Aventinus here. I was hoping to be afforded a chance to tell my side of the story.
I have no intention of staying beyond the time allotted to say a personal goodbye to a few folks and wind down my participation in this game. The offer to remove the request for me to leave, which is effectively the same thing as a banhammer in a pretty euphemism, even if certain players feel that, as I do, that SP has handled this incorrectly, is ultimately a hollow gesture. No one wants to return to work after getting a pink slip. If you want to read what was exchanged between SP and myself in a log, I can certainly make that available. The best thing in this situation, provided players think SP has gone out of line (and violated his own POLICY), is to page me a wave (I'll be on practically 24/7 for the next week or so before I'm booted out) and go on playing the game.
Contrary to belief, SP, I wanted this game to succeed BECAUSE it was going to be my last MU* ever. I wanted someone to help me help the game and every time I voiced any concerns, since I actually voiced them, I was shot down as being overly negative. Well great. Saying everything is peachy keen doesn't always make it so.
For the record, I had NO intention of leaving Birds of War. As the significant source material I have posted regarding Asia and even fiction on my end, I had hoped to be here for the long haul. I have invested a lot of time and energy and effort on this game, eagerly waiting for some quality time with RP and people I generally enjoyed RPing with while studying for the bar. I put my heart and soul into crafting Leo and my little underutilized villain and indeed, a lot of pointless energy developing a setting that got resistance and heartache with every turn from all sorts of folks. Hell, I desc'd a bunch of the rooms and certainly popular rooms like the Henrietta. Such is life.
Don't you DARE put words in my mouth, SP.
This was special to me too, SP. You have no idea.
Never once have I sought to diminish what SP has done in terms of building Birds of War, contrary to his remarks. What has so far been done in Birds of War is nothing short of impressive. That said, I have been a vigilant trooper in pointing out what is deficient and needing some patching up. All I said that resulted in the long, meandering conversation which led to my being 'asked to leave' was a suggestion that the old guard of players who first chargened… or at what's left of 'em… should meet up sometime and have a town meeting, discussing what has so far gone well and invariably what has not.
Sure, I admit I have been a critic, but that's what I do. Would it be better for valid criticism to be made that the momentum of the game is quickly fading or to just stand there and not say anything except behind someone's back? I stated my opinions because I felt safe knowing that my thoughts were going to receive a modicum of respect and consideration. Apparently that point had long been out the window by the time this conversation took place.
I can honestly say that I have never made an ad hominem attack on SP, at least one that was not intended to be a joke. I have, whether you believe me or not, put my best intentions forward in trying to make Birds of War a great place to RP. This has meandered a lot longer than I wanted (as WORA would say, tl;dr) but this game meant and still means a lot to me. Thanks for reading.
Best of luck, all.
Leo's Player, Aventinus.