It never ceases to amaze me how people in this guild act and react around the holiday season. Some of the most unlikely candidates get holiday-happy to the point where you just want to stab them with a pointy candy cane. Other, normally amiable members, turn into such bah humbug fanatics that you want to ask if they have a reindeer up their ass. The ones that surprise me the most, though, are the panic-stricken people who are convinced that the guild is crumbling because certain in-game events are harder to pull off than normal thanks to people being busy with holiday obligations.

It would be wonderful if everyone would come to realize that it's healthy for our guild friends to have parties to go to and shopping for family to do. If anything, we should all take advantage of the minor downtime and go get some of our own holiday things in. The guild isn't going anywhere and we encourage everyone to stab people with candy canes and shove reindeer's up stranger's butts. FoE la la la la la la la la LA!

Aion - Tono

Happy holidays Aion players and players to be. As we start to see our players hit the higher levels, we can expect the abyss to start warming up. It's time to show them what being FoE is all about.
We have our first set of 50's. Congratulations to them as this is a major feat. As we start to see the bigger guilds shutting down due to the recent bannings, this would be a great time to start picking up new players - please contact Illuvitar if you need any information regarding this great game.

Our Aion players have been working day and night to supply mats to our crafters. Most of our crafters have advanced past the expert levels and the rewards are starting to reach the members. This is an exciting time in this action-packed high-flying game with many new changes coming in the next few months including new quests and player housing.

Be safe this holiday season. We will see you in the abyss

This months MVP is Wardz - his determination to heal is noted and appreciated even when he is not able to receive any personal gain to his level or himself. This selflessness is what makes Wardz one helluva team player - Gratz Wardz!

Fallen Earth – Gonazz

November was a decisive and growing month for FoE in Fallen Earth, the independently developed MMORPG set in a post-apocalypse Grand Canyon region of the U.S. The month opened with FoE defeating all comers in sector 3 causing them to retreat to sector 2 to lick their wounds. This was followed by a smooth strategic merger with the players from Xtreme Intruders joining FoE in FE giving us a strong fighting presence in both the s2 AND s3 offices. Props to Luciano for helping to manage a swift and effective transition of his group of killers into bleeding red and black FoE. Our enemies can run but they can't hide, tyvm.

It has been a month of fierce competition for territory, access to resources and general epeenery. FoE has formed up its PvP players in both key sectors, equipped them with end-game glory, and has suspended all coordinated operations to ensure a target-rich environment. Thanks to Kirp for stepping up to lead FoE Medical Corp and for making sure our guys in the field stay up or get up quickly if they do go down.

FoE has also been having a great time producing high quality vids of some of the action and comedy in game. Check out the HD videos of our hijinks and shenanigans (Thanks Ganji and Prometheus!).

Fist Of The Empire Strikes Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6KPWF0yl8

Fist Of The Empire Strikes Back II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26gmIDTEJQ

Fallen Earth FoE rolling through Traders Flat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heod-pH4y34

Fallen Earth FoE Thriller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4dgwdRSafU

The 7th MSC is also proud to announce the launch of a new regular FE podcast through FoE’s Guildnetwork.net. Props to Medory and Slacker Dan for all their efforts bringing “Apocalypso” to life.

Apocalypso Podcast Episode Zero (Fallen Earth)
http://www.guildnetwork.net/guildnetwork/?q=node/151

Apocalypso Podcast Episode One (Fallen Earth)
http://www.guildnetwork.net/guildnetwork/?q=node/152

So if you’re interested in fighting in FoE’s forged edge in FE, 1st Platoon (s3) and 2nd Platoon (s2) is taking on all comers in the wasteland, or if you have to be that master crafter then support them by volunteering for Fistwerks – don’t be shy and sound off! Come get some FoE glory in the 'Pocalypse.

The 7th MSC MVP for November goes to Wups (the limey bastard) for bringing his meta-gaming goodness to the 7th MSC. Rarely have we seen this combination of knowledge, capability and discretion in a player. A force to be reckoned with in PvP, an incredibly insightful player who's good fun on coms, Wups has given much to this MSC at this crucial time on the server.

Star Wars Galaxies by Lucius

First, a quick guild summary: we have approximately 150 toons in the guild that represents about 30 active players. The guild holds 4 rank 5 cities complete with shuttles. The wealth of the guild is measured in hundreds of billions of credits, hundreds of millions of resources, immeasurable rare and extinct historical items, and halls full of supplies.

November started out very slow for the guild with limited personnel on line and limited rebels for PVP. However, the last few days of the month have seen an upswing in violence and mayhem. One of our members "defected" to help organize the rebels to try and bring better PVP back to the server. On Saturday the 28th the guild held the Trials of Obi Lucius with the goal of earning a mando jet pack among other prizes. Some very good duels were had although nobody won the jet pack due to very hard circumstances. As a side benefit, we killed several bounty hunters who foolishly wandered into the arena.

The MVP goes to Eiatta for completely stunning and confusing the guild dueler Mikeey during the Trails of Obi Lucius. As a result he had the longest running duel of the trials and deserves not only MVP but most improved PVPer as well.

New Members

Congratulations and welcome to all our new members!
Aion Inductees:
Solbadguy
Grounded
Klerix
Lokasenni
Cleptic
Arrowz
Dubs

FE Inductees:
Cyn
Ganji
Haunt
Kazu
Perry Noid
Prometheus
Titania
Wups

As a reminder, December's Inductions will be held on the 6th at 2 pm Eastern/11 am Pacific. Please contact your S1 recruitment officer for further details and instructions.

**Snit's Job Finding Service**

Many of our members are in need of decent, steady work where they are required to do very little and have almost no skills (internet access wouldn't hurt either). Fortunately, we have a master headhunter in our midst – Snit! He's known for working tirelessly (don't laugh) to find gainful employment for even the most useless, untrained, unmotivated members. There should be no shame in seeking his assistance – he knows what it's like because he's been there... and never really left. Please email Snit to get the aid you need now - snitfinallygotajob@snitworks.org

From the Eye to the Fist - Star Trek Online by Momodawgy

As a trekkie for the majority of my life, I was real excited to see this new MMO title - I could imagine living the adventures that I recall from the many series and movies that Gene Roddenberry brought to life and made us all realize that the world may be larger than what we have seen in our everyday experiences. It taught us tolerance of other races and factions, that we're all striving to complete some complex mission, and it taught us that no matter how big a jam you got into - with teamwork and perseverance you could see your way to the end of a problematic situation with the knowledge that, although vast, space IS the final frontier.

This MMO has much to offer the gamer - starting as a cadet and moving your way through the levels to the Admiral of a spaceship is no easy task. The missions are issued and you work your way through levels and skills and ships and, oh yeah, a virtual ocean of sleek starcraft to sweep you off to your next adventure and, oh yeah, these ships are customizable!

Created by Cryptic, this title offers a lot and has recently been released to Closed Beta but there are sign-ups still available, just go to http://www.startrekonline.com

**Thork's Christmas Revival Weekend**

We all know Thork for his lengthy sermons about how best to prepare our souls for the life that awaits us basking in God's eternal love. Well now he's decided to offer his very first three day revival weekend with special emphasis on the reason for the season – the baby Jesus! Thork has multiple workshops and gatherings planned to help us all become more like God and do the good works he put us here for. Contact Thork for further details and please be sure to reserve your spot as they will go fast. reverandthork@godisafourletterword.biz

Gonazz’s Guide to GuildNetwork.Net

Happy Thanksgiving, FoE! Hope you had your fill of turkey and all the fixin’s! Guildnetwork.net is Fist of the Empire’s blog site dedicated to MMO gaming, guilds and the button-monkeys who can’t seem to get enough of those kinds of trimmings. It’s part confessional, part info-tainment with contributions by FoE members that are chock-full of humor, and sincere insight into the world of MMO gaming and online culture.

Singling out favorite new submissions each month isn’t easy and please keep in mind that all the blog entries are good fun. These are the just ones that hit home with me since I can so relate from my own experiences in MMO gaming and online culture.

Hoops by GN_Kelly, October 30 2009
http://www.guildnetwork.net/guildnetwork/?q=node/147

This submission sure hits the mark for me because I too had some technical issues this month just after my warranty expired on one of my video cards and my laptop. A humorous article on the rock of Sisyphus that is keeping your PC gear current was just the consolation that the Dr. ordered. A nice story on PC problem solving, the unforeseen twists a simple upgrade brings and the frustrations that come along with both, makes for a good read for those who have been there.

PvP Conundrum by GN_David et al., November 11 2009
http://www.guildnetwork.net/guildnetwork/?q=node/149

A fun submission with a few other contributors sounding off on that grand ol’ topic of PvP in MMO’s. Carebears vs. gankers, killers vs. whiners and the goodness in between, this article has it all including PvF (player vs. fisherman) gameplay. Please note Kelly’s pithy last word here to keep it all in perspective. Good fun and good times from master debaters (pun intended).

Guild Mergers by GN_Chad, December 17 2008
http://www.guildnetwork.net/guildnetwork/?q=node/33

My necro article of the month. A solid discussion of the in’s and out’s of merging guilds in MMO’s. With good advice for aspiring and veteran leaders alike, this submission is a good read for when you cross the streams with player bases. It includes the major pitfalls to avoid and goals to pursue when your guild becomes home to another group, so as opposed to a source of drama, a merger becomes something that doesn’t weaken an MMO community but strengthens it.

Still looking forward to inflicting my picks each month on you from the FoE blogging goodness and still encouraging you to join the ranks of those who contribute to a blog site that will have you laughing, thinking and getting just that little bit more out of your gaming glory.

**FoE Hosts AA – again**

It's officially the holiday season and with that in mind FoE is reopening it's chapter of AA for the entire member base. It's hard to get through the next month of family demands and uncomfortable moments - like the work Christmas party. Many of us find ourselves trying to hide in a one man igloo of beer cans. We want you to know that FoE is here for you by holding bi-weekly meetings that cover topics such as “my mother-in-law is a real bitch” and “she left me on Christmas Eve” and “It will take me 25 years to pay off my holiday debts”. If you don't have a sponsor Mikeey, Yarpen, Blastkowitz, Duckyfeet, and Adron are currently accepting applications. We will see you there!

Another fine product brought to you by FoE Labs, LLC!

Snitfit - It's Thanksgivingish Time - Beware of Chicken Little

Well, here we go - the goddamn holidays are upon us and, among about 800 other superficially annoying holiday pains in the ass, it's time to start looking forward to the reactionary people that utterly convince themselves that because it was impossible to form an in-house 18 person activity during Kwanzaa that the guild is CLEARLY falling apart.

The reality is that, as hideously tedious as the holidays are, they are a HELL of a lot better than the months of January and February where all most of us have to look forward to is sleet, biting winds, skies the color of battleships, remembering how we (as a collective group of dorks) had set up our key bindings, and Valentines Day (which, if you're reading this, isn't likely to impact you at all one way or the other).

So, just take advantage of this little bit of down time and try to re-connect with your family and non-gaming friends - who knows, you may need to borrow some money from them in order to purchase the 2010 gaming mouse with the 18 buttons, joystick, 27 gigs of SSD memory, and Collector's Pouch that will likely be available right around Mother's Day.