ALFA's Ancient History?

[Faeryl]

Does anyone remember or know approximately when ALFA was first started?

I know that I joined in May 2001, about a year before the game was released. I also know that the community was around long before I joined. I'm trying to figure out just how old the community really is.

[furtivefigure]

Unless I'm mistaken, the project was first started in November of 1999, only weeks after the announcement of the Neverwinter Nights game. I found out about it in late November I think.

I didn't follow it closely until 2002 though, when NWN was gearing up to be released in the summer of that year.

[Faeryl]

Fantastic! That was exactly the info I was looking for.

Thank you!

[Wynna]

Are these of interest?

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=In ... etail&id=6

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Co ... tail&id=93

[Grand Fromage]

ALFA was founded by P. Quinctillus Albereth in 738 BC. Originally intended as a way to train the armies of the first Roman king, ALFA soon turned into a quasi-corporate entity that controlled Rome's garum industry. It was unclear at this point what, exactly, ALFA stood for, but Albereth answered any queries with "Don't worry about it" and quickly shuffled the curious away. In 719, he expanded the business to farming outside the city. Later ALFA would change its policy on farmers, but in the beginning they were necessary to provide capital for Albereth's investments.

The records of ALFA are lost for a time, but we find the name again in the campaigns of Scipio Africanus. ALFA was given control of all the farmlands around Zama, and quickly established itself as a mercantile center among the ruins of the Republic of Carthage. In 88, ALFA provided sanctuary to Gaius Marius after Sulla drove him from Rome. This would not be the first time that Albereth aided a former foe with an eye to later achievement...

[Curmudgeon]

Thanks for those links, Wynna. It is interesting to see that not only will next week see the one-year anniversary of ALFA Live in NWN2, but the six-year anniversary of ALFA Live in NWN1.

[Faeryl]

Awesome Wynna! I'd forgotten all about Mandos' interview. Digging through some of this sure brings back some memories. Thanks for those links.

[Burt]

Not sure if this is related to Wynna's, but it brings back some memories.

http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingrevie ... rentPage=1

[Faeryl]

Another great find Burt!

Keep the links coming guys! ALFA has been around a long time and I would like to document some of this so that it is not forgotten. Also, if you have any memories of our history(good or bad) that you would like to share, PM me. I think our longevity is an amazing thing for an online gaming community and I would like to preserve the memories.

[coach]

Don't remember the exact dates, but I do remember the forums were very active in 2000 because I switched jobs and I remember worrying that my new workplace gov't server might block the website like it does most forum/chat sites.

[Pelham]

It's astounding that ALFA is still around at all. Really. There were some really incredible discussions and arguments about what it was going to be, what it should be, and so on.

Lots of visionary talk and aspirations, for certain.

John
Pelham
aka Pel-el