Good evening everyone.
I am brand new. When I mean "new," I mean I haven't even logged on yet. Of course, since I am typing this from a Hospital bed on a tablet, that isn't really possible. My "name" in this topic (Mewt) is my Online Name though.
Here is why I am posting: I don’t know when they will release me from this hospital but I have been wanting to start socializing with other players. I just don’t want to annoy people with my newbishness as I have no experience in WO yet.
I have questions though, so I appreciate your patience and understanding if my questions are stupid.
This game was released a LONG time ago, and I have never played. A friend of mine recommended it HIGHLY to me, so I decided to give it a try. However, since it was released so long ago, I am concerned about your active population… do you all still have a good population?
I *HONESTLY* mean *NO OFFENSE* with that question, I swear to gawd. I just am concerned whether or not I will waste my time. I love socializing in game with people. That’s what the basis of MM in MMORPG is for. But if this has dwindled in population, then I humbly ask that you let me know. I mean no ill will – I just like being part of an ACTIVE player base.
Since I haven’t logged on yet, I am not able to purchase “Premium Time.” What does premium Time actually give you in game?
For PvE, what server do you recommend that I go to? (For PvP, I’m rolling on Chaos based on what I have read on the Wiki)
Again, I *HONESTLY* do not want these questions to offend anyone. I just want to know whether or not I should invest my time.
When I like a game, I put a LOT of time into it. I can as I have very recently become disabled and am no longer employable. A certain other game (which I will not name because I don’t want any bad reactions from Forum Admins) got 60 hours from me in the first week I played it.
I guess I should introduce myself and give a bit of a background on myself . . .
I served 20 years in the United States Navy and retired in 2008.
I loved being at sea so much that I turned “Shore Duty” down twice which put me on three ships in a row, back to back.
I served on the USS Houston (SSN-713) when I was a Submarine Sonar Technician (STS). I then changed my “job” (which we call a “Rating”) to Hull Maintenance Technician (HT) which is on Surface Ships. HT’s are Welders, Damage Control, and part of Engineering.
From there I served on the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), and the USS Vandergrift (FFG-48).
I requested a Ship again but the system wouldn’t allow four ships back to back. So from there I became an Instructor at the Center for Naval Engineering at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, and finally I did a “boots on ground” tour in Iraq at Camp Bucca, Naval Provisional Detainee Battalion II (NPDB2), but my retirement was at Great Lakes, Illinois where I was an Instructor at.
After I retired, I became a Plant Manager at a production Facility with about 130+ employees.
In 2016, I went from being a contributive member of society to a parasite. I contracted Stage 4 Throat Cancer which I have been fighting ever since and is also why I am writing this post from a hospital bed due to complications. I have to go to the Hospital an average of one to two times a month due to Septic Shock. The saddest part is that I am now “used to it.”
When I say “parasite of society,” I mean it. I am not a “victim” of this. I’m the idiot that smoked 2 packs a day for 30 years, all the while knowing the risks. There is no one to blame but myself in this, and the real victims are my wife and children who have to watch me wither away, sitting in the corner, drooling on himself, becoming a mere shell of who he once was, and them knowing they can do nothing about it.
I say “parasite” because I went from being a contributive member of society to being a leach collecting Social Security Disability. That’s why I say “parasite.” I’m used to helping others, of being a positive influence. Now I can’t even stand up without my poor five-foot wife giving me a helping hand. Pathetic and p***es me off at myself GREATLY.
The ONE positive thing I can say about this is that my children are very anti-smoking now. Which makes me happy.
You know my name, “Mewt?” It’s because I literally AM a mute since the “Total Laryngectomy” surgery I had in 2016. I am using this play on words and use that as my Avatar / Name in every game I play now.
There were two tumors in my neck the size of a golf ball each, so they had to rip my throat out. You know those folks that wander around with holes in their necks? That’s me – a “Human Pez Dispensor.”
This is why I am “Mewt.”
I want to make something very, very clear again here . . .
I am *NOT* a victim. I am not letting you know this stuff for “pity.” Frankly, pity turns my stomach and sickens me to the core, especially when I know it’s my fault and that I have earned every moment every time I struck my lighter on the fantail of a Ship.
I give you this information for two reasons:
Number one, I believe in fully introducing yourself to people that you want to become friends with and being completely honest and open about everything.
Number two, showing others who might be in the same situation as me but are remaining anonymous about it, that no matter what the Doctors tell you, you can fight it. You have to stay positive and know that we have your back.
They gave me six months in 2016 and told my wife, and I quote, “We suggest you transfer him to a hospice so we can make his passing as painless as possible.”
Try to imagine the grief and pain they just gave my wife . . .
I gave Satan a “Spiritual Middle Finger,” told him “Not today, but when I do come I suggest you watch your back.” And started fighting the disease instead of giving up.
It’s now 2020 and my Oncologist calls me a miracle.
If you are in a similar situation, please believe me when I tell you, you can beat it. No matter what they tell you, you can. Please stay positive. I and God are on your side my friend.
So, the Gaming Community is very, very important to me. They become friends, not just Avatars in a virtual world. Because of my condition, my world cannot be empty – thus the specific questions I asked.
An active gaming community isn’t just “cool,” for me, but *actually* affects my mortality rate by givimng me a fun time improving my spirit and morale. =D
So, there it is folks. Me, a completely open book.
I REALLY hope this disn’t annoy anyone – and it is honestly a pleasure to meet you all.
I look very forward to your replies.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
- Watts, Nathanial W.
- Mewt
p.s. – I wrote this in Word first to try and avoid spelling errors. But if there are any typos I apologize as I have permanent tremors in my hands now due to all the darn Chemo I have had to have.
