People here for classic experience...?

[Bodybagger]

Originally Posted by Velerin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I will say Red has been a more fun experience in the low level grouping for me. On blue I usually just end up soloing because 1, its usually faster exp (groups are only better when optimized and I am no min maxer at all)) and 2, RL makes me have to bail often on groups or go afk here and there and people understandably don't like that.
The lower pop on red means you need to find where the groups are but people are happy to take you if they have room since more people = more exp. No one ever cared about my gear, what class I play etc. If I have to afk a min or 2 no one cares because they are still getting more exp with a full group. I don't know if its "more classic" but so far the low level grouping has been more fun. I think it was a great idea to implement the group exp for a low pop server where no one would want to play a group class without it. (ie. before group exp: 2 necros and a mage all soloing and 1 paly sitting LFG, after group exp: all 4 grouping and having a blast and being social)

I love the last bit! Perfect scenario. 2 necro and 1 mage in zone solo and a pally lfg, freaking genius! Sums it up just right. I will let anyone in range join my SK just to be social. I carried a few druids and an enchanter as duos in past few days when I was already solo dominating 15-18 spawns in uguk all broken up and just in the zone doing my thing, they join, gets fun and interesting and sometimes silly... letting druids and enchanters pretend to be wizards is fun for them for a change too, when all I need is some extra dps since I'm already clearing house

[Glenzig]

Originally Posted by Bodybagger [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I love the last bit! Perfect scenario. 2 necro and 1 mage in zone solo and a pally lfg, freaking genius! Sums it up just right. I will let anyone in range join my SK just to be social. I carried a few druids and an enchanter as duos in past few days when I was already solo dominating 15-18 spawns in uguk all broken up and just in the zone doing my thing, they join, gets fun and interesting and sometimes silly... letting druids and enchanters pretend to be wizards is fun for them for a change too, when all I need is some extra dps since I'm already clearing house

Not classic. You should have all been soloing, even if it meant slower XP. Time for this fun little tea party to come to an end.

[Humerox]

Most here knocking red haven't played there lately. There has been a large crossover lately and red mentality is changing. I took about a year's hiatus from red and have been pleasantly surprised.

It boils down to fun. Red is picking up a more RZ mentality...one where people are actively teaming up to go after "PK" players. Ganking continues but with the surge of crossover blue it's not totally debilitating for the newer players anymore.

Guilds like Holocaust and Fresh are openly recruiting newer players, actively helping and gearing them, and they don't have the "elitist" mentality most red guilds used to have.

All zones on red are competitive, all gear is available, and as a disillusioned blue or completely new player you'll find red the only place you will see the zones and mobs you missed the first time around.

Population on red is soaring with 300+ at peak play times. I played blue when we all were amazed at 200+ pop, and the same is happening (finally) with red.

The classic question is moot for both servers.

[Halius]

Red has actually been really fun since I have joined up there. Being a casual it is actually nice to be able to join a group if even for 15-30 minutes (before my kids wake up from a nap or whatnot) and get some nice exp. People are more than happy to have you in group even for a short time because while you are there exp goes from 1% per pull to 2-3% per pull. Works out for everyone, and every class is welcome because like others have said, more people = more exp.

Yes there are griefers, mainly in the populated high ZEM zones. They can be avoided, especially if you make your own groups and to less populated zones. The high group bonus pretty much makes up for any high ZEM zones anyways so they aren't necessary.

[Bodybagger]

my classic experience involved a huge push towards grouping and being social... very very rarely in my classic days did you run into a twink monk with fungi and FBSS who said no to grouping because he was just solo grinding, or had his pocket priest parked there with him etc.

That's all I run into on blue it seems honestly... it doesn't matter though because I can trade myself into a twink god ECQuesting for a few days.... then it's a bunch of twinks contesting spawns anywhere you go instead of grouping up... silly. That's more Luclin+era mentality or WoW mentality imo. Not a fan so much.

The push towards social play on red really makes it seem like the old days... inefficient duos and group dynamics, mcguyvering shit together to break camps and dominate grinding

[mickey182]

I've always been a mostly solo player (play in the middle of the night, super focused when active but frequently on and off, etc) so for me I have few memories of positive grouping except with close friends and family. That's why my previous reply was focused on other aspects of the classic feel, and probably a big part of why I don't share the OP view.

[Bodybagger]

That's cool to know. Everyone experiences the same game in so many different ways, really part of what makes it all so awesome!

[GnashingOfTeeth]

For OP

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[bloodmuffin]

Start red, solo/duo till around 15-20. Finally get to the point where people are grouping more often. Spend a lot of time LFG, finally get one. Fungi Twink comes in, wipes group with a high level buffing/healing him, half if not everyone leaves group due to CR. Repeat process for the next couple days until into early 20's.

Solo till 30. Couple even battles, was fun trying to hold my camps from an occasional druid, got bored and tried groups again.

30-40 Finally able to put up a decent fight against certain twinks, people finally stopped leaving after a PK. Twink with pocket healer spends the next 3 or so days trying to gank our CoM group full of newbies, plugs when we get him low. Brags about making us losing XP due to dealing with him every 10 minutes. Twink remains in CoM for the next couple days being the typical PvP braggart.

40-46 Solo/Duo. Had a blast, found a great duo partner. Started getting some decent gear but found just the two of us doing everything either duo or by ourselves or with one extra.

Made it to 52 then gave all my stuff away. Was an okay experience. Found myself just going after loot and looking for groups much like I did on Blue. Didn't see my duo buddy on anymore after 50's, he was pretty grumpy about lack of items in trade or trades in general, returned to blue.

Toke/Hengrey, great adventure and struggle! Unfortunately we encountered just about every single racist piece of shit/douchebag on the server but that's red for ya. I left you a Pm for my blue toons. cheers!

[Daldaen]

Originally Posted by Bodybagger [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

That's cool to know. Everyone experiences the same game in so many different ways, really part of what makes it all so awesome!

For a lot of players on this server, you have to consider their original experience on Live.

1999 they were likely kids in middle school, high school or college, 13-20~ in 1999. Had Mountain Dew and Surge, were able to stay up or online for 12-hour grind groups. Played until the sun rose some nights in the name of nerd-dom.

Fast-forward 15 years.

These guys are now in their late 20s, early 30s. Many are married with kids, houses, yard work, mortgages, deadlines at work, have to deal with incompetent coworkers mistakes, etc. In short, they don't have time for those 12 hour grind groups or 8 hour camps. They may only get 1-2 hours at a time, or even less

The above is why so many are drawn to a solo-style gameplay. They can log on, play a character solo, get meaningful EXP, and if they have to log off at a moments notice cause their baby woke up, it isn't ruining someones group or wiping them in a tough location.

I tend to believe this is a large factor for why R99 has a low population. The Group ZEM bonus penalizes solo play, and lots of the people who are drawn to P99 don't have time for regular grind groups or don't want to put the group in a position where if they leave, the group is stuck. Also, in a PvP environment, its dangerous to go alone.

It is why you see so many posts about whats a good solo class or wheres a good solo location on these boards. Some people may be anti-social and not like grouping but. I think a large amount of it is the amount of time and how