Is there a way to design end game content that doesn't lead to a caustic community?

[Fendred]

Over ten years of playing MMORPGs, one thing that remains constant from every game I've jumped to is the end game community turning hostile to new players after the content has been out for a while. And by new players, I don't even mean those with no experience on a given encounter. They can have the fight practically on farm status, but the second they switch to a new role and mess up even once they turn on even the most skilled of players.

In the back of my mind, I kind of know the answer to the question, but what do my fellow forum dwellers think about it? Is it just a result of the social ineptitude of a few players or is it really incompatible communities clashing with one another?

[Zaels]

Yes. By making every fight incredibly easy that even new and inexperienced players can one-shot the bosses.

Which of course will result in people growing bored of the game quickly due to the lack of challenge and unsubbing.

[Gilthas]

The anonymity of the internet is what leads people to become jerks online.

You could make a game where all you did was run through fields of flowers holding hands and you'd still get a guy telling you you're doing it wrong.

[Espon]

I don't think I see that that often, and when I do, it's usually just one person flipping out and to me he or she sounds like a big crybaby.

All-in-all, some people are jerks because it's the internet.

[TrystWildkey]

Is there a way to design end game content that doesn't lead to a caustic community?

Sadly.....



(hope the image works >< )

[Thorauku]

Over ten years of playing MMORPGs, one thing that remains constant from every game

You already know the answer OP.

[Fendred]

You already know the answer OP.

But sometimes you just want people to tell me I'm wrong, lol.

[Yule]

Is there a way to design end game content that doesn't lead to a caustic community?

Yes and it's by doing what SE is going to do come 2.2, they are going to make older content more accessible while rolling over difficulty into the new content. This is what works and hope to god they don't change it. The community loses the tension during these patch times only to rise again before patches roll out. SE already said that to remedy this they'll release major patches every 3 months until they finish expansions which will most likely be on a 9-12 month period.

[lackofwords]

I think it's mostly knowing your group and finding like minded people.

To generalize the people who tend to rage, they usually don't like losing, and when they do lose they are quick to blame others.

You can mitigate some foreseen rage, such as if you are planning to play a new role, or new to the fight, it'll be considerate to announce to the group before hand.
However, it's not possible to avoid it all together, unless if you're playing with people you know well.

[Mcshiggs]

The anonymity of the internet is what leads people to become jerks online.

You could make a game where all you did was run through fields of flowers holding hands and you'd still get a guy telling you you're doing it wrong.

Everyone knows you skip through fields of flowers holding hands, running noobs need to go back to WoW.