How many of us still fight for the sake of fighting? Just for the simple little rush of adrenaline before a fight, the 'zone' you enter during combat, the emotinal high of a clean win over a competent opponent or the crushing agony of defeat after falling to your challenger?

What has become of us all? I won't be a hypocrite and claim I don't sometimes fight just to win, no matter what the cost. Whatever happened to logging on just to go through the roller-coaster of emotions associated with pure, fair combat?

We spend our time semi-idling in stockrooms, sewers or treetops. We come out when the odds are to our favour and we can team some happless \"enemy\" 3 or more to one. For what, some cheap experience? Bragging rights?

Fighting used to be about learning something new every day. About striving to not die to the same thing twice in a row. Now we have made it all about cheap tricks and who can program their client the best. Where is the fun in that, I ask you?

Yes, this is a whine. Yes, I would like to have some cheese with it. But more than anything, I would like to see all of us \"grow down\" to our youthful level of fighting. When fighting was about the fight, and not about winning at any cost.

Any thoughts on the matter? Anyone?

For the thrill of combat,

Pahn

Written by my hand on the 10th of Springflower, in the year 1121.