It all started years ago, when Quake was first released and mods sprung up daily.  I had just acquired Quake, and although impressed with the new technology, something was sorely lacking. I turned to the much praised online Deathmatch. My very first map being . I was once again impressed by this Internet multiplayer, similar to Lan, although much slower, yet it had no style, no panache. And so that was the one and only time I played DM for at least a year and a half. Little did I know that I had in my hands the original TF, the mod to end all mods. You see my parents saw me getting in Quake, and getting interested in map-making so they ran out and bought me a Quake add-on CD. It was titled Eternal and was basically a collection of mods, with an interface to use them. TF was included and gained my interest immediately. Sadly I never saw the true genius in it, because well, back then it had about 4 classes and it was a Single Player mod! And so, it lay dormant for months.

I moved onto CTF becoming instantly addicted. I loved the teamwork, the camaraderie. This lasted for a period of 4 months or so, and Quakeworld was introduced. Time passed, and I noticed the acronym TF showing up on various sites. It piqued my curiosity and I downloaded version 2.1. It confused me at first. All those bindings! And snipers could shoot all the way across the maps those days (due to the small size of the maps, not the rifle's power). I got frustrated but held on. The map that won me  over was havoc6, and version 2.14. Spamfest galore, but who could resist!

Movin' on up
I was hooked, and bad. I visited the few TF pages that existed (ETF, Mockingbird Central, Gorgon's, and TFS' page) daily. I couldn't get enough. I constantly visited Clan Wolves' Moon's Message Board and posted often. I loved sharing my thoughts and opinions on TF... And so I opened my own site at approximately the same time as Gibkeeg opened his. It set up the perfect rivalry. Two new TF pages. Similar layouts, similar color schemes, and both opened in the same week. Our rivalry (of course started by me ;) ) went on, and propelled me to update daily, often 3 or more times a day at some points. I gained popularity and I got a big break in the form of an invitation. I was invited by Network himself to attend the CE-GT 2fort_32 unveiling! I was with the likes of Blue, sCary and some of the Kingsize Kids! My connections increased quickly. I came to know BooRadley, Network, Gibkeeg, MrPotatoHead, and numerous others. Even Robin and John were acquaintances at that point. I have been running my site since and have seen the opening and passing of many sites. I have seen Gibkeeg's Fortress come and go, TF Battlegrounds entire run, the opening of what is now PlanetFortress' news (which was the TF Newswire, and before that Clan Doomsday's News page).

This fame garnered me quite a few clan tryout invites and eventually I decided to try one out. I barely even followed the clan scene at that time, yet I was lucky, I had picked a perfect first clan. That clan was Clan Recycled, or [REC]. We were good, in fact we were more than good, we were great. We came to be known as one of the best, consisting of many players who are still around such as Someone, Sacrifice, Surfdog, Redrum, Kisanth, Vorinth, even OSKI's own Buzz played for us under a pseudonym. We gained a reputation and went on to challenge the likes of OSKI (which BTW won the match on frags, with an immense amount of Soldiers).

The Turning Point
We eventually disbanded after a loss to OSKI, and then a thrashing by >V< on our very own Someone's map. (Yes Someone was in REC at the time he made 2tech, just check the water) That was it and we scattered to many of the better clans out there.

The Fall from Grace
I regretted REC's disbandment but begrudgingly moved on. My page was doing well, and I decided to try out another clan. I eventually chose CoC, or Children of Chaos, at the urging of BigHurt. I joined the mellow clan (you have to remember my first clan was REC, and well we were all rather outspoken). Many members left and I silently did too, as they quickly broke up. Real Life reared it's ugly head, as did a lack of TF news. All was not well in the TF scene. I rarely updated and the page decayed to its current state. I lost my reputation, and name. I was no longer known when I entered a public server. TF2 was delayed again and again. It  looked as if I was no longer up for the scene, or the game.

Saving Grace?
At last, in the past few months, Half-Life has been released and we have a somewhat solid release date for TF2. Perhaps TF2 will force me to update once again? Clan life has been revived as I am now in CPF, a clan I enjoy immensely. Not only do we win the majority of our matches, but we do it for one reason, to have fun. The game is regaining its charm for me. Who knows, perhaps TF2 and Clan CPF may get me back to my past involvement. But for now I am content to simply sit aside and watch, while occasionally participating in matches. And hey, if you see me on a server, say "Hey!" for old times sake.

-Sgt.CoolGuy