I had an idea for a thread that hopefully we can all enjoy while we wait for pew chat die to come back, that can help to move us away from some of the negativity that has been around lately, hopefully this doesn't end up embarrassing anyone still active too badly. I feel like we spend a great deal talking about what's bad, and not even close to enough time about what is good.

We all have our own professions and hobbies in game, but each of us also has a unique story about how and why we got to where we are today, so:

1. What player inspired you the most when you were new to be the character you are today?

And

2. What player was the most influential in helping you improve.

*I'll post my own answers in a reply, I hope others will as well.

-Nith

Sorry to ignore the format, but I've been wanting to give due props to a display of tactics I witnessed several weekends ago. Most traders feel safe in nation space under the umbrella of Nation/Faction standings. It's always been so in the year I've been playing, with a few exceptions of course. However that all changed when EDIT and #DIE teamed up to conduct Operations in central and eastern UIT. I won't get into the particulars, but damn what an effective projection of control. Even though as I'm a trader and on the receiving end, nothing but mad respect for that demonstration. To whoever hatched that plan: Bravo Zulu!

I'm a rat, not some formatting fascist, thanks for the contribution!

1. For me, it was YT-1300, fitting that years later he would end up as my own CO. Back when I started however FAMY still had the legendary FBP at the helm. I started my VO life trying to enjoy mining, and moving widgets, but didn't truly have fun until my first trip to grey. On my first trip, and many subsequent trips, I met my first non npc pirate: YT-1300. It still holds some of my most exiting memories, as I enjoyed the chase and would never pay. I can even remember the exact moment I decided being a pirate was what I wanted to be in VO. I had been starting to have some success in escaping, and one afternoon I was convinced I had lost YT in an ion storm. I hung around the sector, ready to bolt at a moment's notice. Constantly checking sensor logs, trying to build up the courage to try and make it to the exit, so I could dock. I waited forever (it was probably like 3 minutes) and finally made a dash for it and jumped. When I jumped out I arrived to YT buzzing past my cockpit at full turbo and then immediately got hit by 8 flares that he must have shot before the sector completely registered for me. It convinced me that I wanted to have that same effect on other players. I joined FAMY the next week, and thanks to the guidance of YT, Savet, and FBP never once looked back. Although since that day, I swear I've become more paranoid.

2. West, and all his alts. In my VO life I have faced some truly amazing pilots. No enemy has helped me to improve more than Westacular. Lots of people have killed me in game, lots of them (like rin in a Gauss vult) have impressed me to the point of emulation. Before ever fighting west, I had always been told to pick a ship, pick some weapons, and stick with them until you get better. West, however, taught me the importance of changing things up, keeping your opponent in the dark, and counters. He didn't do it by being nice, or explaining things. He did it by killing me over and over and over in every combination available. Hands down, those fights made me the combat pilot I am today. I hardly ever fly the same thing twice in a row, and have a high respect for ships and weapons many other rule out as useless, as they never got killed by westie with them while flying their "best" setup.

My story: when I started I joined this guild called itan with a different account called The Axiom in September 2013, through the past couple years I've made 2 accounts and only use 1 of em now called tripod but I use different alts for different things. Who influenced me and taught me? Harpo influenced me,failure influenced me, then I met Kendrion after trying to find a good guild and I met inv, I aspired to be important to vo as tgft has been. I know eckas been sketchy since last year but I don't see anything wrong with tgft or HHTT as the rad trade guilds around. 2015-2016 I've influenced myself and will keep on keeping on. December 2015 was fun red was ran the way it was. From 2013-2016 I've taken part in many different guilds but now I think I'm home with this one :)

1. What player inspired you the most when you were new to be the character you are today?

My characters are mostly Serco and tend to adhere to the backstory. Few words, solitary, efficient, broody, not aggressive until approached - unless it's a red dot in nation space. Combat is silent and relentless. I think I developed my own style in the vacuum of space, because...

And

2. What player was the most influential in helping you improve.

I started back when there was literally nobody on most of the time. There was one sector and, by golly, we LIKED it! By "we" of course I mean me and some asteroids.. However, sometimes Incarnate would appear (violently and without warning on occasion) and we would duel in and around the fractured spherical 'roid. There was one concave fragment that held a few powerups, and he inevitably would kill me there - even if he wasn't in sight. I think he would send a couple of rockets at it on his way by and I was unfortunate enough to arrive at the same time as the rockets. We kept at it until I was able to put up a decent fight against Incarnate, and perhaps just a bit more dangerous to the other devs.

1. Two people share my spot for pilots I looked up to in my earlier months. The first is (obviously) Senpai Karitoriki; Her insane fighting style quickly forced me to learn some proper flying techniques, but she would take the time to tell what I could have done better. The other player was a pilot named Durge; while not a fighter, he was exceedingly patient with any newb, no matter how silly or hard-headed they would be.

2. Kari has stuck around and continues to help me improve (when not pouring her acid on channel 100), though Durge has become inactive. I've also flailed against many other pilots; many people continue to help me become a better pilot.

1. John Eldritch (JE)and his myriad of characters. He taught me the etiquette of alt-separation and respecting others' alt-separation, and the value of taking on vastly different roles to gain understanding of all facets of vo, to let off steam (can't be a care bear all the time!), and most importantly to add depth the to the verse. He didn't directly affect how I RP as CD, who began life as an alt I made to help start a mining guild, but he supported the role at every turn.

2. Although JE was my first sensei as well, it was his advice that I avoid the easy kills of duel-challenging newbs, and that I seek out the best duelists. I'd die 10 or 20 times with each before I got in a kill, but then the ratios would get better and better. While my pre-CD sessions with the likes of Maalik, Strat, Spidey, Niut, Mecha, and the like were formative, It was Azumi who taught me how to dance in a dual-posi RevC, which is still my favorite rig.

As a miner, Thetis showed me the true meaning of the word.

1. Lisa 201, Footballprophet

2. TheRedSpy, Nahin Lor, Estrian Prosis (aka Corona Oceana)

I can't pick just one answer for either question. Blame it on the moon.

1. I guess it would be Peytros and the way he'd just pop up out of nowhere and kill me. "Homicide is humor, buddy, and you're looking funny." But another factor would be the carebears of 2009-2010, whose toxicity toward pirate players was a large part of why I walked away from trying to become a pirate hunter and became a pirate instead. The pirate players were more pleasant to be around, and I felt like the game needed more danger anyway.

2. I never got good enough to beat Maalik while he was around, and I've only very rarely beaten Nahin, but I fought them both a lot and it really challenged my ability to dodge. Fighting people who are that far out of your league only helps so much though, which is where Mistena came in; we had more similar levels of skill, which made for a lot of very fun fights. After I joined CHRN, Smaug the Terrible started hosting weekly training nights where the guild would get together and practice fighting as a group. That was also helpful.

1. iry

2. no one in particular -- I'm the sum of all my experiences here.

1. Mainly Shape and Tumble, with a dash of Yoda. Though LeberMac, while still around, did serve as a good nemesis.

2. Probably the endless fighting with Mecha back during the original [SCAR], though Shape/Matriarch was also a big help with SCP use and Alamar is responsible for any residual talent I have with rails.

1. Everyone who shot back
2. Everyone who can't shoot back

1. Yoda, Martin, Ghost, Spellcast, Niki, Gavan, Sun Tzu, Shape, Alamar, Kixkizzle, Mr_Spuck, Solra Bizna... the list is quite long, these are just players that helped the most.

2. Yoda in all his incarnations - over the last 13 years we probably fought over 2000 times and, of course, Martin/Mad Max - not sure if anyone ever beat our longest duel in VO history, it lasted for 57 minutes.

I've been refraining from posting here, because I wanted to see where others would take it.

However, seeing as how the post will be one week old tomorrow, I wanted to express my gratitude for everyone who is contributing.

I hope others are enjoying this as I am. Also nice to see some repeat names that influenced multiple people.

PS, 57 minute duel!? My eyes would be bleeding.