I'm here, I promise! ...even if the party started and probably ended a while ago. (Also I didn't know this topic existed before today.) Happy belated birthday!
I digress; there was a question posed to all, especially the recently arrived, and I'd be remiss to not answer it. And maybe plate cake from the fridge since before today I didn't know it was located here either.
I'm drawn to EtG because it's a door and a hope for something besides the mundane. Despite not being the most consistent player, I never really leave - a certain memory of the elements remains with me since long ago when I began writing and integrated these twelve (plus a few others) into a grand tale. It wasn't actually constructed well and was never actually finished...but since then there has rarely been a story I've penned which has involved magic without some reference to the elemental set I first encountered in EtG in time far since past. It has deep roots in a desire for adventure and perhaps for magic in reality.
Further, though I tend to be highly wary of CCGs/TCGs for blatant attempts to sell a product, I have had the pleasure of respecting EtG, and by extension Zanz (despite having never met him) for having never done so. On another practical note, for an interest in game design several elements (pun intended, of course) have come from this game in respect to division and balance.
Then there's the community. Even though by many standards I'm still fairly new, I know I have friends here and that's reason enough to be grateful.
Here's to an excellent year to follow. Cheers!