Lurking

[Ministry]

So, I get back about a week ago and instead of hopping onto playing my regular toons, I make up a lowbie alt to take a look around at all the new stuff (well, other than running a little with Wizzly, Eriik and Emma and almost BT - ty bro).

I was curious about how things might have changed in the 7 months I was gone.

The new content I've seen so far has been pretty decent, not earthshaking, but decent.

My biggest concern was what people were loosely and less elegantly referring to in the stratification of players on the server.

Over my time I've seen the general capability and personality of players find their own levels and subsequently friends and guilds.

I was never a big fan of that, as I found I could learn as much from a "so called" elite player as I could someone very new to the game, so despite what affiliation I may have had over my toons' head, I ran with whomever, whenever.

All I've heard about is the F2P vs. established players, the diversion of talent, personality, etc.

Well, it's rampant and so very obvious who is "established" and who is not. The LFM's by so many people stating "experience only", "no F2P" (which I know means some F2P peeps can't get into stuff, but some can...anyways). Now this has really made me laugh, as I've seen names of people I would probably not made an effort to run with, guilds I didn't think much of and mostly... guilds that I scrolled down the LFM to see they never have a toon higher than 9 on, which most likely means they are a newer guild who could probably use some help or should take whoever they could get... "LFM up for TS - toons levels 11-13" stating only expierienced players??? Ummm... the experienced players did that raid at level 7 or 8 and at 11 are in the Vale biding their time to get into the Shroud. argh... These people should try and find Trissa... remember how she use to take ANYONE through that raid on a regular basis... and I mean ANYONE!!

haha

The model as far as I can understand it was to give people a look at the game for free, in hopes they would see enough value to sign up and pay to play.

Is it working?

All I see in the harbor and marketplace are people in general chat complaining that the F2P people can't get any help from the P2P, that P2P peeps are ******s, etc... etc...

So, I made up a few lowbie alts and ran with a bunch of groups over this past week who I know are newer and / or F2P peeps.

Ummm... they weren't that bad.

Once upon a time I read in a thread where newer players weren't finding the support they hoped for in the game and the odd one ran into someone like Trissa, Memnir, Clay, Hootch, Braegan and a few others that showed a modicum of kindness and it went a LONG way.

Here's hoping there are others out there occasionally taking the time to help out the newer players, as the more we get, the more money Turbine gets and the better chance the game continues and grows.

Anyways... blah, blah, blah...

See ya in game.