FableUnity Ends 3 and 1/2 Year Run on January 2, 2009Follow

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/wiki/FableUnity


FableUnity, one of the largest and longest running social linkshells on Shiva, finally comes to an end on January 2, 2009. FableUnity (or "FU" as we lovingly called it) was created on June 10, 2005 during the Shiva migration to Midgarsormr. Hundreds of people left Shiva to try for a fresh start on a different server. FU was an experiment to show that you didn't need to leave home get a fresh start. Our goal was to help spread an underlying philosophy with a few simple principles at its core:

* You don't need to leave home to start anew
* Unless you learn to forgive yourself, you never really start over
* A linkshell is a choice, not a responsibility
* You get out of life what you put into it
* Life, like FableUnity, is what you make of it

FableUnity was home to players from levels 1-75, from multiple countries (NA, JP, and everything inbetween), from multiple HNMLS, all working together. We sponsored such well known events as the annual "Level 10 Dunes Alliance", "Best Death Contest", and other fun games that reminded us that we occasionally need to take a break from the grind and have fun. But the majority of our events were member-sponsored. As part of the "FU is what you make it" motto, we always encouraged members to set up and sponsor their own events to accomplish the goals they set for themselves.

We always promised that FableUnity probably wouldn't be like anything people experienced before. When new members were given a pearl, the sackholders gave out 1 gil and "the speech":

"We don't mind if you spend a lot of time here, or a little. We also don't care if you have multiple linkshells. Just promise to remember that we are not your other linkshells, nor will we ever be. Even if some of the people here are the same, we are not. We are simply FU."

What this meant was to keep past conceptions, problems, and issues FROM other linkshells IN those other linkshells. We asked that members leave their hatred for other people in those other linkshells; leave their hatred for other linkshells in those other linkshells. Only by coming in with an open mind and checking all that baggage at the door could people really get a fresh start here. As such, all we really ever asked was that our members refrain from advertising for or against other linkshells in our LS chat, and to keep personal arguments to /tell.

FableUnity wasn't for everyone; it took work to be successful here...but it was worth it. Success was never determined by rank or level; it was determined only by each player's will to succeed. Even though the FU shell was owned by Sophus, that didn't make him the leader; his role was closer to "head babysitter". In reality, it was the members of FableUnity who lead the shell and guided it. Our only limitation was the greatness of our members. By working hard, taking charge, and leading, FableUnity became exactly what its members wanted it to. Those who sat back and let things happen may have found FU to their distaste. But no matter how much they liked or disliked it, we were always simply FableUnity.

As a linkshell, FU allowed people to be who they were, and not be afraid to speak up. In fact, we actually encouraged people to be more active and to control their own destinies here. If they didn't like how something was, or if they didn't agree with something that was said, we urged them to give us their opinions. A big part of being in FableUnity was working to make us the type of linkshell that THEY wanted it to be.

Sure, it was frustrating when a sackholder didn't solve problems for members. In fact, it may have even seemed like they were being lazy...but they weren't. This linkshell was only what the members made of it, and so you couldn't expect others to fight your battles for you. Instead, the sackholders were there to help members reach their goals and solve their own problems, but we wouldn't do it FOR them. Everyone's success here was limited only by their willingness to succeed, and as such, everyone here was responsible for their own success--or failure.

In the end, FableUnity was never really a linkshell -- it was always an idea. All that we accomplished wasn't because we were FU; it was because we stood for something important. And you can never truly close the doors on something like that.

Edited, Jan 3rd 2009 9:29am by lawtechguy

Wow, didn't expect to see this thread on here :)

Mclaren, I thank you for your kind words on my behalf. I do think you got the 1 gil philosophy skewed, though. I know...the doors will be closed soon, so why argue this one point? Because it wasn't a correct interpertation? Because I'm bored? Because I like to argue?

Perhaps all of the above? :D

Moot point now, I know, but the "1 gil philosophy," wasn't telling people "if you don't have anything to offer, don't bother asking." All it said was not to expect special treatment just because of what you did before you joined. It didn't matter how many level 75 jobs you had, or how many linkshells you'd run in the past. When you started in FU, you started at the same place as everyone else: with 1 gil. That evened the playing field, if you will, allowing level 1s to accomplish just as much as level 75s here. Your only limit here was your own will to succeed.

FableUnity's doors might be closing, but the values we tried to live will continue on. Even you said so yourself, "you didn't have anything to offer" when you joined. That wasn't completely true, but that's how you felt. And the only way you could overcome that was to find something to offer. Whether that meant helping someone or just talking to them, you eventually built up your worth with enough people to get your own tasks accomplished. That was the whole point of the 1 gil philosophy...

We all started off with "1 gil" in this game; not enough to buy anything big, but not "nothing" either. We still had something to invest. The more we helped others--even just by talking to them and making friends--the more we found we could accomplish. And the more we asked of others, the less-willing we found them to help the next time. The gil was ours to spend or invest. And where you are today...good or bad...is all a testiment to how well you did just that.

So Mclaren, I wish you the best. As do I wish everyone who joins this game afterwards. It's a blast if you'll let it be; lots of great people, lots of magnificent things to do. But whatever path you choose, remember that very little can be done in this game without help from others. Invest your gil wisely in them, and anything becomes possible.




And PS...I had more than one job to 75. It just so happens that I preferred RDM. What can I say--I hate dying! :)

Edited, Dec 25th 2008 1:59am by SophusTehNewb

Actually Dou, Sophus is quitting on Jan 2.

Thanks Bart. Ive been waiting for someone to post something about it on Alla.

Sophus, I really enjoyed my time in here and will never forgot about FU. I changed alot from joining.

Mcleran, I don't know what your problem is/was with FU. Not a day goes past where a higher lvl isn't helping some one out and that person giving help to a lower person. I think you had it wrong about our goal. It wasnt to be the biggest ls with the most members, it was to be a place where ppl could start over and rediscover themselves like most of us have.

The thing about the leaders being nub is a shock, seeing how in my eyes everyone was a leader and not just the ones with a pearl sack.

You must of just had a sour moment at one time or just a sour person in general, but everyone that I brought into FU loves it there.

This quote above, says about all one needs to know about "FU". Fable Unity, in reality, speaks for itself; needs no further explanation for those who know/knew and appreciate it.

Those who do not (like the above poster); they truly did not, could not, (or would not) gain what was intended - either in virtuality or reality; which can carry over into real life. Nuff said.


Funny part that most people don't get is that many and often times; people who devote enormous amounts of *energy*, time, commitment and blood, sweat and tears make it look easy to those who have no clue.

You all did that!

Thanks to all of you at Fable Unity for making more of this gaming experience than I could have asked for...and in more ways than just a place to "hang my Cleric's Cap".


I wish you nothing but the best in everything you do now and in the future!

/salute

Femwhispers

Fem are you going to get on for the last event?

I wont be on either. Super busy on sunday. kinda sucks seeing how I have missed every ls event known to man kind and I am going to miss the best one of them all.

Hmmm, sorry you feel this way, FableUnity has help me get alot farther than any of the other shells I've been in. Ive asked for Help many times, but I also didnt just log onto the shell and ask, I planned ahead and used the Website to coordinate my help, Did you do that?. You where met with silence probably because members were doing other things or that someone else had asked for help, did you take into account that we all have something to do?

You also state FU cared about having large number...sorry you never heard us shout for member or just pass out pearls to random ppl...How did you get a shell? You probably asked? Did we come up to you and say hey join our shell? nope. The 1 gil idea was brilliant, Thank you! I was new and had nothing to offer..at first. FU wasnt looking for new members to immediately start contributing, FU wanted you to play the game that's it.

"FU sucked bad, thanks to you though i learned from the very beginning to research everything before asking for a bit of help. To not trust in anyone. To never expect anything good from anyone. It was my first LS in shiva."

I had to quote the above paragraph, you should research everthing, dont let people do things for you, it takes all the fun out of what your doing if you have someone holding your hand! just too bad you learned the wrong lessons everywhere else!

Sorry FU wasnt what you needed in a LS, sorry we didnt hold your hand and sorry we didnt do everything for you, the 1 gil Philopshy (not an Idea) was to invest that gil into yourself and into others around you. It take work to be successful. I read your post in the endgame section the other day and see you complain about everything, Sorry you short changed yourself.

It's not a loss, man. All I did was try to keep everyone laughing at themselves, and at the status quo.

You know, what shocks me the most? Well, besides the fact that I never got kicked off the server. Just that after all these years, I'm still the same guy I was when I started. The eternal newb. I got my start poking fun at the Shalah/Rokugen/Ochiudo's Kote fiasco. I ended it by running around in subligar as a level 1, talking like a taru, and watching as my dead body was both danced on--and tractored around Vana'diel.

It's been a great run, but it doesn't end here. FU's doors may close tonight, but the message lives on in you. Even if you didn't like it, you were still affected by it. From here on own, the path is yours. Whatever road you take, always be sure to make it your own.

I nominate the Grunties to rule as well.

VIVA LA GRUNTY!

You didn't know? Everyone sending them to Xellith's [mog house]!! :)

For those that need a pearl or are new I open my ls Ichiban up to all of u

*aims rocket launcher at players* join the Dark Side....um... i mean Ichiban. This is an order from the Grand Leader of the Grunty Army. Do as i say or pay.

they would prolly be entertained for like 20 mins just looking at my Miniature Airship :P

Edited, Jan 7th 2009 6:03am by Xellith