I don't know how many different types of recommendations I can write for this guy. Part of the reason for that is I have to write them as often as I do, but to be perfectly honest... I probably still don't write them enough. They quite simply just don't make DB members like they used to, and Howie is the perfect example of that. But before I get into the reasons why I am giving Howie this medal, just for fun, I'm going to write out a few of Howie's favourite quotes, which have been repeated hundred of times over, and I'm sure anyone who is familiar with him knows very well.

• I'm lazy, I don't do things.
• Activity is for the kids, I'm roster candy.
• Dammit Yacko, why are you making me do things?
• Panda!
• I'll do it after I wash my hair.
• I need a nap.
• Hobo?
• I'm not active, I'm just doing what I think is the bare minimum.

All of those things say a lot about Howie, but the last explains it even more. Howie just thinks he's shirking by at the absolute minimum limit of what he should do in his position. I'm not even going to get into the insanity of his medal obsessions and all he does for Aabs in the MAA's office (since Aabs recently gave him a SB for his work there), but Howie is a man who wears many hats in this Brotherhood, and probably does more under any single one of them than other people do.

Because Howie is a secretly weird combination of hyperactive and awesome, and quite simply: they don't make DBers like him anymore.

Now, lets get into the laundry list of things Howie has done in the last 6 months since I saw fit to give him a medal. Keep in mind that while he's been doing all of these things, he's also been Rollmaster of Taldryan, combined Rollmaster and Proconsul of Taldryan, Special Magistrate and then Praetor to the Master at Arms, as well as a constant thorn in the DGM's side, and I think he's also a grader for a SA course or something. Howie does all those things, and yet he's still managed to participate in a paltry 76 competitions, he's helped run or ran 20 competitions of his own. In the competitions he participated in he earned a total of 25 crescents for excellent entries (.33 Crescents per competition entry isn't bad), as well as having earned over 1200 combined gaming clusters.

Howie somehow has also managed to earn 4 Clusters of Ice in this time, and has completed an ACC battle. I realize compared to the other numbers, those ones look low, but when you realize how badly he hates writing, it's an amazing feat.

Howie's my right hand man. He's as important to Taldryan as he is to the Brotherhood as a whole, and he's pretty awesome in general, though outside of official recommendation correspondence I'll deny ever having said that.

Oh, and he's also going to complain I gave him a medal right now because somehow despite all he's done, he doesn't think he's earned one yet. This is what I have to put up with.

Take your Grand Cross Howie, and shut up, you deserve it.

Dark Prophet Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, Consul of Clan Taldryan

Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, 2015-08-24 17:15:26 UTC

For achieving 3rd place in the Taldryan Consular Puzzle #3 competition.

The awards for this competition were upgraded due to high participation.

Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor, 2015-08-03 14:45:30 UTC

For participation in the Star Wars Commander: Heroic Defense Challenge II (Windows) competition.

(Converted from Cluster of Earth)

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-08-02 15:25:53 UTC

For participation in the Star Wars Commander: Incineration Tournament (Windows) competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-08-02 15:29:37 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Star Wars Commander: Incineration Tournament (Windows) competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-08-02 15:27:49 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Star Wars Commander: Heroic Defense Challenge 2 (Windows) competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-08-02 15:24:31 UTC

PvP matches played on or before 2015-07-26

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-26 23:31:08 UTC

For achieving 1st place in the Andrelious' IRC trivia XXIII competition.

, 2015-07-25 23:15:08 UTC

For participation in the Star Wars Commander: Starship Tournament competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-21 00:28:54 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Star Wars Commander: Starship Tournament (Windows) competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-21 00:04:38 UTC

For service to the Shadow Academy between January, 2015 and July, 2015.

Lord Dacien Victae, 2015-07-15 16:28:25 UTC

For completing Star Conflict PVP Matches on or before 2015-07-07

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-07 23:30:46 UTC

For participation in the Star Wars Commander: Empire Airshow (Windows) competition.

(Converted from Cluster of Earth)

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-05 16:41:47 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Star Wars Commander (Windows): Empire Airshow competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-07-05 16:41:57 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Star Wars Commander: Heroic Defense Challenge (PC Version) competition.

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-06-30 01:17:49 UTC

For achieving 2nd place in the Dinaari Presents: Rush the Elites in Diablo 3 competition.

Omega Kira, 2015-06-28 18:24:03 UTC

Howlader was one of the applicants during my initial Praetor search, and while I ultimately select Evant I also knew Howie’s experience and wisdom were not things to brush aside. He had, after all, already served as P:MAA before! So I tweaked the system and arranged for a Special Magistrate, an advisor of sorts with specific instructions not to process requests (because I wanted my Magistrate to learn how to do these things). Instead, he helped guide discussions. He helped answer questions. After a time he helped correct backend mistakes with competitions. He also helped returning members restore dossier medals and accomplishments.

Howie is also Howie, and pretty much everyone knows what that means: no nonsense, tell it straight, not afraid to let you have it. He’s seen it all before. He’s one of those single digit dossier types. And he has not agreed with all of my MAA ideas. I specifically wanted Magistrates to process requests, not he. He presented potential issues, but went along for the ride. He’s never liked MAA competitions (not that there are many), but all the same helps us select golden recommendations. Sometimes we discuss things in way too much detail, but he also helps bounce ideas around or provides much needed “how does this compare to previous MAA” feedback.

I consider my staff to be the absolute fundamental reason why the MAA Office succeeds. They are awesome, and from August 2014 to June 2015 Howie served an integral part of that staff. Nearly every Equite and Elder promotion, every sacramental award, and most everything else involved discussion. Sometimes everyone walks away agreeing; sometimes the room is divided, but Howie always keeps pushing forward (all while achieving leadership milestones in Taldryan, I will add). He served perfectly in his made up Special Magistrate position, and I want to recognize these feats as he now moves on to real responsibilities as Praetor. Thank you, Howie, for all your hard work and tireless ranting. — Aabsdu Dupar, Master at Arms

Zanet Xox, 2015-06-28 16:32:58 UTC

Diablo 3 Elite Kills on or before 2015-06-27

(Converted from Cluster of Earth)

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-06-27 23:30:38 UTC

Monthly Mobile Gaming

Egregious, 2015-06-22 20:57:29 UTC

Diablo 3 Elite Kills on or before 2015-06-21

(Converted from Cluster of Earth)

Valhavoc Ad Vizsla, 2015-06-21 23:30:53 UTC