Lenah wrote:
Question I see, is there a way to find a viable spot in catacombs. And I'm personaly going to put effort to finding this kind of spot. 24h PL HAS ITS SIDES, it really makes making new toons way easier, gathering the money, upkeeping the economy, helping friends. Basicly it helps to keep the server alive, and that if nothing else, should be everyone's goal.
Dunno Lenah on this point whether I agree or not I am sure you guys have discussed it endlessly before. It is an undeniable fact of the game that PL is there and will probably return in some guise. However, I thought your notion of 'ideology' was interesting because it made me think that there will always be a difference between 'gaming' and 'playing'. We probably all do a bit of both as different times because there will be bits of the game we will want to speed through and other bits we would like to take our time at.
When focused on 'gaming' the person likes to use all the statistics and game mechanics to most effecient effect to get the most powerful character/balanced groups for fast PvE or best RvR. This is a game of working out the averages and trying to push the margin of the average for the group that bit higher in terms of speed for PL or cash or whatever.
When 'playing' it is a case of enjoying the view. running around and seeing the full breath of the game its about having a wee puppy to follow you around. Finding the nicest spot to farm with the best sunset (Daeman Aiers near Howth for example nice for a ranger and nightshade between 30-32). When 'playing' one isn't really that interested in reading how it works you just like to chill and enjoy a bit of exp or running around figuring out some of those very confusing quests - without the walkthrough...
I can buy the fact that pure 'gaming' is good for the realm because it can pump money into the system. I can see how that can help our war fund. Where it doesn't seem to work is with incidents that statistically have a very low occurrence in the game anyway and it is here that 'gaming' get its arse kicked as an ideology. It is here that ToA becomes frustrating to the 'gamer' who wants a scroll that only drops once in the blue moon.
I remember being refused places on scroll 'farming' groups a while back on old Prydwen.net. Have the prices of scrolls come down yet?
I am not sure they have. When it comes to rare incidents like those stupid artifacts you cannot be 'gaming' for them you end up just having to play for them so you have to learn stuff like patience. Find an arti you can activate and then level while hunting for the scrolls for your next arti. PLan out how your going to 'play instead of trying to charge through the game because when it comes to scrolls you cannot 'game' for them.
Unless you can farm 16plat in a couple of days in which case - go for it. IMHO though for this side of things you have to learn how to play in a way that is easy going and relaxed I think. I think we all just have to plan each session out carefully - are we 'gaming' or 'playing'?
Apolgies for the essay - omg I am turning into Wyst.
Sharkith