We all have things we hate about the game and the service, there are threads for that everywhere. What I want to know however, is why that you continue to play this game despite its flaws. Some of us have stuck around for more than two years, while others among us leave but keep returning, and still yet there are newcomers to the game every day.
What is it that keeps you in L2 rather than another game?
As for myself, there are several reasons why I stick to L2 over other games. The most important being the open PvP aspect of the game. I enjoy having the ability to put an arrow through someone if they're bothering me, and I know that if I wrong someone else they have the liberty to do the same to me. That death is somewhat costly only adds to the appeal, as at higher levels the exp loss alone is enough to create a satisfying kill. For me the system is second only to Classic UO, which no longer exists.
The other main reason I stay here is the forum community. I wouldn't have over a thousand posts if I didn't enjoy conversing and arguing with all of you. There is an unusually high ratio of mature posters on this forum, especially when compared with more popular MMOs. When I run into a fellow forum poster in game I generally feel as though I could trust them even with expensive equipment. Even when I'm not available to play I still enjoy dropping by the forum.
There are some minor reasons as well.
One of course is the graphics. L2 still holds up well even against the more modern MMOs out there. The landscapes are a bit inconsistent, with some areas looking fantastic and others lackluster. But I'm always impressed with the character models and their movements.
Another aspect I enjoy is the tough grind. It takes a long time to reach the top but even the journey is satisfying. Although the exp is slow, the killing is fast paced which holds my attention over some other MMOs which require you to fight the same mob for minutes at a time. That I can alawys level through soloing as my chosen class is also a great plus for me. There are some games in which soloing is absolutely not an option even at mid levels.
Lastly is the overenchanting aspect of the game. There are some games in which you can reach your peak very quickly (WoW for example), and others where it takes quite a while but there is still a limit to how strong you can get. In L2 due to the high limits of overenchanting there is room for almost limitless growth.
Those are the reasons I play anyway, what about the rest of you?
Various rather small reasons, and one rather large (Lothlian). All in all, though, it seemed so laughable that I decided to quit. I'm keeping the account active for forum trolling and to run AFK shops/do some crafting. Active playtime is now invested into a game that's actually fun, and where "so idiots who spend a lot of time on the game without learning anything about it" isn't the only reason left to progress less than halfway through the game.
Oh, and male elves. I still want to make one, but that doesn't seem to justify running a game as horrid as L2 while I'm actually there, if I'm not even playing with someone I like.
1) Graphics...it's the biggest reason why I never will reroll to WoW.
2) I like the community
3) High detailed PvE, amazing diverse class set-ups
4) I like to kill bots and annoying pvp'ers
The game is rather getting kind of dull now. In the end game, there is literally nothing to look forward to but sieges and PvP battles. It doesnt really offer anything in terms of RPG content. Its quite saddening for such a great game.
Also, its rather disheartening to play with so many e-cheats out there that the company now aint doing anything about it at all. Its pretty rampant and the problem has grown beyond the control capability of NCSOFT. Literally the economy is dominated by it, driven and being ruined by it. Its a sad state.
I keep hoping that the devs will realize with each new chronicle that games are not driven by pretty art and mindless NPCs and Mobs that just stand in stasis waiting to get wacked. But i'm beginning to turn be really turned off by the direction this game has taken.
I'm just biding my time until something with more PvE and RPG content comes out. Til then its just hum de doo for now.
I'm not directing this at anyone specific, but if possible please try to keep the negative comments out of this thread unless they're important in describing why you do still play. As I stated at the beginning, you can find the negative aspects of L2 in pretty much every other thread you visit. I want this thread to be about why you like this game.
I forgot one other reason why I play, and that is the roleplaying aspect. The roleplaying community is a lot smaller than I'd like it to be but I've met a few over the top very fun roleplayers. I've also recently started my own story over in the Tales section of the site and I have a lot of fun writing it. I'm able to draw a lot of writing material from the lore and everyday gameplay of L2.
Well the RPG part is indeed small, but after more then 1,5 year of playing I just RPG when I want, more to have fun with others (fe EE and SE healing alongside, the SE needs to help the EE and so on) then to be really serious about it.
And although I missed the RPG part when I just started, now Im happy with it like it is...some quest stories are actually pretty well written, and that stills my RPG hunger enough.
So this emphasizes my appreciation of the community even more.
My favorite RP is during PvP. Every once in a while I run across someone who would rather shout RP style taunts than concentrate fully on the battle. And of course, I in return do the same. Those fights always end up being so fun that I don't care who wins at all.
It's that simple. I still play as I can still set goals for me to reach.
Unlike others those goals never involve PvP/Seiges or Raidboss parties. I have no time for that. And I pretty much play this game with me, myself and I. (Dualbox ftw!!)
Still hoping to be more then a buff-bot as I like to play healer-type toons. (He, I still can dream right?)
Other reason I am still around... I am to lazy to unsubscibe.
There is an unusually high ratio of mature posters on this forum, especially when compared with more popular MMOs.
Guess I haven't been doing my job :) Don't worry, though. I'll get right on that.
"ii 4M T3H 1337 N00B, GiiV3 M3 T3H 1337 4D3NAZZ"
As for why I stay...daggers...ganking....PW making people cry is fun to me...my SpS, who is getting stronger every day...sophisticated politics, and a chance to put my blade behind them....and, of course, being the resident "1337 N00B" of the forums. :cool:
It's that simple. I still play as I can still set goals for me to reach.
Unlike others those goals never involve PvP/Seiges or Raidboss parties. I have no time for that. And I pretty much play this game with me, myself and I. (Dualbox ftw!!)
Still hoping to be more then a buff-bot as I like to play healer-type toons. (He, I still can dream right?)
Other reason I am still around... I am to lazy to unsubscibe.
Seeing in your signature you have a 70+ SE, isn't that enough as a healer-class for you then :)
Well, graphics, Parts of the Pvp interest me greatly, the friends I have made in game.
I also like that the game at times can be a bit unpredictable.
At heart I'm a person who needs to see "what happens". It's hard for me to put down a book when I haven't read the ending... even if the book is bad.
So, for the next chronicle, maybe 2 I will stick to it and try to see where the game is going. If it doesn't get a bit more interesting then there are other games out there.
One positive thing, which is bad for the game but just incredibly fun, is the economy. I find myself having a blast now that I don't need to worry about investing large batches of my money. If you don't have a hunting hobby that needs constant supplies and can just invest and re-invest freely, you find yourself wonderfully free to play.
I did a few crafts, and I'm really enjoying slowly seeing the money roll in - pure profit of about 10 mil in two days, without much work at all. It's marvelous.
Even if I return "properly", I don't know if I'll ever move my butt out of Giran again.
It's hard for me to put down a book when I haven't read the ending... even if the book is bad.
I'm the same way, this has also lead me to complete a whole list of terrible console RPGs. In my opinion L2 has improved with every Chronicle, though I doubt many people would agree. That said, there are quite a few newcomers on the way that may pull my attention away from this game in the future if it doesn't increase the pace of improvements. To me, L2 is a good game that could become a great one if only certain issues were addressed and certain problem areas were polished.
It's that simple. I still play as I can still set goals for me to reach.
Unlike others those goals never involve PvP/Seiges or Raidboss parties. I have no time for that. And I pretty much play this game with me, myself and I. (Dualbox ftw!!)
Still hoping to be more then a buff-bot as I like to play healer-type toons. (He, I still can dream right?)
Other reason I am still around... I am to lazy to unsubscibe.
Seeing in your signature you have a 70+ SE, isn't that enough as a healer-class for you then :)
No, not really.
I have allmost played a SE for 2 years now and during that time I have not seen additional reasons to keep playing it in a PvP-game like this (in fact my SE is somewhat retired after the last failed a-grade craft that took me 6 months of ingame work).
Furthermore I do not see myself questing on my healers as it takes to much time and cash to kill quest-monsters so that's not hopefull for me as far as content goes.
Apart from that I ( and that's just me) still believe that I lack what in C5 will be called "defensive mage" skills. Then again my PvP/PK counters are 0/0 on allmost ALL my toons.
So whenever I see a PvP-battle I move around it.. I see that people get ready to seige and I will use the backdoor to get to my hunting grounds. I have other goals now like trying to outfit my toons in the right gear via spoiling and gathering every single bit of that gear. So l as a casual kinda player do not see any reason to loose cash and time on PvP's etc.
I play for a few reasons. The first and foremost is my clan. They are the reason I came back after my computer broke. Then it's the role-playing. I've been a part of it since just after I started back in Open Beta, and I can't imagine playing this game without it.
Then it's the community, both on my server and in general. I enjoy the game because of the people (even the ****s).
I think this game has something for everyone, and that's what I love about it. That's why I'm willing to keep paying, and to keep pushing forward.
I don't grind because that's my goal. I grind because I know I have to in order to keep up with the rest of my clan, but more because I get dragged out to go with them.
Nothing like being the only 60+ healer online in the alliance during the night shift. That always brings a smile to my face, when I have to start giving out numbers to people that need / want my services.
I've tried to quit but can't... grrrr. Someday I'll try out eve-online. Anyway, I'm tired of grinding and killing stuff so mostly I do crafting shots and playing the market. I'm maintaining the same amount of cash but I'm accumulating a lot of useful junk in the process.
The best thing is the sense of accomplishment from getting that goal fulfilled (level/gear craft/quest, &tc)...this is something that cheaters will never understand.
The best part, of course, is the people and friends and clannies. This makes the history of the world unfold as we live it, as we write it.
I think that the best part is the game itself. I have played a lot of games for a loooong time. This, hands down, is the best game I have ever seen and could well be the best game ever created.
The roleplaying is probably the best part of the game. This is player created, of course. It isn't there unless YOU make it be there and it is not something that can be developed into the game.
The complex economy is the best part of it all, despite the inflation. Many people assume that economic changes in the game have specific causes (like cheaters) and that may well be true...but it is an assumption, not a proven fact, and you may know that old saying about the word 'assume.'
Yes yes yes, I listed each of the above as the most important. This is a great, wonderful, amazing game. Well done NCSoft, well done.
I started playing L2 in beta. It amazed me with its beautiful graphics, character movements, storylines.
Been playing it since then. Not always being in retail, but always been connected with it. I think l2 has amazing chances for roleplay - i looooooooove to swing camera around my char, noticing every single detail on her armor, putting graphic details high up - enjoying the motions of spellcasting, the sounds, the speed of killing. Waching how arrows get stack into armor/shield.. seeing them fly through air. Same with spells.. watching up in the air, how they land, their animation.
Also monsters, which are incredibly detailed, their dieing noises, mostly fallowed by special animations. Loving the sunsets, sunraises. Also the difference between dusk and dawn moons.
Economics aswell, so many chances to make quick money. I dont want auction houses etc, I like to walk among ppl, check their shops, even tho its annoying in giran, it still amazes me.
For me - each chronicle brings smth new and interesting. I may not like it, but that doesnt mean I dont wait for it. I dont whine in forums about FOTMs, farmers, iiibeiers and things like that. I just take them as part of game, I will always enjoy l2. I admit - Im totally 100% addicted to it, there was is and will be no better game for me. I love my spellhowler, my beautiful little elven elder and ppl who are by my side - their characters and their personality behind the character which makes it just wonderful complete package for me.
Love nc, who brought it out. I know some day it will stop excisting.. but i hope they day wont come anytime soon.
Number One: The people in My Clan
Number Two: The People in My Alliance
Number Three: Not even to End Game Yet, then there is SubClassing
Number Four: Knowing this game still has 5 + years of growth before it is put on the back burner.
Number Five: PvP. Ya just never know when u will get owned.
I play cause i'm getting close to the end...and that's 75 for me, well actually 76...wanna be amoonlight sentinal. and i'm not going to quit this game till I have done 3 things...
1) Fight Antharas
2) Own a castle/clan hall
3) Go a whole month without dying in PvP (died so many times last week i'm still at 30%)(but i did take a good few down with me :))
Well sometimes I wonder, and talking with one of my old comrades as he quit really tempted me. What did I set for goals that first few weeks during Beta?
See Aden? Only place I haven't been now is 4 Sep and Valakas actual room.
Make a strong clan? Done
Make a strong alliance? Done
Own a castle? Done, led the sieges
Lord over all castles that players had? Done
Crush an enemy clans in pvp? Done
Slay Anthras? Twice, record times, led
What's left? What should my goals be now? Maybe that's why I only play a few nights a week now. Lots of clans on the server brag or talk about what they're doing and I often chuckle as I chat with old friends on MSN...we did that years ago. What's left? I could buy S grade I suppose... Subclass. Become reputable for solo pvp maybe? Not sure yet for goals, but I'll have to come up with something.
Friends. NCSoft banned 1 person and her entire clan picked up and left for WoW. Friends were their main reason for playing too. I've seen other clans move en masse to other games (ElysianKnights to WoW for instance). So I'm not alone in that friends are what keeps me here and in the end.
Other than that, there's nothing else in the game that would keep me playing.
I completely agree :D
It's one of the most versatile PVP games out there everywhere is a pvp zone except town. Yes everyone is going to deal with cryers, greifers, pkers.. it's a part of he game which makes it exciting. When you enter this game to play, your agreeing to the game terms including the bad ones to some people. :( (dropping gear) lol
for me i would say its:
-Friends
-Graphics
-Geting close to 70, so im motivated
-Havent had a chance yet to do the big dragons
-havent had a chance to do bauim, lillith, and the other raid boss at those lvls.
-C5 is coming, i want to see that.....
I've quit and returned more times than I can shake a stick at. What brings me back...
*Each chronicle is usually an improvement over the last
*The chance to meet and chat with an international community
*Creating new characters, each with their own distinct group of friends and affiliations
*The market. Never before has such uncontrolled chaos been so beautiful. Entering Giran is like walking into a den of thieves and cutthroats... check for your wallet and your body parts upon leaving. Wipe your knife as you leave....
*The enchants. Every day a chance for joy or pain
*Because the game indulges my "Super Man" complex
*The game is one of the more healthier retreats. I could be out drinking, gambling, and [censored]-mongering, ya know! :D
- game design (i know i make a lot of suggestions and berrate the design crew for not thinking about what changes will effect before making the changes, but armor set bonuses on armors that are more or less equal otherwise, and tattoos, and weapon SAs, are really wonderful ideas that allow you to change how your character works in PvE and PvP, character costomization is a big thing. also the end-game being about PvP is an amazing idea, and was at the time, extremely bold of NC)
- nice way to waste time at work
- seiges
- rec: half plate armor
- the ant queen
- and other chaotic moments
Other reason I am still around... I am to lazy to unsubscibe.
Hahaha I had this proplem with RFonline, I didn't even want to waste the time playing the game that I didn't even sign in to cancel the acc, for like 3 mouths I keeped payign for it lol.
I love L2... I just rerolled servers, I love all of my friends on kain, I love the new atmostphire, it's great much better then what I delt with on erica.
I play cause I have the goal to be saggitrous hero on my server, and I will have it to.
I'm very poor, but I've been in giran fishing and selling things, while I work on my PP to 40, so all in all I'm having a good time.
I've also (imo) improved alot in my writing and and some what improved in my socail skills by writing here on the boards. I think I've matured a bit, and still got room.
I've made a few friends from the boards, and seen alort of people come and go. I think the game is great they just need to improve on some aspects!
I like taking a guy from 0 to hero, well my max lvl so far is 63 (but on a couple diff guys). I like making and spending money, pvp, graphics are nice, my buffer account, enchanting (haven't done in a long time), one shotting stuff..... and #1) talking siht.
i dont play anymore.
why?
1) unbalanced pvp
2) the grind is the worst out of every game known to me
3) bots
4) drama
5) nothing to do
i currently play www.hblotus.com (http://www.hblotus.com) it is BALANCED pvp.
im thinking about stopping the payment of my account soon cause i log on for maybe 30 min once a week. id wanna spend it on sumtin better.
I remember when my Korean friend first showed me screen shots of L2. My jaw hit the floor... I knew I had to play this game since it looked better than anything else I had seen.
Today, it still holds true, the graphics stull amaze me. Sometimes when I there is a pause in our party, I will look at all the detail in the characters armor. Maybe that's why I do a lot of fantasy art now, cause I am so inspired by the graphics.
Another reason that keeps me going is the people I run across in game. I have met some real awesome people in game. There have been times when I have played where the people in the party were cracking so much jokes, I was almost in tears. When my real life friends stopped playing WOW and I was left to deal with the general populace, I was taken back by the amount of selfish, clueless, dolts that I had to encounter. I came back to L2 and was pleased to met people that would accept me in random parties.
Things have slowed down as far as meeting random people, but that's where the clans have come in. I have had a blast with all of the clans and allies I have participated in. I play at odd times (late) so I am always missing out on the big events, but when I do manage to get in a group, I know I'm going to have fun.
Oh... and Stabby keeps me coming back too. I find so many fun little things in game that make me say "Dang, that's funny!"
i dont play anymore.
why?
1) unbalanced pvp
2) the grind is the worst out of every game known to me
3) bots
4) drama
5) nothing to do
i currently play www.hblotus.com (http://www.hblotus.com) it is BALANCED pvp.
im thinking about stopping the payment of my account soon cause i log on for maybe 30 min once a week. id wanna spend it on sumtin better.
I don't blame ya, erica is the worst server, omg I'm so happy on kain, it beats erica by a million miles.
I loged in tonight to sell off alot of my last items on erica, and low and behold the econimy is all jacked high as crap! and very very lil A/g stuff for sell in giran looks like there was some bands there to!! (not alot of lvl 1 naked dwarfs)
Atlest on kain the heros do mamon shouts and wtb shouts for players, erica well they do nothing.
I still play because friends do. I also play WoW. Bots, farmers, bugs etc are common in all MMORPGs. So to me those are just parts of the game... I may not like them but I am still having more fun then they are annoying me.
Both games are to me at least very different but playing them both keeps me from burning out on one or the other.