It has been a good year for The Art of Warfare, a GREAT one in fact. We have made new friends and have lost old ones. I have compiled a list of accomplishments and important events that we as members of this great gaming community should reflect upon. We have grown a lot bigger this year than 2011. There is no telling what 2013 will bring but rest assured, TAW will still be here.
Important Events of 2012.----January----Icarus is elected Commander-In-ChiefAO Division hits a Top Rank of Renown 20----Febuary----TAWShop switches to CafepressTribes Ascend Spin-Up/VanguardQW Division competes in FTM League----March----StarCraft2 completes Ghosts of Tarsonis TournamentStarWars LaunchesTAW turns 11yrs old.----April----QW Celebrates its 5Year mark as a division----May----Diablo 3 in VanguardGhost Recon Future Solider in VanguardTAW Community Fund raises over $2200 dollars----June---DOTA 2 Spin-UpCSGO Spin-UpWOW Returns to TAWMajor TAW Policy Change on member participation----July----Diablo 3 DisbandedThe Secret World Spin-UpGuild Wars 2 Spin-Up----August----Minecraft Spin-UpGhost Recon Online Spin-UpTAW University reboot & revampedThe Secret World Disbands----September----SW host a guest speaker from BioWare----October----5th Corps is CreatedCDBO2 Spin-UpPlanetside 2 Spin-UpPlanetside 2 has a guest speaker from SOETAW Removes XFire and replaces it with STEAMSecurity Awarnesss Badge becomes a requirement for all Positions DI & Up.Natural Selection 2 Spin-UpHAWKEN Spin-UpBlack Ops 2 Spin-UpDOTA 2 competes in Rise With Us Alienware TournamentTAW Hits 1700 Member (Breaking an All-Time Record)TS Channels Re-Organized----November----Twitter RedeploymentHoliday Havoc Tournament in World of TanksFarCry 3 in VanguardDOTA 2 Guest Speaker from DotaCinemaTribes: Ascend - HiRez Community Manager Q&AAnnual TAW-Wide MeetingNew 2013 Motto: Servant Leaders Lead the Way----December----CSGO LaunchesSMITE Spin-UpMechWarriorOnline Spin-UpTAW Newsletter AnniversaryIn-The-Scope hits 50 member markTAW Hits 2000 member mark
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TAW's Social Media presence has grown to record numbers, although could be better in 2013:
TAW Newsletter Subscribers = 280 Members
TAW Twitter Subscribers = 195 Members
TAW Youtube Subscribers = 164 Members
TAW Facebook Friends = 1102 Members
TAW Steam = 335 Members
TAW Membership = 2000+ Members
The highest medal possible within the ranks of TAW (Medal of Honor) was awarded to only 2 Members this year.
Medal of Honor in 2012 (TAW's highest achievement/medal)HookCutthroat
TAW's TOP 100 of 2012 List - a list of the 100 longest serving members, excluding lifetime members.
You win some, you lose some :
----Divisions Launched----Counter Strike Global OffensiveDOTA 2Ghost Recon Future SoliderTribes AscendStar Wars----Divisions Gone----Nuclear DawnDiablo 3Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3The Secret WorldGhost Recon Online----Vanguard/Horizon----Call of Duty Black Ops2FarCry 3Guild Wars 2HawkenMechWarriorOnlineSmiteMinecraftNatural SelectionPlanetside 2----Back from the Dead----World of Warcraft
TAW currently takes part in 26 different PC games with members from around the world. Here is how the membership ranked in 2012:
1. League of Legends ; 199 2. Planetside 2 ; 192 3. ARMA2 ; 166 4. World of Tanks ; 160
5. StarWars ; 158 6. Tribes Ascend ; 151 7. DOTA 2 ; 145 8. Battlefield 3 ; 90 9. Natural Selection 2 ; 6610. World of Warcraft ; 6511. GRFS ; 5612. Age of Conan ; 5313. Quake Wars ; 5214. StarCraft 2 ; 5115. CSGO ; 5116. Company of Heroes ; 4517. SMITE ; 3318. MechWarrior ; 3319. Minecraft ; 3220. FarCry 3 ; 3221. Team Fortress 2 ; 2822. Ghost Recon ; 2723. Call of Duty: BO2 ; 2424. Guild Wars 2 ; 1925. HAWKEN ; 1726. Combat Arms ; 14
----New Lifetime Members of 2012----HibernatorHookWiemauler----New Members of Central Command in 2012----
Doc
Eifer
EkisLargeFormatStealthMistTexasHillbillyWardy
And Finally.... a list of our newest servant leader/staff members. These members have less than 1 year of experience within the ranks of TAW and hold some type of leadership position.
----Spin Up Leaders---
Fides
TheFett
----Division Commander----Jankles----Division Officer----DjGreierNightshaperJellysword
----Commanding Officer---
AndrewkiArtemissArthoriusBalanChewyiKoNMrBlazzarnosprussianknightQvistragieusSLUGStonkingBytethegatekeeper
----Executive Officer----
AngelofsinArtistBarkfaceBlitzStormdaigyjeffdenandenbaronDestructionsWakeHurtfulHippoJiannJuginyzMetzgerHorstMrsHeidebittNejiNewoPakPanzerjagerPretentiousNoobriffscreamerscottishchickenSmurfyVuxta
----Staff Officer----
BondoCerjioCrysieDarekStarDekuDemonPlagueDoodlezfijapowaFletcherFodderforPanzerGrimaginHarveyJarlarkoLionmastyrMrHeadShotNickPlaysGamesNIHILNiriwPlagueRusticSmegthisSteelRangerTalutahVerrakXsage
----Field Specialist----
AcesneightsAeromundoAlphaMikeFoxtrotANThrxxBlueAliengearzHamstringHitman
Macghillemuir
PollockshiftkTelarianVenomGen
----Server Admin/Technician----
AsderCBombaHawkBrismoDarkerthanblackDirtyVegaDoctorKajitaDomanatorEllyrianErkDogGigglesGunsiTwitchjaapJCSKaziyaKrayLastElfleroyjklLucianGreymarknaguarPhenomReddieSirDilthethrillslipcorWEDGES
----Training Instructors----
AdelfosBazukarBlackriderBojanxBrackusBuyerBewareColleXDaRealMcoyDarkCrowDavrosDalekDeltaValkyrieDJDannyDontBeAJimmyEvilfilpFluffyRabbutGeekNiNjAIvahrrrJaidcaelJayMorrJKingsleyJNELuminancemasterojackMaxamusmcFlawnikosxdOmniTrackerOnarixSearingGustavsevenisazergsilpeenSleepySonofSkzTigerFangVaikyukoVendettaWarblindWarthogYaluzanZaneZenatsu
----Training Specialist----
CyklickDamichemDingDongIcewhyndJiolmKalipoKillamonOllkekSeldomsixxtoesSkillganonStevodownsouthTalozTigerFangVaikyuko
Viperious
----Drill Instructor----
AgentGrayAnduAntiStreikAntzarzinalavatarlukeBesterBradxBrooksCallMeTripyycampierCarocekayCerjioCocoaDarkytpdazzDestabiliseDiggydogspDilutedJuiceDrehzEmeraldEnerccioeNjoYFeinthflankstaFlashTheJaguarFrankLineberryFurieGingeGumbyHalkenHaylconXDHotelSoapIanMckellerInfintyStormJarethJohnLeeSwaggerKakaMightyKILAHKopieLeonardLianeschLimpumploganmonkeyboyLordVahnLoXosEUMacheteMalcolmRMardorzmattydafattyMetallicModinMrMetalacmyshadenikoNirNiriwNocturneNoobyCrozznukeybrownOJzOMAoziPandaPuncherpatrickglasspowermanQubycsQuiGonJinnNjuiceredlerReepoRescueTeamYoshiRinzlurRukudorXpRydonSassifsharkbaitSlightlyAmissSlyTrojanSpannerStealthWarSynmetricTerranGhosttmoflashUrshViciousPandahWeederyumitoZordon
TAW is nothing without its membership and especially the ones who serve. So here's to a Happy New Year and a big HOOOORAH! to all of its members.
We've rolled out the last TAW Newsletter of 2012 and would to say Thank You to everyone who subscribed to it this year. We've put a lot time and effort into bringing the members of TAW the news and information about the community that it deserves. We've written over 100 blogs and articles this year and really jumped the gun on our popular In-The-Scope segment reaching a total of 51 members so far. We covered the CiC Election, TAW@War, TAW University, Vanguard, Sentinel and numerous gaming divisions.
I Encourage you to check out the buttons above. First, subscribe to the newsletter so you can receive it in your email, then check out the long list of In-The-Scope interviews and previous editions in our archives.
View 2012 TAW Christmas Newsletter
2012 is nearly done and with the end of the year comes the Christmas holiday season and the anniversary of the current format for From The Battlefield. The newsletter, like the community it serves, has come a very long way in a year's time. Divisions have launched and divisions have faded away. TAW's membership has grown to new highs as we all have met new friends as we continued to play with old comrades.
We'd like to hear your thoughts on the newsletter. What do you like about it? What do you dislike? What would you like to see? Post here in the comments or shoot me an email at DeadXOn@taw.net
Here's to another year of covering the evolution of TAW as a community and a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of her members.
There was no way the newsletter team could single out just one person to represent TAW in the 50th ITS interview. That would suggest that one member deserved the honor more than another, and in TAW each recruit is as valued and important as the CiC. So we decided to hop on TS at 1am and ask a group of several random TAW members to answer just one question:
What do you feel most clearly sets TAW apart from the other big clans and gaming communities?
Lt. Gen Eifer, [OS SCC]: I think, one of the major - and in my opinion, best - things that set TAW apart from other clans or communities, is our structure. From servant leadership, which we basically toss at anyone that wants an opportunity, to arrangements that make sure our members can stay, even though real life commitments hinder their online time.
1SG Corrosive, [CS 1]: The first thing that comes to mind is the structure, it is great for effective communication and organization. With this structure members are easily recognized for their dedication and commitment. Also members have a sense of identity that creates a community that is open and welcoming to all.
2nd Lt. RaulenAndrovius [SW 1]: TAW has the best experience in teamwork, organization, and human-sympathy for large-group dynamics. With time-tested experience, TAW will last, with its current policy, til 2111, imo. Culture is made, not merely tolerated, and we prove that every day.
MSG EpsilonAlpha [TA 3TS]: What truly sets TAW apart from other big clans and gaming communities is extremely simple - organisation. TAW is organised in ways which I have never seen in a gaming community before. From the new recruits to the CIC, everyone benefits from the level of organisation that TAW has developed over time.
SGT Nocturne [LL 1]: I feel like one of the more positive things that sets TAW apart from other clans I've been in is that we emphasize mutual respect and enforce it as a law.
SGM ExquisitExamplE [QW 1]: TAW stands out from other clans I've been in primarily because of the depth of divisions; while other clans may support several games, TAW supports a multitude of different games, and is constantly adding divisions for newly released games. If you lose interest in one game, you can move to a division that plays a different game, while still having a centralized place to find and socialize with your friends from previous divisions. Those things, coupled with our high standards in regards to civility and decorum, make TAW a true gaming community, as opposed to just another "clan".
COL DeadXOn [OS SDC]: The organization of it all and the diverse international community. I like how I can go play a game in QuakeWars then hop down and play a few rounds with CSGO while still being recognized as a TAW member. TAW truly is a gaming community and not a run-of-the-mill clan
MGN Subrat [CC 4CC]: There is not really one thing that sets TAW apart from the rest. It's our core beliefs that set us apart from the rest "Loyalty, Honor, Friendship, and Fair Play".
Loyalty - A feeling of strong support for something - The support of our community and members
Honor - High moral standards - Our members are held accountable for there actions on and off our servers.
Friendship - The relationship between friends - The friendships and bonds that are built between members of the community.
Fair Play - Behaving or treating other people in a way that is honest - That everyone here plays the game that they enjoy fairly and honestly.
As this is the foundation of the TAW and why we have been so successful for he last 11 years and are still growing. Since everyone that wears a "TAW" tag in front of their name is proud being in this community.
TAW Media recently sat down with its SDO to discuss the TAW Newsletter and to find out what makes the Editor-In-Chief of FromTheBattlefield tick.
1.You been running the TAW newsletter since January of 2012 (longer than the previous STLs before you), what are some of the thingsyou like about being the Editor-in-Chief.
While I do dip into my DND channel and zone out for a few hours writing and working on lay outs and such from time to time, thus avoiding any drama or other such distractions that come with being in a gaming community, the best part overall is getting to interact on a personal level with every single division in TAW regardless of whether or not I have the game. To really hang around and get to know someone in say, CH, you kind of need to have Company of Heroes. Not because you can't go hang out in another channel, as we all know you can, but because you often find yourself as kind of a third wheel when you aren't involved in the activities of that channel. Because of my duties with media, I always have a purpose when I join a channel so I don't feel like I'm just that annoying voice trying to converse while you game.
2.What are some of the plans you have in store for 2013's TAW Newsletter?
Nothing really big as far as the articles are concerned though I would like to see a few more unique pieces like Shadowmage's Indie Game Corner crop up. Mainly I hope to see TAWcast revived to replace the video spotlight segment and an increased presence of TAW shop deals to drive up traffic for both of those ventures.
3.Where does the name QuinoaAOC originate from?
My main character in Age of Conan was Quinoa. I was recruited by TAW and the DC screwed up my first application so I had to re-apply to TAW. because my callsign was now taken, I tacked AOC on the end for Age of Conan,
4.Out of all of the medals and badges you have earned, which one do you cherish the most? Also, how have you managed to move up the ranks without a Gump medal. What's your secret Q?
Tough to say. I'm proud of my PVP badge mainly because TAW was never a commanding PVP presence in AOC yet a handful of us still managed to carve out a reputation on the server. Being recognized for PVP in AOC is kind of a big deal. I'm also partial to my Medal of Resilience. I went through a lot of nonsense and had more than a few run-ins with the dreaded drama trolls before I established myself in media and rose above it. As for the no Gump thing...I try to minimize my mistakes and I don't mouth off in forums about not having a Gump. However...I kind of feel like I just stepped on a landmine...
5.Outside of TAW, what are some of your hobbies?
I was, once upon a time, a professional kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and trainer. Injuries took that career but I still train and I run a mixed martial arts website with my girlfriend. (shameless plug warning) www.mmagospel.com
Also, I'm a crack shot with a single action .45. If it's a handgun, I can put them all in the ten ring.
6.Which of the games in TAW do you enjoy playing?
Another tough one. As an old school Unreal Tournament nut, I like the more pure FPSs like Black Ops but Age of Conan brought me here and World of Warplanes is my current addiction though it isn't even out of closed beta yet.
7.What's the number #1 thing on your Christmas list this year.
Haven't really thought about it too much...breakfast is always on up there though. I come from a foodie family and Christmas breakfast was the highlight of my year when Momma was alive.
8. How would someone interested in joining the newsletter team apply? What makes a good candidate.
To apply, email me or find me in TS. A good candidate is real easy. You either A) Can use Google and know how to find and copy paste links to articles that are relevant to TAW or B) are a half-way literate writer who has an idea for a column related to TAW, I can edit most anything to come out decent as long as it isn't complete gibberish. Regardless, you need to be willing to do a little work and have the ability to keep a deadline.
9. Why did you join TAW? What is it about TAW that makes a member go above the call of duty and contribute your time and talent to the community?
I joined TAW when I returned to AoC to find my old guild was extinct. I tried to rebuild it at first with some success but ended up abandoning it altogether. I was running around a PVP zone when I teamed up with Woodnwag and a few others and the extended the offer to join TAW. I knew TAW was good because I competed against them when my guild was thriving, so I accepted.
For me, it's a matter of community. I am in TAW not because of the games as much as the companionship. I have built so lasting friendships in TAW that don't disappear when Game X shuts down its servers. The least I can do is add a few more articles to the list I already write for my website to held promote the solidarity of the community across all divisions.
10. Do you have anything you would like to share?
To any of our new members, don't take for granted that TAW is like any other clan you've ever been in. We have our rules and practices and other policies that may seem a little more serious than expected for a bunch of gamers, but those are the things that make TAW a place where you can play every game you ever load into you computer and still have a group of good guys and gals to team up with.
To our old members, don't take for granted that TAW being TAW is enough to keep that statement true. Take the time to reach out and spend some time with those other divisions and keep TAW strong and unified.
Today (December 16th, 2012) we have successfully launched Counter Strike Global Offensive into 1st Corps under ChicagoOne.
The team has come along way, starting with only 6 members, they've now grown to a healthy 46 members strong, recently celebrated their first competitive victory and have been successfully maintaining 4 game servers.
Run now under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Jankles, CSGO becomes the last team to launch out of vanguard in the year 2012.
Congrats to Vanguard for another successful division launch and to the team in CSGO that made it all possible.
CSGO Staff Members (subject to change):
Division Commander - Jankles, LTC
EU Battalion
Staff Officer - MrHeadshot, 2LT
Executive Officer - Juginyz, 2LT
EU Drill Instructors
Drill Instructor - MrHeadshot, 2LT
Drill Instructor - Dapeople, LTC
NA Battalion
Commanding Officer - Paint, MAJ
Field Specialist - Dapeople, LTC
Executive Officer - RogueOp, 1LT
Staff Officer - Ravensworth, 2LT
Server Administrator - iTwitch, GSG
NA Drill Instructors
Drill Instructor - AgentGray, SGT
Drill Instructor - Ravensworth, 2LT
Training Instructors
Training Instructor - SearingGustav, CPL
Training Instructor - Two, CPL
Training Instructor - Warblind, CPL
CSGO Server Info:EU Classic Casual 12 man 128 tick connect 178.162.131.52:28015 NA Public 128 tick 16 slotconnect 68.232.161.92:27015 NA Central Private 12 man 128 Tickconnect 68.232.177.31:27035 NA Central-BL Competitive Private 12 man 128 Tickconnect 68.232.182.205:27026
CSGO Mandatory Practice Times:[CS 2] European:Tuesdays 20:00 CET (14:00 EST)Sundays 20:00 CET (14:00 EST)[CS 1] North American:Tuesdays 21:00 EST (03:00 CET on Thursdays for EU)Sundays 21:00 EST (21:00 CET)Thursday 17:00 PST (Optional & subject to change)