Many in this community considered Wern8 a friend, so I thought it appropriate to share this with you all. Wern passed away very suddenly not long ago. He suffered from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and his condition had been worsening for some time. I'm told by his family that he was cheerful up to the end, and suffered minimal discomfort.
I have known Wern a long time, both in and out of the game. He was always positive despite his condition, and was one of the nicest and most decent people I've known. He had great perseverance, and boundless generosity, not only as a player but in his life. Without exception I've enjoyed every moment I've had of playing or talking with him. His characters on EFU have been some of the finest, but I think more importantly he has always been in his manner a pillar of this community, which is diminished with his passing. I personally will greatly miss him, and am honored to have played a small part in his life.
It's a great tragedy for his family, but he wanted them to celebrate his life, and I think it would be appropriate if the community did the same by sharing what memories of Wern we have.
I got an email too. I don't know what to say.
Wern,
You were one of the kindest souls I've had the chance to know. Words fail me at this moment, but thank you for being a friend.
This is terrible. Wern was one of the first people to show me how to use the DM client and was always supportive in my first flailing days. RIP buddy. =\
My sympathies go to the family and friends. May you rest in peace!
Wern was one of the people who I first talked to in EFU, when I made a drow and was put in the char retirement area because I didn't know you had to app, and he treated with kindness and helpfulness, I will miss Wern. RIP
I am speechless for once.
Wern8 was always such a great guy and will be missed. He is one of the first people I met and remembered on the server when I was running around on Half-Orc crushbots. My sympathies go to his family.
What an incredibly kind and thoughtful person. I'll always remember him fondly.
I really don't know what to say here. Even though we only knew each other over the internet, we had some good times together, both in game and out. He was one of the first people I roleplayed with on EfU and has been a constant source of advice and encouragement to me. I considered him to be a good friend of mine and I will miss his presence a great deal.
Rest in peace Wern.
Wag the Wern8 Hero Flag |<3
Oh god...I'll miss you.
Never could get him to speak whilst in ventrilo. I'll miss him. We played many games together nwn included.
I've played with Wern8 for more years than I can even remember, from the old City of Arabel version 2 days and through EFU:M. He was always one of the most supportive and kind people and will be greatly missed.
I'd suggest giving this great person and member of the DM team a memorial of some sort in game, a statue or some such!
Damn it! :(
I sat here for a few minutes, truly at a loss of what to even type.
I had many a good talk with him over a mess of various topics. I wish I could say that I knew more of him outside of this little world we know.. but I did not. Not really anyway..
What I did know was that he was a good man with a good heart. Wern legitimately cared about the people that he interacted with on the other side of the screen. We are fortunate to have had him be part of our "imaginary" lives and I for one will miss him.
Requiescat in pace
Wow, didn't really know him that well. The only memory I have of wern8 is when on EFUA he had a paladin guy named Oberon Whitecloak who fought against caddies I think...and he hit him with a smite evil crit and almost killed him. Anyway he seemed like a good guy and he will be missed. RIP
rip hans werner
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.â€
What a sad bit of news. I'm grateful that Wern chose to spend some of his time in this world with us. He always seemed such a genuinely decent and sincere person.
I truly wish I would not have to see the news of good people passing before their time. Unfortunately it can't be avoided even inside smaller communities through all these years.
I always remember Wern from Arabel when I started there as a casual player long years ago. I probably can never forget the irony of his paladin that held the record of dying, and stubbornly continuing despite any such bad luck.
Rest in peace. I really hope he was able to enjoy life with his family and that the condition did not rule how he lived.
What a terrible blow. I knew Wern for a long time, I have fond memories of his ridiculous paladin Ky'ran even before EFU existed. And then of course with EFU, both as a player and DM, we spoke and interacted many times. Although I never met the guy in person, I would still consider him a friend. I genuinely consider my life to have been enriched from having had a chance to know him a bit.
The guy lived with the facts of his condition, and awareness that maybe he didn't have much time left, with grace and poise. He genuinely adventured: he traveled to a lot of places in the real world, and despite being confined to a wheelchair had the good taste to go on some crazy NWN adventures too. He was a good player, a good DM, a good guy to have around.
I know everyone who had a chance to interact with Wern8 will miss him. RIP.
First time Ive heard of Wern8 was with ADP's stories and when I did get the chance to play with him, I had a lot of fun. I rarely hang around in game and IRC back then but when there were discussions I noticed he was one of the people that would make a cheerful response or opinion, often in a positive light. Adp and I would normally ask each other when is he coming back, I would sometimes think back about fun times we had.
Reading this made me genuinely sad. I'm glad to have met him even for a short while.
:(
I feel that there is very little that I can type that could reiterate what an amazing guy Wern was. He will be sorely missed.
I've written and deleted about 10 posts trying to work out what to say, but I'm still lost for words.
Genuinely lovely, lovely guy and one who will be missed by everyone. I will let the CoA community know also, as many people there shared some good times with him and don't play here / check the forums.
Rest in peace, pal.
Wow. Horrible news.
Six or seven years ago Wern8 took me by the hand and mentored me during my first foray into PW Servers, he was a source of education and inspiration. An exceptionally nice guy and one I regrettably lost contact with.
Very sad.
Rest in peace.
Quote from: caek;285621I've written and deleted about 10 posts trying to work out what to say, but I'm still lost for words.
That's what happened to me, even right now I still dont know how I can say it right.
He was a great guy :(
He was always a friendly face, will be sorely missed by all I have no doubt.
Wern8 was a stellar guy. He was always positive, cheerful and a general great guy to have around in which I've shared some nice memories with him. He'll be sorely missed. He was remembered by most of the community as a religious guy, but very few dared found out why - When mortality is very real -- faith and a belief in an afterlife are nearly essential to see you through.
In the last year or so, his condition had taken a turn for the worst, and I wish we could have spent more time together.
Rest well upthere, little guy!
A sad thing to read of, may you have gone to a better place Wern8, I will miss you so much, we had some great times together back in the Efu original days. :( xo God be with you.
Man...I spoke to him only a week ago on irc about playing diablo 3, you were the reason i came to efu in the first place..rip buddy
A shame i missed out on him. r.i.p.
Well its already been said, nice guy and glad to have had him on board all this time. RIP.
Terribly sad. My thoughts are with his family.
As has been said a really decent bloke, far too young.
(http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs18/i/2007/217/d/2/Paladin_by_RalphHorsley.jpg)
I will always imagine Wern8 as this guy.
R.I.P buddy.
One of the sincerest and decent fellas I've gotten to know on here.
RIP Wern. Hope you have fun with the big DM.
Whether you knew him personally or just as a name on the forums/irc, Wern had a presence that touched us all and we were better for it.
RIP Wern, may your days now be filled with all the good things. <3
I...what. This isn't real right?
Holy shit.
One of the nicest guys on EfU. I'll miss him.
I'm afraid to say I hardly knew him. Nevertheless, he was clearly a great guy.
I didn't know Wern8 in the real world at all, but what I do know, is since the beginning of my EfU career Wern8 was always someone that I could go to and never have a shred of hesitation to ask him a question or advice.
He was a great presence amongst our little community. A fantastic presence and one that will be missed and never forgotten.
Rest in peace Wern. You've impacted many lives, without even meeting them face to face. That kind of achievement is one that many people attempt to succeed at. Changing people's lives, and you did it. You will be missed, you will remembered.
Wern8 was a genuinly good person and a pillar of this community for a long time.
You lived well, my friend.
All my interactions with Wern8 during my experiences in EFU and beyond were friendly and it was pleasure to have known him as a player and DM.
My sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends and I hope he has at last found peace wherever he may be.
Wern8 was an outstanding person who made powerful and memorable contributions to the communities he touched. I am glad to have had the opportunity to play NWN with him for so many years, and am deeply saddened to hear this news. He will be missed and mourned by many.
RIP.
Wow...=( Sadness..
I hope my first post would've been different, but..
I knew wern from coa, playing a character quiet near to Kyran. Kyrans stubborness and determination were legendary, dying (very) often, always getting up to swing his greatsword at bad guys, who he confronted fearlessly and gave them no rest. I am quiet sure he showed similar determination with his sickness. Im afraid I didnt know him personally super well, but I remember he was friendly in tells and such. Im sure we can all learn from his passion to achieve goals, despite the odds.
So much has been said already, what can I add. I can add that I not only liked him as a player and a person, but I respected his views in life and oddly the game world.
He is a man that this world needs more of. I wish his family and friends well, I hope they can spend time remembering the good of him, and not the sorrow of losing him so young.
When I first saw this thread title, I thought it was a cruel internet joke.
Wern8, you were one of the most positive and cheerful people I'd spoken to on this server and I'll have only fond memories of you.
Godspeed.
A few months ago, Wern8 had indicated that he was having trouble typing and was often very "quiet" in IRC.
Then a few weeks ago he seemed much more able to type and participate in conversations and was talking about PCing again in EFU.
It is a comfort for us and for him that, close to the end, he was cheerful, optimistic and able.
Back during the Iron Halo days, when I was playing Tenesti Veraski, Wern8 played Marcel who ended up taking on the role as the leader of the group. Marcel was a father figure to Ten, though far from a perfect one. Marcel was flawed: he had trouble noticing (or perhaps simply ignored) the emotions of others and his determination to achieve his goals sometimes made the rest of the Iron Halo's wonder whether he valued achievement more than his de facto family.
The Iron Halo days will always be one of my favourite times playing on this server and Wern8 contributed a lot to that.
Later on, I was playing Francine Abbotgate, Stygian, Dockswoman, would-be Bank Robber. Wern8 was DMing at the time and he put on this amazing DM quest for Francine and a few other rogue-themed PCs that felt like a real high-stakes burglary and assassination. For that wondrous night, all the clunky parts of the NWN combat engine were thrown out the window as we backstabbed guards from the shadows, snuck around a mansion, planted poison, and made off with some amazing treasure.
Francine ended up getting killed in a way that I was not happy with. Wern8, I think, organized things so that my PC could be returned and raised, even though her gold was looted and she herself couldn't pay for the raise. I ended up rage quitting. I eventually got over the death. But I still remember how Wern8 tried to help. I definitely regret not taking him up on his offer.
A few months ago, I was playing Aurelie Carmine. Wern8 was playing a Ordersman. I was looking forward to playing with him again.
Wern8, hell. You were a top guy man, I amongst no doubt many others never did realise your RL troubles, and I suppose thats what EFU is partly about. escaping the real world for a time and being who you wish.
I had some great experiences at your side, both as a pc and your cruel yet humourous DM spice. I still remember to this day "Snakey the Snake" Ultimate boss of snakes quest...
My thoughts and condolences with your family, keep on party rockin' up in the sky bro.
http://www.escapefromundeath.com/forums/showthread.php?p=285674#post285674
Written in honor of Wern8. He lived and died for us. With us. Our experiences with him have made us all better people.
Wern8 was both the first established player and the first dm that I've ever had any significant interaction and communication with. He was awesome and this moment it feels difficult reading of what happened to him, almost as if I am having trouble letting it sink in. I'll miss the guy as I am sure everyone will. Glad to have interacted with him as I probably wouldn't have stuck around in the server if it was not for him.
He inspired me to be simply better. I only new him thru our quirky community, but in the early days of EFU, it was his characters I constantly used as inspiration to improve my own. Then, I had the good luck to be in a faction or two with him, the Iron Halo's along with Caster and others, and he truly took us to new heights. Sadly, I did not know him outside the game, but clearly he was an inspiration and great friend to those who did.
RIP Wern, few can say they made a lasting impact on people they have never met. You qualify in spades.
And our world is better for it...
I had no idea.
The world is a little darker place without him. I'm just sick.
Love you Wern.
I first got to know Wern8 in the Underdark days of this server, where he was the first paladin I met IG that seemed genuinely cool to me. His roleplay was always impressive, and perhaps more importantly, he seemed to take a genuine interest in making other people's game experiences positive. The trend continued throughout his time on EfU, and it was no surprise that he was asked to join the DM team a couple years ago, and helped conduct one of the most beloved metaplots since the transition from Sanctuary to Ymph.
As a player and as a DM, Wern8 was great to play this game with. Rest in peace, Wern, and thanks for the adventures along the way.
:sad:
This is sad...
RIP Wern8
Wish I had a chance to know the guy.
Sadly, being new to efu I hadn't had that chance to know him well or at all. Though were ever he is or what ever he is doing I wish him the best there, and hope him peace there.
Dan-Palefure
Almost a decade ago, when I joined CoA as a fresh-faced 15-year-old, the dude was one of the first friends I had there.
Hardcore motherfucker through and through, and fortunately at least not in pain now.
And yeah, I'm always gonna picture him as Ky'ran!
Wern8 was so great. :( This freaking sucks. He was the nicest guy around. Always encouraged me.
I made his acquaintance as an Arabel player before the Escape from Underdark project began. It has been years since I logged into these forums, but the news brought me back here. Wern8 was one of the people who through his role-playing helped draw me into this gaming community.
Personally, I found this news extremely sad. ...though I was heartened by others reminiscing in this thread about Wern8 experiences. My impression of him was that the guy was essentially impossible not to like.
Quote from: HowlandI know everyone who had a chance to interact with Wern8 will miss him. RIP.
I do know I will and I only knew him through this silly game. My thoughts are with his friends and family. R.I.P Wern8.
Sad news, very glad he was not in pain. He was an enjoyable opponent on the EFU battlefields, indefatigable in his quest to crush evil - and one of the few people who took real risks to do so.
During EfU start he was something for beginners, like me, to look up to and strive for. Later on he kept his good quality up in both characters and DMing and was always pleasant to contact outside the game as well. Thank you for the good times.
RIP, buddy.
Grim news. Rest in peace, Wern8.
Wern8, he will be missed. RIP.
From the old days of Arabel, to the depths of the Underdark, and finally on to Mistlocke, Wern8 has remained a positive presence in the community, and a friend that I've enjoyed playing many video games with over the years.
Very few people in this community can be characterized by the phrase: "consistently upbeat and charming to be around", yet Wern8 was absolutely one of them. May he rest in peace.
This hurt quite a bit to read. Wern8 never asked for any sympathy, or expected any favours despite his condition. If it had been me, I suspect I would have just been angry all the time, and displaced it everywhere but on myself. Wern didn't expect anything from anyone, and just did his thing, and he made it to the very top of this server. I'm not sure there's anything we can do on this silly little game that could be a truly fitting tribute to his spirit, but my thoughts are with him and his friends and family.
I logged into IRC for the first time in over a year, only to find out about this. My heart immediately sank and filled with sadness. Wern8 was my hero, a man who managed to turn an internet persona into a symbol for a large group of people to admire and aspire to. I will miss him forever.
Really sorry to hear about this. My condolences to his family and friends.
RIP Wern8.
He made my time in the old Conclave excellent. I'll miss him as a storyteller, as the bloke who tried to write the tales of a few noble people in EfU's Crapsack World. Wish I'd got round to knowing him better while he was with us. It's shocking to come back and hear this out of the blue, but it's a tribute to Wern8's courage and good nature that I never would have expected him to be someone facing such awful illness.
Goodbye Wern8.
Rest in peace Wern8 :'( :(
Oh man. I didn't see this until just now. I'm at a loss at what to say.
I've been playing with Wern8 since... Probably 2004 if I remember correctly. He has always been a friend. We were even timezone buddies while I was living in Japan.
I'll miss him. Rest in peace, Wern8.
RIP Wern. Know that your personality and charm are among the unforgettable memories I have from efu. Take care.
Long live Fignar Ironbeard and Oberon Whitecloak. In another world, we took down Ortred.
Rest in Peace Wern. May we not despair in your passing but let us celebrate and honour the good memories and times you brought joy into our lives.
Amen.
I knew Wern for a bit, but one of the fondest memories goes back to the Iron Halo when, as René Durand, I had my first chance of playing with him on a regular basis. Marcel and Wern were throughout the entire experience friends, rivals, role models and, in the end, heroes. This was at a time when I was just returning to EFU and was not sure if I wanted to continue. It was Wern and the rest of the crew who really cemented me into playing again.
To be honest until recently I had little knowledge of the severity of his ailment, and his passing saddens me to no end. To know that he was happy until the end makes me smile for him, that it was with little pain makes me relieved. EFU and the world has lost one of its great people.
Thank you Wern8.
holy shit.... Wern can't be gone.... :\
This is the most terrible news I've heard in years...
I don't even know what to say to all of this...
May Valhall treat him well. He will be sorely missed and greatly honoured.
Wern8 was one of the first friends I made on the server when I stumbled onto it. He was a great player, a great DM and his passing is a terrible loss. My condolences to his family. :/
This is the kind of tragedy that should make us all reflect on ourselves and ultimately, aspire to be more like him.
God bless and rest in Peace Wern8.
I'mma cry, man... :[
Ugh, I'm scouring through the forums after a long absence ..
There's one word I could use that would describe Wern most: Inspiring.
Wern, RIP.
Just learned about your passing, old friend. With the host of others returning like me... I thought some of the other veterans-on-leave would want to know this.
Wern8 was a fantastic man. Never an unkind word for anyone, despite his enormous personal challenges. He was one of the best of us in every regard.
I had the great fortune of having many phenomenal conversations on faith and theology with Wern8, and we shared a great affection for the writings of C.S. Lewis. This was a truly generous and loving man. I'm extremely grateful to have had that great relationship as storytellers as well as one man of faith to another.
We miss you, buddy.
Heroes never die, they just go on a last adventure. Rest in peace, Wern.
I don't care for this.
This news shocked and saddened me, even though it is old news for most of you now. Wern8 was an integral part of EfU to me, and his characters always inspired me to play better myself.
I knew he was unwell back then (EfU, then the surface), but never the full details. Knowing now, it makes his memory all the more inspiring.
Rest in peace, Wern8. You will be missed for a long time to come.
RIP, Wern8.
The world's a dimmer place without you.
The reason I don't care for this is that I loved my debates with Wern8 about God and the afterlife. So I break down crying whenever I read this post. (for which are now brutally obvious reasons) I don't mean to be rude to the rest of you.
I miss you, Wern8
I didn't know him, and apparently it's a shame. I'm sure his family would be glad to know so many people, who did not even know him personally, appreciated Wern8 so much :)
Years ago, I remember loitering outside The Last Stand tavern in Sanctuary... A boisterous, gorgeous woman with an offensive tone storms out the front door.. followed by a quiet, unobtrusive palladin. This woman (running for council) threatened the life and liberty of this nameless paladin... who in few words, managed to subdue her wild threats; by outlining the consequences of her actions... then he just peacefully walked away.
This impressed me as the kind of player that resonates presence and power... Simply by being a good person - softly spoken, strong in their stance. Effortless power. He was roleplaying a paladin, of course... but it did make me see how great some gaming encounters can be.
Thankyou Wern8 for showing me these things...
Condolences to his family and friends. He definitely inspired me to be patient and better...
Peaceful journeys...
Very sad to learn this. Wern8 was a solid human being. I'll miss our religious debates, and for his sake, I hope he was right!
Sympathies to all, efu and the world lost a great person.
Rest in peace
You were the consumate paladin. I'm not talking about any of your characters. You were a the epitomy of good.
I hope your family know that we travelled across the Underdark together, traded the spoils of our conquered enemies in the market, wrangled our way through treacherous jungles where even the plant life tried to kill us, debated the philosophies of our god, we faced the walking dead and won, we hid in a mystical mist from an evil witch and we even shared drinks in the tavern.
We fought dragons together.