Warrior General Games

A brief history:

VKS was a S1 Oceania A team in the Zeta Conference. The first 3 seasons saw VKS rise to Pro, taking the conference title every season but never a league trophy... all 3 championship losses due to botched FG AI I believe. Once at the Pro level, we made some awesome friendly rivalries which ultimately resulted in some great GLB friendships. Those friendships also resulted in some of the powerhouse teams across GLB today.

Seasons later, after a rebuild and fighting back up to pro, we finally landed the ever elusive gold (AAA). The VKS core group is still comprised of some of the same S1 agents who either played for or against us. This rebuild also saw VKS bumped to the Alpha conference which was heartbreaking at the time but ultimately didn't matter. We've found fantastic teams, players, and agent in both conferences.

Unfortunately, one season prior to what I would call our prime, it's time to close shop.

Copied from the VKS forum:

Originally posted by CableJelly
Yes, it's true. It's time for me to walk away from the team owner and half-ass OC/DC positions as each season finds us needing 1 or the other. This is not an easy decision nor one I made on a whim. I spoke to Turk about this a couple of days ago and have been putting a lot of thought into the different possible outcomes and options.

I just don't have the time needed to run this team, especially from a DC point of view, in the manner it deserves to be run. After spending a day away from GLB, enjoying time with my family, and doing things other than scouting and planning I realized that with the little free time that I do have, I'd much rather do the things that matter in life. I did put out some feelers in an attempt to land a replacement on the DC front but it seems that most teams are in the same position. It's become an extremely difficult position to hold (if you're doing it properly) and a lot more time consuming than it should be. Especially for a 20 minute end result (if you watch the game in it's entirety) which could end up in a devastating loss anyway simply because GLB is still seriously flawed,

In addition to the above reasons there's also personal enjoyment factors. The fact is, I really don't find much enjoyment here any more. The forums are dead (pretty much everywhere), the sim is atrocious, planning and coordinating is more in depth than I'd like, and overall the game is becoming a chore rather than a good time. Hell, even player building has lost it's excitement. With so many changes season to season as well as different owners/coordinators wanting different things, I'm not even ending up with the players I set out to create.

Like I said above, I did look @ options. One of which was to run this through S19 then call it quits if I couldn't find a respectable DC. Looking @ the calendar, that's no longer an option with the up coming holidays. I really hate to pull the plug with so many of us just hitting our primes (the core rebuild guys still have 3 boosts) but overall it the fairest thing for everyone.

I'd like to thank each of you for your part in the VKS franchise and history as well as hanging in there through the "rebuilding years". Thanks for building, scouting, adapting, and helping out when needed. Also, a huge thanks to Turk who has been my go-to guy for just about everything needed to keep VKS running smoothly.

We have secured a playoff spot this season and I'd like to go out with a bang. I'm not abandoning the season and I hope nobody feels like I'm abandoning you specifically. I'm just at that point where 1 more run for the gold and closing up shop makes sense to me.

As far as my personal players and my role in GLB, I will still be around. Everyone who has 1 of my players on their team will continue to have the player(s) boosted and active as long as you need them. That, I do have time for. It's not that I don't enjoy the game at all, I just enjoy it more in a less time consuming, simpler manner now. I'll be retiring a good portion of my VKS players and keeping a couple around for free agency offers,

Those of you who signed contracts which slipped though will have S18 D40 contracts sent back out so we all drop off of the roster when the season is done.


Thanks again to everyone for everything. It's because of you that I've hung around so long to begin with. Keep in touch!



That pretty much sums it up right there. It's been a long strange journey.....

Best of luck to you. Your team is one that I was hoping to get a shot to play in our prime, as we have not been able to beat you guys in three tries.

BTW, if any of your players/agents are looking for homes, Devonport will be needing some players for next season.

I've seen this type of post all too much recently.

You have a top team and it sucks to see you guys fold. Best of luck in the playoffs.

Flying the flag, yet again, at half mast today.

Damn. Sounds so similar to what I myself had to do with my team a few seasons ago. "Chore" instead of "fun" is something I am hearing more and more from the glb gray beards.

Powers that be, take note of what is happening to the die hards. You're losin' us.

CJ, very respectable to step away when you know its right for you. Also much respect from a GLB head like myself that knows getting a team to this point and being successful is no easy task. GL the rest of the season and GL after.

Having been one of the rivals early on with Samoa, to working with you on Gold Coast Corsairs (which was, for a couple of seasons, Oceania's "all-star agent" team over in Africa), and then becoming a member of VKS, I'll definitely miss seeing the team around here

For posterity, Samoa's three games against Vanuatu:

Season 1, Loss 30-13.
Season 6, Win 20-16
Season 7, Win 30-3

The rivalry started season ONE in Oceania A, and when Samoa got to O-Pro in season 6, resumed for two seasons.

Originally posted by Otega
Flying the flag, yet again, at half mast today.



Same.

I have owned Sumatra since season 4 and I have to admit there have been times I have thought of hanging it up. Getting the right coordinators in place makes all the difference in the world.

Best of luck to you Cable Jelly!

CJ

I hear you all the way man. As a S1 Oceania guy myself, It's been great having the VKS's around for so long. I know Sydney had some good games with VKS along the way and we even had you and some of your players help us out some seasons back.

I wish you and your dots all the best wherever and whatever you pursue after this season.

Originally posted by CableJelly


That pretty much sums it up right there. It's been a long strange journey.....

Dude

Dont quit. Just play it casual.

If you have a good build you should still be able to make the play offs with the AI on autopilot. There is no moral obligation to spend hours planning for a game. If you do not feel like it or have the time, dont.

That way the team is in place if you find a DC and your players all have their team to play for.

Originally posted by yello1
Originally posted by CableJelly



That pretty much sums it up right there. It's been a long strange journey.....

Dude

Dont quit. Just play it casual.

If you have a good build you should still be able to make the play offs with the AI on autopilot. There is no moral obligation to spend hours planning for a game. If you do not feel like it or have the time, dont.

That way the team is in place if you find a DC and your players all have their team to play for.



Having been around CJ for as long as I have I can flat out tell you that is not his MO. No way he would do this thing half assed. Though I am sad to se him and the team go I am glad he will still be around in a capacity that suits him. One of the true good dudes I have met ni this game and had the pleasure of interacting with.

If you need a casual team one of my GM's has one with 70 Mil in AA that you can take over.

Originally posted by Tareton
Having been around CJ for as long as I have I can flat out tell you that is not his MO. No way he would do this thing half assed. Though I am sad to se him and the team go I am glad he will still be around in a capacity that suits him. One of the true good dudes I have met ni this game and had the pleasure of interacting with.

The thing is that he is quitting, giving up, walking away from something he spent years building up.

I do not have the time to run the OT, not at all. But I can't see just deleting and writing off years of effort and preparation. I'll keep the team going as at high a level as I can. Eventually I either figure out how to squeeze it into the schedule more (and what the heck to do!) or I find a good OC DC team.

To each his own, IMO. I understand your point yello, as I feel the same way about Devonport. I have put in a ton of time to get where we are and although I find that I have much less time to devote to it right now, I refuse to stop until I see it through.

At the same time, several friends of mine have walked away from GLB and needed to do it "cold turkey". While I could never do that, I respect their decision. Everyone is different.

In the end, this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Hopefully, the time and work put into VKS over the last 18 seasons came with a lot of fun for those guys. If so, then he it was not time wasted, regardless of how close they are to making WL or whatever their goals were.

If I had to walk away today, I would do so having thoroughly enjoyed the last 8 seasons, and mostly enjoying the 8 prior (there were some moments when I about walked away). I hope that CJ can say the same and wish him luck wherever he may roam.

Sorry to hear that...

does that mean you won't be game planning the rest of the season

Just Kidding, I hung up my own team a couple of seasons ago that I had from S3, I keep only my causal team now, as it is much easier to plan for (but harder to recruit for).

Good luck finding something else that is fun to you now! I know what it feels like when something that should be fun just becomes a chore! Even though we at Stockholm started in WE and moved to Oceania later (not by choice mind you ) we still find it enjoyable here and it's never good to see good teams die.