I just want to say (Haelstrom on Amistr) that having hopped from one server to the next for years, having helped moderate a few and even tinkering away at little odd&end eAthena mods now and again, this server is something special. It tries to put in the conveniences we expect from an eAthena server, without bloating it or in general giving people (too) easy a time to become gear-gods.
Just so happened a number of people I know in real life go on the server, and when I joined, I got even more people in. In terms of population, I would say it's roughly in the 100-130+ range, but that it's growing. I can even see that, and I again only joined a short whiles ago.
While I disagree with a few of their policies (namely their stance on multi-clienting, which is allowed but isn't at all encouraged) - it is more on a personal level than on a matter of rating the server. Never have a bad time with position lag (Indiana), which is a welcome change from past servers- and with the repeatables as they are plus the rates, it's at that sweet spot where you can level efficiently no problem, but at the same time, not so much so that you're transcendent 99 in 15 minutes.
Most of the community I've met are good sorts. Interesting discussions in the Vent server, and the guilds feel more like how they should (competing groups with less drama than I've seen on other servers), versus how they shouldn't (unruly mobs of preteen children hoping their caps lock proves bigger). In fact, besides one individual who apparently rates player skill based on character level (hilarious), I've really not had a problem with a single user server-wide thus far.
GMs are nice - and more importantly, whenever I've been in Vent mouthing off, they always are quick to point out helpful tips and such with the player-base. Harking back to the members themselves, I remember when a few people I knew joined not even a week ago, someone right off the bat offered to tank for them, leech them, get them acquainted with things - whole nine yards.
Maybe it's because I usually sarcastically claim I'm American 958x just to provoke the anti-American sentiments I often see in RO servers. Maybe it's because I almost always main Stalker. Maybe it's because I like taunting people now and again, but damn it, I've not seen such (general) generosity on an RO server .. ever.
Almost every single one I've played from the big on down to the small, always felt like I was weeding through brainless zombies who had indecipherable nonsense droning across a record, with the needle crashing down at complete random and whatever poorly constructed insults and trash talk they could come up with flooding above their heads, because they believed words and reputation speak louder than actions. Which is great, actually - makes beating them more enjoyable, nothing tastes as good in RO as killing someone and then getting whispered about 93 lines of QQ. But still: irritating.
Not so much though, here at Amistr. Really felt pretty .. calm here.
Finally, I do nod my head at the fact they keep event items and the like statless, but do allow them to be merged with a stat-filled hat, thus merging the two. Keeps event items and the like from giving players an unforgiving edge, but amply rewards them all the same- I was in a three round event today for a little bout of Hocus Pocus elimination. Besides a friend of mine getting offed before I was every time, I didn't win anything [came close the third round, but I got Asura'd which gave the remaining hunter the win] - and yet, I liked the atmosphere of the event as much as the potential items, although a black Gangster Scarf would've looked killer on my Stalker.
I'll need to update my stance as I keep playing further, and as I begin to WoE - but it's definitely my server of choice currently, and I see no real reason to change that. Good stuff.
