I've been working the wheel since early on and have always looked forward to meeting other CMDRs in the theater of our operations. This has ranged from crickets (as others put it) to having encounters and interactions from just-passing to sharing CZs, etc. Yesterday, however, was special...
First let me say, having spent much of my time in ED playing on my own (albeit well above 99% of the time in OPEN), that it's really cool to see ships' behavior from a 3rd person point-of-view (it's like being a newbie while not a newbie) and that there's something intangible but no-less great about sharing a CZ with another CMDR.
After running into a CMDR two days in a row while working the CZ in LTT5455, yesterday I found myself alone for a couple of rounds. Then I happened upon our own
@CMDR Kai Zen a couple if times in-system. He stopped in at the CZ and I watched those long-range beams reach out into space to pierce NPC ships as we worked the CZ - that was GLORIOUS! I don't think I've ever finished a CZ so quickly.
Somebody means business!
The day before, I watched the CMDR's pack-hounds fly thru space in their squirrely way for the first time in-person. Really cool.
I had another quiet couple of rounds in the CZ and, after finishing one and dropping in again to start another, I was sitting around taking a breather and a sip from my cupholder
, admiring the message from the Pilot's Federation of my
promotion to deadly. Watch out, I'm
deadly now
- mostly to myself probably!
Next thing I know, three CMDRs drop in to the CZ. Before I know it, I have a
repair limpet on the way (even though I'm at 85%), a
wing-invite in my message box, new blue and purple icons on my scanner and new indicators on my HUD! We go to work, wake out, go to work again, and I have a
friend-request in my message panel.
This was like being a newbie again - in the best way possible. It was my first wing, all the cool info on the screen and not knowing what half of them meant was
exhilarating. It added another dimension to the game for me. Right after we parted ways I took a break to watch the Wing-Training video! There were lots of "OH-that's-what-that-was!" and "AH, that's a handy feature!" going on as I watched.
That was a great night of fun. Now I had better have my mic at the ready for the next time, and I'll be more likely to offer to wing-up when I see someone. All I can say is
many many thanks CMDRs, (you know who you are), and a
hearty o7! You made my day and I hope I helped make yours.
Didn't I just say, this is a great group?
Go get 'em! Have fun! Make someone's day...