Fighting for Faction or Survival of Fittest?

[kuroari]

When i first played this game, way back during Beta 1 and 2, i was attracted like a " moth to flame " - the mysterys of the karavan and the kami were so intruiguing i couldnt let go. then stuff happend in RL and i didnt play the game until a year after release. however when i finally came back - i was even more interested in the Kami/Karavan/Hominist struggles. they were the driving force for my playing Ryzom - i loved it. finding a guild like the Samsara to RP with me was undoubtedly the best thing that happend to a young NB. everyone i ran into had their own understanding of ryzom, we were all young scholars learning its secrets and trying to rebuild our past through a better future.

8-9 months after playing the game, i've been watching many young homins grow into powerful veterans - however i've noticed a difference with each passing day. less and less did these homins know anything about who they were, where they came from, and why they moved to Atys. no longer were young refugees (in general not all of them, of course) choosing sides based on their love for kami or karavan, but on the size of a guild, the power, and who can give the best equipment.

my question now - how many people truly play the game because of their love for lore and eagerness to learn about Atys and the other worlds we have been promised are out there ::-:: and how many people are playing now because 'its just this beutiful MMO were i grind, kill cool looking monsters, and be the biggest and the best out there in hopes to be recognized. ?

i think thats where our community has finally split - it goes beyond the PvP vs PvE war, i think its the player base that is causing these differences more than anything.

so please, satisfy a young homin's curiosity and vote.

[iphdrunk]

how many people truly play the game because of their love for lore and eagerness to learn about Atys and the other worlds we have been promised are out there ::-:: and how many people are playing now because 'its just this beutiful MMO were i grind, kill cool looking monsters, and be the biggest and the best out there in hopes to be recognized. ?

It is not easy to give a black or white answer so I'd say both.
The original background was one of the reasons I started with this game. The Karavan, being the "Technocrats" attracted me --although since I often enjoy magic the Kami were attractive too, but with a friend we decided to be Karavan followers-- and gave some sense to my main character.
That said, the lack of advancement, specifically in the lore / stalled background (we learn more in a german tv show than 2 years playing) is one of the reasons I am playing *now* more the "where I grind" part and finally, being high level? MMRPGs, as some columnist said, do have this "players build their own legends" that also drives me, yes, levelling is part of my activities.

[sehracii]

no longer were young refugees (in general not all of them, of course) choosing sides based on their love for kami or karavan, but on the size of a guild, the power, and who can give the best equipment.

I don't think this is true at all. Very few players are looking for power when they join a guild. There are some, but they're an exception (and the ones who are don't seem to be around long). However, it's not always the Kami/Karavan and lore that pull them to certain guilds either. From my experience, it's typically just the people they meet and the friends they make that determine what guild they join. And, typically, they adopt the faction stance of that guild.

Which I think is what the poll is missing. While everyone is interested in various things to some extent, I think "Friends and community" would get the most votes if it was in your poll.

[d29565]

I voted for a mixture of both, although my main reason for playing this game is my friends. I play for them. I like to level a little bit, but now that I have one level 250, I am not real interested in gaining another, if it happens, it happens. I like the lore and what not behind The Saga of Ryzom, but like I said, that isn't my main reason behind playing. I am active in PvP on occasion, but I usually only do that for my friends. Either to help them defend their territory, take over another, or battle against their enemies. My whole reason for Ryzom, is my friends. --which I think I said that like 20 times in that little paragraph ---

[lexi44]

Because some folks might still be a bit "sensitive" atm, I'd like to take this opportunity to add a couple things here.

There is nothing wrong with those that play for the "stuff", or play to be the best, and certainly nothing wrong with those that *are* the "best" being recognized as such. The problem, as I see it, is when that power is used in bad ways. We could argue over the definition of "bad ways", but lol I don't wanna argue with anyone right now.

This is a game that we all play for various reasons. We all pay the same amount for it. That doesn't mean we all play it the same way, or have the same goals. Some don't RP at all, some RP when they feel like it, some are always RP'ing. No way is "right" or "wrong". Some hide behind the wall of "RP" as an excuse to treat others badly.

There are a lot of statements we need to just stop saying to each other. Things like, "it's a game, get over it"...."if you don't like it, leave"...."stop your whining"...."it's a mmoRPg...why do you play if you aren't going to RP?"...."stop taking things so personally!"

I'm guilty of saying, or just thinking, some of these things myself, and I am going to work on not doing that anymore. It *is* personal when someone tells you that you're an idiot...it *is* personal when someone tells you your way of playing is stupid...it *is* personal when someone tells you your a whiner.

You can play [IC] until the Yubos come home, but there is still a REAL person guiding that character. And that real person has real feelings. [IC] does not equal "void of feelings".

I understand the sentiment behind your post, Night...but I think at this point it might be "dangerous" to try to split the community based on playstyles. This is a time we need to come together - regardless of how we play, and learn how to be HUMANS, not just HOMINS. We need to constantly remind ourselves that (in-game) we are not just talking to pixels. On the other hand, we also need to remember that actions that play out in-game *are* only happening to pixels. It's sometimes very hard to keep both of those things in perspective.

And frankly, I think as far as the forums go [IC] needs to stay in the Roleplaying forum and not any of the others. I think we need to "keep it real" when discussing issues. Things that are being RP'd have their place, and there is the Roleplaying forum for those things. But, I think a lot of us are "lazy" (myself included) and just click the "General" link because that's where "everyone will see it". I'm not trying to "start" anything, but perhaps if the OP Auction had been posted in the Roleplaying forum, there wouldn't be anyone saying now "oh golly gee, we didn't know it was RP". I seriously doubt that would have changed what happened, but at least there would have been no chance for anyone to claim they didn't know.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter how people choose to play...whether it's to learn the lore and explore the lands...or just to gather loot and be the best in the shortest amount of time. We all pay the same fees and are entitled to play the way we enjoy it. We just need to find better ways to combine all styles of play and get along.

[lexi44]

Which I think is what the poll is missing. While everyone is interested in various things to some extent, I think "Friends and community" would get the most votes if it was in your poll.

That's the one that gets my vote as well.

[kuroari]

theres always that one option that thread-makers leaves out that everyone would choose if it was on there

I figured friends was a factor so great it wasnt even a choice - no one will play an MMO without friends

and Seh, maybe ur right, i mightve just found the last 10 "potentially rotten" apples in the last few weeks *shrug*

- thanks guies for the good crit - no i dont believe any of those options are wrong, by far those are all great ideas - even bieng number 1 is good in my book - its how u would use that power and that would be a different thread entirly, i think.

i have to say i'm fairly happy with the answers so far - its a close tie between the 'good mix' and 'lore' - which are what i think is really needed.

again i'm hoping devs also see this and try to implement a good amount of lore into the coming OP additions (spires and such) - stuff that affects us on a long-going term - i think that more lore would keep the old players, and more PvP would keep bringing in fresh vibrant youths willing to contribute. ( and hey, if the Devs need any help with lore ideas - our playerbase is pretty damn good - Just ask! )

[geezas]

Lore, Mystery, and Adventure for sure. Why else play on a persistant world?

I see SoR as a big interactive theater made up from all the people who play in/with it, the writers and game masters and guides who make it come alive and the comunity who acts and reacts. Making it a intresting place, and what more can I want?

*Aina wants to go adventuring with anybody who wants*