The FPE is coming, some things to consider.

Greetings,

To all those reading the thread, I thank you for the time from your days you have alotted to read this. Eariler, about 1 AM (-6 GMT, U.S. Central) I was sending out my recruiting message for my new guild in Lion's Arch District 1. Surrounded by the usual spam, I was intently focused on timing my message so that it wouldn't roll off the screen.

And then Gaile Grey, in purple text, spoke one line:
"No one talks anymore "

It was as if for most people there, time stopped. Immediately, one little line of text caused people to first try and prove otherwise and then came the usual flood of questions about new stuff.

But it did one thing for me personally. It kicked me out of my little trance long enough to realize...Gaile was right. True, there have been many various threads discussing the behavior of the community at large. But you never really consider it till "everything stops."

I looked at those who denied what Gaile said, and then thought to myself "But moments ago not a single one of you was speaking to each other, you were all just selling your wares" and it occured to me, I was just as guilty.

By now you're asking what the point of the little story is. Well I won't keep you from it any longer.

Many of the older players, those of us lulled into the trance of endless spam, positioning posts, and chasing "the next cool item" will be enjoying the FPE Weekend soon, and many of us will be buying Factions.

But, also consider this, there will be MANY new players who are new to our little community. People who will be examining us, judging us, testing to see if we are worthy to have them with us. Yes, gameplay, and graphics make the physical portion of a game, but even that is just a husk of electrons without the community.

Therefore, in light of my little revelation tonight, I put forth a small set of challenges to the entire community.

Enjoy the weekend in all its aspects, not just for the "cool new stuff" you can get. Consider the number of new players, and increase your tolerance of less then perfect playing ability. Be kind, answer questions, stand around and talk with your friends, old and new. Seek to challenge others, and then seek to challenge yourself by doing difficult things that you haven't before.

See if you, can make these new players see that we have not forgotten that this game is about team play; not just to "get stuff" as a group, but to play as a team for the sake of being a team. That, we welcome the new blood who seek to be taught by the knowledgable veterans and experts. That, ultimately, we are a community worthy of their time and respect.

Last, and most important of all. At the end of the event, if you have done these things. See if you are better for it, if you gained a new perspective, new friends, good memories and experiences, and a new found appreciation for thi game that you thought you'd lost. If you challenged yourself, and find those things to be true, then the final challenge is to keep doing them. Do everything you can not to sink back into this trance that acts as a siren's call upon the minds of even good well meaning players.

We are better then spam, we are better then self indulgence, we are better then to be hollow and listless. Let's prove it oncemore.

Thank you again for your time, it is greatly appreciated. *Bows*

I completely agree, I think you might have been better to put this elsewhere, but I agree. Recently I've become bored, I've done everything, seen it all. Recently I've been helping complete strangers do things, just for the heck of it, and it's pretty fun.

it's LA...or Droks...best not to waste your time there


ToA is oddly confrontational

Amen.

Unfortunatly many places have become rather hostile. Marhans Grotto, which used to be a great meeting place for people to chat and discuss the builds they prefer, has become a crap hole where morons go to show off their shiney new armor. And I pity and new player to enter Ascalon Districts 1-3 as they are completley filled with spam. And any attempts to ask a question are simply met with smart ellic replies, ignored, or flat out flamed.

I will admit that I have played the game for so long that I have become a little jilted and I simply keep all my channels off except for when I need them. Random arena's have become a breeding ground of trash where ignorant and outright terrible remarks are made. Something must be done to stem the tide of these low brow players from causing new players from leaving or doing as I have become and simply play through the game solo and group only when forced.

I agree completely. I really don't know a way to fix this problem though. Being able to filter out "WTS" and "WTB" would be good, but the offensive crap in Random Arenas and Temple of Balthazar wouldn't be affected.

ToA is weird like that

I agree with the OP. Actually during the last factions pvp preview weekend I was kinda suprised how many people raged on the "n00bs." Do people want to play a MMORPG all alone?

/kneel

I agree entirely with you. I ve always tried to make the best use out of myself after i hadfinished the game, such has:
-help in THK with monk.
-answer to questions whenever I can.
even though I cant really consider myself an "older player" I agree that people new to the game need to be welcomed warmly.

Horrible but too true. I too was astounded by the number of those "player wannabes" insulting newbies, laughing at them for every question like this.
as a sidenote, I got my guild that way.
I was in CA, and a jerk was just spamming curses and insults about newplayers being noobs and I just quickly replied:
" arent 'noobs' the one who calls other noobs, when those they call are actually just newbies?"
or something like that.Anyway, I was taking the defense of the new players.
after that, someone asked me if I wanted to join her guild and i accepted. It must have been for her a garantee I was a good person.

I m getting a bit off track, but what I want to say is that being nice doesnt cost a thing.

During the FPE hunting for the next cool item is useless. All items gained will be lost. I do agree, but the towns that are useless or next to useless are rather nice towns to talk in.

This is a very well thought out post and it is very true. We'd all do better to remind ourselves of this, often. By doing so, we can have a very positive effect on the community, as a whole. If people are open to it, it'll catch on and spread.

Let's do our best

Fishermans Haven is great, we have massmeetings there, sitting in a circle talking about the game and stuff. Come and join us in European dis 1, if on that server. Anyway, I completely agree with the post, and as theVariable said, let's do our best.

Indeed FH island is a great example my guild is widly represented in FH.

LA, Droks, and Ascalon City have turned into the major trading centers (ESPECIALLY District 1). IMHO, thats's why most people spend time in those towns. Chatting there has been made very difficult because of all the trade chat, especially when people fail to use the trade chat channel, and that's why people don't congregate there for chatting.

The places that lend themselves to good chat are the out of the way places like Fisherman's Haven, Ice Tooth Cave, etc. It's so much easier to carry on a conversation when it's not peppered with "LFG For xxxxx" (Storyline places), "Pro runner ....." (Beacon's Perch, Augury rock) or "WTB / WTS" (Droks, LA, Ascalon)

When it comes to answering questions that people have, I don't hesitate to help out where I can. Two reasons - 1, It's the right thing to do, making for a better community. and 2, It cuts down on the "OMG Noob doesn't know...." type crap in chat.

I'm looking forward to the preview weekend! I cant wait. I'm just sad that they're starting it basicly 3am my time.

My reasons for enjoying the weekend:

1) I get to try my ritualist which since the pvp preview has become almost my favorite character.

2) I have people that are new to the game that I invited and want to help them have a good time with the game.

3) I'm looking forward to venturing into the new world that has been given to us.

4) I wanna just hang out with people and shoot the breeze when I'm not trying my hand at the missions.

I hope everyone would put away their E-"Members" and just enjoy the weekend. Would be great to have cities full of questions and decent answers without all the measuring of their E-"Members".

Enjoy the fun that comes this weekend! ^_^

So true..

But it sounds like to me this comming FPE is going to be all out war. I dont think anyone will know what exactly is going on (no matter how "exp" you are) because its all new. Everyone will be in a sort of confused state at first... I just hope it doesnt turn into one big giant Random Arena's bit, where everyone is sour about losing. It will be interesting to see how things play out.

I think the phrase OMG DID YOU SEE THAT will be a common phrase this weekend. Too bad I won't be able to get some serieous gaming time in untill sunday.

Well there is talk in RA.....not exactly pleasant talk though.

O well remember we always have Guild Wars Guru to talk about things.

Everything said is sadly true. Hoards of wannabes (lets not say idiots), self proclaimed pro's, kiddos with ebay account, etc... invaded the game in the past few month.

I don't say that this is a new thing and that older players were perfect. But as the game became more popular, easier to play (runners, etc) more and more "unwanted" players started to play the game.

Also, I think there is an issue with younger players (under 13-15). They tend to be pritty annoying, with all the childish remarks. Also, some of them have a terrible necesity to show their achievments in every possible place. So the beta/preview weekends are paradise for such players. I can see them hanging around CA, RA or anywhere insulting new players, swearing, showing off in their armor, spitting "n00b", "stfu", "mofo", "fu" in every possible chat.

Of course, those who played the game for a while can just turn off trade, local, etc.. chat. But what about the people who join the game for the preview event? Can they do the same thing? Guess not.

I say that for this event there should be a someone from Anet in some major outposts, towns and warn/ban anyone who spams the main channel with WTB, WTS, LFR.... or insults people in any way in the main chat. And if they continue with the harrasment, ban them for the entire preview weekend.

It has been said before and it will be said again (and Gaile if your listening)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put in an auction house ....
It would cut down on a lot of the WTB/WTS (not all mind)

Either that or split the trade channel into 2 a WTB and a WTS section.
Sure people are going to to use the incorrectly but if you want to sell stuff you dont have to listen to most of the WTS chat.

Also just from myself these days Local and Trade chats are nearly always off for me.

I just chat with my guildies in guild chat (and a crazy bunch they are) or we meet in little groups and sit around and chat .. sometimes I log in for an hour and do nothing

well just a little bit of my 2c