I will be honest, Sombs's post inspired me to do this. It wont be as big as that one nor i dont know if you care at all. Anyways, lets start with my journey, shall we?
I started this journey back in late .86, grinding Money in a Rhino at 100k per hour, unaware of RP concept at all, i was a simple trader back then who simply enjoyed the joy (of back then) trading with people. I did not have any forum account at all that time. Then things happened and i took a break. After my rather long break, i returned in early .87. First, like every new guy, i grinded Money and got myself a Valor with CAU3 that named GRN-Immortal (what a stupid name!) After playing with that one for a while, i switched to Omicrons as a filthy cardamine sniffer and joined raids. Sometimes hanged out in Omicrons with people like Moonwalker and his company, sometimes i was batting in Texas with randoms. Then in one of those battles against LN, i met the renowned Order group that was known as O'Rhu| . I still remember their VERY strict entry requirements and secrecy, to the point i had to earn their ooRP trust and fly alongside them as an indie HAU4 Osiris for one whole month. I am sure @Lythrilux still remembers our shenanigans in Omicron Mu and Zeta. O'Rhu, especially @Epo @Arbs sswolf(dont remember his forum name) @axisdeus and the guy used O'Rhu|606-Demonica (we simply referred him as Demo) basically taught me how this game is really played and how its ins and outs work. I learned how to use caps and how to "quality RP" there basically. During my O'Rhu times, i also figured forums. I considered O'Rhu a home away home 'till its disbanded due to member's RL and other faction matters, such as @Arbs getting LN's lead. Others left disco one after another. With this, i moved on to Taus and "Core" systems more and more. Then one day, i saw Crayter Republic…
I digged forums a bit about its role and found it really interesting. A faction that coped losses and a behemoth on its tails, aiming to thrive among the relentless Sirius. I played as an indie CR for like 6-7 months or so. Did patrols, killed gallics, killed outcasts, joined convoys, all the fun things. Fast forwarding some weeks, i joined my first Official Faction: Gateway Shipping. A faction that i still consider unique among other trading factions. Being underdog of a House that desperately needing every available help to stand against Gallic tyranny while having fights against rival corps of it in Omegas. That was surely interesting.
Again fast forwarding a month or two, i finally joined CR| that was under the leadership of @SummerMcLovin *salutes to the guy*. The people in CR and the atmosphere of it was (and is) fun. I did my usual things, RP s and pewpews, raised ranks over the time, eventually got my first tagged Zephyr. Then eventually leadership changed and i found myself flinged into High Command. It was the time i started to command things. Like raids and being a nilly-willy decorated Commodore and having authority. Awesome people like @Jeremy Hunter and @Teerin was in HC. It was all nice and glorious to me, i felt i was part of a cause while having fun in the server. Until the dark days came upon us...
Leaderships changed quickly, bad blood over petty things happened, paranoia ensued among leadership. I and 7 other people like @Havok , @H4Xv1(cant find forum name right now) @Johnathan Nox Carter @Thyrzul and some others, casted apart from the faction we loved. I am thankful for their unwawering support in the darkest days of CR.
I could not sit there and watch the CR| going down on flames by leadership decisions, i had to do something, and one day, a joke in LPI- chat became a reality. I founded =ARC= abd gathered people who were angry or frustrated with leadership decisions of CR|. Together, we managed to amass a large enough group that CR| considered a merge with us and then, under the leadership of @Yukina , a council of Seven was made. A High Command that aimed to have a middle ground for the sake of CR. 3 from =ARC= , 3 from CR| . Thus, =CR= was born from its ashes again.
While having this interesting journey, i also joined other factions like SCRA| , GRN| , [TBH] and attempted to join K'Hara| although the last one didnt last so much.
Eventually, leadership passed again to @Shaggy and after he "left", with people's votes, i took the leadership of =CR=.
Some awesome people i met in this community, and one or two dicks, but it is mostly an awesome ride people. Despite its flaws it is a grear mod and server.
Special thanks to (That list gonna be long damn)
@Thunderer for further refining my cap skills and being an awesome serb
@Pepe for being moderately rare and an awesome oldie
@Titan* For teaching me some dev side of things and being an awsome fellow.
@Reddy for sticking around and not letting me down on raids
@Black Smoke for being the "niggapuff" of CR and putting up with our jokes, especially Panzer's.
@Panzer for introducing me to CR in first place and always supporting me, even in the darkest times.
@Laz for being a generally great guy and teaching me many things, also a fun target practice.
@Wesker for having that thrill for PvP and being a cool guy.
@Foxglove for being a great faction leader and bringing an awesome Nomad faction into the server.
@"Sombra Hookier" for inspiring me to write this, being a very fun guy and a great RPer
@Jack_Henderson for making big and fun convoys of IMG
@Durandal for putting up with my annoying questions and me in general
@The Sovereign for being the nicest Sovereign in disco and all the fun we had together.
@Sauron for being dat awesome gaian guy.
@Hunor for being one of the most motivated and fun leaders around.