It has become cliche for obsessive, long-standing players to mock, belittle, refuse party adds and/or implement bully tactics--primarily, as a means of passive-aggressive toon dropping--simply because of a "noob" factor in questing.
These more experienced players have gotten into a mono-executable mode of "adventuring" that precludes anything innovative or new. So, unless a mission can go completely as expected (i.e. "without a hitch") for the "experienced" player, then it's time to blame and harass somebody for throwing a wrench into their machine cog. And it is, de facto, the "noob" who must be the benefactor of ridicule for his/her responsibility for quest failure....or, at the very least, for the irritations caused by his/her failure to be a Manchurian Candidate.
Yet, these same players will complain in group chats and forums about the slavish routine of DDO's overly familiar questing; whether it's the scenery, the difficulty--or lack thereof--of the end Bosses, the lengthy missions (i.e. The Pit), the NPC A.I., lack of new Mods, loss of DDO subscribers/players, the same type of reward items, etc.
Yet, these veterans could have very "new" and "exciting" quests, on a regular basis, by simply enjoying the vitality that comes with questing alongside a "noob". You see, it's the "noobs" that make the game fresh, new and exciting....not some new Mod, quest item, Character Class, or whatever. And, many older players long to see new players. It is because new players bring an x-factor that breaks up the monotony of routine execution and mind-numbing familiarity. But many "experienced" players drive them away by their callous remarks and their vicious bullying. Does anybody really need to ask "why?" DDO subscriptions have dwindled over the past 2 years?
Ironically, however, many of these so-called "DDO veterans" are actually "noobs", themselves. They are "noobs" in civility and patience. They are "noobs" in communicating and relating to other people. They are "noobs" at moderating their own feelings and attitudes. Finally, they are "noobs" at novelty, innovation and leadership....they simply can't "think outside the box".
If only these "veterans" could think like MacGyver....and make things happen--and work--from the scraps they have laying before them.
And so I ask:
Who's really the noob?