Id like to see the characters power increase in relation to a decrease in server population. That would allow those that actually intend to play on the server to reap the rewards of playing on that server.
Decrease in server population? This server isn't hurting for population. Increasing player power vs. content is pretty much against the whole TLE concept.
Unlike Stormhold this server will have surges of activities because people want the new HQ rewards that are in every single expansion. Question is, once the first week is over, how many will stay and keep the server alive for the remaining 11 weeks of every expansion.
so i guess those retirees are paying to win because they can pay for life while not working vis a vis being able to get more done than me. the beauty of everquest is that it is whatever you make of it, you can craft, you can XP grind, u can poopsock loot, you can raid extensively, you can do quests, you can socialize* etc. The problem these days with MMOs is they hand everything over so easily, they condition you to feel entitled to that next piece of loot, that should come ever so easily with minimal work. Original EQ made everything difficult, finding a group took forever, traveling to your destination took forever, no information so you had to do homework just to know what anything did or where whoever or whatever is. The raw competition of being at odds to lose out on your raid mob or your quest mob because someone or another raidforce is just stronger and more organized, racing for the kill, these are the core mechanics of a game that make it fun, because it's challenging. ALL of the above is forced upon you in a hardcore, barebones MMO, one doesnt need fancy graphics or all the rewards in the world to have fun, you just need excitement; whatever that looks like for you - if you lose that excitement in EQ2, then you can buy a boost from the store and get past it, to continue the game as intended. walking along a plank one foot above the ground isnt very exciting, but add lava beneath you, and it gets a whole lot more tense. Theres always a way to make something more exciting, but handing it over to you easily is not the way, and if you cant control yourself like an adult to play the game as intended, then that's on you for rushing it and being hasty in an already easy game.
i think the next generation is starting to understand what makes things exciting at their core, difficulty, and beating the challenge at hand, a steep incline or a hard math problem. Different strokes for different folks but honestly the core value is still there, when something is handed to you, things lose their appeal, look at rich 'losers' who cant be happy without hardship and strife, you know why? yea. exactly.
