Xenphire
From MTG Salvation Wiki
| Username: (on MTGS Wiki) | Xenphire |
|---|---|
| Also known as: | The Numen, Kuberr |
| Status: | MTGS Founder Past MTGS Owner Past Administrator MTGS Writer Banned MTGS User |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birthday: | February 25, 1986 |
| Join Date: (MTGS) | 07-11-2004 |
Xenphire[1] (formerly known as "The Numen, Kuberr", an allusion to the Cabal's god in Magic lore) is the founder of MTG Salvation.
Contents |
Online activity
Early MTGNews days
Xenphire entered the online Magic: the Gathering community in January 2002 by registering at MTGNews shortly after magicthegathering.com was launched. His account name was long forgotten name which he later wished to be forgotten once more. A year later, Xenphire registered as The Numen, Kuberr and became very active in The Rumor Mill, Outside Magic, and Clans forums on MTGNews. Xenphire shortly after became friends with THEDARKPRIESTCYRIC (a MTGNews moderator at the time and a current administrator) and joined the clan The Exiled.
MTGNews complaints and MTG Salvation founding
The Numen, Kuberr built up his reputation at MTGNews until the summer of 2004, when he felt that MTGNews, its staff, and the atmosphere began to decay due to the changing of ownership and the control of all activities being handed over to Subterannean_Spirit. Xenphire was one of a very few people who chose to voice his concern over the state of things at the website; in getting overzealous in his view of things, was banned by rancored_elf, just to later be unbanned by the same individual. In September of 2004, Xenphire, still under the name of The Numen, Kuberr, created a small phpBB2 forum on EgoHavoc's server (Xenphire's friend from a Nine Inch Nails forum), and began to slowly spread the word of its existence, prophesying that on its current path MTGNews was on a "downward spiral" and would eventually fall. A few people registered, the first (notable members) among them being Sakabatou (the first original administrator chosen by Xenphire), and Belgareth (the first chosen Global Moderator by Xenphire).
Later MTGNews disputes
The decay of MTGNews's policies and the way things were handled due to Subterannean_Spirit's choking hold had Xenphire once again speaking out against actions taken, and he was once again banned. After waiting around a month to see how events and the turmoil evolved, he registered a new username and took on the guise of "Melfice". After joining The Alliance of Rogue Deckers, and taking a calm approach to most things, he seemed to be in the clear. Later, Melfice revealed himself to be The Numen, Kuberr under a different name, and defended his re-registering by stating that he had changed his view on things and was not as radical, and even somewhat respected among the Rumor Mill for his insightful view on certain issues. Although he had support from many members who said he was being honest and was trying to better his future on MTGNews, he was once again banned by rancored_elf.
Early days of "MTGSalvation"
Over the course of the next few months leading up to January 1st, 2005, Xenphire made several alternate accounts to spite rancored_elf and those who did not believe his words. It was at this time that Xenphire became very "edgy" and overly out-spoken about issues and the path that things were on. Finally, on January 1st, 2005 at midnight, an announcement was made stating that rancored_elf and roughly half of the MTGNews staff were leaving due to Subterannean_Spirit's choke-hold on MTGNews. The community that saw this was in shock, and realizing the repercussions this would have on the community as a whole, Xenphire quickly began making alternative accounts and posting links in various parts of the forum linking to his long-forgotten board, which he dubbed "MTGSalvation" (the name has since been changed to MTG Salvation, with a space between "MTG" and "Salvation") to spite those who he felt were ruining MTGNews. Several people began to register, and Xenphire spread the word via various messaging programs, so that others would help him in posting links on MTGNews. Not long after, many registered on MTG Salvation in its original form, and Xenphire quickly added many as a volunteer staff to help with the new wave of registered users. In the day following, Xenphire spoke to rancored_elf in an attempt to settle their differences, telling rancored_elf that the community needed him. Later that day, rancored_elf joined of his own accord stating that he goes "wherever the community goes", and kicked off his membership on MTG Salvation by posting a new rumor (about the card Frostling) in the Rumor Mill.
MTG Salvation, in its original form, before becoming what it is today, had over 1,000 registered members in under three days time.
Soon after the MTGNews debacle, while MTG Salvation was still rising in numbers, Xenphire received a PM from Hannes. Hannes, the owner of magiccards.info and current owner of MTG Salvation, offered to host and sponsor MTG Salvation. After discussing the move with the staff, Xenphire accepted the offer, and Feyd_Ruin and Hannes began working on the foundation of the current day MTG Salvation. With 36 hours of no sleep, Xenphire watched as MTG Salvation became a vBulletin forum, gained its own domain name, and people flooded to the new site as they transferred the phpBB2 database to the vBulletin forum's database. The foundation was set, and soon after the front page and tweaks to the forum were performed.
Departure
Xenphire, overworked and overstressed with trying to maintain control at a hectic time, had a falling out with the staff over personal issues, staff policy and positions, as well as many things the staff did not agree with, such as the debacle known as The Room With a Moose, and Sakabatou's admin-removal. Although many such altercations were peacefully resolved, each new controversy became more and more heated. The exact details of the arguments have not been revealed, in accordance with staff policy and rules that forbid discussion of what is said within the staff lounge. In general, we know that Xenphire believed several of the staff members had lied to him, and that he felt others were in their position only for their lust for power. Most of the staff had their own personal issues with him, but collectively felt Xenphire was too unstable for an administrative position.
Finally, in late January of 2005, after an extremely heated staff argument, Xenphire de-admined everyone and threatened to start a completely new staff. Immediately afterwards, Xenphire himself was de-admined by the remaining staff, and everyone was returned to their initial staff position. After their differences could not be completely settled, Xenphire was kept on as only a moderator; his administrative position being taken away indefinitely. Eventually Xenphire decided to completely step down from the staff on his own accord.
Banning
After leaving, Xenphire continued to argue with the staff about personal concerns, public issues, and staff controversies that appeared. After receiving 12 warnings, making an account while suspended, and with irreconcilable differences with the staff, Xenphire was banned in September of 2005.
Return
After Belgareth was removed from administration, Xenphire talked to the staff and was allowed to return from his banning in early February of 2006. With a special agreement with the staff in place, Xenphire came back and was noticeably cooler tempered with the staff and with issues that arose. However, a few months later in April of 2006, Xenphire was again banned for violating the terms of his agreement.
Last deed
While Xenphire no longer plays Magic: the Gathering and rarely keeps in contact with MTG Salvation's former members outside of IxidorVersionTwo, in October of 2006 he performed once last deed for the community. During an uncommon browse of the MTGSalvation forums, Xenphire noticed a post that alarmed him. A member who had just recently began trading through the forums reported Xenphire's friend and moderator of the Trading Forums at the time, Lance, for ripping him of hundreds of dollars worth of Magic: the Gathering singles. Xenphire, knowing that Lance had been unstable as of late, immediately contacted the user and spoke with him, asking him for details about his trade with Lance. Lance had previously described to Xenphire, almost bragging, a "perfect" way to rip someone off. The method which he had described had been applied to the trade, and Xenphire knew that he could not let it go. After registering to the forums and contacting Urzasseddatives, Xenphire helped in a process of proving Lance guilty and resulting in the user getting his cards back. Since then, Xenphire was banned once again, as his return was temporary and only allowed under the circumstances. Lance was soon removed from the staff, and the Trading Post forum rules and moderators were revamped.
Accomplishments
Xenphire pioneered several new ideas and features that MTGNews wouldn't have, and MTGNews veterans did not want but are now popular (Artwork forum, sub-forums in Outside Magic, Articles, 100x100 pixel avatars, signature banners, forum skins, Speak Your Mind and Introduce Yourself forums).
Biography
Present
Currently, Christoph is a full-time college student and spends time with his friends who play World of Warcraft on the US server Kilrogg, his Blood Elf Warlock being of the same name as he is known to MTG Salvation. He also updates his MySpace page regularly and will some times enter the MTGSalvation IRC channel in attempts to scare staff members, or to indulge in the Trivia Bot.
Gallery
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