It started one year ago today as a basic idea:

A highly-structured and disciplined guild where everyone believed in and followed the officers’ decisive vision and strategy. We wanted better channels of communication between officers and members and clear, thoughtful codes of conduct that were strictly enforced.

And we thought it’d be cool if we could do North TOV.

In both sets of these goals, I would have to say we’ve been highly successful.

Here we are exactly 12 months later, having progressed to parts of the game that at the outset, we dared not even contemplate. In that time we’ve seen the demise of Torrent, the merging of Ancient Orden and Ebon Dawn, the demise and rebirth of Aduentus, the establishment of Aerist and the change of Defiant and Zeph to four-teaming.

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and will continue to just keep on doing our thing. To reemphasize some things I’ve said in the past, Zeph was not formed to change the server. It was not formed to be nor will it pretend to be “influential”. If people think we are, then great, but these were not our motivations. It was formed simply to allow likeminded individuals to have fun, progress through the game and PVP with honor. Nothing more. Nothing less. We assumed correctly that we would attract good people and good things would happen if we held to these basic tenets.

Our members and leaders have made the sacrifices necessary for the long term good of the guild. We've strategically charted a path from where we started to where we're at now. We've removed and disciplined people, who while nice and helpful members, were not pulling in the same direction as the rest of the guild or failed to follow our charter thereby damaging what we sought to build. All of these elements have lead to where we are today.

For our first year, here were Zeph’s major progression milestones:

November 22, 2002 – Formation of guild
November 27, 2002 – First Aary kill and subsequent clear of most of NTOV
November 29, 2002 – First Cazic kill (our first planar god in general)
December 2, 2002 – First Grieg kill
December 16, 2002 – First ST Named kills (MOTG, Prog)
December 18, 2002 – First POStorms Lord kill
December 22, 2002 – First BOT Tower boss kill
January 11, 2003 – First ST Ancient kills (all four)
January 12, 2003 – First Xanomech and Aerin’Dar kills
January 16, 2003 – First XTC kill
January 26, 2003 – First Archlich kill
February 1, 2003 – First Grummus kill
February 10, 2003 – First Burrower Beast kill
February 22, 2003 – First AOW kill
February 23, 2003 – First HP kill
March 21, 2003 – First Cursed kill
March 27, 2003 – First Emperor kill
April 23, 2003 – First and only Tunare kill
May 1, 2003 – First VT raid (TVKs and other out of the way named)
May 7, 2003 – First full VT clear
June 2, 2003 – First solo Behemoth kill
June 8, 2003 – First Terris Thule kill, First new Maestro kill (server first)
June 9, 2003 – First Agnarr and Tallon Zek kills
June 15, 2003 – Saryrn key completed
June 22, 2003 – First Carpin cycle completed
June 24, 2003 – First VZ kill
July 5, 2003 – First Saryrn kill
July 20, 2003 – First Bertoxx kill
July 29, 2003 – First full HOH trials complete (RD kill)
August 5, 2003 – First Mith Marr kill
September 7, 2003 – First RZ kill
September 15, 2003 – First EP mini killed (Tantisala Jaggedtooth)
October 2, 2003 – First Sol Ro kill
October 20, 2003 – First Seru kill
October 28, 2003 – First Fennin Ro kill
November 4, 2003 – Xegony island keys completed

To be continued….

When we started we were probably the fifth or sixth most advanced guild on VZ as far as PVE progression goes. Due to our progress, mergers, disappearance of competitors, etc. it's probably safe to call us #3 at the moment.

Some people love us. Some people hate us. Some people don't care either way. But I think it'd be pretty difficult to deny how far we've come in just 12 short months regardless of which camp you fall in.

I remember the cries from the peanut gallery at pwned.com when Zeph formed and in the early months that followed:

“You formed Zeph to supposedly step up and be a force on the server, but in reality you're just the same old towelboys. You still xp in zones kept safe by Defiant. They hold your hands on raids, you snatch up their table scraps in PvP. You're just doing it under a united guild tag now.” – Raivin

“Not that it matters.. if Zeph can't even handle killing fucking spiders in the Behemoth encounter, they won't be able to do shit to TZ or VZ” – Garorm

"Any guild with Chaunie as the leader and Leonxx as one of the founders has to be a joke.” – Sidd Vicious

“People thought Torrent would amount to nothing, Defiant was on the verge of collapse in the Kunark days. Don't count this guild out of the game, things change.” – Pugni

“I hope this guild stays on its feet. Based on the pvp so far they have been pretty good. No more lvl 52 druids running around tov ent. Just lvl 60+'s now. If Defiant kos's them then we'll see how strong their backbone really is.” – Ausc (now Arrillious in Zeph :) )

“Only thing Zephyros proved is that they cannot stand PvP. Last I heard option was open to transfer to the Sebilis server in France. They can make a go of it there.” – Dreezil Xo

"Karn is right, zeph is nothing but cannon fodder for Defiant, just like IT/HECK/everyotherlightguild have always been." – Uzuk

“The 'HECK' alliance liked to talk a big game bout their PVP victories, then we would smack em down. So if that’s what your reference is bout, yea I consider HECK to = Zephyros. They still have the same attitude as HECK, now under one tag.” – Inque


“Zephyros is full of completely gutless Defiant-cock-sucking blubies, just like HECK was. Oh well, eventually all of the egomaniacs running Zeph will cause the guild to implode just like HECK did." – Garorm

“One thing Zephyros kicks the shit out of Torrent in is the discipline to keep their goddamn mouths shut. I wish some of our guys would just zip it sometimes” – Akuri

“Oh and Zeph are shit at pvp.” – Neckron

“I am wholeheartedly against Zeph cause of how they mistreated my friends. And even a few of them quit EQ cause of the anti-social biased views that the officers and leader(s) carry with them.” – Emberkitten – I’m not entirely sure what this was about… but put it here anyway. I'd probably apologize for whatever it was if I knew what it was that made this person so bitter at us, but /shrug.

“Zeph is not HECK. The people that were embarrassing HECK on the boards and pretty much given free reign with their mouths are now in Zeph and HECK is much better off for it. HECK is still just as capable as it was before Zeph broke off. Zeph is doing bigger mobs but of course Defiant is helping them so that only stands to reason.” – Sidd Vicious

“If anyone in Zeph thinks that Defiant is gonna hold the hand of a guild until it can start actually competing with Defiant ... you're a special kind of stupid. When your clerics start jumping... when your warriors start jumping... when your rogues start jumping... jumping to Defiant that is ... that's when this thread will start making a whole lot of sense to you. Zeph is nothing more than a feeder guild.” – Dred I think I can count on one hand all of the members Zeph has lost to Defiant since it formed, many of which, we're still very friendly with despite our recent KOS status.

“If Zeph makes it through the year, I'll take Dred out the mothballs, transfer him back to VZ, zone into the Bazaar, and drop all my gear on the ground.” – Dred – I assume Dred will be in the bazaar on November 23rd. All you twinks and noobs know where to be on that day to get some free presents.

“I don’t think Torrent or Zeph will ever get Emp keys and do Vex Thal but if some miracle would happen and they would start to compete I’m pretty sure Defiant would start hate them too.” – Zion3 –I believe this was posted about two months before we first dropped the Emp.

“Which brings me to Zephyros. No greater example of contentment with mediocrity exists at present. Sure, you made a big decision to cut a lot of the fat from the HECK alliance and start hitting the high-end game, which was admirable. Your guild is at least six months old now, and you're still nice and comfy lounging in Defiant's shadow. They held your hand all through PoP (*cough*Behemoth zerg*cough*), and when you realized that they would eventually turn on you if you started to inch towards Rallos, you retreated to Luclin, to be their guard dogs in VT so that they could stay ahead of Ancient Dawn. Stay in Luclin as long as you can kids, because all the VT gear in the world won't prepare you for the day Defiant decides you're too big for your britches and KOSes you (a day that may be fast approaching, what with this 4-team buzz going on). You've lived your whole EQ lives playing for second place, and the reality of the top dogs finally considering you a threat is going to be one harsh slap in the face.” – Raivin

"Also don't try to move the topic from the fact Zeph has made zero progression in PoP. And there really not being a logical reason as to why." – Tonper

Anyway, it's a neat stroll down memory lane… It’ll be interesting to do this again in the next year and see what changes are in store for us. In the mean time, I'd like to extend a thank you to those who have been supportive of Zephyros (both in and out of the guild) as well as a heartfelt "good luck and have fun" to everyone regardless of their faction/guild.




  posted by Svenuce @ 10:04 AM

 
Tiny Update

I'm busy and there's nothing new to really report as far as new progress goes. Mobs are dying (except Xegony, but her time will come soon), we're KOS to Defiant ATM and I'm too lazy to update loot drops from the past week. We've started redoing some back flagging seeing as we haven't really done any in about two months. Expect a large update later in the month though.

  posted by Svenuce @ 12:09 PM

 
Learning

This past week we made some investments into prepping for our next EP god, Xegony. We have several Xegony island keys completed, we have necros and clerics planted in the right places and we even took a stab at engaging her once (with hilarious consequences). We learned a lot and are formulating some new strategies based upon that new information. In any event, here's the last couple day's loots.

Pyronis
Blackflame Sphere to Inqubus
Askr's Thunderous Gauntlets to Naruth

Blazzax the Omnifiend
Trydan's Boots of Nobility to Borak
Miragul's Shoes of Risen Souls to Festorxx

Bataldor the Cursed
Sparkling Shortsword to Rhieana

Phelorndien Clawpike
Crow Footed Lance to Halorin

Avatar of Wind
Fine Hammered Faceguard to Kthan
Ensorcelled Metalcloth Cape to Fluuxx

An Elemental Masterpiece
Tethered Air Cape to Catsandra

Avatar of Smoke
Woven Steel Sash to Andercross
Maelin's Gloves of Lore to Renquist

Fennin Ro the Tyrant of Fire
Ifir, Dagger of Fire to Bulvi
Immaculate Vest of the Fire Tyrant to Ordrinn

Melernil Faal'Armana
Puresteel Mantle to Rozzar

Avatar of Mist
Trydan's Helm of Nobility to Angeluss
Raex's Helm of Destruction to Leonxx

Arch Mage Alchtonion
Radiant Feather to Kluts

Calebgrothiel
Prismatic Belt of the Queztocata to Ramirecc

Sigismond Windwalker
Gleaming Pendant of Xegony to Fulgore

Avatar of Dust
Rune Stamped Blade to Justy (first on server we think)
Maelin's Sleeves of Lore to Yumlek

Jaxoliz Dawneyes
Shimmering Sleeves of Flame to Renquist

Pyronis
Blackflame Sphere to Augustina
Kerasha's Sylvan Bracer to Lonelron

Magmaton
Magi'Kot's Bangle of Convergence to Promethiuz
Askr's Thunderous Boots to Gavving

Quavonis Firetail
Cloak of Combustion to Naella
Askr's Thunderous Armplates to Doraith

Blazzax the Omnifiend
Raex's Boots of Destruction to Tuffs
Magi'Kot's Shoes of Convergence to Sannil

General Reparm
Raex's Helm of Destruction to Nicimity and Messynessy

Criare Sunmane
Shimmering Sleeves of Flame to Fazdazen

Krziik the Mighty
Miragul's Bracer of Lost Souls to Festorxx
Trydan's Bracer of Nobility to Barly

Jaxoliz Dawneyes
Shining Crimson Shawl to Nurrse

Criare Sunmane
Shining Crimson Shawl to Caterpillar

Magmaton
Miragul's Bracer of Risen Souls to Fidflar
Bidilis' Boots of the Elusive to Hidswel

Blazzax the Omnifiend
Maelin's Shoes of Lore to Yumlek
Romar's Slippers of Visions to Aradaiel

Quavonis Firetail
Kerasha's Sylvan Sleeves to Pleblinius
Ultor's Vambraces of Faith to Cohren

Pyronis
Rizlona's Fiery Guantlets to Jascen
Blackflame Sphere to Shamf

General Druav Flamesinger
Ornate Greatblade to Fluuxx

General Reparm
Fiery Staff of Zha to Ducepac
Kerasha's Sylvan Gloves to Synde


  posted by Svenuce @ 9:23 AM