You make excellent points.

That is what I try to do, understand what is going on, I admit that I am new to the game and RP is the hardest part because I have trouble understanding people. That is where some of the confusion must happen with me personally, I may not realize that someone is just playing at being a fool or coward or aggressor or in my case an adventurer. I can be difficult to separate the two things and some people just act out real frustrations or don't seem to care. I actually had someone come up to me in game and say in character "hey you look stupid", "give me an email address to join the dev team". If they were role playing I am still to figure out what role -that- was.

As far as the combat system, I don't have any problems myself, I just work with what I have. It took me a while to multi-task and watch the others health level so we could run if we were being beaten badly by the target. Also giving clues to how to approach a target typing in one window and controlling movement in another was difficult but I don't see how that can be improved and still stay compatible with a wide array of systems. I learn by doing and it seems that the interface is well ahead of my skills and I am finding new ways to use it every day. Right click on panel is something I just learned and set transparency is neat because I kept getting windows on top of targets and getting lost until I figured out they could go transparent. I am sure there are dozens of things I still have to learn before I could say this or that is completely useless or the greatest heads up ever.

As far as social, cultural or political issues they are generally verbotten IG to the best of my knowledge and violations are "/report" able though I haven't tried that yet.

I and others can also have trouble with language and can slip into native tongue without realizing and I accept that from others as a natural mistake every once in a while.

Do you use hotkeys?  Creating your own shortcuts is one of the ways people do well in the game. You might have a shortcut to target the nearest being and attack it, another to cast arrow, and another to drink a health potion. You can also hotkey shortcuts for speach, allowing you to give commands during the battle without taking your hand off the mouse or playing around with the windows.

Those are good suggestions and  shows where I can learn something, I have used hot keys for targeting before but did'nt know you could get to and back from windows, I will try that, thank you. I don't understand cast arrow at all though? I don't think I have ever heard of that.

I will have to read the web site again, and search for "cast arrow" or maybe help screen has it?

What I meant by playing around with windows is that normally, to speak, you would have to stop what you're doing (or switch to autorun), click on the chat window, type what you want to say, enter it, then click outside of the window again.  If you hotkey a saying or blurb, you can do all that just by pressing a single key on the keyboard.

By casting an arrow I mean using the arrow glyph (or its upgrades).

I have all my important spells such as healing and one or to major attacks under shortcuts, it saves so much time from having to type /cast blahblahblah...but i also love how PS has the commands system. Since im on a mac, i have no right click and its so much easier to just type in /target or /next item or /examine.

Alright, well I just have to say that I enjoy this game a lot. Its redeeming qualities would be the community, and the story itself, and *how* the story shall continue to grow. One thing I really like,  is that people don't $p3@ke n da 1337 hax0r. After having played CS for several years, it gets annoying. I also like the fact that this is the ONLY game (in my years on the net and in other mmorpgs) actually has a roleplaying community, and no, I don't mean a few players, I mean most of the players. It makes it worth sticking around, even after you've maxed out and have nothing really else to do. The simple fact that RP allows you to expand your character's story, and allows for different things to happen kinda make the game, endless.

I've played many mmorpgs, Regnum, 2 Moons, Conquer, Star Wars Galaxies, Runescape, and a few others.... Though those are the only ones coming to mind at the moment... heh... Though all of these games had some nice qualities, some more then others, I'd have to say, that none of them had the deep experiance planeshift provides, nor the community that cares to help those who are new and not just tell them to simply "5tfu n00b"

I look forward to future updates, and current happenings.

Great game, if people have never tried it , I would sugest they give it a go, even if it was just to see what a nice fantasy world people have created for free.

The game is not a finished product, and there are some things that can be frustrating some times (like talking to npc's), but people in game generaly try to help you out, and I've played games, i payed money for, that had more frustrating things buildin, then this game, but i still played them.

I found that the logfiles from your InGame-Character (found in the PlaneShift logfile directory) can help a lot to overcome this, by reading again what was said, because some times you play to fast and miss the point.

There is a mix in game of people who on the one side like to RP (RolePlay - for wich the game was intended) and other people who want to score max points (PowerLeveler), not all comunications go as evrybody would like because there are also people in game who can only speak four words of english, I personaly don't have a problem with any of them, and I do my self a bit of both, depending on my mood.

I find the game very enjoying, hope to see you there.

I play Planeshift quite a lot (3,5 hours a day on average). I find it a great mmorpg for one simple reason: it has a unique community, based on the fact that the game is opensource and it's still in development (although it's much less alpha than the devs would have you believe :-) ). So it has plenty of problems, mainly technical, but if you care to do so, you can dive in the code and change it to your heart's content. Although to be honest, if you just want to play and not care about the technical side of it, the game is polished enough to do so quite nicely.

If you're new to Planeshift and you google around about it, you'll find plenty of threads from very pissed off players. Mostly you'll find the following arguments:

- Pissing contests between roleplayers and power-levelers

- People complaining about the price of this-or-that in-game

- People complaining about the PS team's attitude

Don't listen to them, Join the game and form your own opinion. Yes, you might get stuck in the very first level because of a bug, and yes, you will find that the server sometimes ejects you from the game for no good reason, and yes, you'll talk to complete asshats in-game, and yes sometimes you'll feel frustrated because you'll feel roleplayers get preferential treatment compared to people who try to improve their character or vice-versa, but that is what makes this game LIVELY!

Don't get mad, play the game fairly, use the game mechanics (and its current limitations) to try to develop a roleplay, or if you don't like roleplaying, be patient and slowly build up your character until you can play the powerful swordsman you always dreamed to play, and above all, be nice to other players and you'll find out that most of them are a really good bunch, always helpful and fun to be around. That is the true value of Planeshift: it's community. All the other features of the game are just there as a framework to support it, it's the community that makes PS interesting.

Finally, remember that you don't have to pay a penny to play. That server you might whine about runs for you for free, and the client code you run on your computer, whatever your opinion on it, was given to you for free also. People who develop the game are human, and they aren't paid a cent either, so if they may seem unprofessional to you at times, that's because they aren't doing PS for you professionally. So if you get really frustrated, just log off and spend some time away from the game instead of venting on the various PS-related channels, and when you log back in, you'll find out that your interest in the game is fresh and renewed.

Here's my 2 cents. I should also mention that the game itself wouldn't be complete without the PS irc channel (#planeshift on Freenode). That's the usual hangout for players, and even if you don't join the game, you'll always find your game buddies there. Just join #planeshift and have a chat with us before installing the client if you're worried, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

-- Giraut Mawhrin

Planeshift is being developed..and new features are being added as new versions are implemented.  If you do not like Planeshift, you can choose to play another game.  Many do enjoy Planeshift and play it daily from around the world.

Your name (PSTruth) does not represent all those around the world and you need to accept that.  Many interact in character and out of character while playing Planeshift.  In a global perspective, there may not be many on at one time, but there are many time zones throughout the world.  That is part of Planeshift's appeal.  You can use your imagination to develop your character using crafting, magic, weapons, guilds, roleplaying, and quests.  Planeshift leaves what options you choose to the player.  There are so many ways that it can be played and enjoyed by all.

Again if you do not like Planeshift, you can choose to play a different game that is appealing to your capabilities.  Maybe after a few years, your attitude will change and you will attempt to interact with others on Planeshift again.  I have played Planeshift for some time and truly enjoy it.  To all the other players of Planeshift, see you online.

Lady Q

Lady Q is addicted to Planeshift.  I log in every chance I get.  There are so many different ways that Planeshift can add to a person's life and be played.  Roleplaying is wonderful... and there are other ways it can be enjoyed too (quests, crafting, weapons, magic, and guilds).  Not everyone is alike and has the same skills, but with a wide variety of options that Planeshift provides.... more and more will come as additional skills are added and more people join Planeshift.

Lady Q

Hi,

Well, Planeshift is not a high-budget-developing-at-high-speed-game and its far from perfect, and perhaps its nothing for people whos -expectations- are too high, I think some people forget about its developing stage.
I've seen people freaking out for the simplest reasons, some people calmed themselves, others left, I guess It was never intended for people who are simply after the mechanics anyway.
Look at it from another angle and you absolutly won't find a game like this anywhere!
Its the community take makes PS so unique and creates a game deepth that goes beyond pure farming and hack and slash..Of course there are expectations and spoilsports randomly who try to rule the game thinking they are the best and they can have it all, but they wont last long anyway they will get bored after maxing their stats skills and move on because they have nothing left to do. I love the RP elements in this game, the possibilities and the depth of player made plots and events. Ok some people don't RP as much thats fine as well, its all about the respect and the good will right.Everyone his own.Live and let live!

Salona

Originally posted by Giraut

If you're new to Planeshift and you google around about it, you'll find plenty of threads from very pissed off players. Mostly you'll find the following arguments:

- Pissing contests between roleplayers and power-levelers

- People complaining about the price of this-or-that in-game

- People complaining about the PS team's attitude

Don't listen to them, Join the game and form your own opinion.

Originally posted by Giraut

 I should also mention that the game itself wouldn't be complete without the PS irc channel (#planeshift on Freenode). That's the usual hangout for players, and even if you don't join the game, you'll always find your game buddies there.

I personally find the IRC channel distasteful. It's useful if you're having a technical issue but it's not a critical hangout for players. You don't need IRC to play the game.

There is a section on the official forum for technical difficulties. IRC can get you real-time help, but openning a thread on the forum means that you might help others who are having similar issues. IRC is by no means a necessary part of the Planeshift experience.

Originally posted by LadyQ

Your name (PSTruth) does not represent all those around the world and you need to accept that. 

Thank you for putting words in my mouth. My opinions are my own.

Originally posted by LadyQ

Many interact in character and out of character while playing Planeshift.

Yes, and that makes it even more important to maintain the line between in character actions and motivations and out of character actions and motivations.

Originally posted by LadyQ

Again if you do not like Planeshift, you can choose to play a different game that is appealing to your capabilities.  Maybe after a few years, your attitude will change and you will attempt to interact with others on Planeshift again.

Again, don't put words in my mouth. I enjoy the game, I play it regularly, and I "interact with others" freely. I simply think that the behaviour of certain individuals is detrimental to the game's community and development.

Originally posted by LadyQ

Lady Q is addicted to Planeshift.

So is PStruth.:)

---

Originally posted by pstruth

I personally find the IRC channel distasteful.

---

What do you find "distasteful" in #planeshift? Let's see:

- It's very PG-13, and moderators usually enforce that when they're around
- There's almost never any argument between chatters
- When newbies pop in and ask a question, they usually get help very quickly
- Most of the time people refrain from saying lol, omg or rofl and other useless leet terms

You may find #planeshift boring, or goofy at times perhaps, but certainly not distasteful.

---

Originally posted by pstruth

It's useful if you're having a technical issue but it's not a critical hangout for players. You don't need IRC to play the game.

---

#planeshift isn't needed to play the game. Neither is a stereo in your car to get somewhere, but it's nice to have.

---

Originally posted by pstruth

There is a section on the official forum for technical difficulties. IRC can get you real-time help, but openning a thread on the forum means that you might help others who are having similar issues. IRC is by no means a necessary part of the Planeshift experience.

---

You miss the point (or you're being disingenuous, which is more likely). What people talk about on #planeshift has rarely anything to do with technical help. Yes, when people ask a technical question, they get an answer, but most of what goes on on #planeshift is just general out-of-character chit-chat between gaming buddies. It isn't technically part of the game, but socially it is. If you find it unnecessary, you must be a lonely person, and I'm not surprised you feel bitter about the game.

---

Originally posted by pstruth

I play it regularly, and I "interact with others" freely. I simply think that the behaviour of certain individuals is detrimental to the game's community and development.

---

Care to tell who you are in-game, "pstruth"?

Originally posted by Anumesa
I love my shortcuts :D

 

I have all my important spells such as healing and one or to major attacks under shortcuts, it saves so much time from having to type /cast blahblahblah...but i also love how PS has the commands system. Since im on a mac, i have no right click and its so much easier to just type in /target or /next item or /examine.

Its a thief's best friend

/me walks past a $target, and as he leaves, the $target is gone.

/pickup

translates into (if an apple is selected)

Listy walks past a apple, and as he leaves, the apple is gone.

>Listy picked up an Apple

Just thought I'd throw that in there, sense you brought up the point of shortcuts and all. Its a really nice touch to rp. I guess it could be used with certain spells... /me summons a ball of fire and throws it at $target.

Only in much better detail then that. hehe....

Originally posted by Giraut

 

 

What do you find "distasteful" in #planeshift?

Originally posted by Giraut
You miss the point (or you're being disingenuous, which is more likely).

Originally posted by Giraut

Care to tell who you are in-game, "pstruth"?

I discover more things every day, I have not been able to learn all the features yet but from what I see there has been significant good work toward a quality game.

This is definately a game I would consider trying.

Well if you take all this in aggregate  PlaneShift may in fact be worth trying.

It's a neat project. It has a number of unique things about it. It is definitely worth trying.

I played it a few years back and last I remember it wasn't great