplomb, yet still lead us to victory?

Lemme axe ya this, Jamie, when you are no longer monarch, are you going to be able to sit back and let someone else lead?
....
Really? I think you're going to be biting your tongue a lot. "Let's go this way... er oops I'm not the leader anymore. Shaddup and let someone else decide what to do."

I would say, "try not to let the responsibility weigh so heavily on you", but I know that will be hard for you.

Please, by all means, take a break from Druss. Play him on the weekends only, or pick another day if you don't like the weekends, whatever. Or don't pick a day at all. Play Druss whenever *you* feel like it. Don't
feel like you have to be Druss on HG in order to earn the monarchy. You have already earned the monarchy. If such a thing is possible in an electronic game world. How many other monarchs care so much about their followers? Or spend so much time with them?

Do what thou wilt. Speaking for myself, I don't need you to be Druss all the time.

Poll questions:
Yes: Miko K-sun as monarch will affect our group identity. Not necessarily in a bad way, but it will certainly feel different.
Yes: We will continue to work together as well as we have in the past, regardless of who is the monarch.

Khali

Jamie,

You, Druss, should remain monarch.

+ If you want to go play EQ, (*gulp*) then go.
+ If you want to go play on DT, then go.
+ If you want to not feel guilty for playing on HG and not talking to your "subjects", then /notell with a
clean conscience.
+ If you feel burdened by having to "speak" for the group, then take a leave of absence and let others
manage instead. We'll survive.

Druss is our monarch.

Do what you need to do, but please, please just leave the monarch thing alone. We know you're a real person.
You don't need AC to be stressfull and burdensome. It is supposed to be fun for all of us. If it makes it
easier for you to take a break, do so. But remember that part of the fun for the rest of us is not messing with the 'Monarch Druss' thing.

Druss is our monarch.

Having Druss as the monarch is very much tied into our identity as Source members. To those outside the
group, our characters don't say "The Source" they say "Monarch Druss". Many people joined the group because of you. Some have said (threatened?) to leave if Druss were to step down. I would not leave nor will I
threaten to leave. But it would be a blow and it wouldn't really feel like the same Source anymore.

Druss is our monarch.

"But that would mean our monarch isn't around? Shouldn't the monarch be available?"

Make Miko a regent. Have him the acting ruler in Druss absence. I believe 100% of the group would support
Miko as a surrogate ruler. When I was recently patron-less, I wanted Miko to be my patron. He embodies all of our group's principles and has a kick-ass character. He is vocal and outspoken (and thus visible), he is compassionate and helpful, and he plays a lot. I know I'm just rehashing Jamie's own list, but it really is true. Miko is an excellent choice to accept the responsibility of the monarchy.

Druss is our monarch.

Most of the list was around when you took some time off and played Legend almost exclusively. The group
survived. We continued to have good group outings and land quality new members. But everyone loves that
you're back as Druss now. Take some time off, see how things develop. Perhaps in a couple months you'll want to come back and play Druss some more. I think none of us would mind you taking a couple months off.

Druss is our monarch. Always has been, always will be.

-Chris (Khali)

Drake Draco

I agree that the name carries a lot of weight with others outside our group.

Just the other day, I was selling some stuff in Mayoi and this guy runs up to me and asks if I would mind helping him mule. He said, I know I can trust you because you are with Druss. Of course, I helped him mule.

I like seeing Druss as my Monarch but I am willing to go with whatever the group decides.

Draco
Energy Follows Thought

Chinook

I was always staunchly opposed to this in the past.
Whether it was Druss swearing under another monarchy and making The Source a part of something larger or just stepping down I was opposed to it.

This time I hear a difference in Jamie.
I was one of those that came looking for The Source specifically because of Jamie Wakefield.
I haven't been disappointed by him or The Source.

I believe that The Source can be bigger than one man now.
Personally, I would prefer if Jamie left the name of Druss as monarch and just played where, when and what he chooses because he is so easily identifiable. Pass on the duties to others if he needs to. But I have a hard time imagining Druss being able to do this.

One of his best leadership qualities is his commitment to his people. I have serious doubts he could maintain the title without feeling obligated to do more than he may want or be able to now.

This is my suggestion.

We decide that The Source is bigger than a monarchy on HG in AC.

The Monarch on HG, or DT, or EQ, or wherever we may go can vary. They will be the Governor-General for the Monarch of The Source.

We declare Druss the founder and Monarch of The Source as a whole.

I believe that after watching Druss and The Silent Spearman interact on DT that this can work.
TSS is the monarch, but the respect and deference he gives to Druss is a credit to both of them and Druss is exceptional at lending leadership and guidance without usurping anything that TSS is doing.

My 2 pyreals.

Chinook

Druss

Hello all.

Thanks again for all the kind comments and support. Some of the things people say just make em swell with pride and happiness.

I just want to clarify a few things.

1. I am not going anywhere. Mare enjoys DT more than I do, and I do my best to encourage her. Because I realize what a gift I have in her playing. I realize how lucky I am. I don't take her playing for granted. So, even though I enjoy Druss of HG more, I play wherever my wife wants to, and do my best to sneak in some HG time, because I know she loves HG as well. She's just in love wth her new character on DT right now. My love affair with Legend lasted until level 30. Mare is now 25 on DT.

2. I'm not going to EQ. I've never seen the game. I have heard it is a lot more work than AC. I don't play games to work. I play them to have fun. But, I don't want to install the game, and feel like I am cheating on 102 people.

3. I'm not quitting on-line games. I'm still going to be playing AC for a long, long time. I'm still going to be on HG for a long long time. I have to make 75 so I can get Item for Druss.

4. I'm not interested in not playing Druss on HG. I don't want to make up a new guy on HG or unburden Legend and remove his mule status and play him. I want to play Druss on HG.

5."/notells on" does not stop people in my alliance from messaging me.


While I am thrilled that people are o.k. with me ignoring people, and playing on other servers and not appearing on HG a lot......

Theres more to it than that.

We all know I am not the usual monarch.

I don't want 2000 followers, I want a tight, close nit group.

Friends.

People who represent me.

And you know, if I am the monarch, every time I see a dumb post on COD, or someone doing something in town that I don't like, or hear of someone acting badly, it pains me. It reflects badly on us, and the name Druss. It reflects badly on the Source.

And I just want to not feel that pressure.

One thing that DT has taught me is that it IS just a GAME. I play it to have fun. I play it to slay monsters and level and get cool armor. To hang out with friends, get a great group of people and adventure together.

But

I would like a time where I could be Anony Mouse. Or not show up for Big Event Saturday and no one minds. Or not feel guilty for playing on HG. And no, no one has made me feel this way, "I" just feel this way. I want to play this GAME and have no responsibility. Not in game or out. Just for a little while. Maybe forever. Maybe a month when Miko begs me to take over again. :-)

As to changing the name of Monarch Druss to Monarch Miko K-sun. Yes, we lose something. We lose a tiny bit of recognition, and a tiny bit of respect. And then we gain it all back in a weeks time when people realize (Through me posting on COD and ACVault) that we are the same group. Many people will know what that means, and in a week, people will be saying

"Oh, you're under Miko K-sun, can you help me mule? I know I can trust you."

Because they don't have to know Druss. They have to know that everyone under him is trustworthy. And that has nothing to do with Druss, it has to do with that fact that people know we don't let theives in. We don't let punks in. Can any other alliance say this?

Fizzle might be the bes, most respected guy on the server, but do you trust his followers? Of course not. Like he knows who his 585 followers are?

People don't respect "Druss" they respect his alliance. They respect the Source even if the name they see is Druss. In a weeks time, Miko K-sun will mean the same thing as Druss. Miko is already respected, and probably more well known than Druss anyway.

John said it best.

I'd like to be recogonized as the founder of the Source, but its really about the people. People can remember that I started it, but we can have rotating members that lead. The Silent Spearman is doing an excellent job as leader on DT, and I am glad that people see that. We get respect on DT with him as leader. People say to us, "You're monarch is cool, here, have some stuff."

Thats because he is source.

They also say things like "Sister C from Harvestgain? Hold your fire guys, no one attacks these guys. I mean it."

And Silent does look to me some times for advice, but I "TRY" to stay out of the way and not push my way to the front and take the lead.

I'm hoping that Miko can do the same.

Lead, ask me for advice, and let me stay in the shadows for a bit.

I'm not asking to step down fovever. It may come to that, with us getting rotating leaders, or finding a good way to pick rotating leaders or somthing. Maybe in a month I will LONG to be leader again.

But, I'd like a little break.

thanks

Jamie C. Wakefield
Druss

Rimgar Redsun

I had just made the ardous run from Holtburg to the dungeon known as "Hunter's Leap" and was determined to take out the Lich that kept debuffing me when i got to close to his undeadly might. I hacked through some lesser banderlings, made and failed some jumps that made me run for my life from Raiders and Guards, then, finally i made the jump over to where the Lich stood with all his power that made most flee in shear terror of seeing such a creature in the same dungeon as one.

I put on the few buffs that still had magic to work and moved cautiously over to where I was sure the Lich would be waiting to send me back to the Lifestone I had previously used. Closer and closer i got, no sign of the Lich. Hmmmmmm I thought, perhaps its on lunch break? Nope, their was a group of almost a dozen strong in the room behind the one the Lich called home waiting for it to come back. I said "Hello" and got many responses indeed, slowly I Examined each one of them and all save none had the following "Monarch Reeve Druss" (may have been a Baron but Reeve sounds cooler). So I talked with them for what seemed like little time but as it happens was more like 2 hours. In that time I found out alot about this Reeve Druss and all of his followers were beyond polite and nice to me. So I told them my tale of how my Patron was always off in faraway lands and my Monarch could never be reached in dire times and asked if they would let me join thier
ranks........

That was the first time I had met up with any of "The Source" ppl, it was fun and cool. Khali told me about the website to check out and find out for myself if it was something i really wanted to join. A few weeks later after haveing to dump my Patron and earn 55k xp to swear to a new one I swore to Rach' mann (major punk) and so my life in "The Source" started. I met Druss during the event to get the Superior Helm and had a blast. It was
great fun and I was glad that I had made the right decison and all of you accepted me.

But no onto the Monarch question since it was posed on the mailserv.

I have nothing against Miko, he's a great guy and has helped me tons when i've been in a jam and i have nothing against him becomeing our new Monarch if need be, but yes I think haveing ANYONE different could and probably will hurt our reputation on HG. It doesn't matter who it would be, ppl have long since known that anyone with the name Druss under the Monarch heading is honerable and honest, mind you im not saying Miko isn't, far be it that anyone in the Source isn't as honest and honerable as the next but a name
change in my opion will hurt us. In a previous e-mail (sorry i don't have the name guy) someone had said that another player asked for help muleing and trusted the Source member just becos the guy had Druss as a Monarch. Now thats just sweet! And as far as needing a new Monarch to supply us with phat l0ot?! Bah, i thought we didn't buy/maintain followers through comerce. If that was the reason i would have joined up w/Elminsters group,(watch the followers number drop now.....lol) they buy vassals/followers left and right, but they also have a very volitle member status.

All in all if Druss/Jamie needs or has the feeling that he should or want to step down then let it be so. I'm with the source now and will be till the days the servers shutdown or it becomes a haven for thieves and liars, which i know it won't. :-)

Andrew
"Rim"

Red Wolf

Jamie as u might rember the first thing I ever siad to u is "Is this THE king of the fatties?".
I can still rember when I actually got your response, I was so full of adrenline I thought I was in a wrestiling match. You even commented on how fast my typing was, that was the adrenaline.

I was on of those magic fans who adimired you and thought wow that would be great to have that guy as a friend.

The reason I joined the Source was because you where the leader.
The reason I left a level 19 character in Thistldown was because I wanted to be on the same world as you.
The reason I swore to you was because I knew you where a great leader and person from your writtings.
The reason I bought Asheron's Call is because I knew you would be playing it.
Oh and I wanted to meet Mare because she sounds s nice.

Over the last couple of I have had a great time just knowing you and others of the Source. If it was not for you I would never have been met so many quality people as the Source has. When all is siad and done though you are the king and you will do what you want, and I am happy for that because I want you to be happy. Know this though, If you leave to Darktide forever I will follow you so I am in the same world as you, if you go the EQ way well I will buy that game and go there to. If you do not want I will never even contact you there but I just like to know you are around because I would know the world was not full of jerks.

This is your Loyal vassel Red Wolf asking nicely that you not step down in the Source It would be to different.

Aaron Harleman aka Red Wolf

Doria

Hey Jamie,

I only have one question(s) for you.... if you step down will you really stop feeling the pain when something is said on the boards or in town, will you really stop feeling guilty if you miss a big event Saturday or want to play on DT or EQ, will you stop feeling responsible for the source as a whole? You created the source.

That being said... hey step down. Enjoy yourself for awhile or forever. You have it right... AC is a game and everyone should just enjoy it... if not being Monarch of the Source helps you to enjoy it more... then so be it!
The source will not die without you as Monarch, it would only die without you at all!

Rod (Doria the Seeker)

Dactra

In every walk of life the Man is defined by his place and his attitude. His purpose and his leadership ability. I am, to be rather blunt, not a leader, although I am a man of deep morals both inside and on the outside of my life. I do not always do as I ought to or what I should, but I know that the true purpose of what a man is, should be defined by more than just a name, but in what he follows.

A long time ago I read the Druss saga's, the death of Druss wasn't extravagant, or full of splendor, but it was honorable. He died in the midst of battle against a horde of Nadir, fighting to protect the fabric of his aging, body. I know what kind of man Druss was, a man I can never achieve or aspire to be, though the fictional character he was, he was still a man, with the same flaws and difficulties as any other human would encounter in life. The only difference with Druss was that he fought to the last breathe, he never let up. He never let the enemy defeat him, and he died on his own terms.

Where Jamie is concerned is a purpose that I would imagine that I don't know much about why he would quit HG. I'm not sure of the full story. I know that He's got a wonderful wife at home and a life of his own to live as things go on. I could not expect him to put on the armor of a man and play the part of Druss forever till I got fed up and quit AC. Jamie has life, Real life to lead and to aspire to be what he wishes. It is sad that he would not be on HG, to play with or talk to. And I do not know him very well. I know the Character of Druss better than I know him, but from his words, letters, and his thoughts on various subjects, he is a leader, and strong in spite of his humanity. I can only wish him well, and hope that someday I would know the man better than I know the fictional character he plays, for if he was half the man that Druss is written to be, then he is a man whom I'd be proud to follow.

I am saddened that there was only one adventure that I was able to venture on with Jamie, but from what I perceived, I saw the man behind the pixels, the glimpse of who Jamie is as a person. It was short, but it was inspiring. Jamie, if you wish to leave, I wish you well, I thank you for in small part, the gifts, but in larger part, for showing me kindness, and strength, trust, and respect. For giving me this opportunity to meet you and your wife, and seeing that honor exists in men who are willing to go that extra mile. I am deeply thankful for the example you've set for me as a person and a young man with a family who is first beginning.

I leave you in a warriors handshake, and if you decide to leave then I bid you farewell, and Good Journeys.....

Respectfully,
Dactra
Level 19/HarvestGain
Member of The Source Allegiance