I definitely don't have the time to play much anymore. I try to get in a bit every once and a while.

The new system does force you to explore a lot more. This is a good thing when we have new players to introduce to the game. It kind of evens the playing field (although old-schoolers will still have a better knowledge base of magi type places to look).

Unfortunately we don't really have tons of new players. The wand system discourages old-timers who don't enjoy searching through the same old areas over and over again to have invest lots of downtime to this game. (Most of us just don't have the time to invest anymore for stuff like that.)

I used to love wand-gathering, prep exploration...during the times when I no enemies on and I had an hour or two to kill.

Now, I perfer to log in for 2-3 hours on a Saturday morning, roleplay a bit, rank a bit, and get in the odd addrenalin filled fight. Putting half of that limited time in gathering sucks for me...(at this point in my life)

Not much that will change from bitching about it though. I'd like to see ABS given out as spells based on the age of the char. Older mages should be more skilled and dangerous. The youngsters that want to rank fast and compete, will have to research items of power(wands) to show strength. The ancient magi will have more power at their control (but less time to use it as they are old....)