Editorial - Our visit to Sigil

ok....So there I was... Sitting in LAX camping the United_Gate_68A while I waited for my return flight home. It wasn't much, but for the next 2.5 hours, I called it "home!" This was written during that time.

The past couple of days have been great! I got to San Diego a day ahead of the others so I could visit some of my guildmates, one of whom I'd met before and the others I'd known for...what....4 years? *sigh...* how time flies!! It's hard to believe that there are people I've known by other names and have called "friends" for 5.5 years now! And a new chapter of this progression is about to open for thousands of people in the coming months and years!

(This "progression" is made possible by the letter "S", and the partners who support this programming!)

"S" is for Sigil, and also for "Sekret Sauce" which, as a group of us from Vanguard Spheres now knows, is very, very real!!

Trying to think back on our day at Sigil (pronounced more like "sidjel"), it's really hard to pick out one thing that stands out. Was it having the "gnomemobile" come rescue us from our mislocation and finding out Glip really is a gnome? Or maybe, for me, finding out that someone working there now has had a special place in my heart for years, and he's tall, fer crying out loud!!! Then again, maybe it was tagging after Paul Luna and watching the artists working on things that we can not wait to see as a finished product! Incredible! Totally!! Or, was it sitting with the GMs and Michelle Butler and hearing their plans and hopes?? It could have been us all standing around Zack's desk and listening to Todd's music in surround sound and seeing scenes that put it all in perspective!

How about this: Ending the day sitting next to Brad McQuaid. Having him give us a tour across Thestra with his avatar, then watching him get into all sorts of trouble and then turn to us and watch our faces for reactions? (Not like he needed to look. We couldn't shut up with all the "oooooooo's" and "ahhhhhhhhhh's" and "WOW!!")

*shiver*

We never saw anyone angry. We saw many smiling faces and excitment as each of them would bounce ideas and thoughts off of each other and race back to their area with new information. We were welcomed warmly by each and every one, and got to witness what happens if someone has a birthday or gets a promotion!! (It's advisable to wear body armor on those days!! That many rubber bands can be vicious!!) And we saw what real teamwork is all about! Even when we heard that Brad was concerned about us being lost trying to figure out where the office was (altho we were standing with the dev's by that time), everyone stayed on top of it to make sure we were taken care of!

My only sorrow was that Cindy Bowen was out sick and I wouldn't be able to give her a hug. Hope you're all better by now, Cindy!! We missed you!!!

What are my thoughts on the quality and playability of VanguardSoH?? umm....does "WOW!!!" cover it?

Good!

For anyone who is skeptical about the graphics or pretty much any aspect of this new world, put your fears to the side, or if you can't do that, just be quiet and have some trust!! We are still anxious to see what the real requirments are for running the game, but I'm sure not worried about wanting to "live" there for a long time!

These are just a few thoughts running around my head as I continue to sit here. And to the guys I was fortunate enough to meet as my fellows of the Sphere, all I can say is, "Thanks!" Mel....Glad you were able to make it, and hope you had a great celebration with your kids and wife over the Series outcome! CK...I'm tickled pink you're part of this team! I hope your CD is as well received by Sigil folk as I'm thinking it will be!

Pirotess...You're the best! And thank you for all of the time, planning and energy you have put into the site! And knowning the changes that we will be introducing soon(tm), I think everyone else will really understand, as well, that the Sphere is a constant work in progress for the benefit of the players that will be entering the magical world of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes!

You can be amazed by "another" MMORPG! Just wait!

We'll have more for you soon, complete with photos!