I wasn't sure what to title this or even where it should go forum-wise, but maybe first I should introduce myself since I believe with the exception of old friends, most don't know me here. I'm Rayne, and I used to be a top 15 ara huns player around 10-11 years ago (highest rank was 8 for about a week, not my worst week of aoe though). That was back during a time when there were mostly hun wars, or occasional meso civs on ara. But more to the point of this topic in its entirety.
Ra documented his experiences somewhat when he came back to DE a few years ago here. I had a joke in my mind that if I ever came back to aoe, I'd like to do something similar since it seemed fun. That was much more of a joke though, as I never intended to ever play this game again. Low and behold however, I suppose this game humbles everyone who tells it never again. I've quit 3 times, only to return despite that I thought each time was truly the final farewell.
Another reason for all this is that I'm getting old. Not old by senior standards, but old for games as I've been playing them since I was five and I'm in my mid thirties. I've grinded 3 different games and managed to get nice ratings in all 3 of them when I realized something one day. All of that is going to rot away in my head one day when I no longer play games vs others. So why not share some of the things I've learned instead of allowing the inevitable decay to run its course, which essentially would make it all more of a completely useless experience? There's a chance it may be helpful somewhere to others. Or if not, maybe it makes for an interesting 3-5 minute read. I would just do it here even despite much lower activity the past few months, as I've mentioned before on aoezone that I always considered this place a home as strange as it sounds.
I would say this also isn't meant to be some road to 2k guide for instance, though 2k is a start. I would definitely like to return to where I was at being able to play some of my old friends in the top 50, or other known names I used to play often either privately or in rated. We'll see, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. This is for however far I get while I play somewhere around a 2-5 games a day. If some grind is required later to get higher (which I'd anticipate somewhere past 2k it will be), may have to where I'm able.
This would be based more off of 100 level increments in the rating system where it's more possible, when I'm not winning 30-50 pts for a game for example. Have no idea where that is as of yet, so some of the early levels will be grouped.
Also I'd mention some random thoughts in general about DE vs voobly for instance. Some things I've heard every now and then for years that I've found untrue so far at least. I'd include DE experiences in the next post that I've written beforehand, to not make this initial one too long. The next one will be very long though.
Ra documented his experiences somewhat when he came back to DE a few years ago here. I had a joke in my mind that if I ever came back to aoe, I'd like to do something similar since it seemed fun. That was much more of a joke though, as I never intended to ever play this game again. Low and behold however, I suppose this game humbles everyone who tells it never again. I've quit 3 times, only to return despite that I thought each time was truly the final farewell.
Another reason for all this is that I'm getting old. Not old by senior standards, but old for games as I've been playing them since I was five and I'm in my mid thirties. I've grinded 3 different games and managed to get nice ratings in all 3 of them when I realized something one day. All of that is going to rot away in my head one day when I no longer play games vs others. So why not share some of the things I've learned instead of allowing the inevitable decay to run its course, which essentially would make it all more of a completely useless experience? There's a chance it may be helpful somewhere to others. Or if not, maybe it makes for an interesting 3-5 minute read. I would just do it here even despite much lower activity the past few months, as I've mentioned before on aoezone that I always considered this place a home as strange as it sounds.
I would say this also isn't meant to be some road to 2k guide for instance, though 2k is a start. I would definitely like to return to where I was at being able to play some of my old friends in the top 50, or other known names I used to play often either privately or in rated. We'll see, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. This is for however far I get while I play somewhere around a 2-5 games a day. If some grind is required later to get higher (which I'd anticipate somewhere past 2k it will be), may have to where I'm able.
This would be based more off of 100 level increments in the rating system where it's more possible, when I'm not winning 30-50 pts for a game for example. Have no idea where that is as of yet, so some of the early levels will be grouped.
Also I'd mention some random thoughts in general about DE vs voobly for instance. Some things I've heard every now and then for years that I've found untrue so far at least. I'd include DE experiences in the next post that I've written beforehand, to not make this initial one too long. The next one will be very long though.