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As someone whose a big fan of PvP as endgame content, and someone whose been playing online games since the days of MUDS, I will say this: I've never played anything as fun or on the odd occasion, edge of my seat thrilling as say Altarec valley on a Saturday morning, or Wintergrasp on an evening. In fact I don't think any other game has ever come close.

I like PvP/RvR because it's less bitchy and more of a laugh than endgame raiding, I'd rather farm a battleground than a predictable instance any day. Apparently AION has pretty good action, but after levelling to 20 in the betas and then 20 in the open game I was just too impatient too carry on. and went back to do Ettermores.

You see, the thing about a lot of these PvP games is that theirs not actually much PvP in them, as weird as that sounds. Except EVE, but that's not something in a class of it's own :)

LOTRO would be fine to start 'now' and if you're thinking about trying it and haven't yet you really should.

Very sadly, this wasn't the case a few years ago when they had that horrific ratio of group quests. The whole experience of being a new player 'back then' (notice I'm talking about the past here, not as it is now) was by far the worst thing I've ever tried, seriously.

But now top marks, get in there and go for it. That way too many group quests have been mercifully cut out leaving an amazingly class PvE game. Good if you think that other games are too much like a cartoon or childish and want something a little more mature.

"The knowledge and power that come with that are mine and belong to me."

Oh boy..... .... ... ... If you're a troll dam you're good. Funniest thing I've read in ages.

So you're not that bothered about it being 'fun then'

We've all kicked, or been kicked, because there's just no hope for whatever reason, but there are ways of doing these things that don't just involve a harsh 'kick' without trying to explain in a nice way first just what they need to do to improve.

This is known as 'social skills' and I have nothing but contempt for people who come to my groups without googling 'social skills' first :and knowing ANYTHING about them :)

We are joking here arnt we.... right...

Lol, makes me re-evalute that amont of time I've been wasting on these games really, so in actuallity item shops are great news, on sale or not: Waiting what's left of a block of my remaining game sub to expire and then I'm out I think. Been playing a long time really, since MUDS in fact, and watching them turn into slot machines that never pay out isn't worth the wait. And it's actually kind of cool to do other things, if not a little scary to suddenly have SO much spare time again.

The only remotely original/interestng looking thing is Earthrise, and sadly I think that will be drowned in market saturation.

No real loss to the people churning these things out at the moment - I'm not that deluded honest :) to think one less sub will make much difference - but I bet there's a good few other item shop haters out there that might be thinking the same thing. Why wait for it to just stop being fun shoving all your spare change into an item shop just to keep up with the other level 'whatever's

Take the plunge my friends, walk blinking into the bright light now :)

'Easy, its a proven fact that people in nice cars (not sports cars) get pulled over less often than people in crap vehicles...'

True, but should you ever find that yourself pulled over for whatever reason... well like I say, you just point out early on that you're really special and that you don't need to follow the rules whatever they say because you're (relativly) wealthy.. Please do that, PLEASE :)) Feel free to report back the results.

And Abriona summed it up quiet nicely, best posts on the subject I've seen in some time. Thank you.

"People that make decent money will always have things that people who do not make decent money do not. Its life."

Try repeating that one to the police if you're ever late for a meeting and caught speeding. I'm sure that officer will see the wisdom in your words ;)

All it really needs is for games to have the nuts to enforce the rules the same way really. That's why I like subs only game: It's a level playing field once you're through the door.

I don't doubt it's hard for one second. But for example if a games log in screens featured a named section of that weeks banned players word would soon get around. Like I say, everyone knows you wont get banned for buying. Just be bothered to enforce the games rules properly.

I got pressured into doing it once on my first WoW toon. I was part of a band of 'noob's and it only took one person to start buying and everyone reluctantly was forced to compete that way. Again: You are always going to be compared when it comes to group play in these games, ALWAYS and your either getting what's out there or not playing. It is not optional in reality.

And to Zorom: If you need to buy items to compete in an arena you really shouldn't be in there anyway. Maybe I am a purist but what's the point in an arena ranking when people like you are making the ratings pointless! I just don't want to be in a game with you, there's no point really, especially when it comes to Arena ranking. And yes, I have the cash, just more sense.

Commence with the moding down now please :))

Gold buying, it's kind of like speeding isn't it really. Despite it being wrong, bad for everyone as a whole, people do it and the world doesn't end. Now and again the odd person is caught and a penalty is handed out by the government via the courts, depending on how bad it was the worse the fine. As long as it's kept under control civilization, or at least the free ways, won't collapse.

Putting RMT in these games though 'as law' is pretty much the same as your local government saying 'SPEED ALL YOU WANT, JUST PAY EXTRA' We'll just use the extra revenue to build more roads when the old ones collapse from the strain and wreckage. Strangely enough few real life judicial systems have been keen to carry out this... logic.

Or easier: think of it is your local cops legalizing the mafia in return for some cash, ignoring why their acts where made illegal in the first place.

Just hand out a few large scale public announced bans to the BUYERS as well as the sellers. It would die away in weeks. Take the pressure of those who don't want to cheat this way but feel obliged too by those who do - these games might not be competitive, but they definitely are comparative. Everyone knows that buyers don't get in trouble.

Despite what I said in the past I think this is one of the few games that should NOT have a free trial. A cut price deal for new players maybe, but nothing free.

The whole set up of this type of game screams out that it's going to demand commitment. Anyway the world doesn't need any more people taking free trials and crying their eyes out all over the internet because they died a few times in a game and that they don't like it even though it's cost them zero to find out. There is enough of that already, I believe that's what open Betas are for now :P

I'll probably cough up the money the end of the month to give it a go and the fact that it has cost me so much will probably keep me playing after the first rush of PvP rage has set in and tempted me to 'QQ' :)