Eye of the Manastorm

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Greetings Manastormers!

Funcom has announced The Secret World pre-order including last-month beta access and a month's subscription. Pre-order is $49.99 (US) for a release date of June 19, with a month of weekend betas beginning in May. I still have more questions about the game than answers, but I'm excited about it, and I figure that four weekends of beta followed by a month of play will convince me either way. There are other pre-order goodies, too. Details at http://www.thesecretworld.com/

If any of you are interested in trying the game, it would be great to see old friends (either as comrades or enemies). I've started a thread at http://www.manastorm.org/index.php?topic=408.0; if you're planning to participate, please let us know.

Khaer

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I've been meaning to post this for a while, and at this point it's probably too late.

Too many of us gave up on the game and/or the guild for various reasons. We've talked about what we think these problems are. I recognized in the early days that there was something going on, but didn't understand what until the malaise reached me - and maybe not entirely, even now. I like to think that I tried to address the problem for the guild, but I doubt it was really solvable without a radically different constitution that I wouldn't have been interested in. (Open invites, heavy recruiting along the lines of Carpe Vinum.)

So at this point, with all of the officers and leaders apart from Aenerb being gone, and too few left to be able to group regularly, I think we have to say that there's no way to salvage the guild. I've never been opposed to anyone jumping ship to find a guild that meets their needs, but right now I'd have to actively encourage it. If you want to use the forums to stay in touch while you search for the perfect home, please do. I'll even make you a new forum if you need it - though the regular member forums should be fine, since there isn't any guild business to detract from.

If anyone does choose to stay, or to leave alts in the guild for occasional reunions, feel free. I'll be glad to take suggestions for new officers from among your alts. I plan also to change permissions so anyone can invite into the guild, so you have a chance to get those alts and friends' alts in.

Other than that - thanks all for being a part of Manastorm. I'm disappointed that we couldn't accomplish more, but right up to burnout I had a blast, and I'm glad to have had the chance to get to know you all.

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I've set up a Twitter and Facebook feed from the Group / Raid Planning board, so if you're following @ManastormEye or http://www.facebook.com/EyeOfTheManastorm you should be notified when someone creates an event. That way if you don't visit the forum regulary (shame on you! ) you'll still see when there's something planned.

If I've got it configured correctly, you should only see new topics, not replies, so it should be fairly spam-free.

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My apologies, after "the event" on Thursday I should have posted an update.

The excellent guild <Arion> has decided to throw in their lot with us, and all members who were able joined <Eye of the Manastorm> on Thursday evening. We expect them to feel very at home in Manastorm, as we've a very similar laid-back outlook, while having an interest in raids and progression.

Many of our members were members of Arion in EQ2, and we know them to be a fun, no-drama guild that still raids frequently and well.

I've added Cagey (co-leader of Arion) and Cafabi (a.k.a. Cabbage, but the reasons for that predate me) as Manastorm officers.

I'm looking forward to the new blood allowing us to get further with T1 and T2 expert instances, and to make a start on 10-man raiding in the not too distant future.

Welcome, Arion members!

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Something's going to happen on Thursday. I'm not going to spoil the surprise (or jinx it, or however you look at it ) but it would be nice if as many guildies as can make it would join me in Meridian at 8pm Central on 5/26.

Please, be there if you can!

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Recruit your friends to Rift - one week free for them, rewards for you if they sign up. See Bel's blog entry for a quick howto.