was the initial one a success?
Depends on one's perspective, Crooked. Even though the EN team didn't make the championship round, for me, it was a huge success and I very much enjoyed it.
Having the opportunity to meet, interact & play with other toons I'd only heard of prior to it, coming together as a 150-toon team, seeing us pull together and in the same direction so that in 2 weeks, before the "real" FF's started, we had ammo slides & hushpuppies & rose waters and whatnot for everyone for every battle. Yeah, for me, it was a huge success. We didn't win, or even finish in the Top 3, but for me, we didn't lose. We never lacked for cooperation, top down coordination, bottom up energy or contribution, or leadership in battles. We just got outgunned in 2 FF's that mattered the most, and in a large FF that is full both sides, sometimes that just a roll of the dice and the odds of hitting or dodging or critting in the first 1/3 of the battle.
Or, I could say, that as a 6-year player of the game that's level 150 with an event weapon set but has only played one server, I was a bit overwhelmed and intimidated, at first, by the energy, coordination, knowledge of the game, etc., shared by the team.
Or, I could say, having attended the previous one, if and when there is ever another one, I'd want to be on the team in a heartbeat.