Evariste for Opifex

**Tom Paine** · August 02, 2006, 02:14 PM

This speech sums up my feelings pretty well; and sums up what I think this Civitate body should be doing soon. I was prompted to the action by tBP but am taking the onus upon myself for legal reasons.

"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals!” And we have in our midst the man to prove this.
Civitates, we have in our ranks a true genius, a pure artist, a man who has brought a new and previously unused facet to TWC; not only new, but groundbreaking, nay, say rather revolutionary. He has brought such powerful developments to the Total War Centre that he has done the nigh impossible; he has secured exclusives with the Creative Assembly. Not content with this feat, he has interviewed some key community members; and further, above and beyond this, he has brought the Curia to the masses. He is of course Evariste, creator and producer, as well as main persona, of the Total War Centre Podcast, an exclusive and unique creation to any Total War forum, maybe even any forum. Our membership has increased because of it directly; and it has earned mentions on the official website and newsletter of the Creative Assembly due to not only its unique nature but also due to the great achievement he has made in securing exclusive interviews. We have a series of interviews with CA coming at the moment; we have moderator interviews, Curial rundowns, Mod spotlights, and so much more. Evariste has contributed as much as the founders themselves to the site in many ways, and should not go unrewarded for these acts; however, unlike the founders, he is not elegible for that rank named Divus. Can we, therefore, do such other acts than grant him the illustrious title of Opifex, fellow Civitates, given who and what he is and has done? Can we so do in good faith? Can we deny him, churlish as we are, the title, he who has done more than we dared dream of, more than we dared consider? No; he deserves it, he is more than worthy of it. So, friends, Civitates, forumers; grant him that title, or else cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
Some argue he has done much in a short time. Aye, he has. Some would argue this was disqualifying, almost. Nay! How can we say that achievement is false because it is fast? Surely the fact he has granted such a boon to our fora in so short a time, and continues to grant such a great boon, is in fact a benefit to us all, an example to us all, of what we should strive to achieve? Surely we are churlish to deny him that which he is owed by the base reason of time, when he has done wht we have not and could not? Such facts are not condemnation but rather commendation, Civitates, and we should not forget it!

Link to the podcasts: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=190
Compliments on my speech greatly appreciated, as is criticism, no matter how destructive.
Shakespeare quotes used without permission, but its out of copyright anyway

**Publius** · August 02, 2006, 02:21 PM

Dont get me wrong, I appreciate what he has done for the site and it surely has received a lot of attention. But Opifex already? That to me seems to make a mockery of some of the other Opifex, who have literally poured years of work into both this site and modifications for the game. Do not get me wrong, this is nothing against Evariste and I think in due time he will get his Opifex title, but give it time people. We're on podcast 5.

**Tom Paine** · August 02, 2006, 02:24 PM

We're on podcast five and already we've been mentioned in a CA news letter and had an exclusive interview with the CA team. We have had many new members brought to the site by the Podcast. Its our new TimeCommanders! No, I don't think its an unjustified title.

**Publius** · August 02, 2006, 02:27 PM

I dont think its an unjustified title either, he deserves it and in time I would put all of my weight behind the proposal - but its a little premature at this point I think. Prometheus couldnt go to vote until RESGESTAE was out, and in a similar vein I would say lets give Evariste more time to put out even more material, that there is no doubt in anyones mind he is worthy of the said rank. I just think this is a little hasty, is all.

**Justinian** · August 02, 2006, 02:37 PM

I strongly support this proposal, right now or later. Evariste came out of the woodwork and created something new, massive, amazing - something which singlehandedly drew the largest TW fansite and Creative Assembly together. We have an interview with CA, we're mentioned on the front page of TotalWar.com ... if anyone has contributed to TWC, it's Evariste.

**Ó Cathasaigh** · August 02, 2006, 02:39 PM

Evariste has done more for The Total War Community in 4 weeks than I have in 2 years.

I support.

**Publius** · August 02, 2006, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Corporal_Hicks

Evariste has done more for The Total War Community in 4 weeks than I have in 2 years.

I support.

That is a very good point that he has done so much in so little time but I still think this is a little quick. But then perhaps that is my inherent jealousy speaking . . .

**Reidy** · August 02, 2006, 02:45 PM

I was going to wait for a few more Podcasts before I proposed this myself in order to get unanimous support, but I'm sure he will pass now anyway.

**Spiff** · August 02, 2006, 02:45 PM

The podcasts are awesome, and are probably helping to draw in new members as well as getting us mentioned all over the place.. i know how much time and effort Evariste puts into these, so he probably does deserve this, "exceptional" is certainly one of the words i would attach to the podcasts so far. In saying that, Publius raises a fair point. We have made other people wait or continue their work for a bit longer before putting them to vote, maybe another month would be best, if anything just to make the eventual vote all the more unanimous when it comes.

**Tom Paine** · August 02, 2006, 04:57 PM

Spiff, we have made others finish their work because, well, an unfinished mod doesn't work. This is an ongoing project that has no end in sight; but more importantly I feel it has done more than most mods have done for us. Has any mod yet earned us interviews (exclusive interviews) with CA? And so on. My God but he stands out above and beyond everyone else on this site, bar the founders only, as far as I am concerned.

**Shaun** · August 02, 2006, 05:00 PM

I support, the podcasts are probably the biggest thing for the TWC for a long time. Even CA have showed interest to the podcasts!

**Richard the Lionheart** · August 02, 2006, 05:02 PM

Evariste spends a huge amount of time on creating the podcasts. A huge amount of time!

So I do of course support this!

**RZZZA** · August 02, 2006, 05:09 PM

I disagree with the general principle of these opifex/divus banners....we have rep points people, aint that enough recognition? All this self serving is a bit unneeded in my eyes, but if we feel like we must once again publically and blatantly shower a TWCer with gaudy, flamboyant banners, and pendants, and knicknacks, then Evariste is one to deserves it.

Hah hah! riveting... :hmmm:

**Publius** · August 02, 2006, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Honor&Glory

Evariste spends a huge amount of time on creating the podcasts. A huge amount of time!

So I do of course support this!

I by no means wish to belittle Evariste's contributions. They are quite large and much more than I have done. However, I must point out that modelling and skinning two or three units would probably take longer than the entirety of making a podcast. Prometheus ts made hundreds of units for RESGESTAE and just failed his opifex vote.
Again, I mean Evariste all the best, and he will probably become opifex if this is taken to a vote, but time put in is not the strongest argument one could make on his behalf

**imb39** · August 02, 2006, 05:13 PM

I agree with everyone that Evariste has been an awsome asset and is a fantastic person, but Opifex, now? There must be another way - perhaps if you could send money via Paypal, that would be more effective...

**RZZZA** · August 02, 2006, 05:15 PM

Well I think rep points and community recognition is enough sign of respect and appreciation, but if opifex is awarded to people who help the site then Evariste's podcast certainly falls under that category.

**Belisarius** · August 02, 2006, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by the Grim Squeaker

Agreed, this is from tBP. But on reflection I would propose him too, and tBP has a much better turn of phrase and speechmaking ability than me.

You are breaking tBP's punishment.

I support Grim Proposing him.

**Tom Paine** · August 02, 2006, 05:21 PM

Like I say Bel, I'm just nicking his speech. You want me to write my own, I will

imb, are you saying its not deserved, too much, or not enough?

**Belisarius** · August 02, 2006, 05:28 PM

Id rather you did.tBP is not allowed to take part in Curial Activities, at least remove his name from it and anything pointing to him.

**Fabolous** · August 02, 2006, 05:30 PM

tGS is perfectly allowed to quote tBP's feelings on the subject, just as he is allowed to quote any non-civitates feelings on the subject. Its true however, that tBP is not allowed to propose.