So,
Last night, I was in Valkrum Dunes, just kinda chillin out and setting macros, killing random mobs because they looked at me funny and just being random. I see a group of adventurers killing an NM, and it sparked my immediate interest. Let me go ahead and put a little note in here. I have done zero VW, and don't know or understand the premise behind it, but as with anything else I have not done, I am interested, and when I see a group of people fighting an NM that is basically kicking thier asses, I am always more than willing to help. So, I offer the services of my 99BLM.
I switch jobs, join the party, and wait while they re-group, as they lost some people. This will come up shortly, as to how and why they lost warm bodies that were either interested as I was, or needed the fight for whatever reason, and were unable to satisfy either.
As I am sitting there, I notice the planar rift (I believe it is called) and everyone standing around it, so, again, out of curiousity, I decide to click it. Well, that's when it clicked: I may be of no use as I may not be able to fight this NM. I ask the alliance leader, who then proceeds to act like a total **** and tells my party leader to kick me from the party. I go ahead, instead, and remove myself, and then ask the guy why he had to act as he did, and he justified it by saying "I can act how I want when someone like you has no ******* clue". Apparently, you need stones for this, though, I still (until later today) have no clue what a Void Watch is. Apparently though, I was not the only person that pissed this guy off, nor was pretty much offended at his attitude, because as soon as I joined in, the conversation was already about someone being an ***, a ****, rude, and a few other things that I cannot remember, but long short, this guy is a world class douche bag. (Twistedsoul, I believe was his name). I will call him out in public, because I believe he is knowledgable, and has been playing for a while, and may even be from around the same time I joined (about 6 years ago). I hope someday to do a mission or two with him, assuming he is not a total *** and is all about being "In charge".
What has this done? It has, in fact, made me more curious, as to what this Void Watch exactly is, and where do I start and how do I do it effectively.
It has also raised other curious points. For example, why do parties not talk anymore? Why are Linkshells silent, even if the list has a dozen or more people? Why do people charge 10k for a teleport now? Why is it when I ask if someone needs help, whether it be pointedly toward one or a group, or a linkshell, or a friend, help is declined, and nobody else offers? Why is my 33 MNK only a 33 MNK because I have more or less solo levelled from level 1? What happened to EXP parties that don't involve me going to Abyssea or a cave where it is utter chaos and disorginization?
These are just a few things I have started to wonder. Then I started to really think about it. This game is not what it used to be. Where LS leaders held the members accountable for progression. Where if you asked for help, it was cool, and there was always someone to help. If you asked for help every night, but never offered help, you still got help, but you were made to feel like a ******** for never offering, and eventually removed from your LS because you were a sponge, and good for little else.
I remember a month or so ago, on one of the few nights I was able to dedicate my time to do something FUN for the game, I organized a level 1 race, from Jueno to Sandy. I ended up in an argument (one sided mostly) with another person who accused me of running a scam. Another person told me 100k and he would join. Another person actualy reported me to a GM. That was fun.
So my only question is this... What has happened to this game? Have people become so cynical and metnally burned from all the people that are in this game for monetary gain that they can no longer enjoy themselves? Have we really let it get this far, while doing nothing about RMT, sponges, leeches and the likes?
I am not really looking for answers. I am here to tell you that if you are on the Asura server, please, feel free to look up Bhambie or Menecius, and let's have some fun. Let's do things that make this game fun. Let's exp, NM hunt, quest, do missions and for ***** sake, let's talk while we are doing it! Make fun of eachother, make fun of others, tell us about your laste encounter with a member of the opposite (or same) sex, ask for advice, pour your heart out. The way I look at it, it's like a bar. And everyone is a bartender, as well as a patron. We are here to talk, engage, listen and combat enemies, LET"S ACT LIKE WE USED TO!
As this is my first post, I hope this did not come off as too whiney, but I don't really concern myself with what people think of me, I just want to see if I am the only person that feels this way.
Anyways,
Happy Adventuring!
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