Does "Founder Status" apply to any accounts that ever had a subscription to the game? Such as, having a subscription from launch to July and then cancelling it? Or only to games that currently have a subscription going into this new free model?
Would people get upset with it if it was "Women's fitness club bans males"
Seeing as how both groups are a minority of the people in the US (Boy Scouts look to have a slightly larger percentage of the population).
But do notice the interresting facts of the article "Accept us! Or we'll pressure you to untill you break" While the Scouts say "Not all agree with our policy. We accept that."
Before the fall of Rome, I wonder if they had these problems.
That's not a really a fair comparison, though. A Women-Only organization excluding men isn't the same thing as the BSA to exclude gay members. A more proper analogy would be a men's fitness club excluding men of a particular race/religion just because they can. (As boys can't join the Girl Scouts and that's not really an issue).
The BSA was fun when I was a part of it, I had friends, went on interesting trips, had the opportunity to learn interesting things about nature/survival/whatever and, when the opportunity is provided, it does look good on, at least, a college resume -- that someone was dedicated enough to go all the way through with it (Such as reaching Eagle Scout, or what have you) and chose to volunteer so many hours to the community. And while it is heavily-Christian influenced, I still find it fairly appalling and a poor example to set to their young members to exclude gay people (there are gay Christians and there are denominations that are fine with it, after all) for so called "religious" and "moral" reasons. It just teaches kids that they can judge people on something as superficial as partner preference and then use religion (which is incredibly subjective, especially in the confines of Christianity) to justify excluding those people and denying those people the same opportunities they receive.
What's worse is when someone spends a few years, or longer, with the organization and preforms just as well as his own peers and is suddenly kicked because that individual was discovered to be gay. Essentially, it's an outdated and incredibly stupid rule that serves no purpose but to exclude people on pointless grounds. (It'd be similar if the BSA had a policy of "No *insert race* individuals allowed, for that conflicts with our board's sensibilities.")
Perhaps I'm a tad bitter for I was kicked from that organization for being gay, but whatever.
*More on the topic itself, though
I don't really give a crap about how scientifically or "naturally" viable homosexuality is. For pulling the whole "unnatural" argument is an incredibly poor way to go, as for someone completely against all things unnatural, then surely the internet doesn't belong in that individual's home, for it's not "natural," or at least not anymore natural than homosexuality (completely ignoring arguments about the semantics and philosophies behind the term "natural").
I don't need to justify why I like other guys to you anymore than you need to justify why you like broccoli to me. (As I really don't care if you like broccoli at all, in fact why should I? Not like your broccoli eating habits affect my life, or the world at large. Though I suppose if someone's god, completely unrelated to yours mind you, hates broccoli then that person may go ahead and insult you, make you feel like crap and then explain in gruesome detail how you'll burn forever in Broccoli Hell, or outright threaten your life and write a book all about how Broccoli Eaters have attempted to destroy the world in the past and then claim to have been exercising the First Amendment, or something similar. And if that religion becomes large enough, becoming the new majority, then broccoli may be banned -- even in a country that claims to distance itself from religious zealotry and ideals when concerning government).
Oh and if you think that broccoli thing is all hyperbole, it's not.
But that's my take on it in there, somewhere. (Of course, before someone goes all "Oh you stupid, you say that tolerating is the way to go and then bash Christians" I'm not, the character in the broccoli thing isn't my representation of *all* Christians, but of a type of person that exists [Tony Perkins, Bryan Fischer, Scott Lively, the occasional door-to-door religion solicitor, etc...] and uses Christianity as a weapon versus something somewhat helpful).
Generally I don't accept random group invites I get while questing, as a few times in the past they were wanting to do something compleeetely different than I (be it spending three hours farming for runes, or do a dungeon run I wasn't prepared to do). But I tend to group with people if they're asking for help in LFG (or trade) and I'm nearby. (And yesterday I grouped with a few people in the Citadel of Torment, we just whipped through those quests --- which was nice, as I'm leveling my lancer~).
Otherwise, the guild I'm with will help out with BAMs and stuff, or harder content, when they can. Once a guildie and I were duoing Ovoliths and had to give up (as they love resetting themselves) so we took out our 60 sorcs and just blew up all the BAMs until our credit was done. (Killing them in a duo isn't that hard, but they just kept resetting @.@)
But I imagine there are people who prefer questing solo as they can go at their own pace (if they're a slower quester) and read quest text, or take numerous breaks, or chat with people at the same time, instead of feeling pressured to keep up with the other person. By and large I prefer questing solo if only because I'm slower at it, prefer to take my time (Unless it's in a zone I hate) and chat in guild chat for an hour when it's a fun discussion (Or to just read LFG/Trade when they actually talk about something genuinely interesting).
The only thing I could never get help with was the Sleeping Giant quest, though there really weren't many hanging out in the zone (Like there are *now*), so I just duoed it with a random zerk I found.
So, I haven't had issues with grouping really... I always end up in parties when I need 'em, and even when people ask me if I want to do x (versus just shooting an invite, if I don't know what you're doing I likely won't accept the invite @.@)
It's truly this simple: GvG promotes community and engagement. The ability to opt-out of GvG (without leaving the guild) promotes solitude and selfishness.
We rolled on a PvE server to have opt-in PvP. A guild leader has to specifically allow GvG, making that opt-in.
GvG really hasn't promoted any sense of community, or engagement, from what I've seen so far. Mainly, it's been people throwing names at the other guild, people complaining about others camping low levels in areas because they can and it's just created a lot of animosity. Not wanting to get killed by a ton of level 40+ people on a 14 level character is why a lot of people went to the PVE servers, and not many -- I can't think of one right now -- of the PVE guilds have statements of "We do GvG" and if they did, then there would be a reason to say "Well, leave that guild if you don't want to do it."
Again, I know it's heartbreaking if you joined a guild with conflicting interests despite getting along. However, as I said, the guild isn't just some extended friends list. If you're not working towards the same goals, there's no reason to be in the same guild with them at all. If you want people to chat with, that doesn't require you to join their guild; in fact, if that's the only reason you have, it's kinda silly.
I didn't, the guild I'm with is conflicted over whether or not to do any GvGs for the sole reason the guild is a PvE guild, didn't make explicit statements of "GvG" before it was implemented -- the goal of the guild I'm with has more been to enjoy the game without making it a job, or tearing the enjoyment from other people. And as far as I'm concerned, I like the whole "fun" thing the guild I'm with promotes, so I joined them, and they have a nice maturity level to be around.
I, personally, wouldn't care about doing GvG's (and I suck at PvP, so I know I'd die an inordinate amount of times), but there are plenty of people in the guild I'm with who would mind it. If there was a way to toggle it on/off individually, then we'd have whoever wants to GvG do that when it's applicable, and those who don't needn't be forced into something they don't want to do. It lets everyone have fun, let's the guild keep the whole "We're here to have fun" mindset, rather than causing worthless drama that ends up with things getting split apart.
Perhaps there are guilds out there that explicitly said "We're doing GvG when it's available" and for those guilds your point makes more sense (as it's an actual -goal- for them, not just something that might be used to increase the fun factor for a chunk of people in a guild that simply wants to have fun, or even for RP purposes as I know it's been kicked around a bit in the CH forums).
The toggle would give more flexibility for a guild. It wouldn't totally kill any and all PvP on a PvE server, and I seriously can't see how having a toggle is really an issue in the first place... GvG guilds will do their GvG fungoalstuff, more PvE oriented guilds can dabble in GvG to spice things up, or for events, or for RP purposes, without alienating those who wouldn't want to in the first place. There just seems to be more benefits than cons.
I've been in your shoes before, as a WoW veteran of 4 years (and over a year of in-game played time). I was a hardcore player, my guild wasn't. I left the guild because their interests and goals were not the same as mine. I remained friends with them (and even played with them often) after leaving to a more hardcore guild. Ventrilo/Mumble/custom chat channels are great for this; there are no guild boundaries. I was allowed to progress to my heart's desire and still have friends (2 sets of friends, actually!).
Edit: As TERA's loading screen will occasionally remind you: Set your expectations of other players up front. Your guild leader should have told you of his/her plans to actively GvG as a guild before you joined. You could then make the decision to join the guild based on whether or not that expectation aligned with your interests. Of course, most guilds don't make this apparent, and more should.
That's good for you, and if I was a more hardcore player/more into an aspect of the game than others, I'd do the same thing (find a hardcore guild). But, GvG really hasn't been a lot of PvE guild goals -- I joined the guild I'm with with nothing about GvG mentioned, and all the guilds I looked into beforehand didn't mention it either. So when GvG is suddenly implemented as an all or nothing deal, with one person in control, it can (and likely will) cause a lot of inner-guild drama and turmoil that could be avoided with a simple toggle switch.
It'd let people have more fun in the end -- some guildies get a PvP fix, some RPers can try working out large storylines that include more guilds, other guildies can be at peace doing PvE content without fear of someone ganking/camping their level 14 character all day (or multiple people doing that), or just having their own fun while others have their own fun as well.
Forgot to add earlier that we are aware of this request. Thank you for the feedback. :)
Please tell me that you guys aren't actually going to give GvG'ers an out? GvG is already pretty much dead on PvE servers. Letting individual guild members choose not to participate would make GvG utterly useless (moreso than it already is, if you can stretch your imagination far enough).
I respect people's decision not to participate. However, if they're in a guild and don't intend to help their guild members, what's the point?
If you want PVP, roll on a PVP server.
GvG on PVE servers can be fun, can be useful, could even be utilized well on the Roleplay server if someone worked at it. But making it so PVErs who don't want to PVP be forced into PVP isn't fun for them -- they went on a PVE server for, you know, that whole "PVE" thing where PVP is consensual on an individual scale. Some guilds may have a majority of members wanting to do a GvG here or there, but saying "Oh you found a guild you like, who's members are fun to chat with and do stuff with? Well leave because they want to GVG and you don't, so go find new friends rather than ask for a toggle so you can stick with your friends and both of you can do what you want to do, 'cuz this toggle for PVE on PVE servers will break the game, totally"
I think it's wonderful~
In fact, I think their pants should be downgraded to a plate bikini on level of female castanics.
Seriously, I really do and would love this game even more.\
Call outs positive or negative are against the rules I have seen a Forum mod praise thread closed by a Forum mod for that very reason. That said this small victory of getting your fanesteel is just that small. The game is busted and 10 fanesteel from a GM can't change that.
Then report the post and move on, let a moderator of this forum decide what belongs and does not belong. You are not a mod, you don't make those decisions. (And moderators are all different people, and different people may interpret what "calling out" covers and implies -- granted, it carries a negative connotation so some may only lock what is negative, others may not consider that connotation and lock any and all. Either way, it's up to them, not you).
Regardless, that is wonderful to hear for you OP =)
I've never had a poor issue with Tera customer service so far, it's quite nice to see that they're willing to look into things and go the extra mile if something goes sour (and, of course, you're being reasonable and polite about it~)
The Battlegrounds are coming out near/at the end of Summer, so that's something for PvPers. Though there is the whole open world thing, and even GvG on all servers, why PvPers or people who enjoy PvP to some extent don't try those toys out is beyond me sometimes. (Sure there's no reward... but do you really need a reward to do something you find fun? =/)
But either way, if you don't like the game... well, maybe it's not your type of game... ? I, for one, love doing dungeons (Yes, even 50+ times because I'm nuts - I have done BoL, SM, CR at least 30 times each with all my alts), or grouping with people to go kill random BAMs, or blow up some mobs here and there. Sure it gets boring eventually, but that's when I pull out something else to do, like a different game (as doing RL stuff and going back to the same game doesn't really "reset" it so to speak for me) and then come back.
It's why I'm pretty excited for TSW. It's the opposite of Tera, really, so when I want to do more interesting quests, or delve into a more interesting story (despite the meh script writing) I'll go play that for a while (well, when it's released... been doing Beta Weekends so far <<) and when I want to blow stuff up like a madman, I'll go onto Tera and blow up low level hyenas with my sorc because I hate those things. (I do wish the character creator was a bit better in TSW though... I do not want a 30 year old man as my character )= )
When I want both, I'll hop over to Assassin's Creed, or play Killzone (okay not for story, but for something different in general), or even play a boardgame, or a forum TBRPG.
*shrugs*
1) No, why should they? The profit the guild makes from Vanarchy is pretty low, as the tax rates are at 1%, and the guild saves that money to run for the next Vanarch campaign (And will ask some members to donate, which a lot do -- I don't so much as I'm poor, and I need my money for skills <<)
2) No, but why should they... ? I know some members give each other stuff they don't need (Like, in some cases, a Nightgown here or there) but they're usually really good friends in the first place. If my guild gave me something cool, but why would I expect them to do so? They worked for their stuff, I'll gladly work for mine. (However, they will craft things for you provided you can give them the mats -- which is completely reasonable).
3) Nah, they're mostly in mumble. But when I say "hello" or the like in guild chat whoever's paying attention to that chat will say hi back (and we might discuss something, be it Tera related, FF related, game related in general, or about castanic men <3). I haven't been on my guild's mumble channel, mostly as I'm too dumb to figure out that program (but I haven't seriously gone at it yet <<) and I can be a bit shy/self-conscious about voice-stuff like that.
4) To be honest I haven't done much -for- the guild -yet-. I have too low funds to really help out the Vanarch costs, though I have helped tank some world bosses for the points they give (Like six in one night?) and I've done some dungeon runs (not as tank though, I took out my sorc~) with them a few times in a row for fun. I figure some know my name, but I don't really feel a need to be "popular" or anything. I remember the names of those I ran with and grouped with, and most of those I've randomly chatted with while questing.
5) Don't push, but they do remind. Gives us points we can use to help out our region a little more, and when we get vanarchy for the next term, it'll help us keep all of those open and the like (We're in a gauranteed spot, for every candidate running in our region is getting a province according to the vanarch-voting-tracker thingy).
Everyone's mature, fun to talk to and doesn't act like this game is a job, nor do they whine and complain about every inconvenience. (We might discuss these, like the Nexus lag issues and so on, but it's not someone totally going off the wall and raging).
I had a hard time getting a group with them once 'cuz everyone my level was offline (I was 55 at the time, highest second to me was a 43) so I duoed Sleeping Giant with a zerker I found lol. (Plus, those online would've helped... if they could xP)
And in my whole time with them none have ever said "Stfu" to someone for asking a question, for asking for help, for asking for some mats to help level a craft. In a lot of cases it's an "ask and you might receive" and never an "ask and you shall be laughed at." I really just wanted a guild to socialize with, to group with when they can (like if they're in my area questing, I don't expect them to drop everything to come and help lil' ol' me) and to run the endgame instances with (the instances before these ones, like Sky Garden, I've gotten amazing groups in LFD -- especially attitude-wise -- so I haven't felt a need to ask for guildies to come rush me through it).
Most of the guild is either 58/60 or ten levels below me so I'm not in a good spot for groups at the moment, but that'll change soon... and then I can hopefully start working on my lancers @.@
You should've asked your teammate to not rush ahead with the story, then. It's not the game's fault your teammate apparently thought you were set and ready to go with the stone destruction, if anything it's that teammate's fault and/or your own. (As, you know, we're not all mindreaders in game).
Regardless, if you really need the quest done why not ask around? (Preface the request with "Need to blow up Samael's soulstone" or whatever the thing is called, so people know what your goal is) this avoids the 2hr queue (I never had to wait that long for CR though, at least on my sorc oO). Or, do the same thing but with a guild, or have a 60 run you through it (As you seem to just want the quest done, not the loot, nor the XP from killing stuff, etc...)
I'm really not seeing how this is the game's fault when you can simply go out, make some friends, and get it done in an hour (if that). Rather than, like, afking while sitting in queue for two hours.
But again, it's not really a game thing; it's a player thing.