What is #SWTORfamily? How Did It Start?
#SWTORfamily began as a Twitter Account (started by Madmar) and became a thriving hashtag. The aim was to support players of all shapes and sizes by retweeting Tweets using that hashtag. I’m pretty much convinced that I wouldn’t be where I am today if #SWTORfamily hadn’t retweeted me when I first started micro-blogging about my time on SWTOR. Now it’s not just about retweeting people – this hashtag started conversations, get reactions and enables people in the SWTOR Community to connect with each other.
SWTORfamily the Guild(s)
In 2016 #SWTORfamily moved from just being a hashtag to a guild – well two guilds – on The Red Eclipse Server: swtorfamily (Imperial) and swtor’family (Republic). Now the aim is to live out the name – a family that support and encourage each other and just have fun. People are generous in helping others out and there is a guild chat on Twitter dedicated to organising field trips to collect Datacrons. The understanding over my Fibromyalgia that I find on the Twitter community hashtag translates to Guild Chat and even having to take breaks and meds between killing one World Boss and another.
Guild Christmas 2016 Party
Which brings me neatly onto the need to end 2016 on some kind of positive note. The guild organised a Christmas Party this year which was so much fun and lasted hours. Here’s what went on:
Gift Giving and Socialing
After getting a group photo of those who made it to the Party, we were told everyone had a gift. Yes, the guild leaders had spent real money to give every guild member a gift from the Cartel Market. If that isn’t selfless nothing is. In my crate I got a new pet, which was really lovely!
We then had time just chatting, seeing each others characters and doing random emotes just for the heck of it. Because, why not?!
Speeder Racing on Dromund Kaas
The #SWTORfamily leadership had even accounted for how to keep things fair for those players who didn’t have Speeder Piloting III. And I think it was a lower-speed player who actually won the race, which I think is pretty neat too.
The Hoth Trek
The last ‘main event’ was to head to Hoth. Firstly we trooped out to go retrieve a Taunlet Pet, which most of us did not already have. Then we went and beat two World Bosses into Biochemistry Components. I healed for only the second time ever and enjoyed it!
The Party was well-conceived, generous, relaxing and fun. And is what SWTOR should be about.
Other Generosity
The Red Eclipse isn’t alone. I have really great friends on Shadowlands too. Friends who have
- Joined me on ‘easy’ Solo Mode Flashpoints just for a ‘roflstomp’
- Shared extra Cartel Pack gear they don’t need
- Sent birth presents to our daughter, NJ
- Supported us emotionally and practically in our currently really difficult time
TL;DR #SWTORfamily – Don’t Ignore the Community
SWTOR is a synergy – it is greater than the sum of its parts. It is also more than the features we do/don’t have. It’s more than the GTN Monopolies. It’s more than Buy-Credits-Spam. To criticise SWTOR for these things is criticising a painting because it’s in the wrong frame.
Maybe it’s time to put relationships, friends and the community before the “stuff” and promote that instead. Because if we can have fun together, features will arrive at some point anyway. An MMO is not just about Ops, or group-grinding – it’s who we connect with on a daily basis. So to all my #SWTORfamily, you’ve been a real blessing (on Both Servers) and I look forward to more friendship, fun and randomness with you all in 2017.