The Three Laws of MMO Thermodynamics

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

The playerbase will always flow from difficult, less-rewarding content to easier, more-rewarding content.
The playerbase will always apply the tactic that is the easiest and most reliable.
Players that strictly adhere to both of the above will always excel the most.


Discuss.

[Runespider]

MMO's are all about status (status=gear), as such the only time people really care about difficulty is when it allows others to get gear they have. I've never seen any of the top tier players make fights more difficult for themselves etc for instance, they just want the gear asap.

[Thonuwan]

Wouldn't these "rules" not be MMO specific? To me they seem like the the general "rules" that the rest of the world follow. Heat tries to spread out evenly, air moves from high pressure to low pressure, water and electricity follow the path of least resistance. Humans don't, most of the time, do anything different.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

To me they seem like the the general "rules" that the rest of the world follow.

Hence "thermodynamics" in the title.

I threw these up, though, because I get the feeling that the individual players sometimes forget that they're all but literally a drop in the bucket. Individual players bicker about whether X is better than Y when, as an aggregate, the player base as a whole has decided on the matter years ago (even if they're not consciously aware of it!). And the reason isn't necessarily "people are stupid," but that a system will always follow the path of least resistance. The only real solution is to move into a different system, a different thermodynamic frame of reference.

[Sparthos]

MMO's are all about status (status=gear), as such the only time people really care about difficulty is when it allows others to get gear they have. I've never seen any of the top tier players make fights more difficult for themselves etc for instance, they just want the gear asap.

So you haven't seen individuals solo mobs that normally required alliances or attempt lowmans for the challenge?

Cmon.

[Neonii]

My number one rule is have fun. Work, drama, name calling, arguments we get enough of that in real life. My motivation for playing online games is the real time adventure aspect of it. You can take risk, explore stuff, have folks to adventure with you all from the comfort of your living room. My all time favorite times playing online games was when I was in a roleplaying ls in my last online game. We used to do things like have a server wide race across the world using number one characters without any gear. It was about doing the most outrageous things and having fun doing it. I remember the first time I reached what in that game was called the Plane of Sky my ls (called guild) told me to go solo some mobs stronger than the boss mob called Aeyinar. I remember the pride ls as a group experienced when we saw our first dragon the quite majestic Lady Vox. It was all about people and the adventures we could have together. Of course this was a different game but the point i'm making is it's all about experience of the game. If it really gets down to who has the best gear whats the fun in that?

[Greatguardian]

MMO's are all about status (status=gear), as such the only time people really care about difficulty is when it allows others to get gear they have. I've never seen any of the top tier players make fights more difficult for themselves etc for instance, they just want the gear asap.

Honestly, aside from the occasional outlier, my experience suggests that the only time people really care about gear is when they no longer have an excuse not to have it. It is much less common for the people who actually have gear to be complaining about how easy it was to get, and it is exceedingly rare (even on BG) for people who actually have gear to complain about how easy it is for other people to get the same gear.

The largest concentration of complaining and Abyssea-hatred has come from people who either have never done Abyssea, or have never fully succeeded in Abyssea despite the supposed "Easy mode". There is little else that is as frustrating as knowing that content is easy, seeing really crappy, disorganized, full teal groups succeed at it, and then failing to actually beat the content oneself.

[TybudX]

The playerbase will always apply the tactic that is the easiest and most reliable.

If by easy and reliable you mean zombie and mindlessly throw too many people at stuff, then yes, this.

[Neonii]

Honestly, aside from the occasional outlier, my experience suggests that the only time people really care about gear is when they no longer have an excuse not to have it. It is much less common for the people who actually have gear to be complaining about how easy it was to get, and it is exceedingly rare (even on BG) for people who actually have gear to complain about how easy it is for other people to get the same gear.

The largest concentration of complaining and Abyssea-hatred has come from people who either have never done Abyssea, or have never fully succeeded in Abyssea despite the supposed "Easy mode". There is little else that is as frustrating as knowing that content is easy, seeing really crappy, disorganized, full teal groups succeed at it, and then failing to actually beat the content oneself.

I would recommend folks who find themselves in such a bind observe how those "crappy, disorganized, full teal groups" manage it and apply the lessons to their next group. Folks can also do their homework ahead of time and figure out what their strategy is going to be. My best regret on FFX1 is starting the game so late. So much I missed out on because by the time I started playing many folks had moved on from the stuff appropriate to me at my level. So I have to do a lot of research and study and only get to experience some of this stuff second hand. The game is still fun and serves its purpose but I read some of those early accounts of the game or look at the videos on Youtube and say wow.

[Leonlionheart]

I agree with the OP.

It's how I do things, and I do complain that Emps are easier to obtain now than they were when I got mine. It makes me sad to see SO MANY mules and losers using Ukons now, not maximizing the weapon's potential.

I mean, I did more damage than their Ukko's Fury with Raging Rush and Widomaker.

[RAIST]

eh...I just try to get the most out of what I can get my hands on at any given moment. My group has always put more emphasis on strategy than the gear we are wearing. Sure, it's lead to a lot of deaths...but it's been hellafun dying with some of them. Was kinda disappointing to close the final chapters of CoP so easily after all the struggles getting there...but, at least we got it done. Anymore it seems like so long as you have certain jobs with certain gears/items you are almost guaranteed a win even if everyone is sitting on theeir butts watching anime in a window during the fight (barring the occasional brainfart and all hell breaks loose).

Typical conversation with my close friends starts out with a tell along the lines of "wanna go die somewhere?". Sometimes it takes some hefty retries... but we manage find ways to lowman stuff when it seemed we needed more to do it.

THAT's what we always enjoyed and are beginning to miss more and more.... the genuine challenge (and the nice story lines... but that's another story).

[Meyi]

Honestly, aside from the occasional outlier, my experience suggests that the only time people really care about gear is when they no longer have an excuse not to have it. It is much less common for the people who actually have gear to be complaining about how easy it was to get, and it is exceedingly rare (even on BG) for people who actually have gear to complain about how easy it is for other people to get the same gear.

The largest concentration of complaining and Abyssea-hatred has come from people who either have never done Abyssea, or have never fully succeeded in Abyssea despite the supposed "Easy mode". There is little else that is as frustrating as knowing that content is easy, seeing really crappy, disorganized, full teal groups succeed at it, and then failing to actually beat the content oneself.

This 100%.

In fact I'd have to say it seems the majority of end game players who had all the elite gear pre-Abyssea welcome Abyssea with open arms and enjoy it. The only people I've ever see complain about Abyssea being "too easy" are the have-nots. (It makes no sense to me but it's what I've experienced.)

[Rosina]

The playerbase will always flow from difficult, less-rewarding content to easier, more-rewarding content.
The playerbase will always apply the tactic that is the easiest and most reliable.
Players that strictly adhere to both of the above will always excel the most.


Discuss.

i would change this to theodynamics of mmo elitism. As only elitist only care about the above. Were people who actually understand when a game is a game meant for fun. These "law" need not apply.

I do stuff for the challenge not the reward. I do stuff for the fun of it not the reward. Most gear don't do a darn thing in this or any mmo. It is more for a trophy. Befor the cap increase I was able to duo prime avatars and tank as a 75 mnk/dnc. The gear I got was the most cheapest gear I could locate. Yet had no issues and never died.
If gear did the job, we wouldn't need food alot. Plus you need to stack stats inorder to really see any different.

[Greatguardian]

Not sure if serious. Is this person just going on a massive General Discussion trolling spree or something?

[Meyi]

Not sure if serious. Is this person just going on a massive General Discussion trolling spree or something?

Yes. Where have you been GG? Haha. We could use some logic up in the General Discussion forum.

[RAIST]

i would change this to theodynamics of mmo elitism. As only elitist only care about the above. Were people who actually understand when a game is a game meant for fun. These "law" need not apply.

I do stuff for the challenge not the reward. I do stuff for the fun of it not the reward. Most gear don't do a darn thing in this or any mmo. It is more for a trophy. Befor the cap increase I was able to duo prime avatars and tank as a 75 mnk/dnc. The gear I got was the most cheapest gear I could locate. Yet had no issues and never died.
If gear did the job, we wouldn't need food alot. Plus you need to stack stats inorder to really see any different.

My SMN would beg to differ with you.

And my BLM

And my WHM

And my SAM, NIN, WAR.................

GEAR does make a difference. The fact that you put such an emphasis on FOOD makes me question whether you've even bothered to test it out. I can't remember the last time I've actually RELIED on food to secure me a win. It helps, but it isn't always necesary to eat it (sometimes, you can actually get it stolen, then what do you do?).

Speaking of food....why do I keep throwing peanuts to this troll....

OOPS!! I finally did it... I called Rosina a name! Now Rosina will go complaining in another thread that I did so!

/facepalm

[Greatguardian]

Yes. Where have you been GG? Haha. We could use some logic up in the General Discussion forum.

I take one look at the front page and hit the back button. I don't feel like wading through all of the payment threads, ha. Figures they're just a troll, though. I've seen the name pop up in a few threads now.

[Meyi]

I take one look at the front page and hit the back button. I don't feel like wading through all of the payment threads, ha. Figures they're just a troll, though. I've seen the name pop up in a few threads now.

Please don't leave us again. ;A; Haha.