Is anyone else bothered by the lack of incentive for mediocre players to improve?

[Miburo]

You're playing a MMO. Interact with other people from all around the world is part of it, be the game a FPS, RTS, MOBA or RPG. That's why I didn't bother to stress the obvious, that if you don't socialize then you're losing 50% of the MMO experience. I was focusing on the RPG subgenre of the MMO's. You know, the one with fantasy, levels, progression, dungeons and the "dumb trophies". I like to have progression, challanges, some nice shiny at the end as reward to show off a bit, just like when I used to sit around a table with my friends to play Dungeons & Dragons. If I considered all those things dumb, I'd not be playing the RPG genre, i would be playing some other type of MMO, if only for the social interaction.

Now, whenever I see people criticizing the RPG genre exactly for the things that compose it, then I wonder who is the wrong here: the person spending 3hr of his free time to beat a boss for a shining sword or the person wasting 1hr of his oh-so-busy life with a game genre he don't really enjoy only for a "dumb trophy".

And even then, the 'dumb trophy' part is one of many aspects. Not 'everything the genre stands for.' I never said all those things you listed were dumb.

Actually, if you took what you originally quoted in context, I wasn't even trying put down any aspect of MMOs or RPGs themselves. I was actually criticizing people who care more about the reward they get so that they can feel superior over those that don't have it, over the pride of having overcome the challenge. I was criticizing people who want others to be able to obtain less, so that they can feel more special. That's what the whole context was actually saying. Yes, I trivialized the gear to emphasize my point. And I'm not wrong, in the end it is just stupid clothing for you cat man, or in your case your androgynous midlander 'guy'. = p It is still sad to care more about dumb gear over your accomplishments. When you beat Twin and didn't get your sword or helmet were you still happy to have finally won? Or do you only care about the gear, for the primary reason to have things other people don't? If the former is true, then awesome. If yes to the second question, then yeah, you're the type of person I'm criticizing in that post. If you still have a problem with what I said after understanding the entirety of it, then whatever.

Oh, and I can still enjoy the game just fine while still realizing it's just a game. It's something I do for entertainment. It's not something I do to feel special or to boost my ego. I couldn't care less if people have high ilvls and aren't as good at the game as I am. I don't give a crap if people have the same stuff as me, even if they were able to obtain it more easily. And I certainly don't want other people to be able to enjoy less of the game so that I can feel special or superior. Nothing I've said in this thread hinders my enjoyment of the game, at all. Honestly not even sure where you were trying to go with the last part. I wasn't criticizing anyone for beating bosses and getting loot for it, and that doesn't describe me at all. So...? I dunno.