Posted by Kastellyn on October 20, 2000 at 11:59:24:
In Reply to: Why are there no skilled players left? (elitist rant) posted by The Arcane(VIP) on October 19, 2000 at 03:53:34:
> That's the simple reality of things, and it's to the detriment of the game. So, where have all the elitists gone, and why have they left (and why aren't new people filling their shoes)? That's something I have to ponder some more, because I don't have an answer. Any thoughts? Sure. But only 'cause you asked. In my opinion you are asking the wrong question. You won't get the answer you are looking for from the people who read the forum simply because they still play the game. To understand the reasons why people leave CF, or why you might not find it as fun as you once did, you would have to either find out at their time of permanent departure or somehow ask them in their "new life". The question you should be asking is, what makes people keep playing, and what keeps the game exciting enough to continue to stimulate players for five or six years? That might give you what you need. But I don't think that hundreds of answers to that question are going to help you either. The truth of the matter is, CF is pretty unique in the fact that you as a player set all the parameters by which you enjoy the game or measure your success. You, and you alone, know whether you won, lost or broke even. You design your character, you decide (within the rules and the history of the world) how you want to roleplay. You decide what to do and when to do it. And only you can understand the reasons you play, or the reasons you once enjoyed the game. Everyone's different in that respect; there aren't two of us alike enough to enjoy CF for all the same reasons. And lets face it, CF is complex enough that there are literally hundreds of reasons why a particular individual might or might not like it. That being said, saying that your lack of enjoyment or your lack of challenge is the result of the dwindling numbers of "elites" in the playerbase, or the game, or any reason other than one stemming directly from yourself and your own pesonal view of CF is incorrect. Don't take this the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with not enjoying CF, or with actually "finishing" the game, which is what I assume you have done. There's no more challenge once you've won. I don't still whip out Ultima III or Zork every now and again to hone my skills. I won them, tallied up my points, and I'm done, end of story. They aren't challenging to me anymore. And that's fine. But even though I don't still play those games, they remain fine examples of enjoyable computer generated diversions. And the same goes for CF. Just because it doesn't hold the same magic for you that it once did is no reason to blame it on the game or the players. I'd really like to help, to tell you how to change the way you view the MUD so you can come back and enjoy it (God knows I love having skilled players around as well as the next guy, and I always thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with your characters). Because after all, that's what it is all about, having fun. Maybe you lost sight of that; or maybe that's why you quit, and just don't see that yourself. But the only one who can figure out what makes you tick is...well, you. You're a smart guy, go figure it out! Good luck. And I mean that. Kastellyn PS I know nothing about psychology, I'm not a psychologist and I don't play one on TV. I didn't even spend last night in a Holiday Inn Express. So my interpretations of The Arcane's psyche are probably way off.