To who it may concern...

I am departing from the Byond community. It's been about a year since the beginning of Final Fantasy - The Hunting Grounds, and I feel I need to move on. I enjoyed working on the project (and a few others) and I hope it will continue to advance. Pogrus is taking over as manager of the project and version 5 will likely be out some time in November. I would ask the supporters not to vanish, please. Thank you.

I'd like to say a few things about the Byond community and the people I have met here. I think this place has a lot of potential, some of which has been applied well. There are some fantastic creators out there who just need a little time to put up their stuff. To the players of Byond, I can only say thank you; there would not be much point in designing a game if there were none to enjoy it. But I would also like to point out to you all that where you place your support is where the supply will come from. A slim demand will give you a slim supply of games. Look around some time. There's a lot more than a single theme redone many times. If that's what you all enjoy...well, that's your choice. Stretch out a little. Tell people on the boards what you want. Maybe even do it yourself. Either way, existing creators will thank you.

For those who have completed projects out there, the works of art that are now being enjoyed, keep going. It will only get better. Thanks to the moderators for putting in the effort to keep things in order, and thanks to Dan and Tom for making this all possible. Imagine how many people you have influenced through your work. That is a dream come true.

I hope Byond prospers. It has so much potential. There are a lot of good people in this place. I've never met an online community revolving around simple game designing as involved as this one. The enthusiasm really is a sign that people enjoy it here (hundreds of people online at any given time). And that's what counts. I do hope, however, that it expands in new directions. I have spoken with many (and I agree with them) that certain aspects of Byond have made it somewhat stagnant - I'm talking to the creators out there. Throw a team together! Working alone is a difficult (and somewhat lonely) task, especially considering how many people there are here willing and able to get involved. I don't care what people say about the difficulties of working in teams - it's faster, more efficient, and a hell of a lot more fun. Let's see some mega-projects folks. Enough of these shabby attempts. Build Your Own Net Dream. If your dream here is for yourself only, then that's okay for you. But I think all creators want to see their game(s) played. By hundreds. At one time. I know I did...still do (although the current net connection makes that seem like just a little more than an exaggeration, but you get my point). Lot of potential here. Use it. There's a lot of negativity around here too, it seems. And it's easy to find. But it's not enough to stop what really ever made a difference on here. It's a community. An online community, an impossibility only years ago. It's hard to say don't take it for granted. But don't. Enjoy it. None of you may ever meet each other for real - that doesn't matter. You can still make and be friends, even if you're just text messaging each other. Heck - Light Samurai even mentions "new friends" on his game.

To the supporters of The Hunting Grounds and The Brotherhood, my friends, good luck. I enjoyed the msn messenger antics. For the non-supporters, good luck to you as well. Pseudo-motivational speech crap aside, I guess I don't really have a whole lot more to write. Keep having fun, folks. Good luck for those going back to school. Take it easy...

-Dagolar

p.s.- I can be e-mailed at [email protected]

I'll keep in touch.

p.s.- Please, if anyone has anything negative to say in response, just for once, for me, save it. You already have my gratitude for doing so.