Over the past few weeks, I've been following a discussion on rec.games.empire concerning the Empire Hall of Fame. My immediate thinking was to respond in kind to some of the posts I read, but then I would come off petty, something that, even my years of flaming on r.g.e, I was not. My next inclination was to tell a parable of some sort, but it's been years since I've done that in this forum, and I wasn't sure if my point would come completely across. So I've decided to address these issues straight up.

Before I answer some of the concerns that people have raised, I'd like to establish a few things about what I am going to say. Some of you already know who I am. Others of you have never seen me before. I would just like to warn you that in the following essay, I will be speaking of "the good ole days (tm)". I do not do this to belittle the accomplishments of todays modern empire player. I do not wish to insinuate that the games back then were more important, or more significant, or more fun for the individual than they are today. I am just trying to speak about what I know, and what I have seen and experienced, which happened a long time ago. It is not my intention to offend anyone in my writing. I urge you to give me the benefit of the doubt and read all that I have to say, before you dismiss my words as that of an old relic and move on with your life.

All essays submitted are the property of the break! periodical and the Empire Hall of Fame.

The Empire Hall of Fame © 1996, Doug Pitters. All rights reserved. You may copy this work by electronic methods. Non electronic copying, hard copies for the purpose of distribution and/or selling, is strictly prohibited without author's express written consent. No changes may be made to the content of this edition