The Daily Grind: We had to grind uphill, both ways!
by Krystalle Voecks 
on Mar 4th 2009 8:00AM
Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor
31
Reader Comments (31)
Posted: Mar 5th 2009 4:04PM 18Rabbit said
How about these:
Being a race that cannot see in the dark and having to navigate a pitch black twisting tunnel (with agro mobs that spawned in it) to get back to your corpse in Blackburrow.
Not being a spell caster meant that you could not bind yourself anywhere unless you could find another player to bind you and then it still was only possible in a city.
Money had weight and you could dump 100,000 copper on a beggar outside of the bank and watch them fall to their death after they fell 6" off of a step outside of the bank.
Travel was stupidly dangerous and long, dodging giants and griffins to get across the continent.
No spell descriptions were published and there were none in game. Druids had a spell that no one knew what it did for over 2 years after the game was released (I'm looking at you "Harmony").
Being a race that cannot see in the dark and having to navigate a pitch black twisting tunnel (with agro mobs that spawned in it) to get back to your corpse in Blackburrow.
Not being a spell caster meant that you could not bind yourself anywhere unless you could find another player to bind you and then it still was only possible in a city.
Money had weight and you could dump 100,000 copper on a beggar outside of the bank and watch them fall to their death after they fell 6" off of a step outside of the bank.
Travel was stupidly dangerous and long, dodging giants and griffins to get across the continent.
No spell descriptions were published and there were none in game. Druids had a spell that no one knew what it did for over 2 years after the game was released (I'm looking at you "Harmony").
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 11:21AM (Unverified) said
I remember Nexon's Dark Ages. It was a 2d isometric view Korean MMO that was ported over to the US.
The most frustrating thing about that game was that all of your gear at high levels was magic. Oh, that doesn't sound frustrating? Then how about this. When you were reduced to 0 HP (which only took 1-2 shots against me, a Wizard, with a spell which could fire off instantly at any random time) a little skull started flashing over your head and you had about 5-10 seconds for someone to flip over to their inventory and get to you with what we called a "Red". Everyone carried several of these red potions with them because everyone needed them to not die.
Now here's why it sucked: When no one got to you within that time frame and you died, you disappeared and reappeared at the INN. All magic gear you were wearing would be gone. That's right, no matter how long it took you to get your gear, it could be gone the next time you went into dangerous territory.
Groups in that game were also focused. Wizards had one spell that they were used for early after beta, Fas Nadur. That's it... Their damage spells were laughable, so they never bothered. Groups had one Wizard for Fas, which amplified weaknesses and strengths. They had a Rogue to Blind Trap everything in sight which made the monster completely useless until something was next to them. The Rogue could also see which elements the monster was attacking with and defending with, which was randomly generated on spawn. The warriors and monks would put on necklaces of the right element to change their melee damage type to damage the monster more and would just always wear a 'dark belt' which was strong against all elements. The priest would heal. Warriors and Monks beat the bejesus out of a monster and then rinsed and repeated with mobs around the room. Rogues never had to unhide, you rarely ever saw them.
I feel like I'm telling an 'uphill both ways in the snow' story but I'm not exaggerating, which is probably the most sad part. But you know what kept me there? The community, and the community alone. There's a lot to be said for that and MMO developers should take note.
So next time you're complaining about how a new MMO is too boring, just don't. You have no room to really complain these days. Designs are much smarter.
The most frustrating thing about that game was that all of your gear at high levels was magic. Oh, that doesn't sound frustrating? Then how about this. When you were reduced to 0 HP (which only took 1-2 shots against me, a Wizard, with a spell which could fire off instantly at any random time) a little skull started flashing over your head and you had about 5-10 seconds for someone to flip over to their inventory and get to you with what we called a "Red". Everyone carried several of these red potions with them because everyone needed them to not die.
Now here's why it sucked: When no one got to you within that time frame and you died, you disappeared and reappeared at the INN. All magic gear you were wearing would be gone. That's right, no matter how long it took you to get your gear, it could be gone the next time you went into dangerous territory.
Groups in that game were also focused. Wizards had one spell that they were used for early after beta, Fas Nadur. That's it... Their damage spells were laughable, so they never bothered. Groups had one Wizard for Fas, which amplified weaknesses and strengths. They had a Rogue to Blind Trap everything in sight which made the monster completely useless until something was next to them. The Rogue could also see which elements the monster was attacking with and defending with, which was randomly generated on spawn. The warriors and monks would put on necklaces of the right element to change their melee damage type to damage the monster more and would just always wear a 'dark belt' which was strong against all elements. The priest would heal. Warriors and Monks beat the bejesus out of a monster and then rinsed and repeated with mobs around the room. Rogues never had to unhide, you rarely ever saw them.
I feel like I'm telling an 'uphill both ways in the snow' story but I'm not exaggerating, which is probably the most sad part. But you know what kept me there? The community, and the community alone. There's a lot to be said for that and MMO developers should take note.
So next time you're complaining about how a new MMO is too boring, just don't. You have no room to really complain these days. Designs are much smarter.
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 10:52PM jenosidhe said
I had a modem dropping problem back when i lived in the country. I played Asherons Call and it was one of the few that was playable on my 24.4 connection i was able to get.
Well if my modem dropped the game like to make my character keep running in the direction he was running until i logged back in or it decided i was afk, 5 minutes sometimes. Back in the day AC also didnt show you where you corpse was when you died and lost items.
I always had to carry a crap set of stuff to be able to run back to my body non naked since it could be a long way off.
Well i had one experience when dieing running through a very high level area and DCd and when i logged back on i spent 2 hours searching asking if anyone had seen my body and nobody had. It had my favorite set of armor which covered about 6 pieces of armor and was the best i had seen in 6 months of playing.
I gave up when i searched a huge circle like i was looking for a missing child and made a huge perimeter. I logged in the next day expecting to have to start looking for armor and someone messaged me who had my armor. he had seen my pleas in Teth and when he ran across my body he camped it waiting for the decay so he could get my items and give them back to me. he waited more than 3 hours farming mobs in the meantime.
This was my worst example of death punishment and best community experience at the same time. Luckily we in AC never had to worry about de-leveling but it was still a huge PIMA to die in that game with corspe runs after losing your most valuable items.
Well if my modem dropped the game like to make my character keep running in the direction he was running until i logged back in or it decided i was afk, 5 minutes sometimes. Back in the day AC also didnt show you where you corpse was when you died and lost items.
I always had to carry a crap set of stuff to be able to run back to my body non naked since it could be a long way off.
Well i had one experience when dieing running through a very high level area and DCd and when i logged back on i spent 2 hours searching asking if anyone had seen my body and nobody had. It had my favorite set of armor which covered about 6 pieces of armor and was the best i had seen in 6 months of playing.
I gave up when i searched a huge circle like i was looking for a missing child and made a huge perimeter. I logged in the next day expecting to have to start looking for armor and someone messaged me who had my armor. he had seen my pleas in Teth and when he ran across my body he camped it waiting for the decay so he could get my items and give them back to me. he waited more than 3 hours farming mobs in the meantime.
This was my worst example of death punishment and best community experience at the same time. Luckily we in AC never had to worry about de-leveling but it was still a huge PIMA to die in that game with corspe runs after losing your most valuable items.
Posted: Mar 5th 2009 4:27AM (Unverified) said
That's really good about that guy keeping your armour for you.
I had the opposite happen to me in Blackburrow (the "first dungeon" most people in the Qeynos area encountered) where I was grouped with a bunch of guys and I died. I respawned at my bind point and started running to the dungeon to catch up with them, but died again, as they were in the depths and I couldn't get past the gnolls guarding the entrance.
They said they'd drag my corpse back up so I could loot it (yay!) and, as I'd played with these guys a few times, I agreed.
Anyway, 10 minutes later, one sends a tell saying "We can't find your corpse and it's late here. Will you be okay finding it yourself." I said I would and they logged.
I searched for an hour but couldn't find my corpse.
Next day I see the guy I'd been "friends" with standing in a new set of armour that looked suspiciously familiar.
Reply
I had the opposite happen to me in Blackburrow (the "first dungeon" most people in the Qeynos area encountered) where I was grouped with a bunch of guys and I died. I respawned at my bind point and started running to the dungeon to catch up with them, but died again, as they were in the depths and I couldn't get past the gnolls guarding the entrance.
They said they'd drag my corpse back up so I could loot it (yay!) and, as I'd played with these guys a few times, I agreed.
Anyway, 10 minutes later, one sends a tell saying "We can't find your corpse and it's late here. Will you be okay finding it yourself." I said I would and they logged.
I searched for an hour but couldn't find my corpse.
Next day I see the guy I'd been "friends" with standing in a new set of armour that looked suspiciously familiar.
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 11:49AM (Unverified) said
Oh and I remember thinking the community was full of arses, as none of them would talk to me the first time I logged on.
Yes, I was trying to hold conversations with NPCs...
Yes, I was trying to hold conversations with NPCs...
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 1:12PM (Unverified) said
For pulling you into the game, I still think Everquest was the best and I base it on just a couple of things.
1. The first time I played and met The Werewolf...scared the crap outta me.
2. Ran thru Kithicor one DAY, then for some reason had to run back thru later...OMG WHAT KILLED ME, and the eeriness of the zone.
3. That freakin Unicorn GGGGGRRRRRRRRR
4. There was a sense of accomplishment and exileration when you got an epic weapon.
5. THE COMMUNITY WAS THE BEST, by far. I have been a gamer since 2000, and have been in many guilds, none was as friendly, helpful, or REAL as the one in EQ1.
1. The first time I played and met The Werewolf...scared the crap outta me.
2. Ran thru Kithicor one DAY, then for some reason had to run back thru later...OMG WHAT KILLED ME, and the eeriness of the zone.
3. That freakin Unicorn GGGGGRRRRRRRRR
4. There was a sense of accomplishment and exileration when you got an epic weapon.
5. THE COMMUNITY WAS THE BEST, by far. I have been a gamer since 2000, and have been in many guilds, none was as friendly, helpful, or REAL as the one in EQ1.
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 4:43PM (Unverified) said
The best part about EQ was that there were very few "BoE" or "BoP" items. You could buy anything except for top-tier raiding items, and you could sell them when you were finished with them. I think that added a lot to the economy and the social aspect of the game.
Not having a map was also one of the critical things that made EQ feel so unique. In today's MMOs, I find myself simply staring at a little blip on the map rather than actually exploring.
The bad part was the class balance. There were some classes that couldn't solo even a little bit, there were other classes that were worthless in groups, and there were some classes, like the ranger, which were pretty dismal in both areas. Guess which class I played.
Not having a map was also one of the critical things that made EQ feel so unique. In today's MMOs, I find myself simply staring at a little blip on the map rather than actually exploring.
The bad part was the class balance. There were some classes that couldn't solo even a little bit, there were other classes that were worthless in groups, and there were some classes, like the ranger, which were pretty dismal in both areas. Guess which class I played.
Posted: Mar 4th 2009 6:13PM Tragity said
Well i started EQ when Ruins pf Kunark went live and this is the one thing that will allways stick with me for Life ..I made an Iksar Shaman Hated by loved by none not even there god (Cazic Thule) liked em yet here i am All my friends got some dorky softskin elf or some crap and i was on the other side of the world. Whats a Leezard to do? I know lets spend the next 2 days with SOW and nothing else and sneak and swim and scrach and crawl all the way to GF. then you get there and all the PC's start attacking you (atleast trying) because they had never seen an Iksar. then you make some real friends becase they learned something and your the only shaman for miles WOOOOT i loved that game!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sythyfys Xykythys 85 Shaman 2000-2009 RIP
Sythyfys Xykythys 85 Shaman 2000-2009 RIP
Posted: Mar 5th 2009 11:29AM (Unverified) said
EQ. Sometimes there were days where you logged in and did miserable things, only to log out worse off than you started.
But it made the days you did well worth that much more, I believe.
But it made the days you did well worth that much more, I believe.
Posted: Mar 5th 2009 2:29PM ultimateq said
All of those are fantastic memories. I remember waiting for night to pass so I could get through Kith, then grinding in Highpass Hold.
Or later on in my EQ career. I remember running up along the zone walls to get across DANGEROUS zones, like Maiden's Eye to get to Umbral Plains.
Starting up mini-raids with my friends to get some pretty nice weapons allowed me to make strong friendships with those people. I still talk to them on a daily basis, even met some of them IRL.
Doing more mini raids in Yxtta, I was the riddle man. Those primals were a lot of fun.
I quit shortly after the level 75 cap. Played all the way from the release of Velious.
Or later on in my EQ career. I remember running up along the zone walls to get across DANGEROUS zones, like Maiden's Eye to get to Umbral Plains.
Starting up mini-raids with my friends to get some pretty nice weapons allowed me to make strong friendships with those people. I still talk to them on a daily basis, even met some of them IRL.
Doing more mini raids in Yxtta, I was the riddle man. Those primals were a lot of fun.
I quit shortly after the level 75 cap. Played all the way from the release of Velious.
Posted: Mar 6th 2009 1:08AM Seraphina Brennan said
One of my favorite stories was from Final Fantasy XI.
I had gone into Gusgen Mines in Konschtat Highlands with a friend, as we had just passed the place and were curious to see what was inside. Once we got in, we found a very cold, very claustrophobic, and very eerily blue mine lit by small, flickering lanterns.
We went down and ended up running into undead, which we easily fought off for some nice experience, and my friend begs for us to go deeper into the mine, even though I said it probably was unsafe.
He runs off, I stand there complaining, and then I end up running after him to make sure he doesn't die.
We get deep into the mines and get totally lost. Most likely we had ended up walking in circles, because neither of us had a map. Then at that point (this was late at night for the both of us, by the way) this eerie moan came over our speakers. The Vana'diel clock hit midnight, and this wailing began -- an old mine siren.
I turn to him and say, "Ok, I've had enough of this place. This is just getting creepy. That siren is really jarring my nerves."
He turns back around, starts lambasting me, calling me a chicken, and then I notice something behind him. Wet footsteps. No body, just the footsteps. They keep coming closer to the two of us. I start doing the /point command and going, "Dude! Dude!" He laughs and says, "What, you see a ghost or something?"
He turns around, sees the footsteps, and this ghostly child appears right in front of him and points at him and whispers, "I'm so cold..." to the both of us. He flips the hell out and starts bolting away, aggroing all of the skeletons on his way.
The two of us end up running to the entrance, screaming our heads off as we run past three more people, who turn and run with us (afraid of the skeletons) and we make it to the entrance and zoned out, barely living from the battering we took.
It was the best time I've ever had in a MMO, lol!
I had gone into Gusgen Mines in Konschtat Highlands with a friend, as we had just passed the place and were curious to see what was inside. Once we got in, we found a very cold, very claustrophobic, and very eerily blue mine lit by small, flickering lanterns.
We went down and ended up running into undead, which we easily fought off for some nice experience, and my friend begs for us to go deeper into the mine, even though I said it probably was unsafe.
He runs off, I stand there complaining, and then I end up running after him to make sure he doesn't die.
We get deep into the mines and get totally lost. Most likely we had ended up walking in circles, because neither of us had a map. Then at that point (this was late at night for the both of us, by the way) this eerie moan came over our speakers. The Vana'diel clock hit midnight, and this wailing began -- an old mine siren.
I turn to him and say, "Ok, I've had enough of this place. This is just getting creepy. That siren is really jarring my nerves."
He turns back around, starts lambasting me, calling me a chicken, and then I notice something behind him. Wet footsteps. No body, just the footsteps. They keep coming closer to the two of us. I start doing the /point command and going, "Dude! Dude!" He laughs and says, "What, you see a ghost or something?"
He turns around, sees the footsteps, and this ghostly child appears right in front of him and points at him and whispers, "I'm so cold..." to the both of us. He flips the hell out and starts bolting away, aggroing all of the skeletons on his way.
The two of us end up running to the entrance, screaming our heads off as we run past three more people, who turn and run with us (afraid of the skeletons) and we make it to the entrance and zoned out, barely living from the battering we took.
It was the best time I've ever had in a MMO, lol!
