Reminiscing on the old days...

Sir-Jimmy · 09-25-2009, 04:08 AM

Hello all,

Some of the older posters (if any are still around), might remember me as one of the founders of this website. It all started here: (http://geocities.com/lotrmonthly/) and the story behind the beginning of this website can be found here: (http://geocities.com/lotrmonthly/krahlcolumnthree).

I was just curious to see what the community was up to these days. I haven't touched LOTR gaming in ages, but I do have a small interest in historical miniatures of the same scale (vikings, crusaders, what have you) and I have fond, nostalgic feelings towards the once vibrant LOTR community. This website, TLA and the One Ring were all great places that thrived for a number of years during the peak popularity of this game. Of course as the years passed by, and the movies had long since gone, the excitement wore off and the community separated.

A lot has happened since, for example I've grown up from a thirteen year old with a huge interest in Tolkien's world to a twenty year old pursuing a major in philosophy. I always had a warm feeling posting on these boards (and others) and it was a great way to connect with others that had similar interests. It was an interesting way to learn about people from all around the world and engage in creative activity. I definitely have moved on, but I still miss the days when this community flourished and there was always interesting debates.

It's sad to see that this site has slowed down significantly (I'll be interested to see who even responds to this) and that even the once legendary TLA has shrunk to almost nothing.

Anways, let's talk a little about the old days and try to remember what once made this community so great. I just would like to thank everyone on this site, and involved in LOTR gaming in general, for being a part of my growing up.

Southdunedain · 09-25-2009, 07:36 AM

Hi Sir-Jimmy.

I don't know if you remember me - I was around when you were, but only as a junior member...

It's great that you have such happy memories of this site. LotR SBG has been a great part of my growing up as well, and although I, too, am almost 20, pursuing a degree in Classics, I'm still around, painting up my models (some of which, if I'm being entirely frank, I bought seven or more years ago) - and recently diversifying into historical wargaming (Romans, funnily enough, considering my degree), and WH40K.

I guess that's why I'm still around, when many others have left. Unfortunately, TP's suffered from a fair amount of bad luck in the last 3 years. Since Krahl suffered burn-out (and worse, lost his son), it's gone down repeatedly when the domain has come up for renewal - there was one occasion in particular, in 2007, when it was gone for weeks without any indication that it would ever be back, and it lost a lot of members on that occasion. Plus there's been a problem with new members registering for ages...they don't get the registration email, so unless they contact Taliesin, can't post. That means that there's been no new blood for ages. (I don't suppose you have any technical knowledge that could explain/help to fix this phenomenon?).

Still, there's a core of about a dozen old members, who keep on coming back...and even if we are all hardened pros, and therefore need to ask precious few questions of each other, it's nice to log on and see familiar names online at the same time. Admittedly, it's nothing like the old days, but until certain issues are sorted out, I can't see it returning to those...and even then, the online side of the hobby struggles to support three large sites.

TLA's gone (but is coming back), and OR seems to go from strength to strength. This hobby always had a slight problem, in that it's meant to be a social one - the only people who would come online for their hobby fix are those who couldn't get to a gaming club; the first generation has grown up and got cars and/or other hobbies and interests, and the second generation is far smaller, without the movie hype. Still, from what I've seen, LotR does seem to be an expected corner of wargaming in any club - whether that'll continue once GW stop making the models, remains to be seen...

It's turned into more of a future-based post, this! Looking back, it was great when you got a dozen replies to most posts within a few hours of creating them - but, hey, life moves on, and we move with it... I'm quite glad TP's still around - it still gives a nice focal point to my hobby, and reminds me that I'm still very much part of a community, even if my endless painting seems rather solitary at times (I've always been a collector, rather than a gamer - even at university, I haven't really bothered to go to the gaming society very often).

Anyway, good to hear from you again, and to hear that you're doing well.

Cheers,

SD.

Taliesin · 09-25-2009, 08:28 AM

Howdy!

Yep, things have slowed to a crawl. TLA is gone and, frankly, I'm surprised that anyone has the wherewithal to try and resurrect it. We're waiting to see what will become of that. In the meantime, Krahl has gone underground—totally incommunicado—and so we're set adrift without a proper captain, or even a rudder. Just a few of us manning the ghostship Palantir.

Maybe The Hobbit movies will reignite the hobby with a new generation of players. With any luck, we'll still be around to see it.

Best,

T.

PS. I minored in Philosophy. Good luck with your studies. You're just entering the prime of your life. Drink deeply from the cup of youth, lad, for it's passed to you but once.

Hirumith · 09-25-2009, 01:57 PM

Good to see a fimiliar face (avatar?), although like South Dunedain you may not remember me as I only started posting here more regularly about 4 years ago, and would have been a "junior member" as well.

While it's true that a lot has certainly happened and continues to happen, probably in all of our lives, I've always felt that one of the great things about these games is that they're easy to pick up and play again, even after a long absence. I myself hadn't played a proper game in a good 2 years or so, and started playing again this summer with my brother (with whom I split the purchase of the original Fellowship of the Ring boxed game back when we were in high school).

I haven't kept up with recent releases by any stretch of the imagination, but there's nothing stopping us from getting creative or just having fun with the collections we have.

It's actually kind of a funny story, one of my motivators to really returning to the game was taking college courses in Tolkien's Nordic Sources, Medieval Icelandic Sagas, and Russian Fairytales. I had kind of forgotten how intricate Tolkien's world really is, and how awesome it is to see elements of his writing in real-world cultures and mythologies. As a better educated and more intrigued reader, it is a lot of fun to revisit his earlier and more obscure writings.

Haha and Taliesin, excluding major bodily injury I for one certainly plan on still being around when The Hobbit comes out! Even if it means a lull in the gaming community for a couple of years. I think if GW plans on releasing gaming stuff alongside The Hobbit, though, then people will play. Kids who are just now getting into Warhammer will have missed the LotR boat, so to speak, but may be hooked by a tie-in with The Hobbit movies.

Old Dwarf · 09-26-2009, 07:27 AM

SJ-Time do fly but I'm still here,still slaving away for the Mordor of
America (The State of NJ) & getting older.Still interested in ME but
haven't played LoTR in years.Actually the ME Quest Board Game FFG
just came out with has renewed my interest in ME Gaming but
finding an opponent for the minatures game would be a problem.

Like the others I hope the Hobbit movie might renew interest in
what is basically a dead game.In the meantime I've moved on
to board/fig games & alas let my painting (and paints)just dry up.

I do second the T-man's advice about enjoying this most interesting time
of your life.

It's a time of rapid changes & experiences which
is probably never fully appreciated until after when you look back.

OD

el rabbito · 09-27-2009, 05:34 PM

I still drop in to see what news has been posted up. I only manage a game with my son every few months now....I dont want to push him otherwise he'll turn away completley. I haven't bought any new releases..not from lack of interest but If I cant game with them then there is no point collecting more. I can say though that I have no minis unpainted..though I might re-visit the earliest minis and re do them.
It's a little sad to see sites slow down or dry up completley, I think the eventual release of the Hobbit will inject some activity and new blood, but I dont know if it will bring back the same tempo that we enjoyed after the first release of the movies.

Faramir_of_Ithilien · 09-28-2009, 02:38 PM

I'm still around; I remember you from way back, when I joined in August '05 as a fresh-faced 12 year old.. My post quality still hasn't improved much!

Sadly, as SD says, we're down to a few regulars, most of whom weren't regulars when I started: most of the older members, including the Moderators and Admins (with exceptions, obviously) have disappeared, and life's just a little bit quieter now, as a result.

Lord of Edoras · 09-28-2009, 03:04 PM

I've moved out, and the place I'm renting is too small to house a miniatures collection. This means I hardly can game any more and takes away the point of buying more miniatures. However, I still like the hobby and I'm definitely still here.

LAE671 · 09-29-2009, 08:34 AM

Well, if we're making surprise reappearances...

Hey guys!

I remember the early years of the online LOTR community pretty fondly (though I hate to think about all the things I could have gotten done if I hadn't been on here, or the white council beforehand, or TLA before that), there weren't many gamers around my hometown so these sites were pretty important to me in terms of the hobby. One thing that amuses me looking back is all the stupid little things like complaining about 'thread necromancy'. I can't see now what's wrong with that, but it seemed so horrible at the time.

I started collecting LotR with the Fellowship main box not long after it came out like most of you I assume. Strange (well not really) that the gamers who started way back then seem to be the majority left now.

As much as can be said of online things, I made some good friends through TP (despite only ever meeting one in person) and it was always interesting.

Nowadays I've given up the hobby, at least for now. I've actually sold a good part of my LotR collection, it was the easy option for raising university funds. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold them, but then I remember that I hadn't touched them in a year or two beforehand, and to be honest the appeal has really gone for me, at least as far as gaming goes. I have kept my Warhammer Fantasy models, but that's only for Warhammer Quest. Not that I have time for that either! I've just about finished my first year of a conjoint degree in law and economics (LLB/BA), and my spare time is all used up on football and spending time with all the great people around me at uni.

The wargaming hobby is something that I can see myself coming back to in later life, but for now it's firmly on the back shelf. Nevertheless, thanks for the good times TP!

faldrax · 09-29-2009, 06:09 PM

I doubt many of you will have much recollection of me, but I too am part of the "old timer” crowd. Never posted much on TP, but posted rather frequently on GW forums and TLA for the first few years of the game. Started with the first initial release – Last Alliance and Moria Goblins. I still love the game, and still think it’s one of GW’s best ever. But it never took off quite the way I’d hoped, and now just seems to be in it’s autumn, waiting for GW to inevitably pull the plug.

Even if you don’t recognize me, I recognize most of the names here.

Still have all of my painted models, but got rid of most of the unpainted ones. I keep plugging along with my painting, which was always slow. Will re-acquire miniatures as I need them. Haven’t had a good game in a couple of years now, but there’s still some LOTR games played in my area, and I’ll be back for more.

WoTR looks fun, but haven’t yet tried it. Looks like it will help with large scale battles. The skirmish rules were a little too cumbersome for massive armies.

Maybe TP will become the new center of this community with TLA now gone as well. I hope there’s an eventual new hub for our community somewhere.

Lyte · 09-30-2009, 04:48 PM

Guess I'll throw in my lot in the 'Old Timers' crowd and say hey!

I Do remember most of you; I assumed this website was down for good a few months ago, I checked every day for a few days and the site was gone. Was it the registration again?

I'm starting to get back into mini's again, although this time it's 40K but War of the Ring looks interesting enough to break out my LotR mini's :D

Southdunedain · 09-30-2009, 05:08 PM

Lol, it's interesting to see that so many old members do occasionally check back! It's good to see you (all 'blasts from the past!'), and to hear that life appears to be going well...

Sir-Jimmy · 10-01-2009, 12:40 AM

It's great to see some old posters again! I heard about what happened to Krahl's son a while back and that was just awful news. It's also too bad that new members can't post, I personally do not have any information on how to fix that but if this site wants to stay afloat someone will have to figure that out.

When was the last time anyone saw Krahl? I would love to speak to him again just because it's been a long time and a lot has happened, I sent him a PM and he never responded.

Also thanks about the advice on youth, I'll take it to heart!

Taliesin · 10-01-2009, 05:57 PM

To be clear: only some new members can't post—I think. I can't figure out why some can and some can't. But if they contact me or SD I can go into their profile and change their status so they can.

Regarding Krahl; several of us have tried to contact him over the past few weeks and months and haven't heard back...

Best,

T.

Krahl · 10-02-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taliesin

Howdy!

Yep, things have slowed to a crawl. TLA is gone and, frankly, I'm surprised that anyone has the wherewithal to try and resurrect it. We're waiting to see what will become of that. In the meantime, Krahl has gone underground—totally incommunicado—and so we're set adrift without a proper captain, or even a rudder. Just a few of us manning the ghostship Palantir.

Maybe The Hobbit movies will reignite the hobby with a new generation of players. With any luck, we'll still be around to see it.

Best,

T.

PS. I minored in Philosophy. Good luck with your studies. You're just entering the prime of your life. Drink deeply from the cup of youth, lad, for it's passed to you but once.

I check in here at least once, generally twice, per month. I'm by no means incommunicado, just... slooooow. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southdunedain

Lol, it's interesting to see that so many old members do occasionally check back! It's good to see you (all 'blasts from the past!'), and to hear that life appears to be going well...

Agreed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir-Jimmy

It's great to see some old posters again! I heard about what happened to Krahl's son a while back and that was just awful news. It's also too bad that new members can't post, I personally do not have any information on how to fix that but if this site wants to stay afloat someone will have to figure that out.

When was the last time anyone saw Krahl? I would love to speak to him again just because it's been a long time and a lot has happened, I sent him a PM and he never responded.

Also thanks about the advice on youth, I'll take it to heart!

Hey Jimmy, it's great to see you around again. :)

PM me your current email and I'll get in touch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taliesin

To be clear: only some new members can't post—I think. I can't figure out why some can and some can't. But if they contact me or SD I can go into their profile and change their status so they can.

Regarding Krahl; several of us have tried to contact him over the past few weeks and months and haven't heard back...

Best,

T.

The new members have to be verified. No one has been doing that for QUITE a while now. I log in at least once a month and authorize those new members who have a name that I feel comfortable is TOLKIEN related. This typically ends up being 10 to 20 members.

Tal, you've had access to handle this for a few years now... if you'd like, I'd be happy to explain the process to you and/or SD. :) It's time consuming but important to keep the spammers and porn posters away.

One good solution might be to upgrade the software... it has a lot better spammer prevention built in. I realize that would require some donations but there are a LOT of upgrades it would provide as well. Well worth some investment from anyone who really cares about the site.

TP is blessed to have you and SD willing to step up more. I hope that is a solution and I hope alongside you that The Hobbit movie will help bring more attention and activity.

I'll be checking in a bit more often for a bit, hoping to join in on this thread and perhaps others.

Krahl