IMPORTANT! Site news

[Rolo]

Hey everyone,

I want to share a message of happiness and hope with you. I don't want tears or anger, I want you to feel a sense of joy and maybe pride.

You may have noticed that FoF has quietened down, past the point of its usual 'mid-semester slump'. You may have thought that the staff had abandoned the site out of some 'can't be asked' feeling, and that they'd let you down.

However, this was not the case. FoF has been on our minds frequently. We love the site, and it's been a significant part of our lives for nearly four years. This was why we didn't want to do anything hasty; the site, all of you members, deserved better than that. Therefore, as is the FoF way, we wanted to put you in the picture properly, not give you half-baked explanations or lies. So, I've deliberately waited until there was a time where I could write this with my full attention.

When we started the site, we swore we'd never close it when there were still members roleplaying and enjoying the site. This was a philosophy that drove us through many of our hard times, with the staff pulling together for the benefit of the site. However, what we couldn't forsee, as no one can, was that there would come a day when we felt the community itself had fallen away. Not through any strife or arguments, but simply because members, even those seen as fundamental to the site, grow and move on. Don't get us wrong and think we're saying our current or remaining members are unsatisfactory, because the truth is far from that. The community I refer to is more the feeling of friendships the site group inspires. The glue that holds us together, as companions. When that is gone, you're left with two choices: make a new, different community (by employing new members and relaunching the site) or acknowledge that it is time to let it rest.

We've done the former several times, pushing for new members and creating new, altered communities. We took joy in doing so. However, as us staff enter college and become busier people, the time we have to dedicate to the site has lessened. We cannot, like we used to, invest huge amounts in the site as a free and open community. And it's not because we don't love the site, it's because we're realistic. None of us have the drive to cause a rebirth for the site, and all of us know we wouldn't be capable of it. There are younger, fresher sites out there who can outdo us, filled with the zeal that a new venture brings.

BUT none of us have a desire to let FoF fade completely.

I'm still told by departed members that this is an amazing place (in fact, 'the best warriors rp ever' comes up sometimes) and that they look back to the years they spent here with a smile. Additionally, we still have members who wish to keep in touch with the community and roleplay. So, we'd feel that it would be a betrayal to simply put the site in maintenance mode and call it quits.

Instead, what we are proposing is that FoF becomes a closed community. We will cease to run as a 'mass-market' site, which we haven't been able to keep up with anyway, and we will become members only. This way, people can still log in and nostalgia hard and roleplay as they wish, with whatever plots they want. There will be no organised plots or site updating, it will simply be a place for the community that still lives to enjoy themselves. A free-for-all of roleplaying, where you can do anything you want in the FoF universe. Many of the staff already have roleplays planned, so don't think it'll be a dead place. Lots will be going on, it'll just be different from how it was.

And we suggest this to you all with a sense of happiness and hope. This, we believe, will be better for the current members of the site. And we don't see it as a failure for the site. FoF could never be a failure. We had a brilliant run, with 3 1/2 years of roleplay, and we will be retiring it from its 'working' life with no sense of regret. The fact that we lasted this long is something to be proud of. And I am so very proud to have served you all, and I am so glad to have brushed shoulders with all of you. So don't be sad, be happy that you were a part of it, whether you are a current or old member. We couldn't have existed without you.

Feel free to share your thoughts, nostalgia and just tell us you've heard.

Love ya all,

Rolo and the FoF staff

[Cloudbat]

Long, long ago there was a rather stupid child who thought she knew how to roleplay. In fact , she knew precisely jack nothing.

However, she was introduced to a magical land called the Forest of Fate and despite her being a total jerk-bomb, she was accepted and guided until she started to not suck so much. The staff were astoundingly patient. The members themselves were kind despite her own jerkwad-ness. And eventually, she stopped sulking over criticism and began to laugh along with them.

The cbox turned for her, too.

She created her first terrible character, killed her off eventually, and created others. She used words with thought instead of just flailing wildly with them. She made a medicine cat who in time grew to be a complex and interesting character as she learned and roleplayed with masters of the art.

So in love was she with the site that she obsessed over its every facet and learned nearly every single one of its characters by heart. She even overcame her original jerkwadness and became friends with many of its members, though sadly she also saw many of them go. Still, incredibly, she even grew into a secretary to serve the site she now adored so.

She was sorrow-struck when Crow, the first beloved head admin left. Still, the epic Rolo made sure the site did not fail and Cloudie followed FoF to v2, where she eventually became a mod.

This is not the whole story - many mistakes were made, petty fights had, and sad moments of parting. But the overall tale is one of growth and learning, of friendship and laughter.

That is the Forest of Fate.

The site that taught me humility, writing, and most all gave me a home.

Thank you. Everyone.

[Pyro]

Member or staff, I have to say that being a part of this site has been a privilege. Three and a half years of laughs, growth as a writer and as a person, good friends, and good times. I don't want to speak for everyone. But I know that I don't want to see Forest of Fate just...I don't know. Just throwing it into maintenance mode and closing it down like so many other sites do these days just isn't right. Not for FoF. But as Rolo said, not one of the staff has the time or even the drive anymore to start up the old engines and get this plane flying high again.

So we're retiring it.

All of it will always be here. All the wonderful characters that have made this place a joy to roleplay on, all the plots (no longer held back by rules and waiting for updates and green-lights) that have in some instances inspired characters...even the members, I hope, will still stick around and visit from time to time. Maybe still roleplay, if they've the inclination. I know I've already got some roleplays staked out myself.

Because. I mean. This site has been a huge part of my life for so long...Even if I don't have the drive to staff it, I could never really leave it, you know? Probs because I'm like. One of those sentimental types that cries during every pixar film ever without fail. But you know what? It's okay to be sentimental. There's nothing wrong with not being able to let something go in cases like this. Forest of Fate was and is great. Why in fuck's name would I want to just...idk...leave it, never to return? Cast away all the great memories I've made here? Yeah, yeah, I'm a melodramatic cheesemuffin, but yeah. This shit. Is true. I still remember the nights I'd stay up waaay into the wee hours of the morning just chatting and laughing away in the c-box. Mouthing off at my mom because fucking hell, I really have to get this freaking bio done. Looking back on my old roleplay posts and going 'Mother of God, did I really write that'. Oh my god. And like. Don't even get me started on how cringe-worthy my old bios were. Like. I can't even look at them fuckiiing forget it. I remember how happy I was when I realized I was improving as a writer. I remember how proud I was to serve as a mod on Forest of Fate, even if only temporarily. Ooooh yes. That first time was so. like. I didn't want it to end. It was like 'here's this really great site omgomgomg I'm kind of staffing it but not really I'm just filling in but omgomg'. And then I got to staff it on a more permanent basis and just...wow. Bio mod. That was just...wow. And then Mod, and then....The day Rolo offered me a position as an admin I just had a big grin on my face. And then there was the move and everything...I feel like with v2 I really started to hit my stride as a writer.

I remember not doing something I'd regret because I knew what my friends here would say if they were right there with me.

Forest of Fate is just great, okay? Even if it's going into retirement it's still one of the best roleplay sites out there. Seriously. I judge all sites by Forest of Fate. The community, the characters, the staff...everything. If it doesn't feel like FoF, I don't join it. And if I do join it, I don't end up staying.

Y'all have been great to roleplay with, staff for, everything. We've had a great run, but it's time to put this horse out to pasture. You know, to get fat on timothy and alfalfa and stuff. Retirement stuff.

Pyro out.

[Glowy]

Oh my lord. Here I go, attempting to put the past... I don't even know how many years into words. But attempt I shall.

So. It's really difficult to describe what Fof has been for me, and what it has become. It's just that feeling, you know? That feeling that you could, if you wanted, or ever needed, have a secondary home. This literally was a refuge for me when I felt that all my other friends were rejecting me. I could come here and display sides of my personality that nobody else got to see.

E.g.

• The hours we spent iscribble drawing pictures relating to The Princess Bride.
  
• The ban van, although I was not there at its inception.
  
• Narwhals and pirates.
  

JUST TO NAME A FEW. Yeah. So Fof really was freeing for me. And I can't thank you all enough. I would like to apologize for not being around since August. I suppose... I suppose what happened is that I found a different second home. I found people who actually treat me well and love me, and I didn't have the energy to maintain both second homes. So because I was actually living in my new second home, this one faded.

I am sorry.

I will come back now.

I love you all. You guys helped me develop my writing voice, and improve as a writer and a person. You kept me sane and made me feel like I was worth something when nobody else was doing that for me. You were my lifeline. I will never forget how you all valued me when nobody else did.

I promise, I won't leave you guys.

I know this wasn't very articulate and I'm sorry. I just. This is hard, you know?

[/blockquote]

[Rolo]

Glow, I don't care that it wasn't very articulate.

It was very heartfelt and I appreciate it. And I'd like to tell you that I forgive you.

I know I've felt the same before, although I've never expressed it, so I understand. I'm just so very very glad that you've decided to remain with us. I do lu you know :3

Just so y'all know, I'll be posting again on here soon... with my own proper thoughts, rather than the staff!rolo one.

[ambird]

Woah.

3 and half years. It hasn't seemed that long, but that's what time does. I remember coming six months into FoF's first year. We've all changed and grown for the better since then.

I'll be honest, FoF hasn't been on my list of to-do's in quite a few months, but I never stopped coming back and checking in, see what had happened. I feel like this has been my pattern for years, life getting in the way and me being too stubborn to let wife steamroll me down. And I don't want that to change, because the people I met through FoF have been some of the best friends I've made. Staying up late, talking nonsense on the c-box and just feeling plain silly and not caring.

I miss all of that. But I also realized that I have to be realistic as well. I was a part of the staff for awhile, and that was some of the funnest time I've had at FoF, but that ended as well because of my life outside of FoF. After that, I "woke up and smelled the coffee." I'll be graduating in less than two years, which means scholarships to apply for and college essays to write. My homework load isn't that bad, but I'm so much more involved with my new school. People here have accepted more than people did at my last school, and I feel like I belong. I live at the school more than home, so it's like the school's become my second home. Or I hang out with my friends, and get invited to things and actually feel a part of something.

But even with all of that, I'll never forget everything this site has done for me. It's given me friends that share so much of my interests its uncanny. FoF improved my writing, and from my first bio to my last bio, I can see so much improvement, and it can only keep improving from there. This site's given me so much determination to continue what I love to do. Because even when my real life friends had given up on me at times, you guys were always there to help me pick up the pieces and figure what to do after I messed something up.

That being said, I've messed things up on here, got in the middle of bizarre fights and been pretty stupid to obvious things. When I first came here, I was an naive little kid who, honestly, is everything people hate on the internet these days. But you guys helped me mature, and I can never give you enough credit for that. Once I became comfortable with everyone, I realized how much I really had in common with everyone. And from that...I don't know, I guess I nerd-bonded. (: Being with everyone here was so much easier for me to talk to, whether it was because I knew more about you, or because I could talk to a screen easier than I could a person.

So, from the bottom of my heart...I really want to thank everyone who's come and gone from this site. You've befriended me, been my shoulder to cry on and always had a logical solution to so many of my problems.

It's been a great run, and I can't think of anywhere else I would rather have been. Sorry it's not longer, I could talk on and on...but I don't think I need to ramble on about things you already know. c:

[thistle]

Oh God, I haven't been here in forever. I was going through my inbox and found the email that was sent out which brought me back here. Can't believe FoF's finally retiring after all this time, and that I joined this site when I was like, eleven. Now I'm fourteen, whaa? That's insane. I know I never really contributed very much-I was super shy haha and just enjoyed watching everyone else having fun tbh-and I left a super long time ago, but this site is really amazing and will always have a little nostalgic place in my heart. Thanks guys, for giving me an awesome environment to improve my writing skills and dealing with my awkwardness while transitioning through my preteen years. <3 Best of luck !

[Ember]

So here I am, writing to you. So much has happened to me and I've probably disappeared off the face of this planet..this saddens me sooo much to see this beautiful place reitre. I want to come back so bad, and now I finally have time too. I'm not the little girl I was when I first joined..I'm 16 now and going into my senior year of highschool. My heart breaks to see this... I cannot let go of this because it was a huge part of my heart and always at the back of my mind...

I still love you guys very much and I promise I didn't abandon you. Cloudie...Pyro...Amber (My twin with an A)....Rolo.....Oh God I love you guys, I do not know if you will see this but I do love you.

I love you guys.

~Ember

[rixyrex]

this is me trying not to cry.

add me on skype you guys.

rixyrex, same as on here.

i love you all more than i can express. i've been with FOF since the very beginning, when we were just a little guild on neopets. i'm so pleased with how much our family has grown and flourished, and i want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of it. this may sound crazy, but you guys have gotten me through so much. i remember years ago, when i had nobody irl to talk to and when i felt like the world was against me. this is where i always came to escape reality and connect with people who i knew loved me <3

it's really difficult for me to see the site decaying. i sincerely hope that all of you will keep in touch with me, and if anyone talks to slug, PLEASE tell her i miss her and i want to talk to her again.

i love you all more than life itself. stay golden, my friends <3

[|| allie]

This thread makes me really sweaty.

Anyway um FoF just popped into my head like five minutes ago so I came here because I missed it a lot and now I'm thinking about everyone I used to be friends with on here and all the fun stupid things i did and idk I just really miss everyone you're all so great and lovely and wonderful and you were there for me when no one else was and this post is just a bunch of gibberish but it's from the heart, man. I joined FoF when I was twelve and now somehow I'm seventeen and I don't know how that happened. Um if anyone reads this it'd be nice to catch up with you so um yeah I guess message me for my number because I don't do much social networking. Ok yeah bye.

[Hardy]

oh man.

ooooh man.

here i am, half past 4 in the morning. work in three hours, left it four hours ago. making a resume for a new full time job, when bam, it hits me.

Forest of Fate.

jesus, when did i even join? before i had my job. when i was 16? 15? i dont even remember. i just, miss you all so much. you guys were my very first internet friends. i dont even know what to say, you know?

i dont even go by hardy on the internet anymore. i dont role play, hell, i dont even really read anymore. started playing team fortress 2, moved up at work, met some other people, became good friends.

but they arent you guys. i remember coming home from school and getting on the computer and going straight to fof to see what was going on, what post i told cloudie i was going to type up but never did, what trouble slug and i were going to cause, start some drama because hot damn i was good at that. ( you guys are so nice and never said how much of a brat i was ;w; ) never did my homework. why do homework when i can talk to my internet friends?

its still four am, and here i am, crying about old memories. i was told i wouldnt miss high school, and i dont, worst time of my life, but i do miss coming home and talking to all of you. getting out of high school, i talk to maybe three friends out of all the friends i made in high school, but, there people i met on the internet, they never seemed to go away. sure, they faded away, but never just...left. i dunno. its hard to explain.

like, allie, im willing to catch up! send me a message for my number and/or facebook. ill got a new skype, pantasticbacon ( i go by pan now, but you guys can still call me hardy, of course <3 ), just send me message saying who you are. i really miss all of you, and would love to talk to you all again. ;-; i know most of you are older now, in college and have jobs, most likely, but i hope you can find some time to talk to me again.

seriously, i love you all, i miss you all, and i wish i could just send out some big fof beam in the sky to summon you all.

i hope things are going well for all of you, you all have a wonderful life, and seriously

BABIES COME BAAACK
YOU CAN BLAME IT
ALL
ONNN
MEEEE ;O;

- hardy