Busy day here - two posts in one and I gotta fly - errr run.
For Naso:
Yes sir, many, many, years ago DoK created the format of scenario play. He was also therefore first CM to exist in the world of online flight sims. He also invented the **persona of the CM** This is hard to describe but the bottom line was a lot of work goes into those things. People need to show up when they are supposed to, go where they need to go, and fly the mission they are ordered to fly, in order for the "game" the designer had in mind to be properly afoot.
Dok used the iron fisted CM peronae to keep his ducks all in a row (and off flying when they were supposed to). There is a trickle down effect even today (at least there was to the end of AW) that locking horns with a CM during or about an event is taking your life into your own hand (hehe).
I started in AW just as DoK was leaving - but his influence loomed (like a dark shadow) over all the scenario play - at least till the end of the SMG (scenario masters guild)
When I co-designed Ploesti! - I considered DoK's archives required schooling.
(Also DoK and the crowd he hung out with in old AW, developed a certain style of newsgroup flaming that lives on. Anyone can spew vitreole at an idiot - but to be really, *really* good - your fiery rant has to be both articulate AND funny - to everyone else BUT the hapless victim. In that regard I think DoK might be the all time master, though I'm sure he'll correct me if he actually learned that art from another of the old masters.)
For DoK:
The TopGunnz squad was "the ultimate" troll set up for AW. I think the idea was hatched at SB's Dallas CON and then the gig was set up behind the scenes. The truth was finally revealed to all at the following CON in Indy. No one leaked the secret for the whole year.
The bottom line: A fairly large group of killer aces (the list included BB, GE, SB, RM, HT, DD and more - SB prolly has the list handy)
donned shades and pretended to be a new group of kids that were "gud at flight sims" who came over to AW as a group. These mokes trolled the boards with the usual noob drivel and patter - deliberately chest thumping and pushing all the hot-buttons of the community to piss everyone off. They were setting themselves up to be "dweeb-hunted".
Only problem was, when ever anyone (or any squad) went up to teach these idiot noobs a few lessons - they had thier bellybutton handed to them on a platter. It was really funny stuff. Prolly the last of the "really great trolls" in AW. Grey Eagle did up the squad logo - it was awesome of course. (can someone please link it so DoK can see it?)
OK - back to work - I have a door to install.
-W
