Farewell
hawthorne
Join Date: 2003-10-05 Member: 21460Members
Join Date: 2003-10-05 Member: 21460Members
Having played Natural Selection since its Halloween release, I can safely say there has been no game that I have loved more.
There was nothing else like the command chair, the welcome weight of responsibility over your marines who were helpless in the world without you. Then I started competitive NS, where I learned that the commander and his troops were one and the same.
I should hope that my name be remembered in the annals of NS history alongside great commanders such as HAMBONE and Annihilator (apologies to the Europeans I never had a chance to study). I am honored to have spent time, effort, and comradery with the finest gamers in the community. Although I've had my difficulties with a few, in the end, all is good.
As for the rest of this post, I will chronicle as briefly as possible my career. For posterity's sake, and to thank all the people who have helped me along the way.
Love,
Hui "Hawthorne" Chen
----------------------------
I began the game shortly after the Halloween release, where I found a home server with [KIR] HOMELAN. After progressing as a player, I joined their team under the guidance of Spydermonkey (who has contributed much to the game himself). My inability to control my ego led to my dismissal from the team, whereupon I created the 21st Lancers with takumi, marabeth, Unit, and Da Kine Guy.
The 21st Lancers soon became the dot clan as we prepared to enter the CAL competitive scene. Our first scrim was against [eR], where we were a mess of friendly-fire and miscoordination. We played one match against |DL| on ns_lost, where my skills as a commander were first tested. Although we lost the marine round, we recovered with a DC chamber rush which nearly failed. My first CAL match was a 1-1 tie.
Shortly after, Diskord, optikal, and assorted others created #NSDraft, a league geared towards pulling pubbers into the competitive scene. Thanks to dn`protaganist, I was chosen for team "GaCB (Gimme A Cookie ****)". Here I met evil | One (who is now busy being a father to his first child). GaCB played a few scrims, one against Envy which I remember very fondly because I killed about 4 waves of their skulks in double on veil singlehandedly with a jetpack and a shotgun. This may have been when jetpacks had unlimited FPS juice.
evil | One invited me to play with evil, a middle-ranked team at the time. I had been frequenting the HAMPTONS server and I found myself among the players that I had great respect for, namely fox, titanium, and evilmonkey. As they were trying me out, I offered to command a game. I failed at this, but they kept me around for my general skills.
A few weeks before Christmas 2003, I was playing in a UGL playoff match between evil and bs` (brotherhood of steel) on ns_eclipse. For some forgotten reason, One (the resident commander) could not show up, and I offered to take the helm. I was probably underprepared, but a few fades egged on the ground in Computer Core which my marines dispatched. We took both rounds and I was now evil's main commander.
The week afterward, I spurned a family outing to play the UGL finals against Damage Networks. On ns_origin, I gained fame for midair-medpacking of the jetpackers to help take down furnace hive. Although evil | One disconnected midway through the first half (he was at a hotel), we successfully took both rounds.
In the lull between seasons, I paired up with titanium to create #nspug. With the help of SjN and mayhem as administrators and programmers, we created an ever-improving automated PUG system. Thanks to the aid of community contributors, #NSPUG became the largest non-official Natural Selection channel.
The Evil clan soon died, and I found myself with int. (integrity). I commanded here under the guidance of Annihilator and Cole, succeeding until a marine-round breakdown early in the season against GoM (Game Over Man). Here I also met a few staple figures of the community: meb, Silverwolf, Diskord, Su1c1dal Maniac. Unfortunately, I was no longer entrusted with the command chair after GoM, and was benched for a highly anticipated match against Exigent. Extremely desirous of playing, I left int (which was now infinite reverence) and joined up with Exigent.
I finished Season 2 of CAL with Exigent, defeating my former team and reigning champions [eR] to take the highest honors in CAL. Early into Season 3, I left Exigent for personal reasons and remained absent until late into the season when I returned to play for an Omega team: Sphere. Here I met icebaron, milk, lumberjack.
Against `wmd (and their commander TheAdj), we put up a good fight in the quarterfinals but lost the tiebreaker. The following season, milk convinced me to play with an up and coming team, Scientifically Unstoppable.
Season 4 was my greatest challenge and greatest growth as a commander. With Exigent going through its own turmoils, Scientifically Unstoppable took the second seed in CAL as a team of players who had mostly never competed in the Delta league. Unfortunately, the lack of experience and personal errors (the famed DC in the vent) led to an embarrassing showing during the finals. Here I spent many hours working with and playing with Arc, Photek, Milk and God.
I did not participate at all in Season 5 but was honored to have watched the most epic finals ever between Terror and Exigent. I was proud to see ArcAngel commanding the victories and honored that he remembered to mention my name. To ArcAngel, who has been one of the most loyal persons I have known inside or outside of the game, I give my eternal gratitude.
I returned to the game in Season 6, but without nearly a fraction of the dedication that I had in the past. After the quarterfinal playoffs just yesterday, Team Exigent gracefully informed me that Garrett "Nadagast" Mitchell would be taking over the command chair.
It is here that I take my leave. I have left out much and only put in the parts that I saw fit, but everything that is here is completely truthful. I have always attempted to maintain good will and an open heart to everyone within the community, because ugliness begets ugliness and hurtful words hurt both ways.
I wish the best of luck to the future of this game and its players, and thank you all for the love that you have shown me.
Nanites,
hawthorne
There was nothing else like the command chair, the welcome weight of responsibility over your marines who were helpless in the world without you. Then I started competitive NS, where I learned that the commander and his troops were one and the same.
I should hope that my name be remembered in the annals of NS history alongside great commanders such as HAMBONE and Annihilator (apologies to the Europeans I never had a chance to study). I am honored to have spent time, effort, and comradery with the finest gamers in the community. Although I've had my difficulties with a few, in the end, all is good.
As for the rest of this post, I will chronicle as briefly as possible my career. For posterity's sake, and to thank all the people who have helped me along the way.
Love,
Hui "Hawthorne" Chen
----------------------------
I began the game shortly after the Halloween release, where I found a home server with [KIR] HOMELAN. After progressing as a player, I joined their team under the guidance of Spydermonkey (who has contributed much to the game himself). My inability to control my ego led to my dismissal from the team, whereupon I created the 21st Lancers with takumi, marabeth, Unit, and Da Kine Guy.
The 21st Lancers soon became the dot clan as we prepared to enter the CAL competitive scene. Our first scrim was against [eR], where we were a mess of friendly-fire and miscoordination. We played one match against |DL| on ns_lost, where my skills as a commander were first tested. Although we lost the marine round, we recovered with a DC chamber rush which nearly failed. My first CAL match was a 1-1 tie.
Shortly after, Diskord, optikal, and assorted others created #NSDraft, a league geared towards pulling pubbers into the competitive scene. Thanks to dn`protaganist, I was chosen for team "GaCB (Gimme A Cookie ****)". Here I met evil | One (who is now busy being a father to his first child). GaCB played a few scrims, one against Envy which I remember very fondly because I killed about 4 waves of their skulks in double on veil singlehandedly with a jetpack and a shotgun. This may have been when jetpacks had unlimited FPS juice.
evil | One invited me to play with evil, a middle-ranked team at the time. I had been frequenting the HAMPTONS server and I found myself among the players that I had great respect for, namely fox, titanium, and evilmonkey. As they were trying me out, I offered to command a game. I failed at this, but they kept me around for my general skills.
A few weeks before Christmas 2003, I was playing in a UGL playoff match between evil and bs` (brotherhood of steel) on ns_eclipse. For some forgotten reason, One (the resident commander) could not show up, and I offered to take the helm. I was probably underprepared, but a few fades egged on the ground in Computer Core which my marines dispatched. We took both rounds and I was now evil's main commander.
The week afterward, I spurned a family outing to play the UGL finals against Damage Networks. On ns_origin, I gained fame for midair-medpacking of the jetpackers to help take down furnace hive. Although evil | One disconnected midway through the first half (he was at a hotel), we successfully took both rounds.
In the lull between seasons, I paired up with titanium to create #nspug. With the help of SjN and mayhem as administrators and programmers, we created an ever-improving automated PUG system. Thanks to the aid of community contributors, #NSPUG became the largest non-official Natural Selection channel.
The Evil clan soon died, and I found myself with int. (integrity). I commanded here under the guidance of Annihilator and Cole, succeeding until a marine-round breakdown early in the season against GoM (Game Over Man). Here I also met a few staple figures of the community: meb, Silverwolf, Diskord, Su1c1dal Maniac. Unfortunately, I was no longer entrusted with the command chair after GoM, and was benched for a highly anticipated match against Exigent. Extremely desirous of playing, I left int (which was now infinite reverence) and joined up with Exigent.
I finished Season 2 of CAL with Exigent, defeating my former team and reigning champions [eR] to take the highest honors in CAL. Early into Season 3, I left Exigent for personal reasons and remained absent until late into the season when I returned to play for an Omega team: Sphere. Here I met icebaron, milk, lumberjack.
Against `wmd (and their commander TheAdj), we put up a good fight in the quarterfinals but lost the tiebreaker. The following season, milk convinced me to play with an up and coming team, Scientifically Unstoppable.
Season 4 was my greatest challenge and greatest growth as a commander. With Exigent going through its own turmoils, Scientifically Unstoppable took the second seed in CAL as a team of players who had mostly never competed in the Delta league. Unfortunately, the lack of experience and personal errors (the famed DC in the vent) led to an embarrassing showing during the finals. Here I spent many hours working with and playing with Arc, Photek, Milk and God.
I did not participate at all in Season 5 but was honored to have watched the most epic finals ever between Terror and Exigent. I was proud to see ArcAngel commanding the victories and honored that he remembered to mention my name. To ArcAngel, who has been one of the most loyal persons I have known inside or outside of the game, I give my eternal gratitude.
I returned to the game in Season 6, but without nearly a fraction of the dedication that I had in the past. After the quarterfinal playoffs just yesterday, Team Exigent gracefully informed me that Garrett "Nadagast" Mitchell would be taking over the command chair.
It is here that I take my leave. I have left out much and only put in the parts that I saw fit, but everything that is here is completely truthful. I have always attempted to maintain good will and an open heart to everyone within the community, because ugliness begets ugliness and hurtful words hurt both ways.
I wish the best of luck to the future of this game and its players, and thank you all for the love that you have shown me.
Nanites,
hawthorne
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Absolutely one of the best NS competitive matches I have ever had the privilege of spectating.
Hawthorne, you have given to this game and I am proud to have known you. Good luck in all you pursue.
I remember playing with you only once, on lunixmonster. Lucky enough to have you comm <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Good times.
what did you say I didnt read too long o_O
BYE HUI
Christ, if you're gone, you're gone. We don't need to know about the "highlights" of your presence.
Yada yada yada.
</devil's advocate>
But, to placate your overbloated ego, I present to you a three siege salute.
<!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Now shut up and get the fark out.
Christ, if you're gone, you're gone. We don't need to know about the "highlights" of your presence.
Yada yada yada.
</devil's advocate>
But, to placate your overbloated ego, I present to you a three siege salute.
<!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Now shut up and get the fark out. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
this thread might be words but shut the **** up you worthless pubcomm piece of ****, nobody cares what you think except to mock you
Christ, if you're gone, you're gone. We don't need to know about the "highlights" of your presence.
Yada yada yada.
</devil's advocate>
But, to placate your overbloated ego, I present to you a three siege salute.
<!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Now shut up and get the fark out. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
this thread might be words but shut the **** up you worthless pubcomm piece of ****, nobody cares what you think except to mock you <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
O_o
I'm sensing some anger....
Christ, if you're gone, you're gone. We don't need to know about the "highlights" of your presence.
Yada yada yada.
</devil's advocate>
But, to placate your overbloated ego, I present to you a three siege salute.
<!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Now shut up and get the fark out. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
this thread might be words but shut the **** up you worthless pubcomm piece of ****, nobody cares what you think except to mock you <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
O_o
I'm sensing some anger.... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
yeah, b/c he was hiding it REALLY well
Christ, if you're gone, you're gone. We don't need to know about the "highlights" of your presence.
Yada yada yada.
</devil's advocate>
But, to placate your overbloated ego, I present to you a three siege salute.
<!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::siege::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Now shut up and get the fark out. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
this thread might be words but shut the **** up you worthless pubcomm piece of ****, nobody cares what you think except to mock you <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
O_o
I'm sensing some anger.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
yeah, b/c he was hiding it REALLY well <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
O_o
I'm sensing some sarcasm...
As a rule people dont play as well if their heart isn't in it.
Even though I never really knew you
Sorry, but it was perfect for this.