Ecto

I don't expect player names on roleplaying servers to be policed, it's just not going to happen. What I do is simply disable player names so I can't see them in the first place. Since I'm roleplaying, this works because normally I wouldn't know someone's name before asking them anyway.

I also turn off all global chat channels, regardless of if I'm on a roleplaying server or not because they're almost always filled with mindless drivel.

I guess I'm the only one that didn't have a problem with the UI in Oblivion and Skyrim. Press Tab and you have access to all other menus, without having to waste keybinds unlike most MMOs. Health/stamina/mana display was perfectly fine. Don't understand what people are complaining about.

As far as an Elder Scrolls MMO goes, I would be more worried about the story than the UI. Being the Dovahkiin isn't really as cool when there are thousands of other Dovahkiin running around Whiterun at the same time.

On the last point of "balance strength with fairness", I would say also take in to account whether it's "progression content" or not. If your guild/raid group has yet to kill a particular boss you probably want to sit Mr. Wiggly for the night. If everyone in the raid has to pull a certain amount of DPS to beat an enrage timer and you know Mr. Wiggly isn't capable of doing that, bringing him is simply wasting everyone's time. However, if it's content you've been farming for months, go a head and bring him.

I've been keeping an eye on Grimlands for a while now since I'm a big post-apocalypse fan and Otherland sounds pretty interesting as well. I haven't really been expecting much from them, however. The only past experience I have with Gamigo is with Black Prophecy which was fairly disappointing. Hopefully they'll surprise me though as both games do SOUND good.

Of course I want them to make decisions based on what sells. Please, give me a little more credit than that. I certainly don't blame Riot for going with what sells. What I was saying is that I'm disappointed that those types of champions are all that sell.

More support champions are needed. Ever think that one of the reason that people don't like playing support is because there are so few viable options? It gets boring playing nothing but Sona, Soraka, Taric, Janna and Alistar. Yes, you can play a number of champions as support but that doesn't mean it's good (support Ashe). You can build just about any champion tanky, doesn't make them a good tank.

There are champions that can be played as support like Blitzcrank, but that's a gimmick that for the most part relies on your opponents playing poorly and only works at low ELO. Once people stop letting Blitz grab them he becomes a terrible support champion. Other champions can be played as support but are just inferior to the popular champions (Karma, Lux) or are even better in another role (Orianna, Zilean).

Buffing Karma and Lux would help alleviate the need for new support champions. There are just better champions to play for the types of lanes that you would play those two in.

Getting off the support topic, I would also like to see more straight tank champions. Something more a long the lines of Singed or Cho'gath than Irelia or Renekton. It may be small, but there is a difference in playstyle, especially in team fights. The difference may be too subtle for it to be worth it for Riot though.

The circle of assassin, ap carry, tanky dps continues. Would be nice to see something else for a change but this is what sells, so it won't happen.

A "more involving and complex" crafting system is all well and good but it's pointless if the items created through it are useless. In the current system, all but the rarest crafting recipes are totally useless, which was always my biggest gripe with the crafting in AoC.

On a more positive note, I'm very happy to hear that they're expanding bank space, that was very much needed. Dual spec is also a more than welcome addition.

Nice article. I've also found that incorporating humor tends to make for more interesting roleplay. Without it, like you said, things get stale. Space Cobra brings up a good point in that humor is subjective. I look forward to you touching on this in a future article.

Some MMOs also make it easier to incorporate humor in to your roleplay with races that have built-in quirks. WoW's Goblins with their constant need to blow things up, for example. Having a structural base like this to work off of can often make it easier for people to get started.

@Grumms +1 internets for a Big Lebowski reference.

I personally haven't, and don't ever see myself dropping real money on mounts in any game.

The thing with expensive cars in the real world is that they're status symbols. They give the owner a sense of prestige. Cash shop mounts don't usually offer the same sense of prestige since you'll see dozens of people, if not more, running around with them in game every day. Generally speaking, if you want a sense of prestige from owning a mount you'll need to get your hands on a rare mount from high end raids, PvP etc.