~Odin~ wrote:Mordack wrote:There's a great deal of truth to the notion that 'ordinary players' have the power, but their power is collective. The average TLE or Omega member couldn't do a lot on their own. When I made this thread, I was thinking more in terms of individuals with power. The collective power of the average masses is the most powerful and dangerous of the lot, but difficult to rouse and unpredictable when awakened.
HINT HINT lol
The thread is titled 'most powerful', not 'most delusional with thoughts of grandeur'...
but ok, then.. how do I answer this thread properly.
Its a very awkward idea. Like I said before...power comes in many many different ways...
You could say the most powerful, single player is ETL... because he managed to create this great reputation, come through on his promises and leave, only making casual visits over the past 2 years and could still most likely turn up and cause trouble. Yes, his power has greatly diminished from what it once was...but his legacy, his true power.. his reputation.. still remains.. even if a shadow of its former self. People are willing to hero worship this guy despite the fact he can be an arrogant ass, despite the fact most have never had any real dealings with him, and despite the fact he did create an empire, a super power full of some of the most pompous deluded individuals I have ever met.. (disclaimer.. I mentioned no names and maintain not everyone in said 'super power' is colourful descriptive words.. so don't be a tit and presume anything..)
The list of his accomplishments and the sheep willing to gather round and follow go on and on and on... you could very well say through his and other notable members (Diamond Dust, REK, JUAN, 3rdLibra, Elusive, Lord Dark, Xanathors, and girl.. Nuto! Thats her name..) They have shaped the game as it is to this very day, of course only two remain in any sort of force and they have that power. These people moved from the game to the community as their path of power, intentionally or not.
On the other hand.. you have other members, characters.. bastions of intelligence and/or fool hardiness and stubbornness such as Buck, Ghosty Goo, Mordack, Clarkey and Tok'ra who really all went their own way from day one and got lucky. Its basic human psychology, people listen to the members of a group who do deviate from the norm. Most of them have gained their positions in the community not from ingame merit, but rather their persona.. their reputation for all their actions a lone. In game antics, of course will always come to bare with people such as them.. but its more the idea's we represent that give them their power. Other do try, but they miss the certain something, be it blatant luck, class, charm or something beyond my current thoughts..maybe its because they take roles that are already filled? Examples would be Nimras, Tetrismonkey, Jack. In general, this group, these are the people, who started at the community and used the game as a side forum all as a route to power intentionally or not.
There are even a few who fall in between the first two groups, who came, saw and conquered on both at the same time..such as Esker and Wolf359.
In some instances there are people who have the game power, have the high alliance positions and this reflects upon their community standing to a certain degree.. such as Robe and Gunz. However, as great a guys as these people are..they are not as powerful as perhaps by right of their command they should be in most circumstances.
Then there is a pernultimate group of people.. people who.. have no major outstanding qualities (don't mean to imply that is a bad thing) but were in the right place at the right time and have had these positions of power thrust upon them. Yes, they are generally very nice, very honourable people who do have a fair amount of tacit knowledge... but no more than most. Lore is a good example.. he is a great guy.. but he is no different, he has achieved not many other things that most of the community, he is no exception to the norm, other than the position of power he has been granted. Believe me I have a very high opinion of lore.. so don't think I intend to criticise him..in a negative way, but I find him no different, no more special that a long list of people I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.
The final group, are the demi-gods so to speak. The outstanding characters who choose not in most circumstances, or in others are incapable of attaining greater power within the community, but maintain a small amount of it, or in some cases have faded over the years to this position. Such as MajorLeeHurst, Universe, Apadamek, Replimagni, Psi Kiya Trist, Su, Law, Orpheus, Tekki, ToKKo, Deni and Pops.
Of course some will be wondering if I class myself anywhere, or do I hold the delusion I have power.. well.. now that would be telling.
