LUM SELLS OUT [Author: Lum the Mad]

And now, the long version.

Well, we’ve been here before, haven’t we?

I know a lot of you are saying to yourself, “oh great, Lum’s leaving, the site’s going to hell, see you in Shadowbane!“. Thanks in advance. I love all of you, even the psychotic weirdos. (Hell, I think I sympathize with those the most.) I won’t see the comment thread for this story until much later (since I’m literally driving cross-country RIGHT AFTER posting this) but, well, since we’ve already done this once already I have a pretty good clue what’ll happen now. It’s like having your funeral before you die. And most of you will say something to the effect of “the site will be a pale shadow now that you’re gone, we’ll miss you” etc.

I appreciate that you all think I can turn a phrase effectively. I hope to do so again soon, and more to the point, put it in a box and charge you for the privilege of booting it up. It probably won’t be in DAoC since I’m literally starting from ground zero in a new industry. But when I was asked “what do you want to be when you grow up” during my job interview, I answered “a storyteller” without hesitation. It’ll happen.

Here’s the thing. I don’t want this site to go away. I think the MMO industry needs independent, critical commentary. I can’t do it any more. But that doesn’t mean it needs it any less.

So if you don’t think the guys I’m leaving behind are up to the task (and I happen to disagree – for one thing I’ve been training them for over a year now, if nothing else) please — help. Send in stories. Let them know what they’re doing wrong. Let them know what they’re doing right. And if you think they’re off base – and if you think I’ve always been off base – please, please make your own site and let people know what you think. I’m not being sarcastic. I’m not being snippy. More voices are good. There’s some other sites that do what we do. Some have been around a while. Some just started. It’s all good.

I don’t know, maybe I need to go stare at the sun for a while or something. I KNOW IT HURTS AND IT IS A BIG FLAMING BALL IN THE SKY. It’s been there for a really long time and I’m told it is good for you.

And now I get to drive off in its general direction. Take it easy and see you around.