I had the same issue with Matrix Online. I was level 40 and all of my friends were level 50. I thought I could grind up to level 50 fairly quickly, but grinding took all of my time (when I did have time) and it sapped the fun out of the game. What time I did spend with my friends took away from my grinding, since they were more interested in activities that didn't give XP. I just got burned out and frustrated, so I quit. I thought WOW would be an overall better gaming experience, but it was much much worse.
It sounds to me like to OP needs to more closely examine what guilds he's joining. I've definitely had my fair share of the same experience. Get into a guild and end up having to grind like mad to keep up and be able to participate. Anymore, I only join guilds that promote a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, there aren't that many out there, at least that really advertise themselves as such.
The quickest and easiest way that me and a few friends have found to combat this is simply starting our own guild. We're not out to be the biggest, or to be the first to complete anything. We each usually run a main and 3 or 4 alts and just take our time enjoying the game. Plus, a great advantage to having small numbers of players with multiple alts in the guild is that most of the time, if you need help on a specific quest, they'll have a character right around your level to help out, and since it's not a pressured guild, most of them don't mind logging over to that possibly lower level character to lend you a hand.
Originally posted by impulsebooks This is why solo content is so important in an MMO in my opinion. As soon as you join a guild, its all rush, rush, rush! I guess it has to be that way, like a race, because although your guildies are your freinds they are also competition for slots in raids etc. Grouping makes you rush, because if you don't you can't pull your weight. If you can't pull your weight, you don't get a good group...blah blah. I like to solo and take it easy sometimes, but get in a guild and that's all over. its race time.
I think the best way to avoid the rush is to have dedicated characters- 2 or 3 people, and a playing schedule you all can agree upon, then the rush is gone... Admittedly, most people would have a difficult time coordinating for dedicated characters but it's nice if you can make it work and going solo when possible is another choice.
----------------------- Past MMOs- Planetside, WoW. Current MMO: Current Games: L4D, Skyrim Tried- ATITD, EQ2, SoR, Vanguard,SL,LOTRO,SotNW,SWTOR. Anticipating- GW2, Planetside2
I have never felt rushed to lvl. I have joined guilds and sects and clans etc. and always lag behind the rest of my mates. What i do most of the time is help out new comers to the guild. I always join guilds that welcome very low level characters. In this manner I feel I am accomplishing something for the guild until of course those same newbies go rushing ahead of me. I feel like a parent who sees their children grow up and go on out into the world.
i wouldnt get pressured because if u would lvl to fast u wouldnt get the gear u wanted to get or do the quest to get the special item u wanted so it always good to take u time but sometimes u want to lvl 4 skills to do good in pvp or in a raid so sometimes i fell to get pressured but it doesnt rlly get to me much
Thats why I wish there were no levels in MMOs. Just skill points that you can put in any where on your skill tree or box or what ever and when you see other players in the game and mover your mouse over there toons head it will just say there name and class, no level so that way you don't know what that player is capable of doing or weather not you should ask him to duel.
Didn't take the time to read all the threads, but I do agree with the OP. Here's what I've done to make games more enjoyable. I'll post a thread on the game's website forums stating I'd like to set up a time once or twice a week to have dedicated to a role playing party. Make sure that the people replying to the post understand that this is not for Power Leveling or muling loot or whatever other BS power gamers do.
Also make a rule that they cannot receive any help from any of their other toons as many power gamers out there like to do. Once you have a group of people that are willing to participate, pick a server, everyone roll up your new toon, and start enjoying questing. Remember that everyone in the group must have that laid back "stop to smell the roses" mentality or it just won't work. If you meet once a week and make a dedicated attempt at role playing and staying in character rather than "leveling" I tend forget that I'm even playing a video and leveling at all.
The group is the most important factor in playing like this though, so make sure you screen properly.
Thats why I wish there were no levels in MMOs. Just skill points that you can put in any where on your skill tree or box or what ever and when you see other players in the game and mover your mouse over there toons head it will just say there name and class, no level so that way you don't know what that player is capable of doing or weather not you should ask him to duel.
You could probably even remove the class from that statement if you really wanted to RP but I think a lot of people would complain about that.
Comments
No problem here at all. Powerleveling is easy. Having fun isn't as easy but it's more fun no pressure to do anything but what I want to.
Now where did I put my boots...
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Sorcery must persist, the future is the Citadel
I had the same issue with Matrix Online. I was level 40 and all of my friends were level 50. I thought I could grind up to level 50 fairly quickly, but grinding took all of my time (when I did have time) and it sapped the fun out of the game. What time I did spend with my friends took away from my grinding, since they were more interested in activities that didn't give XP. I just got burned out and frustrated, so I quit. I thought WOW would be an overall better gaming experience, but it was much much worse.
It sounds to me like to OP needs to more closely examine what guilds he's joining. I've definitely had my fair share of the same experience. Get into a guild and end up having to grind like mad to keep up and be able to participate. Anymore, I only join guilds that promote a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately, there aren't that many out there, at least that really advertise themselves as such.
The quickest and easiest way that me and a few friends have found to combat this is simply starting our own guild. We're not out to be the biggest, or to be the first to complete anything. We each usually run a main and 3 or 4 alts and just take our time enjoying the game. Plus, a great advantage to having small numbers of players with multiple alts in the guild is that most of the time, if you need help on a specific quest, they'll have a character right around your level to help out, and since it's not a pressured guild, most of them don't mind logging over to that possibly lower level character to lend you a hand.
I think the best way to avoid the rush is to have dedicated characters- 2 or 3 people, and a playing schedule you all can agree upon, then the rush is gone... Admittedly, most people would have a difficult time coordinating for dedicated characters but it's nice if you can make it work and going solo when possible is another choice.
-----------------------
Past MMOs- Planetside, WoW.
Current MMO:
Current Games: L4D, Skyrim
Tried- ATITD, EQ2, SoR, Vanguard,SL,LOTRO,SotNW,SWTOR.
Anticipating- GW2, Planetside2
I have never felt rushed to lvl. I have joined guilds and sects and clans etc. and always lag behind the rest of my mates. What i do most of the time is help out new comers to the guild. I always join guilds that welcome very low level characters. In this manner I feel I am accomplishing something for the guild until of course those same newbies go rushing ahead of me. I feel like a parent who sees their children grow up and go on out into the world.
i wouldnt get pressured because if u would lvl to fast u wouldnt get the gear u wanted to get or do the quest to get the special item u wanted so it always good to take u time but sometimes u want to lvl 4 skills to do good in pvp or in a raid so sometimes i fell to get pressured but it doesnt rlly get to me much
http://crazi-ville.myminicity.com/
Thats why I wish there were no levels in MMOs. Just skill points that you can put in any where on your skill tree or box or what ever and when you see other players in the game and mover your mouse over there toons head it will just say there name and class, no level so that way you don't know what that player is capable of doing or weather not you should ask him to duel.
Didn't take the time to read all the threads, but I do agree with the OP. Here's what I've done to make games more enjoyable. I'll post a thread on the game's website forums stating I'd like to set up a time once or twice a week to have dedicated to a role playing party. Make sure that the people replying to the post understand that this is not for Power Leveling or muling loot or whatever other BS power gamers do.
Also make a rule that they cannot receive any help from any of their other toons as many power gamers out there like to do. Once you have a group of people that are willing to participate, pick a server, everyone roll up your new toon, and start enjoying questing. Remember that everyone in the group must have that laid back "stop to smell the roses" mentality or it just won't work. If you meet once a week and make a dedicated attempt at role playing and staying in character rather than "leveling" I tend forget that I'm even playing a video and leveling at all.
The group is the most important factor in playing like this though, so make sure you screen properly.
You could probably even remove the class from that statement if you really wanted to RP but I think a lot of people would complain about that.