RIP: Climbing Company

Warning: Wall of Text & nostalgic ramblings

Climbing Company, as some of you may know, is a linkshell that was started by me in November, a few days after I reached level 50 and finished the MSQ. My free company at the time, Republic of Eorzea, was in decline, and although there were several active, helpful, friendly members left, it wasn't always possible to get a full group together for the relic quest bosses. I hung out in Mor Dhona, scanning the /shout messages for groups that would take a low-geared summoner. This was in the days before party finder or duty roulette, before I had leveled a tank, and back when Garuda HM or even Demon Wall could wipe an unprepared group. I kept seeing a lot of the same names in Mor D chatter and HM parties, so I decided to start a linkshell for the purpose of finishing the relic quest.

Within a few days, climbing company had 50 members. I organized a ton of parties and met a lot of new people, because I gave leadership of the LS to a lot of others who invited their friends. For 9 days I became obsessed with beating Titan HM. I organized multiple parties every day for the purpose of defeating him. I wish I could say that I beat him with a Climbing Company party, but ultimately I was carried through the fight by an experienced group. However, I was able to help many others through the fight afterwards.

After my free company disbanded and merged with another, I started raiding coil with friends from climbing company. Myself and another founding CC member, my tank-brother Vox Adamas moved to that free company, the Ancient Kings, soon after. Despite a raid schedule that was limited to saturday afternoons, we slowly progressed through coil, hitting a road block at turn 4. We lacked the DPS and especially the coordination to get through the last 3 phases cleanly. Some of the group seemed not to mind, and others, myself included, were frustrated. After some weeks of this, I received a tell one saturday evening, after our raid had ended, predictably, in several turn 4 wipes: "Hey Merrick, did you clear t4 yet this week?"

It was Spell Tsunami, an extremely skilled player who had joined Climbing Company, not to progress, but just to help out. My favorite instance with him had him essentially soloing Ifrit HM after the party died time after time on plumes, myself included. After my poor showing I had been reluctant to ask his help with anything. I was invited to a FC static run to replace a missing caster. The free company Undercon, has recently become my own, in no small part due to this run. They patiently explained the entire fight to me, and the reasoning behind their strategy. They even explained what was going on with classes other than mine, and they answered all of my questions thoroughly. We wiped a time or two, then finished it. My damage was sub-par, but I had tons of ideas about how to improve it now. The following week I was able to lead my own raid group to our first victory on this turn. This is still to date my biggest achievement in this game, and my fondest memory. And though the path is faint at times, I owe it all to Climbing Company.

Thank you to the players who joined, to everyone who helped out, and to those who showed me what a great community a game can have. Special shout outs to: Vox Adamas, Sylnara Windrage, Lenny Antom, Nemijin Malza, Renma Eldrin, Jahlarus Beleren, Astania Rein, Asuna Alburn, Benjamin Flow, Choda Deschain, Dc Sublime, Famed Arai, Spell Tsunami, Saint Chronic, March Hare, Nabudis Moonbreeze, Tasuke Ganajai, & Rude Turk