my observations and why I chose not to play

concerned_citizen · #1 12-13-2010, 05:38 PM

Hello all,

I've been lurking P1999 forums for some time considering whether I want to play here or not. After years at the other classic project forums waiting for their project to release, I found P1999 on a thread there and starting looking into this server.

I've always been skeptical of emulation servers for mmorpgs because I've never felt there is as much security involved in the investment of time. Remembering how much time I spent back in 1999 leveling up/playing my character, I thought I should be cautious before investing time here. I think my lurking here paid off in this respect.

From what I gather about this server from threads on every board, I figured the best place to write this would be here since anything negative on the server, regardless of what is expressed, seems to end up here anyways.

This is a composition of observations that I've developed from reading about what goes on on this server on the forums. I write this so that others may get a better idea from my experiences.

A few main reasons I've decided not to play on P1999:

1. I used to love EC tunnel back in P1999 so I decided to check out how healthy the economy is on this server on the forums. I was disappointed to find such a large array of characters being sold for plat; even this guy named Bob who levels up your character from 1-50 for plat. You see, back in 1999 people actually cared about their character, it wasn't just some commodity that was traded around freely. I know from the many hours I put into my character back then I wouldn't let it go for the world - it was me in an imaginary world. Here, it seems that characters, especially end-game characters, have no connection with the player controlling them. That was very disappointing for me to see and totally destroys the classic-environment of the game for me.

2. From what I gather concerning GM decisions, I see that many people are punished without any indication, proof, or formal explanation past "we know it from our logs" for the punishment. There doesn't seem to be many immediate punishments either - just ban forever. What is most troublesome to me is that reading through some of these posts of peoples' experiences it seems possible that there was an error in judgment when issuing punishment. Instead, they are just told "you cheated", then mercilessly ridiculed. This sort of environment actually make me afraid to play for fear I'll do something wrong and be banned without ever knowing what I did wrong. The worst part is it seems a majority of the player-base trusts the GM decisions entirely even when no proof is available to them, which, I don't know about anybody else, seems very odd to me.

3. It seems to be that power-gaming is the norm here with a rush to the top the goal for many people. I conclude this based off the general interest on the forums in choosing "the most needed classes", "best leveling spots", "best farm spots", account selling, and the number of top-end guilds recruiting 46+ in comparison to the server population. From what I read from guild drama, the end game raiding is basically poop-socking, kill stealing, and feuding over interpretation of the rules - with the GMs supposedly playing sides. Aside from raiding, endgame seems to be all about farming items and plat. If this was the experience of you all back in 1999 then I feel very, very bad and sorry...for you all. For the reasons I've mentioned, this server really doesn't seem any better or worse then the typical WoW server, which I find very disappointing.

4. People seem not to genuinely enjoy the fact that the game is social. Instead, they seem to enjoy doing only that which benefits themselves, and comparing their worth based on the gear they've accumulated on their character. I feel this is the modern mmorpg mindset, something people here proclaim to dislike yet can't avoid themselves. In saying this, I find it hard to believe in the poll on the main page that near 60% of you played back during classic era. The environment of the game was very different then from the attitudes expressed here on the forums. I guess I asked myself at that point, why should somebody want to play a 10 year old game with outdated graphics when the social environment is no different then any modern mmorpgs?

Everquest in 1999 was a different world from what P1999 is today. In my opinion, it's not about the game you play or the world that you inhabit, but the people you play with that makes a mmorpg worth playing. It seems many people here don't share that sentiment. Combined with my observation of how the server is run and the rampant selling of characters, I feel P1999 would just be a letdown.

I hope you all enjoy playing the type of game P199 is. I just don't think it is for me.

Thanks,
Roger

karsten · #2 12-13-2010, 05:43 PM

after having read your post thoroughly, might I suggest trying the VZTZ Emulated server? It seems like their player base might be better suited to your style.

cheers,

Humerox · #3 12-13-2010, 05:46 PM

You've let the forums sway your opinion much too much. Most of the player-base doesn't even come here.

While you have a couple of valid points, there is still much fun and camaraderie to be found. For myself, getting out of the end-game drama was the ticket...been having a blast ever since. Barring RL constraints that is...I have much less time to invest in my play than I did a year ago, lol.

Scrooge · #4 12-13-2010, 05:47 PM

There is only so much you can learn from reading forums and playing the server once in a while. If you feel strongly about any aspect of the game, focus on that aspect. Better yet, thinking 'outside the box' is when the game becomes so much more than you think it is.

skulldudes · #5 12-13-2010, 05:47 PM

all the things that you complain about are only problems because you pay them mind. i can't grasp the reason for your nitpickery.

go about your own business and play the game; TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!

Ashintar · #6 12-13-2010, 05:48 PM

While I acknowledge your use of the word "citizen" in your forum name... apparenly you're not...

I don't post here much at all either, but if you're not willing to play on and enjoy this server I dont' see why you're willing to bash it. Thank you for your post, move along now.

Kassel · #7 12-13-2010, 05:48 PM

Why do you think anyone gives a fuck ?

Chanus · #8 12-13-2010, 05:49 PM

No, this game has a vibrant community because multi-boxing is against the rules.

Villide · #9 12-13-2010, 05:53 PM

Who is your banned character? #2 above just reeks of a banned player who is still butthurt about it.

Why did you put this immediately into Rants & Flames?

Yam · #10 12-13-2010, 05:55 PM

I suggest playing on the server without reading the forums. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that the vast majority of people are invested in their characters, not rushing to the top, and socially inclined.

Bob caters to a very small minority that the bitch threads about the admins banning people for no reason are complete bullshit.

Just play a bit instead of reading the forums and forming opinions based on a small subsection of the playerbase.