Veez, well spoken. I agree with everything said.
Stalker, I agree with you, as well.
In all, I think that this community is unique in that we not only show respect to the Admins and gratefulness to Thom for keeping our forums alive and our hopes alive for new content, but we respect each other - a lot. Obviuosly, many of us know of other forums where trolls, flamers, and whatnot are allowed free reign to do what they do. Here, we tend to give folks the benefit of the doubt, and try to find common ground. When we can't find that ground, we tend to abide by "game and let game."
Veez, you made some other comments, especially towards our group being good traders. I would say that, on some occassions, we go beyond good to downright awesome. I know that I have, personally, dipped into my stocks to provide someone with a long-sought, nigh impossible to find figure. I know that others have done similar things. I constantly see awesome feedback on Uncle Thom's trading post, and have yet to see, personally, anyone warn anyone else that so-and-so is not a good trader.
I happen to be fortunate enough to live in a high-UWZ-activity area. I can find a game on any given day, and two or more on the weekends. Further, there are three or more cons a year where I can get together with 10 or more to play tournies. Obviously, the smaller gaming groups play no less a part in keeping our game alive. The European players may play the game a bit differently, but none can contest their devotion and zeal for the game. I only wish that I could get over there to experience it personally.
Can we, as players and devotees of the game do more to ensure that this game is around for a long time? That's a tough question. Most of us feel that just by being here and promoting the camaraderie and fun we have being players of the game is the best that we can do. Others believe that we can influence the future of the game. Still others call for more. My opinion is that as long as we play the game, treat each other with the same level of respect and friendship with which we, ourselves, would like to be treated, then this community will carry the game with it.
Many new forum members have continued to add to our ranks, and have felt welcomed to the point that they are adding content to the forum, and adding ideas, suggestions, scenarios, battle reports and advice. To see new members is amazing. To see the caliber of members that we seem to be attracting is no less so. The fact that we are all playing a game that has seen little support (not a derogatory comment) speaks to not only the game, but to the community as a whole. The outward image that we present from here must be good, otherwise, this entire system would whither.
There is one theme that contiues to emerge from this forum - unity. We are all working toward the same goal, and we all believe that we can see that this game will survive, eventually prosper and continue to bring enjoyment to us. As far as I see it, the state of this union is as it has been - united.