Thank you very much for for the lovely tales of past meet ups!
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ooooohhhhh photo i like that idea
Ropecon tickets are up I just got mine 40 Euro nice
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Nice! FYI to people in general, 40€ is the Early Dragon Weekend Ticket (Friday-Sunday). Day tickets will be on sale at the entry to the convention venue after the event starts, and that’s where I’ll get mine for the Saturday. Last year a single day ticket cost 34€.
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ohhh nice! I have something to do on Friday too 
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Ah, the 2016 meet! I have such fond memories of it.
Back then I lived in Siberia, and a flight to Helsinki cost an arm and a leg. So I took a flight to St. Petersburg and a train from there. Along the way I learned that said city was called Pietari in Finnish, which I think is a beautiful name.
I have a tradition: in every city I visit, I buy an angel figurine and gift it to my parents, who collect angel figurines from across the world. The group made a detour to find one for me, and I appreciated that. And Acrona gifted me a key necklace like one that Lintian, the character, used to wear back then, and it’s still among my belongings.
On the way back, St. Petersburg was hit by heavy rain and I reached the hotel room there soaked wet. Thankfully, in Helsinki itself, the weather stayed good all the way through.
You flatter me
This time I plan to bring along an actual elven-style dress — for Ropecon, at least
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Thank you for sharing your memories, Lintian! Looking forward to seeing you again next month!
Having freshly returned from the lovely yet windy and soaked fields of England, I’m keeping my knit socks and the fluffy snowflake hoodie on, as it’s time to recall the first AD Christmas Meetup. Gather around, kids. 
After the Helsinki summer meetup, to my great joy, even more people were emboldened to join the next one, held in late November 2016. So many in fact, that we hit the guest limit of the venue reserved for the event with thirty participants! Either people had genuine fun in the summer and word spread, or my bribe coffers were bloated to the brim.
While not showing any faces (perhaps the meetups were just me and my imaginary friends), you might at least appreciate catching glimpses of the dungeon used for the raid. The champagne bowls just a marketing trick, as I’m using pictures provided by the pub.
This was the first meetup with a theme, in this case, a Christmas party. People were welcome to dress up fancy if they liked, but that was optional. Being the mage that I am, sparkling is part of my nature, donning a black glimmering dress.
A variety of gard games were played, such as the Joking Hazard.
Winter Veiling on the table.
Attendees had been asked to bring a small gift, costing less than 10 euros to keep it budget friendly, for the secret santa. Ninthalas, who attended the summer meetup, had kindly promised to be our surprise Santa Claus, with all the red and beard that came with their award-winning performance.
Everyone got exactly what they’ve always dreamed of!
Acrona sketch by Shuang. Thank you 
Shuang is a very skilled artist, and you can see their work proper here: https://shadoca.carrd.co/
On top of Secret Santa, we also had a Mortal Kombat(?) tournament, masterfully won by Atahalni, who I guarantee you, is such a smily person in real life. Still got that trophy? 
At Sunday noon we first met up at a restaurant for lunch, and then ventured into some fun stores.
With great force, the meetup was drawing to a close.
After the meetup, an in-game photoshoot was organized. Unfortunately it was difficult to find a date that would’ve worked for everyone. Great so many could make it though!
You can spot Acrona next to the goblin Snooki, whose player I clicked so well with that we became fast friends to this day, despite us never roleplaying on WoW together.
I was attacked. How could they.
More tales yet await unwrapping, and next in line is a gang of ADers whisking themselves to London in summer 2017.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Midsummer celebration, and if you can, please consider donating blood because from what I heard donating today, there’s often a drop in the reserves right after the solstice weekend. Party safely!
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Aaahhh! I remember the couple of meetups I went to! How wonderfully fun they were! Got to see so many lovely people and actually put some faces to names! I won’t be able to join this time but I’m very excited to see all the pics and stories! Miss you all!
With love,
Janna / Kaitseingel
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Still got it, yes! Though I will admit, victory was mine not by masterful skill, but rather masterful luck and the fact that I discovered neutral up-down x spam.
And thank you! I have always told people that these events are great because you get to see that people are not so terrible in the end. Lots of smiles and a great mood in these meets :).
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Hope you peeps have fun over there.
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Holy hell, talk about a blast from the past. Wasn’t sure you were still playing the game! You may recall Hargorin, worgen warrior, from at the time Alliance Forward Brigade? You used to be in that guild for a time too! Granted we are talking 2014, 15, 16 I think but still!
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Helloo there!
Do you mean Baratide Naval Brigade? Since that’s the only Brigade I have been in with a character named Julia Alice Cooper! ^^ But yes! I never really stopped playing! Just changed characters ehheh!
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I think Baratide was after that, I know you were with us for a while after the Blackwind Marine Platoon, though tbh, I’m getting my timeline confused now. But I am pretty sure that it was you. Did Julia Alice Cooper happen to be a redhead with glasses IC? Priestess?
AFB used to be lead by a guy named Lonce Silverhill, after the original guild Band of Blood stopped being mercenaries after the old GM left. The guild lasted for maybe a year or so, maybe two if we’re lucky, but not super long.
Does that ring a bell to you?
Actually yes, it does ring many more bells now!! ^^ That was indeed my character, redhead with glasses, priestess IC but OOC paladin ahaha. I shortly after grew tired of the character and switched to a half elf hunter, then went back to Horde for a while, that’s probably where you lost track of me! Such a small world!
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Small world indeed, but nice that someone from those days is still playing! I do not play on the Horde at all, but, Desartin here is my main, the IC brother of Hargorin, though lately I have started to play Hargorin again aswell. So, if you ever wish to say hello again, feel free to poke any of these if you see them online
“I’d definitely 100% absolutely come if the meetup was in central Europe!”
“Finland is way too north, way too expensive.”
“Won’t step within 100 miles of salty licorice.
”
Fine, alright, I get it - in summer 2017, it was time to test if having a meetup elsewhere would be a thing again. So let’s head back to England, London, for another conservation zoo trip inspired by that other meetup I had attended in 2011.
England being so much more central than Finland, and cheaper to travel to from many other European countries, surely everyone on Argent Dawn would attend!
In reality, the attendance was smaller than in any of the Helsinki meetups. Proving that Finland is without question the superior choice.
( But also because a) I announced the meetup pretty late b) being a foreign visitor to the country myself, I didn’t pour as much energy into organizing something as extensive as the meetups in my local area. )
Arrival on Friday and departure on Sunday, so it was going to be a quick trip.
Love taking photos of beautiful old buildings.
I also seem to have taken a lot of photos of brick walls, for art reference…
Come Saturday, we gathered at the entrance to the venue. I really enjoyed the group we had for this meetup; traveled there with another Finn I knew from the previous meetups, saw two of my old vanilla friends again, met a few British AD players whom I had known for years online. I remember Ará was there too, and then some new faces. We were about 10 people total, and it was easy to talk with everyone without feeling overwhelmed.
We spent much of the day at the conservation zoo, which as mentioned previously, is huge if you wanted to see everything. Took a lot of pictures, half of which were probably of ourselves rather than the animals, though who could tell the difference if these WoW sapiens were put into a pen.
Afterward we spent some time at a pub, playing a few rounds of party games.
Of course I had forgot something important for the trip, but fortunately the others helped me out. 
Don’t forget your own adapters if you come visit Finland from the UK!
I found love in England. Regrettably he’s no longer around. 
I’ve now summarized 6 past AD meetups, and there’s yet 2 more to speak of; the second Christmas meet in 2017, and Easter Meetup in 2019. Then, it’s already time for this year’s gathering!
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Posting the next issue already lest I forget, thanks to FF14’s new expansion.
In the winter of 2017, a chilling wind howled through Helsinki’s streets, sending shivers down everyone’s spines as they prepared for the incoming explosion of Christmas cheer mixed with Argent Dawn revelry.
With Snooki, the friend I made from the previous Christmas meetup, we together organized another one held at the start of December. The venue remained unchanged from previous year, as it suited the ambiance of the event. We dedicated more time to decorate the place, even handcrafted Horde & Alliance flag banners to be hung from the ceiling. A few other individuals also helped with the arrangements such as music and the Secret Santa.
This time, I felt a greater sense of excitement rather than nervousness because there would be many familiar faces from past meetups. Of course also plenty of new people, but I was 100% convinced good times were to be had, based on how cozy the previous gatherings had been.
The venue had a maximum capacity of 35 or so people, and we had no trouble reaching that attendee number. When writing about the previous Christmas meetup, I mistakenly recalled that the venue limit was 30, but the photos of this event proved me otherwise. There were even a few people waiting to reserve a spot in case someone cancelled! The times when people were still actually going out to socialize before the pandemic.
Dressing up in the event’s spirit was again optional, but I vividly remember one gentleman arriving in a glorious Victorian suit, with a pocketwatch and everything. What a dapper star.
I also remember Ará turning up in a very Xmassy outfit with a naughty list tag on it. I think he still got a present though…
The program for the meetup mirrored the one from the previous Christmas party. Mingling, drinks and food, guestbook, party card/board games, Secret Santa, PvP tournament etc.
Blizzcon level prizes for the tournament. I didn’t even remember the unicorn eraser.
A lot of people played Overwatch back then.
Thanks Shuang 
I swear I’m not quite as apathetic as my character!
Guest of honor coming all the way from Lappland, bestowing us with presents.
Tears welled up in people’s eyes as they witnessed the fulfillment of everyone’s dreams come true.
Looking at the group photo reminds me of just how many people on this server I’ve had the pleasure of meeting face to face. Probably around a hundred by now, all the AD meetups and other occasions combined. People often exhibit a stark contrast between how we may perceive their online persona and their real self, as I have learned.
On Sunday, we had the traditional get-together at noon with those who were up for it, going someplace for lunch and sugar rush. Due to the brr-some season, we largely remained indoors.
Next week, the Xmas spirit is replaced by Easter fun times! 
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I’ve booked my flight! If all goes well (knock on wood), I’ll be arriving in Helsinki on Thursday evening (July 18), which will leave me with a day free to rest and wander the city before the event.
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Oh! I have a pocket watch like that!
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Was a great time, that meet! So happy I went. Enjoyed it so, so much. Good memories <3
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Great! Hope the weather will be good so you can enjoy the Friday in the city to the fullest.
Of course you do, you Gilnean you. Probably also got a tophat collection in your wardrobe too! 
Happy to hear, was really nice to meet you live! 
FYI, Ropecon programme has been published on their website. Here’s the schedule for the Saturday 20th: https://ropecon.fi/en/guide/#date:2024-07-20/display:list
In timeline format: https://ropecon.fi/en/guide/#date:2024-07-20/display:timeline
If there’s something in the convention program that interests you earlier on the day or later in the evening, you’re welcome to head there earlier and leave later than the main group. I recommend to double check which activities are provided in English / Finnish.
I’ll start inviting attendees to the meetup discord early next week.
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