Darn, I know this was a long time coming, but it's still a bummer for the game. I agree with some of what you said, though I wouldn't have been quite as blunt as you I'm sure (It's a little-known fact that I only play a gruff dwarf on tv).

I don't necessarily share your gloomy outlook on the game as a whole, for one. I think there have been a lot of changes over time to CF, and a lot of it is beyond just imm control. Yes, CFs numbers are down slightly from its heyday. I think there's a very good reason for that, though. Why yes, I'll be happy to tell you what it is!

CF is in a very unique niche. For the purposes of this essay, we'll divide the gaming community into two groups: The "roleplayers" and the "hack n' slashers". The roleplayers gravitate toward MUSH's and the like, where there isn't any killing and they can spend all day emoting out every little action with each other. Hack n' slashers are the types that would rather be playing Quake. There are far more of the hack 'n slash type players. Just look at games like WoW.

Back in the day, CF leaned more toward an action "hack n' slash" type game, with optional or "lite" roleplaying. Look back at old logs if you doubt it, roleplay standards were no where NEAR what they are today. OOC talk was quite common. Players could come in and get all bloody, and not have to worry about all the other crap. CF appealed to the hack n' slash community, while at the same time holding some appeal to the roleplay community.

Today CF culture has moved to a point where the only people who can play are people that like to roleplay AND hack n' slash. Many of the pure roleplayers don't tend to like it because they get mowed down in PK. The hack n' slashers don't like it because, well, they don't want to be distracted from a bloodbath. We only appeal to a very small nich community. Frankly, I like it that way. But no question it changes the environment that we all grew up with. It has been a natural evolution over time, however, not some sudden change led by one implementor or the like. Also, speaking just for myself, I'm 27 years old, not 19. Undoubtedly that has changed the way I look at and experience the game drastically.

Anyway, I feel like I've started to ramble slightly off course! Sorry. That's what came to mind after reading all of this stuff though. I'm glad I got to know you, and I'm sure we'll be staying in touch.

Aarn!

p.s. Don't bother me while I'm on the pot, I'm reading a good magazine.