About Us {image:http://www.koolaid-ffxi.org/linkshell/space/Screenshots/thegang.jpg}\\ ~~The original KoolAid beta gang, circa 2003. Juhle is the photographer.~~ __How long has KoolAid been around?__ KoolAid was formed on the server formerly known as “Cactaur” in 2003 during the first two weeks of Final Fantasy XI’s American PS2 beta period (a few months before the PC beta players arrived). Because KoolAid was formed during the very first weeks of PS2 beta, it is therefore one of the oldest (if not the oldest) surviving North American FFXI linkshells. __What about the KoolAid website?__ Mashengo took the initiative to start the KoolAid website shortly after the linkshell was formed; the sole purpose of its creation was to allow our members to easily share any information that we discovered about the game with each other. As a happenstance, we were the only North American website at that time that had any information whatsoever related to the gameplay aspects of Final Fantasy XI (i.e. quests, missions, etc). However, since then, several english-language FFXI websites have emerged, many of them doing a significantly better job at distributing that deep wealth of gameplay information. The linkshell members who still continue to work on the KoolAid website do it in their spare time, solely out of love and dedication—none of them are paid for their time or their effort. Hopefully, the KoolAid website can continue to offer some level of insight and information, no matter how small, that isn’t covered anywhere else. Over the years, many of our mission and quest walkthroughs have been used elsewhere (sometimes highly paraphrased and other times… not); this has always been very flattering to us. __How did KoolAid form?__ Mashengo, Messiah (now Mesxiah), and Juhle met as young Lv.7s and 8s while cluelessly wandering around near the Fumaroles in South Gustaberg. This random, initial encounter was the catalyst that has since sparked countless hours of play time, dedicated friendships, tacit love, unconditional trust, and inexpressible amounts of fun. At around Lv.14, this inseparable trio was joined by the comedic duo of Esger and Trenholm (KoolAid’s circumstantial first shellholder) while attempting to farm Lizard Eggs from Steam Lizards in the Dangruf Wadi. These five individuals represent the significant, initial core members of the KoolAid family. Although the KoolAid roster has ebbed and flowed over the years, it still remains an extremely tight and close-knit group of individuals who are delighted to explore the wonderful universe of Final Fantasy XI and all that it has to offer. __What is the significance of the name KoolAid?__ It’s a reference to the old recruitment technique developed by Esger and Trenholm during Bastok’s “Wading Beasts” mission. As Lv.14s and lacking subjobs, the original five members (4 WAR and 1 WHM) were nearly too low to successfully farm Lizard Eggs from Dangruf Wadi’s Steam Lizards. Therefore, in order to entice passers-by to help join the crusade, impassioned pleas full of desperation were usually followed by tempting offers for free artificially-flavored soft drinks. Things typically played out like this:\\ \\ Passer-by: “No, thanks.”\\ Esger: “But, we have Kool-Aid, damn you! Kool-Aid!”\\ __What does KoolAid do?__ ~~ * ~~ KoolAid members are some of the most accomplished players on the Midgardsormr server—dedicated to exploring everything that Final Fantasy XI has to offer. We all get along well and like to think of ourselves as a big group of friends and supportive community. We have events from time to time—new and adventurous things to do as small or large groups, and when we can, we like to level and quest with each other. We often look to see who can use a crafting item before selling. We try to help each other attain our goals. To support that community spirit, it's important that we remain open-minded in our conversations, respect each other's point of view, and refrain from any unethical acts such as training or harassment. Most of our members are Rank 10 for every nation and have nearly completed all available quests and expansion missions. Several of our members are also 100 in a specific craftskill and have many subcrafts leveled to 60. KoolAid does quests, missions, crafting, BCNMs, ENMs, HNMs, NMs, Ballista, Dynamis, etc. However, first and foremost, KoolAid is a friendly, social linkshell. Take particular caution to note that we ~~are not~~ a HNM LS. We don’t agree with the politics and drama associated with that particular aspect of the game—although there are a couple of our members that belong to HNM LS on the side. We are not opposed to defeating any of the HNMs that Final Fantasy has to offer. However, you’re not likely to find any KoolAid members standing around in the rain or in the depths of some damp dungeon for hour after hour with 2,400 other people in the nearby vicinity, all competing for the pull. __How can I become a member of KoolAid?__ ~~ * ~~ Recruitment is largely open—we look for mature, good players, with a great attitude and who want to be a part of something unique. It's crucial to our core that any new members mesh well, so we have a standard two-week trial period where we get to know the new recruit and where he or she gets to know us. After that probationary period is up, the new member is given a permanent spot on the KoolAid roster. Although KoolAid is not governed by any one individual, leadership is comprised of the shellholder (Mesxiah), and the following sackholders: Mashengo, Juhle, and Esger. All decisions (member adding, removing, direction) are made by committee/majority. If you have any concerns about another member or want to propose a new member, please feel free to /tell the shellholder or any of the above-mentioned sackholders. Once a member has been accepted, they will gain access to our forums. Not only do our forums help support our community, but we have a lot of fun on the forums and it's crucial to sign up for things and learn about what's going on in the shell there. If you have any general questions, it's a great place to ask. Due to a couple of rather rotten eggs, there was a time when KoolAid was relatively closed off from prospective new members. However, over the last few months, our unyielding stance has softened somewhat and we now have some of the best new players on the server. ^^ ~~ * Because I don’t think it could have been stated any better, we pretty much lifted the entirety of the exquisitely written New Renaissance charter (credit where credit is due: www.incredula.com/nr/). Thanks guys ^^ ~~ 2005-09-07 16:58:15.037 2005-07-18 16:38:08.693