One year has passed, but we remember.We remember how TAW.net brought an unforgettable game experience, how we played for fun to succeed and win. And there were no losers, never. We were friends who shared positive emotions to make bounds that will never break, we were comrades who never gave up, we were architects of our friendship fortress, we were together, even separated by a distance unknown. It's hard to tell now how it all began, but strings of fate played that music our success for more than a year providing entertaining game play hours none will ever be able to forget. My long adventure with TAW community began with Nuclear Dawn, game that one of my friends suggested to me when we were enjoying most random video game industry products. But that one was special, I knew it from the very first minute of game play. I remember how I joined the server, played for a while and at some point during the game I've spotted enemy on the roof, took my machinegun and with the help of skill and luck made a headshot from a sniper distance. That was an epic shot, but back then I didn't know about the chain of events that will follow, because that "enemy" was actually Ekis, man who invited me to join TAW.net ranks. Onboarding process finished, but the story of most epic community action has just begun. I remember how at first I wasn't participating in the ongoing TS discussions, was silent most of the time. I was learning, observing how communication happened between members of the clan, it was a new experience for me, being a part of such large group of people, dedicated players. That was accompanied by the class I chose to play in the game - stealth. Yes, "stealth" was pretty much who I was during those first months, time when the first defcon was going to it's conclusion. When defcon was over we continued to play as four new platoons. But in the end it was so fun even I couldn't stay silent forever, enough experience was gathered and I stepped up as an SL, still stealth, but now a stealth leader as well. By the time defcon 2 started I was playing primarily as a support class, but to be more precise I played every class depending on the situation. That progress was parallel with my development in community ranks, as a mutually agreed decision with the platoon I was playing with (M.A.D.), I became a PL, and a new era began. I can tell one thing, I have played with people on the internet - TAW is different. I had a feeling I know people I was playing with for a long time, that feeling in particular made me very proud of being a part of TAW community, being a part of ND division. Each player was unique, an individual, person with attributes most of the time exceptional, and still, like a piece of the puzzle everyone found a place they ideally fit in this game and community. Players - supports, siege units and assaults, or officers, oh yes, officer squad in our division was like a pantheon in ancient Greece, so much respect they had and always will have, so much work was done, so much things accomplished that wouldn't be possible without them. I want to say it again, thank you! Thank you for making this happen! TAW : Ekis, Dapeople, Icewhynd, metamorphyse, Chimera, DirtyDozen and others, thank you! I also need to mention the dedication of the NA side of the ND division, comparing to EU there were less people, but that of course only made them closer to each other. TAW| Gumby - he was a citadel of the NA castle, he was a conduit between his division members, one of the most dedicated player and officer I've seen, he made each and every practice match unique, invented new approaches, basically he was doing a lot of stuff that was not necessary, yet with him it became real. In the end of the defcon 2 he received a Resilience Award "for showing great tenacity with sustaining the NA side of Nuclear Dawn". Congratulations to you again, Gumby, you've more than earned it! But, as everything in this life, nothing lasts forever. Nuclear Dawn, regardless of being one of the most fascinating games I've ever played, did not had enough advertising, and was losing it's popularity. Most underrated game I've ever seen, I still can't believe that happened. Unfair, sad, undeserved conclusion.What happened in that period of October-November 2012 was a hard event, though most of the players including me moved to the NS 2 division, some had left. Part had joined other divisions, or left after some time. I recall that the question was asked: "Are we here for the game or for community?". Now when I think about it, I clearly understand it was not something we could chose from, the answer was always an alloy of both options provided.Nevertheless, we have to move on. Life is never the same, it's true beauty lies in change, would it be changes for better or worse, I trust in choices we make, because they show who we truly are.And that we will always remember. Please, enjoy the anniversary tribute movie I've made, it is the monument of my gratitude to TAW.net, especially to all people who were part of ND division.
Written by ExorcisT