With the Legends Committee concluding their annual contemporary inductees, a good question arises on how the concept of a “Club Penguin Army Legend” started in the first place. In this edition of Picture Perfect, we look into how we began considering individuals Army Legends by seeing the first inductions.
Designed by Cassie
Table of Contents
Background of the “Legend” Title
The community has upheld the Legend title since its inception. Originally used more broadly by the Army of Club Penguin for any notable soldiers akin to veteran status in most armies nowadays and any hall-of-fame tiers in most armies in the original era, the legend title is very reminiscent of how people in sports hold up iconic players as legends of the game. Over time, armies and organizations began to adopt ACP’s legend concept.
For our sake, the first ever documented attempt by an independent media organization to approach the concept of a legend—or “legendary leader” as they call it—was in July 2007 by Club Penguin War News. Whilst CPWN did not stand the test of time, this inconsequential election did receive 39 votes and mainstream exposure from Oagalthorp.
Like real-life sports, the concept of Club Penguin Army legends was meant to recognize models of the community that have changed it. Photograph by Jim McIsaac of Getty Images
Club Penguin Army Central Legend
Early Conceptualizations
The early conceptualizations of a legends page or title on Club Penguin Army Central—the first major and mainstream independent organization—began in September 2009 when Woton (“Head of Site,” equivalent to Chief Executive Officer later in CPAC’s history, at the time) floated the idea to viewers on who they’d view as the “major legends” of the community. As Woton states:
I’ve heard some people talking about leaders who they think have really made a difference in Club Penguin armies. I’m curious as to who the Top 10 or so leaders in Club Penguin armies you think are major legends – people that have really accomplished something and made a difference.
At the time, the idea behind a “Club Penguin Army legend” was more so successful army leaders, as the value in communal impact was viewed as generally secondary. By October 2009, CPAC introduced its “CPA Central Legends” honor on its Leader Profiles page for notable former members (like CPA’s Memorable Members).
Creation of the Page
After much fanfare for the better part of almost a year, CPAC under Sklooperis officially introduced its first legends page on June 6, 2010. Contrary to modern understandings of the title, however, there was no formal process and it was solely decided by the administration and Albaro Lord (the page maintainer). CPAC formally recognized Oagalthorp, Boomer 20, Woton, Pink Mafias, Person1233, Shadow2446, Zippy500, Watex, and Commando717 as the first legends.
CPAC’s legends page at its creation on June 6, 2010
The initial legends list sparked controversy due to notable exclusions. Within two weeks, Iceyfeet1234, Dialga80, and Mr Deedledoo would be inducted based on popular demand. Still, many felt dissatisfied by the very oligarchical approach to the page. Upon Icey’s induction, Skloop stated that a threshold of 85% of the popular vote was needed; Skloop followed up the previous decision after Elitesof‘s induction in December by establishing the principle of biographies being necessary before voting. In November, the council inducted CollinZfresh but delayed adding him for two years due to defacements.
Early Induction History
Proceeding them, the next inductions would be Shaboomboom (in a now-lost post) for his diplomatic work alongside army leaderships (chiefly as Boomer’s right-hand man) in early 2011. This was followed up by the inductions of Pringle 64, Omega39, and Iasgae56 on February 22 (which had reverted to a 50% or higher threshold).
This was the most contentious induction to this point, with Pringle being the only public consensus for his graphics pioneering (although Pringle secured fewer voters than the other two). Vendetta and Tomb147 would be voted in six months later in a less controversial vote in terms of public reception (although the two got in by the skin of their teeth).
The first 26 CPAC legend inductees pre-Legends Committee formation
Despite efforts, the process deteriorated further. Bluesockwa2, CPAC Head of Site, floated the idea publicly of “splitting the page into categories based on what the person did for one army or armies as a whole.” On October 25, CPAC announced the change, formalizing Warfare Pioneers, Revolutionaries, Greatest Leaders, and Strategic Masters as the new categories, though the change would not take effect until 2012. Flipper7706 and Oberst543 would also take over as page maintainers.
In June 2012, CPAC inducted Khimo and Tanman626 as the first legends under the new system, while Iasgae became the first legend to lose their status in a readjustment vote. Despite this, there was much controversy regarding SaW and xiUnknown failing to gather the necessary votes (as well as further controversy over the two-year-old system that had existed throughout the entire page’s existence due to the public refusing to recognize the nominees’ community accomplishments due to moral concerns). Legends were reaching a breaking point.
Formation of the Legends Council
After the heated nature of the attempted public vote on July 21, CPAC Head of Site Kingfunks4 would void the vote and abrogate the public voting process indefinitely three days later—calling for all available legends for a “Legends Summit”. The Legends Council held another meeting two months later. Two days after that meeting on September 28th, Boomer announced the formation of the Club Penguin Army Legends Council.
Boomer 20 announcing the formation of the “CPA Legends Council,” akin to a peace in their time
The reforms prioritized abolishing the Athenian method of public voting for legends. Instead, a panel of existing legends, along with CPAC CEOs and trusted army history experts, took on the responsibility of deciding new legends. Boomer 20, Bluesockwa1, Bluesockwa2, 122344a, Puckley, Lorenzo Bean, Mchappy, Buritodaily, xiUnknown, Pochoma123, Iceyfeet1234, and Tanman626 would be the first-ever members of the Legends Council (a far cry from today with only four of the twelve being legends) in the 2013 inductions.
Conclusion
The legends process has changed many times throughout history. This is only scratching the surface—as Small-Medium Army Central and Club Penguin Army Express around the same time. Nonetheless, CPAC’s legend paved the way for future community organizational legends. The process has changed a plethora of times since the formation of the first iteration of the council but ultimately remains relatively the same. Do you believe the removal of the public vote was the correct decision? Did it make Legends less of a popularity contest?
Dino
Senior Reporter
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