JohnCapital
Slayer
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2006
- Posts
- 9,862
- Location
- Colorado
- Society
- Freelancer
- Avatar Name
- John Teacher Capital
Yes this is late, and a dead issue, but I wanted to discuss, not the changes, but the social effects of them. And for that I needed to take time, wait and watch.
For almost 2 years, my soc The Chosen Few had a standing rule: Masks off while "in town". You could remove armor completely or keep it on, but the mask was always off when we were not hunting. This was a courtesy to people we talked to, traded with, etc. (I hate staring at a mask while in a trade. It just feels so wrong!) Those who know us, could find us in a crowd easy. It's basically the one & only rule that TCF has (other than don't cheat, but that's a no duh).
Then VU 9 came. While 2pec tax is not much, and surely didn't break the bank, the principle of it irked me greatly. I suspended our mask rule.
As I walked around in EU, I noticed more fully armored and less "clothed" avas, even in town, making it very hard to tell who is who. (yes even after the 0/1/2 pec change.) Now instead of clothes all over, I see full sets of armor.
Yes we all got new avas, making it even harder to re-learn who everyone is, but the clothing styles also make up who we are. I've come to expect certain looks that I associate with certain people. Those who see me in my hand sewn, poorly painted brawler clothes know exactly who I am.
Or, they used to anyway. Now I remove my armor as little as possible, planning my hunting runs based on what I'm wearing.
When I get invites to hunts now, I find myself thinking, "Jeeze, I don't have the right armor on, and I really don't want to change". I've found others say the same thing.
Again, the 0/1/2 pec tax isn't a huge financial issue, but it did change certain social patterns.
Meaning many players are becoming less social, in terms of their looks. Folks still chat, but less now and they are less concerned with their avas looks now. They seem less attached to them.
I truly believe this was not MAs intention. I expect MA was really hoping this VU would do great things for the clothing industry and really promote avas getting their own identity quickly and not being "just another masked face in the crowd".
But I am seeing the opposite social changes occurring and that bothers me. The community spirit in EU is very deep, and to now have people unwilling to remove their armor during social moments really sucks. I'm sick of scanning over 9 sets of armor to find the person I'm looking for.
Things improved slightly when MA adjusted the clothing/armor tax. However, I'm still getting that lower social atmosphere.
Maybe it's just me.
Again, this isn't a bash on the issues. Other than the 0/1/2 pec tax, (well and foot guards) I like this VU. Things are looking nice. I just wish I could tell who some of you folks are.
For almost 2 years, my soc The Chosen Few had a standing rule: Masks off while "in town". You could remove armor completely or keep it on, but the mask was always off when we were not hunting. This was a courtesy to people we talked to, traded with, etc. (I hate staring at a mask while in a trade. It just feels so wrong!) Those who know us, could find us in a crowd easy. It's basically the one & only rule that TCF has (other than don't cheat, but that's a no duh).
Then VU 9 came. While 2pec tax is not much, and surely didn't break the bank, the principle of it irked me greatly. I suspended our mask rule.
As I walked around in EU, I noticed more fully armored and less "clothed" avas, even in town, making it very hard to tell who is who. (yes even after the 0/1/2 pec change.) Now instead of clothes all over, I see full sets of armor.
Yes we all got new avas, making it even harder to re-learn who everyone is, but the clothing styles also make up who we are. I've come to expect certain looks that I associate with certain people. Those who see me in my hand sewn, poorly painted brawler clothes know exactly who I am.
Or, they used to anyway. Now I remove my armor as little as possible, planning my hunting runs based on what I'm wearing.
When I get invites to hunts now, I find myself thinking, "Jeeze, I don't have the right armor on, and I really don't want to change". I've found others say the same thing.
Again, the 0/1/2 pec tax isn't a huge financial issue, but it did change certain social patterns.
Meaning many players are becoming less social, in terms of their looks. Folks still chat, but less now and they are less concerned with their avas looks now. They seem less attached to them.
I truly believe this was not MAs intention. I expect MA was really hoping this VU would do great things for the clothing industry and really promote avas getting their own identity quickly and not being "just another masked face in the crowd".
But I am seeing the opposite social changes occurring and that bothers me. The community spirit in EU is very deep, and to now have people unwilling to remove their armor during social moments really sucks. I'm sick of scanning over 9 sets of armor to find the person I'm looking for.
Things improved slightly when MA adjusted the clothing/armor tax. However, I'm still getting that lower social atmosphere.
Maybe it's just me.
Again, this isn't a bash on the issues. Other than the 0/1/2 pec tax, (well and foot guards) I like this VU. Things are looking nice. I just wish I could tell who some of you folks are.