As some of the tl:dr points seem lacking in information or are ill-informed, I’ll address these point by point:
Pros
- “custom stuffs” as OP puts it, means quality of life changes and content that allows players to obtain cash-exclusive consumables/shadow gear by in-game means. In kRO, players have to pay for gacha boxes to be able to obtain these items, but here you can get them all through in-game means.
Cons
- “endgame inaccessible to newbies.” As others have mentioned, this is simply untrue. What OP describes as end-game are so called ‘Fortessa Pit’ and ‘Fortessa Ruins’, dungeons which allow players to obtain some of the kRO cash-exclusive consumables and items. When players in SMRO recruit for these, the party usually requires a couple support roles, where the DPS roles are admittedly a bit less newbie friendly (‘Fortessa Pit’ usually requires a support SR for linking the SC tank, and ‘Fortessa Ruins’ a LP sorc, for example). A newbie can easily create a ‘Pit/Ruins’ support char and have them ready for when a party is recruiting (most people don’t like playing these support roles either, but that’s what it takes if you’re new and/or not very well geared).
- “obtaining MVPs.” MVP competition has always been tight in MVP camping, however even as someone who is not very well geared, you do in fact have a chance to kill a MVP here or there, sure you will often meet competition, but that’s just the nature of MVP camping. Even with some hardcore MVP farmers in SMRO, there are timeslots you can get some MVP kills in. As for Bloody Branches, while they are usually obtained through the aforementioned ‘Fortessa’ content, they are also obtainable through the Daily Login reward system, ‘Lucky3’ (which are obtained by rolling the ‘Slot Machine,’ which uses ‘Moonlight Coins,’ obtained through daily login, as currency), and even through the ‘Skeleton Key’ exchange NPC (described below) among other means.
- “controlling market.” OP is hardpressed to push this narrative that somehow ‘Fortessa Pit’ and ‘Fortessa Ruins’ drop items you cannot get elsewhere in the game. This is simply untrue, currently, if you cannot run these two dungeons, you can run an easier custom dungeon called ‘Fortessa Dungeon,’ which drops emblems you may exchange for ‘Fortessa Pit’ currency (‘Skeleton Keys’), and there is a shop where you can buy all of the items that ‘Fortessa Pit’ drops with this currency. So again, even if you are unwilling to play support for endgame content, you can still obtain all of the items through this exchange NPC …
- a note about the admin supposedly giving players MVP cards. While it would be counterproductive to claim anything, as OP would likely appeal to an ad hominem yet again (“you’re a veteran, obviously you’re biased!”), please dear reader, think about what implication this kind of action would have for the server. Would people not stop playing soon after obtaining all the cards they could ever dream of, because it was too easy? Would people still build without MVP cards? Would the admin not actively act against his own server philosophy (no RMT, as little as possible dependance on Cash Shop related ways to obtain items), due to which the server has features like obtaining cash-exclusive kRO items through in-game means? As a matter of fact, having an MVP card does not seem to be favourable in many cases any longer, new post-17. 1 content cards and card combos are much more suitable for certain equipment slots and builds, compared to blindly slapping MVP cards into your build.
- a note on ECA. Many people rage quit when they didn’t get lucky with this event, but if you were around for each of the events, you would notice there have been some lucky players who opened few albums and got an MVP card (not always a good one, but that’s beside the point), however there were also players notorious for investing a lot of time and energy into collecting as many ECA as possible before opening them, of course those players would be more likely to get an MVP drop from this event. This is just the nature of RNG, and the extent to which players needed to go to secure at least one MVP drop.
In conclusion, I implore you, dear reader, to read carefully through this thread and try the server for yourself before coming to any abrupt conclusions. OP clearly has a motive to be spreading these blatant lies, and it’s incredibly intellectually dishonest and disappointing that, when presented with counterarguments, he moves goal posts (as someone else has mentioned), or appeals to blatant ad hominem attacks such as “anyone who is a veteran is biased, anyone who presents counterarguments is biased, anyone who is not new or presents counterarguments is wrong.”
This thread seems to be somewhat of a double bind, a. k. a. “doomed if you do, doomed if you don’t,” OP has created a no-win situation, in which the server ends up looking bad whether people defend it (anyone presenting counterevidence must be a veteran, according to OP, and because they’re veterans, their info is biased, and therefore somehow wrong), or don’t defend it (the reader is only presented with what information, or in this case misinformation, the OP provides).
Another rebutal from a biased veteran's perspective. I have already addressed all these topics in my previous posts. But I guess it's too difficult to back read some of my points so I'm going to sound like a broken record here and repeat how I addressed all these biased rebutals
- “endgame inaccessible to newbies.” As others have mentioned, this is simply untrue. What OP describes as end-game are so called ‘Fortessa Pit’ and ‘Fortessa Ruins’, dungeons which allow players to obtain some of the kRO cash-exclusive consumables and items. When players in SMRO recruit for these, the party usually requires a couple support roles, where the DPS roles are admittedly a bit less newbie friendly (‘Fortessa Pit’ usually requires a support SR for linking the SC tank, and ‘Fortessa Ruins’ a LP sorc, for example). A newbie can easily create a ‘Pit/Ruins’ support char and have them ready for when a party is recruiting (most people don’t like playing these support roles either, but that’s what it takes if you’re new and/or not very well geared).
Let me guess, youre a long time player on this server? Based on your opinion I can tell how oblivious you are to the situation of the newer players. No, a newbie cannot easily be accepted in a pit or ruins party. In the 3 weeks i have played in the server, barely anyone is recruiting wether it's a support role or dps role. Like I said, I've seen people in game and in discord, some of them are AB some of them are warlocks which are considered support roles. When I asked them after I still see them shouting after 2hours if someone pmed them, their answer is no. Nobody even reacted to them. It's like people cant read their msg or something. You see the problem here? It's because the veterans have their own circles already that it's very hard for a new player to get into these parties. Ofcourse you will say it's easy to get into, it's because you belong to that circle
you already have your premade group that whatever character you make wether it's support or dps, you will get an invite. But again, on a new player's perspective which this thread is intended for, it's near impossible. You don't even have to log in to the game to see this. Just check the discord LFG section
- “obtaining MVPs.” MVP competition has always been tight in MVP camping, however even as someone who is not very well geared, you do in fact have a chance to kill a MVP here or there, sure you will often meet competition, but that’s just the nature of MVP camping. Even with some hardcore MVP farmers in SMRO, there are timeslots you can get some MVP kills in. As for Bloody Branches, while they are usually obtained through the aforementioned ‘Fortessa’ content, they are also obtainable through the Daily Login reward system, ‘Lucky3’ (which are obtained by rolling the ‘Slot Machine,’ which uses ‘Moonlight Coins,’ obtained through daily login, as currency), and even through the ‘Skeleton Key’ exchange NPC (described below) among other means.
It's not even a competition
what chance does a player has who doesnt have multiple mvps that lets you deal 40-50% more damage on certain properties against someone who owns all the cards? The answer is close to none
It's really funny how you guys try to defend MVP camping is a tight competition mvp camping is fair etc etc, when in fact it isnt and the reason to why you don't see this is because either you didnt hunt your MVP cards ( maybe it was handed down to you or maybe you got it from ECA) or you don't really care about min maxing your character at all and have not tried camping a certain mvp yourself.
but if it's the case, then i suggest you try camping an mvp, remove all your mvp cards, and compete with a person who's decked out on mvp cards and see how that goes
I mean you dont really have to try to see the result of it but if youre too naive then yea try it
Also fortessa dungeon is something you can indeed farm, but can you kindly check the cost on how much emblem for a single skeleton key and how much skeleton key is needed to get the said items? It's a lot! (but its okay if you dont know, i dont blame you, since youre probably running pit with your own circle so you dont get to experience the inefficient grind). Now, why would you do something inefficient when there's a more efficient option for you? Unless youre a masochist or something
If you think farming using an inefficient route is better than the more efficient counterpart (fortessa pit) is the only way for newbies to farm the items neccessary for min-maxing then you just proved my point on this server being very punishing to newer players.
- a note about the admin supposedly giving players MVP cards. While it would be counterproductive to claim anything, as OP would likely appeal to an ad hominem yet again (“you’re a veteran, obviously you’re biased!”), please dear reader, think about what implication this kind of action would have for the server. Would people not stop playing soon after obtaining all the cards they could ever dream of, because it was too easy? Would people still build without MVP cards? Would the admin not actively act against his own server philosophy (no RMT, as little as possible dependance on Cash Shop related ways to obtain items), due to which the server has features like obtaining cash-exclusive kRO items through in-game means? As a matter of fact, having an MVP card does not seem to be favourable in many cases any longer, new post-17. 1 content cards and card combos are much more suitable for certain equipment slots and builds, compared to blindly slapping MVP cards into your build.
Well, even when they're decked out on MVP cards, they would still play because they still have things to do in the game like controlling the economy and camp spawning MVPs to box out newer players from gaining access to them so they can retain their power over others
that's whats happening right now. Why do you think people who have full mvp cards still camp MVPs? It's because they can
and if they are able to monopolize it, it means no competition in pricing, they can price it however high they want it to be, and for people desperate enough to buy one, they will have to do it via donating.
Win for the server Win for the circle of freinds and win for the wallet of the owner
but like ive said, in regards to this topic, i have no proof whatsoever so I'm just answering your question as to what benefit it would have if he ever handed down mvp cards
Maybe these players who happened to be friends with the server are just really lucky and manage to get all the mvp cards they needed to bully out newer people from killing mvps
- a note on ECA. Many people rage quit when they didn’t get lucky with this event, but if you were around for each of the events, you would notice there have been some lucky players who opened few albums and got an MVP card (not always a good one, but that’s beside the point), however there were also players notorious for investing a lot of time and energy into collecting as many ECA as possible before opening them, of course those players would be more likely to get an MVP drop from this event. This is just the nature of RNG, and the extent to which players needed to go to secure at least one MVP drop.
I dont think this is relevant anymore since the ECA is already returning, so I am not sure why you are still defending this
this is why i didnt put it on my TLDR anymore
It seems youre being a little extra defensive by digging up older topics
It's making you look more guilty
But like I said, from a veteran's perspective everything is fine and good! It's because you guys indeed have it good. I can clearly see why you guys like this server. I mean, if i am put into your position, having access to end game custom dungeon, can farm it on repeat, have all these MVP cards that you got from being super LUCKY with RNG! I would also love this server too
Sadly, im a new player who doesnt have any connections
Anyways since the amount of words to go through each posts is getting out of hand, from this point onwards every post I make I will copy paste my TLDR so the newer players can see it. Just looking out for my fellow new players who wants fair competition in regards to minmaxing and doing mvps
Pls do note that this just the opinion based on a new player's objective. If youre a player looking for a new server you can always try the server for yourself and see if it is to your liking
What I'm saying here is just something you should expect when you go into the server. In this way, you won't have any disappointments whatsoever after you realized the issues I stated are plaguing the server.
TLDR
Pros
- The server is stable and have nice events.
- The server is true to kro aside from minor custom stuffs
- The server has a pretty tight community. (as evidenced here on this topic, some are even choosing to pretend blind ignoring the server's cons) but atleast they are really passionate
- The 4th job is coming out and owner is working hard on it
Cons
- Population less than 100. (with vendors it can reach to more than 100)
- Dead leveling zones (the leveling zones are soloable, but if you are looking to find a full party, its currently impossible. you can find maybe 2-3 people max if youre lucky)
- Custom endgame dungeon inaccessible for new players (This goes in conjunction with low population. The server has a tight community thus, if youre not sociable and cant get in their circle, chances are you wont be able to enjoy the end game contents denying you the ability to min max your builds)
- If you want a good MVP card outside of instances, it's pretty much impossible to get since you will be competing with the veteran players who are decked out in full MVP carded gears. This makes them deal 40-50% more damage than you, sometimes even more!
- A handful of people controls the economy meaning you have to pay an absurd amount of price to get something easily obtainable if you are able to do the custom end game dungeon.
