The game has changed a lot since I started playing. Despite updates that haven’t agreed with me well, it still scratches an itch that no other game quite reaches. I hope it continues to do the same for many of you as well. It has been a fun several years of shouting at my computer screen while playing CM. In a perfect world it would continue to be another several years. But this is not a perfect world.
In a short time, roughly two weeks from now on the 18th of August, I will be leaving for an undetermined period of time, likely about five years, to go be a real Colonial Marine fighting real Xenomorphs–a goal which I have been working towards since April. I know this is a little early to make this post, but I don’t know how my final two weeks will look schedule-wise so I want to be ahead of things. I’ll still be around in-game until probably the 16th of August. After that I hang up my hat. If time allows, and if I can get a computer set up that can run CM–you can bet I’ll be back sooner.
Many faces have come and gone over the years, but I am glad to see that many of my favorites are still around and going strong. Special thanks to the following:
Haleigh ‘Gem’ Roon, Gabriel Whisper, Raymond ‘Crusader’ Ibelin, and Francais King for getting me hooked on CM after I told them I was beginnig to play SS13;
Reid ‘Lucky’ Gardner for being a fantastic human being and impeccable medic who anyone can count on when he’s needed most;
Julien ‘Vestal’ Mao for being a big brained player who stimulates the mind while also having your back as any role;
Clement ‘Clem’ Edwards for being that unsung hero who will never let you down even when the times are tough, and also will play along when I assert obviously false lore at people;
Monica ‘Mayo’ Mayori for being a good friend and also for helping me out to try roles I would otherwise have balked at because I already knew what I liked and mostly stuck to it;
Jack ‘Trades’ Maeyemsko for being an outgoing, friendly guy and also for solid reliable medical service even when I don’t want it;
Frank Leigh for always taking the time to talk moustaches with me in prep;
Larry ‘FAT’ Westland for some good fun RP and also being a great buddy to be stuck building and defending any position with;
Todd ‘Ikea’ Winton for being a great model of both fun RP and also good mechanical play–every round with him is a Toddyssey;
Greg Lauffer, The Miracle of Sol, for excessive valor and heroism in the face of immeasurable odds, and especially for committing to the bit no matter what;
and you, dear reader, because I don’t remember how to spell your name even though you have done all those great things for me.
Here’s some of my favorite screenshots if I can fit them in here:
I have two parting points to share.
First, some eternal knowledge–people join Alpha because it’s default, people join Bravo because it’s easy, and people join Delta because it’s “cool”. But people join Charlie because they want to be there, and that’s what sets us apart. And the breakfast, I suppose.
Second, I may have sunk 2000 hours into rifleman over the years, making this lesson seem hypocritical, but never forget this: your time is valuable. Many of the pleasures in life are fleeting, temporary–and it is important to not lose sight of what really matters. The earthly hope men set their hearts upon turns ashes–or it prospers. And anon, like snow upon the desert’s dusty face lighting a little hour or two, is gone.
-Alan Watts
I wish you good luck in the future. You were one of the most recognizable marines in Charlie squad for me as a fellow Charlie main and I will miss seeing you ingame. RIP Mick McMickinson, rip a piece of the puzzle of Charlie squad.
Definitely one of the most distinct faces on the battlefield, when playing either side. Will be sad to not see the purple headband pushing when nobody else will.
Ever since I started playing CM a year ago, you’ve been one of the faces I’ve always seen in Charlie. Even if I might have not gotten to know you for a fair while because I decided to exclusively play SO for some incomprehensible reason, when I started actually being a part of Charlie squad instead of the guy who yelled at you from the air conditioned CIC to keep pushing that choke I’d come to know how dependable you were. Whether I was the SL, the SG, or the rifleman who failed to roll spec for the third day in a row, seeing that purple hat meant I knew I had a marine with me that I could always trust to back me up. Good luck with the marines, Mick. Hope to see you soon.
P.S. My machete name is still way cooler than yours.
Didn’t realize you’re departing till I read this now. Feeling myself like a dumbass man.
Though I did not see you as much as others did, you always felt like that cool rifleman (which are the most guys every Private looked up to when they played first, including me), I don’t claim that it happened, but it probably could and would. I’m hoping you’ll be fine and have a great time regardless of where, what for, and how you’re departing. Farewell, man.
