Over the last week, RaiderCon has played host to dozens of players coming together to discuss raiding from various angles and perspectives. It gave a chance from many to think critically about raiding, be nostalgic about the past, and reminiscence of the future. I want to thank everyone who helped make RaiderCon so special: the many people who helped make it happen for months prior (I'm looking at you TBH), the wonderful speakers who spent time sharing their valued opinions, the diligent judges of the Raiding Hall of Fame, and the 100+ attendees who took it all and accumulated nearly 2,000 posts on the forum.
Over the next couple of days, I will post an official closing speech that will be posted here as while as the forum. The forum will remain open for people to still post and share ideas.
One announcement I'd like to make now is the first inductees into the Raiding Hall of Fame. Over time, an off-site forum will be created as a space to honor all of the inductees and a committee will be created to help decide on future judges and ensuring that the important gameplayers of history are not forgotten. Until then, please help me welcome the first class of the Raiding Hall of Fame. To be honored into the first class shows that these players have been some of the greatest contributors to raiding. Please remember that this is the first class and there were naturally several deserving players that were not inducted. In time, I am confident that we will see many more fantastic players grace the Hall.
We had two nominees that received a tie for sixth (still gaining the required percentage of votes), so both will be inducted. They are powerhouses of raiding history and I stand here in awe as I announce these seven players to you.
First Class of the Raiding Hall of Fame
Red Back: Without the incredible efforts of RB, The Black Hawks would not exist today. He was the second founder of TBH and has served as the Commander for nearly a decade. He has contributed to several notable raids include Forest many years ago that reignited TBH, and most recently, serving as the sleeper for the raids of Hippiedom and Hell. RB is respected by all players and represents a role model all raiders should look up to.
Savaer: He was a powerhouse in raiding and for Unknown, serving in several leadership positions. He helped keep pure raiding alive during the post-NS2 era when nearly all raiding organizations were inactive. He contributed to several large scale raids including organizing or helping other Incognitan officers organize successful hits against major historical defender regions including Anticapitalist Alliance, Allied States of Euroislanders, and The Proletariat Coalition.
Evil Wolf: EW showed that pure raiders could be more that just players who raid. The second founder of LWU, EW has been one of raiding's leaders with raids including Lazarus and Anarchy, helped destroy Nazi Europe, and has served as delegate of TNP among other leadership positions. EW's political and strategic efforts has set him apart for years.
Of crazed: OC has been a bridge for many modern raiders of the past. He has had many impressive feats as a former Field Marshal of DEN including helping to lead the raid of The Rejected Realms with Taijitu, the Novus Orsa raid, and serving as the sleeper in the Catholic raid in 2012. OC has shown raiders time and time again how to be an outstanding, whole gameplayer.
Gest: Gest has served as a keystone in raiding over the past four years. Without him, TBR and now the current DEN would not have lasted to become one of the premier raiding organizations in NS history. Under his leadership, long standing occupations and countless tag raids have occurred. Gest is a shining example of sturdy consistency and a strategic leader in raiding.
Onderkelkia: As a player, Onder has greatly contributed to raiding over many years through the cooperation of several imperialist groups with raiders. He has led several large raids over the years including the 2012 raid of Belgium, which led to the raid of TRR, the first time a operation was used to overtake the sinker. Onder is a exceptional representation of a gameplayer who does not need to be a raider to positively impact raiding.
General Franks: Franks, a former DEN Field Marshal, was a raiding giant during his time who greatly influenced modern raiding. DEN's lasting reputation, in large part, is due to his efforts of bringing stealth raiding, and a visionary mind, to the group. He started The Jolly Rodger, a raiding group that solely focused on Update Raiding (something unheard of at the time). In addition, he created The Den, Ile de France, and The Old Raiding Club. As one judge commented, "He was universally loathed by defenders, and feared by natives and gameplayers alike."
