Costa De Agua: Graal Server History
Costa De Agua (CDA), also known as CDAgua, was a pioneering playerworld within GraalOnline, a 2D MMORPG renowned for its player-created servers. Established in 2000 by Link (Scott Stam), CDA emerged as a vibrant hub of creativity and community until its downfall around 2002.
This detailed analysis compiles all available information—spanning its historical context, staff structure, community dynamics, guilds, past players, downfall, legacy, and preserved media—to provide an exhaustive history of CDA, leaving no detail unexplored.
Historical Context and Creation
CDA was born in 2000 when Link, a Player World Tester for GraalOnline with the email link@graalonline.com, requested server space from the game’s administration—likely Stefan Knorr, the creator of GraalOnline. To secure this space, Link showcased a series of "amazing levels" that demonstrated his design prowess.
This was a common practice in the collaborative ecosystem of GraalOnline’s playerworlds, marking CDA as one of the early examples of player-driven content in the game and reflecting the experimental spirit of the era.
The server’s early days featured an iterative design process. CDA underwent multiple layout changes—ranging from forest-themed maps to deserts and other configurations—before settling on a design that resonated with its growing player base. This trial-and-error approach highlights the adaptability required to sustain a playerworld, as Link and his team balanced creativity with community appeal.
Beyond the game, CDA fostered engagement through external platforms:
- Message boards on EZBoard, administered by Link and Phayze.
- A Java-based chat on MultiChat, a precursor to modern tools like Discord.
- A fundraising project to secure a .com domain and search engine listing, targeting £1000, with a promise to return excess funds to contributors—an initiative that underscored the players’ commitment to elevating CDA’s visibility and permanence.
Staff Structure and Leadership
CDA’s operations hinged on a dedicated staff team with a clear hierarchy of roles, each contributing to the server’s functionality and community management. Below is a comprehensive list of known staff members, their roles, and additional details where available (Staff List from January 2001):
| Role | Name | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Founder/Head Admin | Link (Scott Stam) | Founder of CDA, Player World Tester link@graalonline.com link@cdagua.8m.com |
| Co-Manager | †¤Gòháñ¤† | King Gohan ICQ: 102539191 minion3424@aol.com |
| Level Admin Team (LAT) | Phayze | Key level designer, email: phayze@cdagua.8m.com |
| Level Admin Team (LAT) | KawaiiSaRiA | kawaiisaria@dingoblue.net.au |
| LAT Cadet | Lugie | Limited additional information, part of LAT |
| Level Admin Team (LAT) | Elrond | Involved in map alterations and later controversies. Elrond_p2p AIM: DvW1989 |
| Level Admin Team (LAT) | Yakuna2001 | Once had the last copy of CDA (Info); AIM: artfultodger2k; Website: http://www.geocities.com/artfultodger2k; LiquidIce00 Original Account |
| Graal Police Chief | PJM2K1 | Recognizable by a black wolf head, oversaw Graal Police (GP) |
| Graal Police Captain | AlexH | Active in forums, key figure in community policing. AIM: AlexH7686 MSN: alexh7686@hotmail.com |
| Graal Police | Aqua | |
| Staff | Spankey | |
| Graal Police Cadet | AlexanderYoshi | |
| Graal Police Cadet | Mista Neat | Email: mr_neat_guy@hotmail.com |
| Bugs Admin | Nai | Focused on technical stability, limited further details AIM: dmjof |
| FAQ Admin | JinZero | Managed player inquiries, expressed nostalgia for CDA in forums AIM: fallofglory |
| Former Head Admin | Ultima (Maverick) | Later became manager of G:R, opposed CDA revival attempts ICQ: 98283576 Email: CAD0215@aol.com |
| NPC Admin | Cyphiroth Cyboars |
Email: Cyboars@juno.com Yahoo: Cyboars AIM: NeoCyphiroth |
| Guilds Admin | Bhala | Email: bhala@graalonline.com |
| Bugs Admin | Vagirian | |
| Webmaster | CruZ | |
| Game Master | Gazboy | Email: ggaz_@hotmail.com |
The staff team’s diversity of roles—from level design (LAT) to policing (GP) and technical support—reflected CDA’s ambition to create a robust, well-rounded playerworld. Link, as the visionary founder, collaborated closely with Gohan, while the LAT, including Phayze, Lugie, and Elrond, shaped the server’s physical landscape. PJM2K1 and AlexH maintained order through the Graal Police, a common feature in GraalOnline servers to curb disruptive behavior. Nai and JinZero handled backend and informational needs, ensuring smooth operations and player support.
Ultima’s tenure as a former Head Admin adds a layer of prestige to CDA’s history. Later known as Maverick and a manager of Graal: Reborn (G:R), Ultima’s involvement underscores the server’s significance within the broader GraalOnline ecosystem.
Community Engagement and Past Players
CDA’s community was a vibrant mix of players who left lasting impressions through their participation and nostalgia. Here are some notable past players, their aliases, and their contributions or memories tied to CDA:
- Asnipe (later Palin): A controversial figure implicated in events leading to CDA’s downfall, possibly linked to hacking and deleting server files.
- weirdmanI9: Partnered with Asnipe in activities that allegedly destabilized the server.
- Rice2k: A nostalgic player who later sought to recover CDA’s lost levels.
- Lion’el-Jonson: Active in forum discussions about CDA’s level designs and community dynamics.
- CrazedMerlin: Recalled CDA as their first playerworld, noting challenges with player-killers (PKs) as a newbie.
- TDK_RC10: Served as webmaster, humorously remembered for forgetting the server’s web address in nostalgic posts.
- Elrond: A dual-role figure as both staff (LAT) and player, central to the server’s later controversies.
- Spanky
- Dizturbed
- Sandin
- Ghost Pirate
- Royce
- RatToolz
These players contributed to CDA’s lively atmosphere through in-game interactions, message boards, and chat platforms. Nostalgic posts like “CDA <3 No one remembers it but it was my first home” reveal the deep emotional attachment many held for the server.
Guilds and Social Dynamics
CDA’s community thrived on its guilds, which fostered collaboration and competition:
- The Flames
- Founders: Dark Blaze and White Dragon
- Members: Neo Gold, Kjeldoran, Darth Maul, Shab, Consolamentum
- History: One of CDA’s most notable guilds, The Flames thrived during the server’s peak. After CDA’s decline, it relocated to other GraalOnline servers like Lostworld, New Enigma, and Celestia, preserving its legacy as a tight-knit group.
- Yoshi Guild
- Details: Less documented than The Flames, this guild added a playful element with its Yoshi mascot, likely inspired by Nintendo’s iconic character. Though its activities and membership are less clear, it contributed to CDA’s diverse guild culture.
These guilds enhanced CDA’s social dynamics, offering structured groups for collaboration and rivalry, a hallmark of successful playerworlds.
Downfall and Controversial Events
CDA’s decline around 2002 was marked by internal strife and a catastrophic security breach. Here’s how it unfolded (The Truth About the Downfall of Coasta De Agua):
- Map Alterations: Elrond, from the Level Admin Team, reshaped CDA’s map into an "elf type scene," polarizing the community—some embraced it, others saw it as a betrayal of CDA’s identity.
- Security Breach: A hack of CDA’s FTP server deleted all levels, erasing years of work. The culprits remain unknown, with speculation pointing to external hackers or internal sabotage.
- Replacement by Elvens Land: Post-breach, CDA was replaced by Elvens Land. Allegations that Elrond stole CDA’s scripts and graphics for this new server fueled controversy, though these claims remain unverified.
- Community Fallout: Chaotic events like mass jailings from buggy GP nets became bittersweet memories. Players blamed staff laziness or mourned the loss, reflecting the emotional toll.
- The LAT Boots Incident: RatToolz (aka Cubes, Cubical, foxstar70) sneaked LAT boots into a player house level. During CDA’s open submissions, he tricked a new staffer into uploading it unchecked. Players could access a hidden room with a phrase, revealing the boots—an exploit that contributed to CDA’s downfall.
This collapse highlights the fragility of playerworlds, where trust, security, and cohesion are critical. Elvens Land, seen as a hollow successor, couldn’t fill the void left by CDA.
Legacy and Revival Attempts
CDA’s legacy lives on in its players’ memories and its influence on GraalOnline’s playerworld culture. It introduced innovations like weather systems and day/night cycles, setting design precedents.
Its downfall underscored the need for strong security and staff unity, lessons that resonated in the community (Reviving Coasta De Agua?). Revival attempts emerged, but faced opposition—Ultima (Maverick) insisted, “CDA rests in peace, keep it that way,” a view shared by veterans who saw it as an unrepeatable chapter.
Availability of Old Files, Images, and Contact Information
Preserving CDA’s digital footprint has been tough, with much lost to time. Here’s what remains:
Old Files
- Levels: Efforts to recover CDA’s levels have largely failed. Forum posts like “Looking for Coasta De Agua lvls” hint that players like Rice2k may hold files, but they’re private. The GraalOnline downloads page offers no specific CDA content.
Images
- Reddit Image: A 2000 image by rice2k on Reddit (Image, Post) offers a rare glimpse of CDA.
- Screenshots: Additional screenshots are mentioned but unlinked, leaving a gap in visual records.
For more insight, explore these resources:
- Frolic owners, where are you? - Graal Forums
- Looking for Coasta De Agua lvls
- Reviving Coasta De Agua?
- The Truth About the Downfall of Coasta De Agua
- Costa De Agua
- A picture of me on Costa De Agua (CDA in 2000)
- CDA History - Graalians Blog
- Server Costa De Agua - Graalians Blog
- Archived CDA Website
- Angelfire CDA Page
- Envy.nu CDA Page
- Staff List from January 2001
- EZBoard Hosting Platform
- MultiChat Java Chat Platform
- GraalOnline Downloads Page
- Graalians Discord Server
Screenshots
Note: Additional images could be added with a slideshow script if desired.
Conclusion
Coasta De Agua (CDA) was more than a playerworld—it was a microcosm of creativity, community, and chaos in the early days of online gaming. From its 2000 inception under Link’s leadership to its 2002 collapse amid hacking and controversy, CDA showcased the highs and lows of player-driven projects.
Its vibrant staff, passionate players, and guilds like The Flames and Yoshi Guild wove a rich tapestry of experiences. Its downfall left a lasting mark on GraalOnline’s history (CDA History, Server Costa De Agua).
Explore more on the Graalians Discord Server (Discord). Though its levels are lost and images scarce, CDA’s legacy endures in its community’s nostalgia and the lessons it taught.
