Last night I was lying in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Memories of UO were running through my mind like a newbie running from a red. I’ve recently listened to Wes Locher’s Braving Britannia (volume 1) on Audible, and got a hankering for UO. I can warmly recommend the book - I’m gonna have to get volume 2 in paperback as it’s not out on Audible. I’ve since reactivated my old account and made one for Outlands to scratch that particular itch.
But listening to the book got me thinking. I started playing UO in, I think, early 2001, after a pal of mine got me into it after I said I liked Diablo 2, and he knew of this MUCH cooler game. And he was absolutely correct. I played a bit on his account before getting my own. I still remember the specific store I used to buy game time codes.
While browsing MyUOat school, I found Grd, one of the biggest guilds at the time, around 200 Veteran members at the time. I was super impressed. Does anyone else remember the feeling of the fresh new internet? MMOs were new. Dial up was being phased out in favour of ISDN. I also discovered RP from their website and decided that was for me. I created Charles Innes and joined the wider CoY community, being chased by TCR, Tgl, UD, TBK, and KTD. All guild abbreviations and terrors I remember to this day. I was utterly useless in PvP and only marginally better against UO’s AI.
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Witches purified in the fire in Stonekeep. I watched Drakan be cut down in the dark in Eastern Yew by the TBK. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Every once in a while, I use the Wayback machine to look at the old geocities and angelfire websites from way back when. I mean, ICQ’s also gone now. Like tears in rain.
For those who don’t know, Delcarakdur and I are childhood friends. With cabins close to each other, I remember going to the Arendal public library with him and showing him the old poisoning article on Stratics. I have no idea why that has stuck with me, but it has. Delcarakdur joined Cove roughly 1-2 years later. We now have kids born months apart. Funny how time flies.
While I cut my teeth in various CoY guilds, then some ERPA and CoRE, it was in BoC where I spent my time. As CoY died, I had a character in T*M (Tel’mar), whose name I can’t remember, but I do remember it was a drow and she got bullied by Ishael Baenre. Regardless, BoC was a new guild that was formed from the ashes of T*M. I decided to create a mage, as I’d never RPed one, and hitched my wagon to the Baronial horse (What’s its name again? Chelmsford?).
The idea was that Khaelieth would write some form of the Prince for the Baron and ingratiate himself to be some sort of evil advisor. But let’s be honest, my roleplaying wasn’t always the best. I was barely able to keep Khaelieth personality congruent, drifting from faux-Machiavelli to comedic relief. Kusghuul I probably managed better, but there wasn’t too much space for evil roleplaying. But by the Guardian’s pigtails, I had fun.
Roleplaying within BoC gave me so much. The framework that Command set up to include civilians was amazing. It went through a few iterations, and Khaelieth has been everything from Trade Minister to Turnip (Thanks, Hoagie!). It was always a blast and I don’t think I ever regretted any of the many events I attended.
Growing older, and with a second child on the way, has made me reflect on what actually matters. While some may say it’s due to me missing my youth and growing old, I don’t think so. UO and its RP scene, and especially BoC, has had an outsized effect on me. I wish I hadn’t wasted my time on other games that didn’t give me anywhere near the same amount of pleasure, comfort, and fun. I should’ve prioritised UO and BoC. Uni halls also wrecked my UO playing due to its bizarre internet connection not allowing games from 06 to 07
Something I also reflected on, was the sheer effort the guild leadership put in. Whether it’s organising events, building a website (and still hosting it, you absolutely legends <3), to shutting down the old babble board because I abused it, I’m so incredibly impressed. I certainly didn’t appreciate the work at the time, but I do now. I did understand shutting down the babble board at the time too, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss it.
Check the date. Justice for the babble board!I’m also kicking myself for not making more of an effort when it got rebooted with Endless Journey. I was struggling with time, but I should’ve tried harder. Organised better. Reprioritised. Something. Because BoC matters. And more importantly, it matters to me.
I have now claimed a spot north of the old barracks. I’ve decided to recreate the barracks as faithfully as I can, so if anyone has any screenshots, that’d be very helpful! I’ll keep it there until Europa gets shut down. You’ve all meant way more to me than you probably think, and definitely more than I realised at the time. This is the least I can do, so if anyone wants to drop by and relive (or maybe just live) the glory days, they can. I’ll occasionally host one-off events.
But you have poisoned all my gaming experiences. I compare every game and community to you guys. I’m not going to try to name names of who mattered the most. I’d like to say “they know,” but frankly, I’d rather keep you all guessing. However, if anyone has a way of contacting Jessica Hawkins (BoC), Seriya deLacey (Dark Cloaks), Lann’al (The Crimson Claw/F^L), or Vierna (F^L), give me a shout. Those are people I’ve sadly fallen out of touch with.
Gone are the days of me sitting up on Christmas Eve, or Hell, New Year’s Eve, hanging out in Stonekeep. And ca. 2002, there were loads of people online on both dates. But if you EVER feel like reactivating or just going on a patrol, shoot me a message. I’m Charles Fredrik Webb on Facebook and chazsexington on Discord. Or, if you’re ever in Oslo, give me a shout, and you might meet Delcarakdur and I.
So this is getting quite wordy for something written at work on 4 hours of sleep due to Cove occupying my mind. This isn’t a goodbye and it’s not a trip down memory lane (well, it’s not the point). UO is special. BoC is specialer. It’s a small token of my appreciation to everyone who participated in making BoC the greatest online community I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a member of. I miss the Baronship (part of the crew, part of the ‘ship!) dearly.
In the words of a non-BoC Baldy, and remember, Baldies are revered here in Cove for those old enough to remember, “nothing compares 2 u.”
Love you all and hope to see you in Sosaria again.
Chaz, player of Khaelieth, Kusghuul, Lil’alure and many more.
Author