After several days of what has seemed like a shitstorm of blog posts, forum posts and general buzz about group play, solo play and roleplayers, I've come to the conclusion that we're about to see the next phase in the "war". We now have so-called industry insiders firing back at players, one even being so bold as to basically say that roleplayers are whiners. I can say, after picking that up from this fellow's horrible column I am not impressed. Not by a long shot.
I hate to go over this but I do not believe in any case it's the roleplayer or roleplaying crowds whining about anything. In fact, roleplayers don't typically give a rat's ass about a game's mechanics or the balancing or loot or what-have-you because as long as they LIKE the game they are playing, they play it and enjoy their time spent in it, in character or out. It is POWER GAMERS that are ALWAYS whining about every little thing. They go from whining about class balance to loot drop percentages to roleplayers slowing them down to whatever else is changing/happening in their chosen game.
Power gamers whine more than anyone else because they are looking for the best edge on what they do. If ANYTHING is changed in any way that affects how they play they whine about it. It doesn't matter how small and insignificant it may be if it kills the buzz for the power gamer they whine like a little baby about it.
Now, you may be foaming at the mouth by now if you are a power gamer and I can tell you straight up I will laugh in your face until I can't breath because seriously, realize that you are the reason MMORPGs have gone to shit. You might pay to play and keep a game alive but you have ruined the genre for anyone with an imagination and a desire for a challenge.
I won't say roleplayers are all great folks. Some are hybrid gamers. Half power gamer, half roleplayer. I play that part myself sometimes. Some purist roleplayers are complete asshats, as much or more than some power gamers. It doesn't matter who you are or what your playstyle is, you can make the games you play good or bad. You have the choice whether you make or break the experience for yourself and/or others.
I think a lot of people stereotype the different playstyles of gamers and I think that's a major issue here. Casual and power gamers sometimes think that roleplayers are uptight and only use old-English "accents" and don't play by the lore. Not true, and most roleplayers will jump down your throat for this sort of thing. Many of the stereotypes for roleplayers are untrue, though not all of them. I would have to say that out of all the stereotypes out there for gamers, among power and roleplay gamers there are more that can be confirmed as truths for power gamers.
I'm sure we will not see the end of this and I imagine I will be getting a ton of negative comments on this one but I don't care. I need to say these things...
There are good and bad players in all groups. Power gamers, role players, pvpers and casuals. Painting any one of these groups with a broad brush is just wrong.
Sat Jul 11 2009 3:16AMI had to be bold about it. Lately roleplayers have been under the microscope and all sorts of false information has been thrown out there. I have to speak for the little guy ya know...
Sat Jul 11 2009 3:19AMI find myself agreeing with Mystik. However, I think it's important to realise that everybody - collectively - holds up a game in some way. In a traditional system, I - a roleplayer - pay just as much into the game as a casual, a pvper, and a power gamer. In a F2P microtransaction game, if I am able to find a group to RP with, I'm willing to shell out some hard-earned dollars for the premium currency in order to bring my character closer to my idea.
Mon Jul 13 2009 9:26PMMystik, it's posts like this that give me hope. I'm a bit more hardline in my opinion. I generally equate "hardcore" as defined in MMO circles with "Complete Fucking Dumbass". I'm an elitist to the core. I think if you come into a fantasy game and name your character anything that deviates from the setting, and/or has numbers in it, you should be permanantly IP and CC# banned. Oh yes, I'm serious. I'm a generally easygoing guy in most respects, but nothing gets my nerdrage off the charts like these bastard fuckwits who have taken over and redefined the RPG part of MMORPG.
Wed Jul 15 2009 4:42AMMMORPG.com writes:
Login or Register to post a comment