James. Thank you for everything you do. You make the rest of us DCers look competent and put together by your sheer force of will in keeping our fancy ass database and website churning along.

I think it’s even more than that, and maybe something people don’t realize. You don’t just respond to requests (you do, and you do it well) - you are often able to anticipate needs we didn’t even have, due to your sheer understanding of how the DB works, and how the interplay works with the systems on the website.

For that, and 100,000 other things over the past decade, thank you.

Howlader Taldrya, 2025-05-02 14:39:14 UTC

I’ve known James for a long, long time. Indeed, I’ve had the chance of working with him as far back as 2003 when we joined forces to work on the first of what would be many ACC overhauls. We continued our partnership during our time in Arcona where I had the pleasure of serving under him as both a quaestor and proconsul. It sure seems like this all happened in another lifetime, doesn’t it? That’s why it was my absolute pleasure to renew that partnership when I was appointed Herald.

Always a class act, always helpful, never once bristling no matter what request I throw at him. It always amazes me how calm and composed he is, how humble he is despite the fact that the entire backbone of this club rests squarely on his shoulders. It can’t be an heavy burden to carry and yet by sheer force of character you make it look easy.

I have nothing but the utmost admiration for you, my friend, and I am constantly amazed by what you achieve month after month, year after year. It feels like an understatement to say that we all owe you a great deal.

It cannot be said enough, thank you.

Bale Andros, 2025-05-02 14:39:29 UTC

Anything we say or award to James always feels lesser than what the man truly deserves. Despite a thousand moments where he could have, and maybe should have gone “y’all are crazy”, James continues to be the literal backbone of this club. Not once have I ever seen him be anything less than kind, thoughtful, and putting the rest of us to shame with his incredible work ethic, building insane dreams into a beautiful reality for every member to enjoy.

Always above and beyond, James puts us all to shame. Thank you for everything.

Lord Idris Adenn, 2025-05-02 14:39:43 UTC

Here's where I'd put my rec for a super ultra exclusive James only award...IF WE HAD ONE!

Instead, we're throwing some of the good stuff at him, because quite literally none of this would be possible without him. James is the backbone of the Brotherhood's infrastructure and a lot of the implementation of the Council's "crazy ideas". I don't think we ever have a single conversation that doesn't have a "depends on what James says about it" thrown in. Why? Because if he says it can't be done, we're back to the drawing board. That's how important he is.

And, honestly, I respect the hell outta James. Thank you so much for the work you put in on keeping this website functioning and moving forward. Even if it can feel thankless sometimes, and we can only give you shiny internet credits. Take a shower in those credits, though. You deserve it!

Darth Renatus, 2025-05-02 14:39:57 UTC

I think if I met James in person I’d legit hug him. Nothing funny about it, just absolute mad respect for the legend that he is. A couple years ago I started delving into whether or not I could make a unique card game experience for the Brotherhood, evolving the Star Wars: Customizable Card Game (SW:CCG) code that was made public.

My first stop was with James to understand if he could support it on the site. I do not know how many times he has questioned his simple words of encouragement and support that it could be done. (I will not ask as I fear to know) but that moment set me on a path that let me realize a dream I’ve had since I was thirteen (before many of you were alive).

That would not have been possible without James and I will forever be indebted to him for giving me the opportunity. Here’s to the best of people that has enabled others to be better!

Master Kamjin "Maverick" Lap'lamiz, 2025-05-02 14:40:11 UTC

James is actually the cornerstone of this club. No exaggeration. He is the architect that maintains the figurative building that our club occupies. He’s the one that makes it all work. James is a consummate professional, toiling away on an ever-growing list of tasks that make our daily operation possible. A mere “Thank You” is inadequate measured against how vital James is to the Club’s operation.

The skills that he brings to the table are so far beyond my understanding, I can’t even begin to comprehend the full scope of his impact.

In my eyes, James is a powerful sorcerer that lives on top of a mountain and communes with the machine spirits. And we are fortunate to have his powers at our disposal. We require many goats to sacrifice to keep his favor upon us, but it is but a pittance against how he aids us.

With the utmost sincerity, James, Thank you for everything. Thank you for your understanding, patience, attentiveness, skill, and most importantly the time you have invested in the Club. We are truly indebted to you. Even a shadow of the vast impact you have had on this organization would be worthy of this award, you’ve earned this many times over. You are the best of all of us. Thank you, from the depth of my heart.

Thran Occasus-Palpatine, 2025-05-02 14:40:24 UTC

Everyone knows how much James has done for the club. "Praise be to James" isn't just a mantra—it has its own GIFs. The Brotherhood as we know it wouldn't exist without James' hard work.

There's another side to the story, though. There are secrets within the Seneschal's office. I've worked for James as his Magistrate for almost two years, and the things I've seen there almost aren't fit for public posting.

Folks, this man works even harder than you think.

For every feature request that hits our task list, there's at least one completely separate project that James has thought of and decided to do of his own accord. He fights ongoing battles with bot swarms and AI scrapers to make sure the site is performing well for our members. He finds time to give thoughtful and detailed answers to his sometimes-bumbling assistant (it's me, hi). I wouldn't have been able to code the new ACC judging system last summer without his guidance.

James' influence also shapes the way the Brotherhood's leaders thinks about projects before he even starts coding. His reminders to "figure out what you actually want"—the club leadership's equivalent of Howie's "put it in an email"—help keep our ideas grounded enough to be achievable. James also is happy to help us explore alternatives if our preferred plans don't work out.

In World War 2, there was a saying that "fighter pilots make headlines, bomber pilots make history". James' work isn't as flashy as other Brotherhood leaders, but his work is foundational to the Brotherhood as we know it. I'm proud to have worked alongside him, and to add my recommendation to this award.

Congratulations, James!

Master Seraine "Erinyes" Taldrya Ténama, 2025-05-02 14:40:38 UTC

There’s very few people without whom the Brotherhood could not exist. James is the first that springs to mind. Not just for his incredible skill at coding, but for the sheer length of his service. He’s been wrenching behind the scenes on our site through various positions since 2002, and has been the Seneschal since I hired him in 2012. That’s the longest term for a Seneschal ever, and likely for any dark council position. And through it all, he’s been patient with us Grand Masters as we try (and often fail in our excitement) to keep projects from creeping up in scope. He’s been responsive to members as bugs and unintended interactions happen on the site. He’s been a skilled hand at continually increasing the automation that the site does, from Promotheus through to Possessions and auto-awarding processes. Frankly, without James, much of what our members take for granted these days would not have ever been possible.

It’s been a constant process in mind, when I was on the hotseat, and after as I continue to annoy the hotseat with my ideas and projects, to minimize coder hours, to try to lessen the burden on James so that he can do the things he needs to do to keep us working. James is but one man, doing the work of several, and all out of love for our club. And that labor of love deserves to be noticed, deserves to be rewarded despite how little limelight he seeks.

I wrote the recc for his first Golden Lightsaber in 2013, and I’m happy to induct James into the very limited club of those who have two of them today – and the only one of us that has not already served as Grand Master. From a grateful club and from myself, thank you, James. Things would not be the same without you.

GM Muz Ashen The Lion of Tarthos

Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2025-05-03 10:13:46 UTC

There’s very few people without whom the Brotherhood could not exist. James is the first that springs to mind. Not just for his incredible skill at coding, but for the sheer length of his service. He’s been wrenching behind the scenes on our site through various positions since 2002, and has been the Seneschal since I hired him in 2012. That’s the longest term for a Seneschal ever, and likely for any dark council position. And through it all, he’s been patient with us Grand Masters as we try (and often fail in our excitement) to keep projects from creeping up in scope. He’s been responsive to members as bugs and unintended interactions happen on the site. He’s been a skilled hand at continually increasing the automation that the site does, from Promotheus through to Possessions and auto-awarding processes. Frankly, without James, much of what our members take for granted these days would not have ever been possible.

It’s been a constant process in mind, when I was on the hotseat, and after as I continue to annoy the hotseat with my ideas and projects, to minimize coder hours, to try to lessen the burden on James so that he can do the things he needs to do to keep us working. James is but one man, doing the work of several, and all out of love for our club. And that labor of love deserves to be noticed, deserves to be rewarded despite how little limelight he seeks.

I wrote the recc for his first Golden Lightsaber in 2013, and I’m happy to induct James into the very limited club of those who have two of them today – and the only one of us that has not already served as Grand Master. From a grateful club and from myself, thank you, James. Things would not be the same without you.

GM Muz Ashen
The Lion of Tarthos

Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu, 2025-05-03 10:14:43 UTC