I've been out of the RO loop for some time. The reason behind it all is because I was fed up with how most servers are run.
It seems to be a common theme to have GM's running around pretending they are gods of the universe. Now I'll say this and I mean it. It's not like I played EVERY server out there. So don't throw stones at me if yours is not like that. This is just what I've noticed.
When people say, "Oh yeah, the eco is great!" Do they mean that everything has a base price already set up? as in Do mvp cards sell for 100,000,000 each time? or what? I've been on a server where people RAVED about how equal the eco was. only to find out that most items that are on IRO being sold for 12 million or so, are being sold for about 190,000,000. because EVERYONE has money. and EVERYONE can afford it.
In less you are new. that is.
So When I was asked to try out a server with a friend of mine. I thought I'd get on. get a few levels and then never log on again. as I usually do. But for some reason, I keep logging in.
It's a low rate. with five times official all across the map. So leveling takes some time. which I'm fine with. I like the fact that you need to work for your items.
Another thing I liked on this server was the fact that the GM team was actually OPEN to suggestions, this was a common problem I ran into on other servers. players think something is unfair. so they make their thoughts public. and end up either having their thread locked and trashed. or just ignored. I mean, it seems common GM understanding is that if you have enough players. your doing SOMETHING right? makes sense. in less you want your server to be BETTER than it is today.
Since it just wiped. things are going slow. I'm logged in right now and I see only one vendor. so, like I voted on the review, the eco's pretty low. so I can't really judge that fairly at the moment. This also brings me to my next point.
The players. Man, I miss the feeling I get when I log in. Like I'm friends with everyone. I quit servers pretty quickly when I find out it's pretty much "YOUR IN THIS ALLIANCE, AND YOU CAN ONLY TALK TO THESE PEOPLE, OR YOUR IN THAT ONE, AND YOU SUCK. IF YOUR IN NEITHER. GO LEVEL NOOB"
I mean, not only do players sit around (who's NOT lazy? xD) and talk to one another with a nice set of manners. but if your new. or hell, even if you've never played RO before. They'll help you out. Got a question about a skill? ask away. leveling spots? they'll give you a list to help you out. Theres times when I don't really feel like destroying hordes of monsters, but sitting in town doing nothing. and theres people who share that feeling.
Something I was... surprised to find out as well, GM's will do this too. I mean, it's something else to sit in town and have a chat with a GM about current bugs, or what the GM's are working on. I mean, Not a single GM there has that "IM A GM, BOW TO ME" aura at all. They all know what it's like to be a player, To wonder what's going on with the server they are investing time into. You can ask about a future quest they are going to put in or anything, and granted. one or two might not know the full details. but not only will they tell you that. they'll point you in the direction of who to talk to about it.
As far as I'm aware. all the gm's also have legit players. which, I think is a good thing. let me state why. For one. they'll get on and you can party with them. from a player to player kind of setting. This enabled you to get to know them. and have fun with them. or be slaughtered by a bunch of dragons and laugh about it. Not only that, but this further shows my point that they understand what it is to be a player too. how much you really want that next ten percent so you can get that next level to top off your STR. or what have you. I think it helps keep them rooted to the players, and what's going on in the server.
Some of you might point out the fact. well, who's to say their legit account is REALLY legit? I'm pretty sure I speak for all the gm's on this server when I say: It's a lot funner to go out and destroy about a million monsters for a simple item you're going to end up breaking by overuping anyways. that it is to @item yourself something. They play the game to PLAY the game. not to get the best items and destroy everything in sight. Besides, if you don't trust your GM's not to cheat. Why are you playing?
While on the topic of the gms. These kids know what they are doing. Seriously. I've seen stuff scripted in that THEY made, that is pretty sweet. It's not like 50% of the servers out there who throw in some wings and some quests that are found on the internet. I mean, I can't tell you how many times I've seen the SAME set of quests or "Custom features" on different servers. Plus their imagination never ends. they are ALWAYS thinking of what to make the server better, without breaking it. And honestly. It's a fine line. and they are walking on that line perfectly.
The real problem with I have at the moment. is the low player base. But that's for me, both a blessing a curse. I mean, sure. they can go in game and tell everyone. VOTE AND YOU'LL GET AN EVENT. or VOTE AND I'LL GIVE YOU OCAs. or something like that. which also. I'd like to point out that they are in no way shape or form asking me to write this. anyways, We'd all enjoy a bigger player base. but that's true on every server tho. isn't it? Who wouldn't want an extra 20 players on a server? But the way they only really ask you to vote is when a GM is online and s/he /b's a message about it. none of that machine feeling of seeing the "PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS SERVER" broadcast every hour. Or hell, popups in your patcher. That irked me SO bad when I had to close 2-3 pop up's asking people to vote just to be able to log in.
Really, I do recommend trying this one out. at least trying it. It's not like I can give it ten stars all across the board. because like every server there IS some flaws.
But unlike some servers. they are working on fixing this. So I'm looking forward to seeing what this server turns out to be. If it's not your cup of tea. That's fine.
