I had a big philosophical post, but really, it doesn't much come down to more than the fact that games should be fun, and routinely logging out more stressed, upset, frustrated or depressed than before you logged in is no way to go about fun. Its nothing anyone said or did, I like most of you all pretty well, its no particular thing aside for just the way RP goes in CO in general. There's just something in the way the game is setup, the way people in CORP RP, or whatever that just doesn't line up with me. Wish I knew what it was as I love my characters, but while it hurts now, the best thing for me to do is walk away. I've given it all the chances I can. Didn't mean to make friends and run Snow, honest, just the way things worked out.
You can find me on City of Heroes as @Kai, or on The Cape Radio's website...maybe I'll see a few of you around if I get into the FFXIV beta. You guys for the most part are awesome, and have great characters. Don't think I'm leaving anything hanging with mine, whatever Blackstar says about Rowan goes as she was part of his characters background long before she was a character of mine.
Hope the game stays cool for you all, may we meet again elsewhere. Ja minna.
I always find it interesting what players get and what from RP. In some ways there is more diversity within the RP community than there is amongst those who do not RP. There's just so many ways to slice the role play pie.
I didn't last more than an hour in City of Heroes last weekend. I felt like I was visiting Grandma - it was a pleasant visit, but after a little tea and biscuits it wasn't long before I wanted to go home.
I'd be interested to know specifically what differences you discovered between the two games. I don't say that to judge your decision, I just value your point of view and I would be interested to read more of your thoughts on the subject.
Personally, I find the RP here better. It is certainly tighter, insular, and less focused on kinship and friendship. It's less social I suppose. On the other hand, the individual creations I see walking around are - on aggregate - better. the integration into the story of the world they play in is more prolific and the "action" of the game feels more like cinema and less like a plunky game. This is also personal taste and perception only of course.
But I also noticed people walk away with different interpretations and perceptions. I also know people gravitate to aspects of RP differently than I do. That's why I'd love it if you wrote more about the differences - and what it is here and there that forced you into this decision. Not that I want to debate them - there's nothing to debate - it is all subjective, but given your intelligence and creative talent I'd be curious as to what those perceptions of yours are. I would enjoy reading them.
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Well thanks for the vote of confidence, I know there's lots of you who I thought it would be cool to run into. so maybe some other game
As for why and what, Red, I can't give you specifics. The best I can do is general feelings of CoH vs CO. Its a difference of feeling like playing different games in the same CoH sandbox with people as opposed to playing the same game by yourself in a CO playground full of people.....sort of maybe the difference between Rock Band in your living room with friends and Rock Band over the internet with friends? Maybe its the game design that there is no reason to ever team up for long in CO, maybe its the fact that on Virtue I can assume everyone I meet is willing to RP to some degree, I really don't know. Perhaps something to the feeling that soloing in CoH doesn't make me feel as disconnected and isolated as soloing in CO does. Maybe just perception of opportunity that you can always find someone to talk to in CoH vs feeling like shouting into the void and walking around an empty city/area in CO.
maybe its the fact that on Virtue I can assume everyone I meet is willing to RP to some degree,
This really registered with me. The shard design of CO has a fundamental flaw in that it does not allow a segregated server to develop an identity. We all know what Virtue is like compared to other servers. With the ease and simplicity of moving chars from server to server in COH improved - the "gain" you get from shards is diminished.
Mostly it sounds like your friendships and camaraderie on Virtue is too ingrained, too precious and too prolific and CO's less integrated RP community simply can't compete.
Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
This really registered with me. The shard design of CO has a fundamental flaw in that it does not allow a segregated server to develop an identity. We all know what Virtue is like compared to other servers. With the ease and simplicity of moving chars from server to server in COH improved - the "gain" you get from shards is diminished.
At the same time, I'd like to mention that Virtue's reputation wasn't ALL good. The shard system allows for a community to band together, as opposed to "Oh you're on Virtue, screw that server."
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Cause I know smart people and it may be of interest to Red:
"Gaming is a social event for you rather than a social medium. If you can effectively replace the game as an offline game with an IM list of people, it doesn't hold your interest. An MMO, to appeal to you at least, has to be more like pen and paper, an activity that requires a group to interact with, whether you know them or not. I'm guessing if you had the choice, you'd take a watching a show in a bar as an event or group over watching it and home and talking about it the next day too. Linear storyline quest based MMOs just aren't your thing, you'd be much happier in cooperative group task designed systems."
