Jump to content

My thoughts on why the game's community is the way it is


MotherBrainII

Recommended Posts

So yesterday I got lured. I won't give all the details unless anyone asks because it's not really relevant to the point I'm making, but suffice to say that it was a very sophisticated lure and the amount I lost was well beyond the scope of what I could ever recover from. It's pretty easy to find a video of it on Youtube and I'd bet that most of this site's users were in on it anyway given the sheer scale of it and how few players the game has in general now.

 

I wasn't angry about it, though. It was partly my fault due to the specific circumstances. The overwhelming majority of the loss was gifted to me, so I don't feel I lost much work. And logging off when I did that day indirectly resulted in me getting a date with one of the nicest, funniest, most attractive women I've ever met. So instead of posting an angry rant about I lost all that stuff (which is why this isn't in the sticky), I'll post a few thoughts about how Jagex contributed. 

 

I don't subscribe to the idea that people on the internet are innately [wagon] and that's all there is to it. Yes, there are [wagon], but some internet communities have a lot more of them than others. And while moderation and rules enforcement are part of this, I think there's more to it than that.

 

Runescape as a game has always been innately competitive. The highscores encourage players to actively compete against each other. The existence of the Wilderness as a no-holds-barred cutthroat PVP fest is a big attraction to the sort of players who enjoy that sort of thing, and players increasing in power has essentially turned most high-level PVM into a form of indirect PVP aswell. The trade restrictions of the 2008-10 era minimised co-operative player interaction and set up an every-man-for-himself competition which caused the rapid growth of a laser-focused efficiency culture that had up to that point been almost nonexistent. From late 2009 onwards, most new content was aimed at high-level, established players, with new player influx being very minimal despite Jagex's efforts. So by the time the restrictions were lifted, this culture was so ingrained into players' minds that the reintroduction of free trade did absolutely nothing to mitigate this, and this causes a mutually elitist mindset where people feel almost obligated to take the game very seriously if they're going to play at all.

 

The marketing of the game primarily at children has also been a major factor here, in my opinion. Most children have never had to work really hard for something, and so they rarely appreciate the value of time or effort -- and, by extension, don't appreciate the value that others place on these things. Results are often all that matters to them.

 

Finally, the community as a whole has a very libertarian mindset, one where enforcement should be very hands-off to nonexistent and players should be given a lot of freedom and left to their own devices. One where each person is responsible for protecting themselves, with a very prevalent feeling that someone who fails to do so does not deserve to keep anything, that encyclopaedic knowledge of every last aspect of the game's mechanics is normal and expected, and that people clever enough to steal something deserve it in a "survival of the fittest" sense. One where high risk is glorified by stakers, fame is good almost regardless of the reason, and losing everything you have is just something that happens as a matter of course because of the game's exceptionally harsh death penalty and the need for top-tier equipment to do anything that earns respectable money. 

 

This has all resulted in the game being highly attractive to sadistic players who deceive and harm others for profit, for fame or just because they enjoy it. People who necessitate measures like a bank PIN on the Well of Goodwill because their first thought on seeing something with that name is "how can I use this to make someone miserable?". People who take the game seriously enough and have enough repressed anger that they spend all day, every day coming up with ways to destroy others' work just for the glee of watching them get upset about it, with literally nothing else ever crossing the malevolent moral and intellectual voids that are their minds. People who systematically and deliberately drive away anyone who isn't like them to prove their imagined superiority.

 

As for the game itself: I hope it continues its descent into irrelevance. Soon enough the only people playing it will be lurers, scammers and griefers anyway (to the extent that this is not already the case), and there are few things I enjoy more than seeing people whose sole purpose in life is to inflict petty miseries on others watch as the world of their own making crumbles around them and they're left as barely human shells containing nothing but newly-impotent hatred. And those who were driven out can look back and be grateful that they got on with their lives.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Smelly Paws

This would have made a good article for the Tipit times.  I disagree with your last paragraph as I do not want the game to die, but a lot of what you say does strike a chord.  :-k

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks. I think the tone is a bit... aggressive for a Times article, though. If someone really wants to edit it and use the content in it to write an article, I give my permission for them to do so.

 

On the subject of the lure itself, though, is there any way I can bring the video to JMod attention? The players involved are clearly named in it and it'd be nice for these jackwagons to get banned, not least to avoid anyone else falling prey... but also because I enjoy watching people who like to destroy others' work get an overdose of their own medicine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's definitely a Jagex email you can mail the link to. Not sure which one it is, might have to dig around the RSOF for that. Mention it's a lure in the email subject.

6Ij0n.jpg

In real life MMO you don't get 99 smithing by making endless bronze daggers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started playing again after a few months and I've found that the community actually seems a lot better now than it was previously, people were talking in public chat about lots of things, helping each other, building divine locations in a public spot so everyone could get xp.

Robbstarkded.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I understand that you have clarified that the lure isn't important itself, but I and others would appreciate it if you could post the video or give details. Not because we want to lure people ourselves, but rather so that we can avoid it. You seem like a veteran player, and if it got you, I'd assume it's pretty sophisticated and dangerous. It would be a good public service announcement.

 

As for the article, I am sorry to hear what has happened to you, and I am largely sympathetic to your post.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally, the community as a whole has a very libertarian mindset, one where enforcement should be very hands-off to nonexistent and players should be given a lot of freedom and left to their own devices. One where each person is responsible for protecting themselves, with a very prevalent feeling that someone who fails to do so does not deserve to keep anything, that encyclopaedic knowledge of every last aspect of the game's mechanics is normal and expected, and that people clever enough to steal something deserve it in a "survival of the fittest" sense. One where high risk is glorified by stakers, fame is good almost regardless of the reason, and losing everything you have is just something that happens as a matter of course because of the game's exceptionally harsh death penalty and the need for top-tier equipment to do anything that earns respectable money. 

 

You're not gonna want to hear this but reading this paragraph actually made me appreciate the community a bit more. I like the way you put it and I think it belongs that way for the overall good of the game. Keep in mind that it's impossible to completely (or near-completely) eliminate tragedies such as this; especially without also near-completely eliminating the players' freedoms.

77yLQy8.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Finally, the community as a whole has a very libertarian mindset, one where enforcement should be very hands-off to nonexistent and players should be given a lot of freedom and left to their own devices. One where each person is responsible for protecting themselves, with a very prevalent feeling that someone who fails to do so does not deserve to keep anything, that encyclopaedic knowledge of every last aspect of the game's mechanics is normal and expected, and that people clever enough to steal something deserve it in a "survival of the fittest" sense. One where high risk is glorified by stakers, fame is good almost regardless of the reason, and losing everything you have is just something that happens as a matter of course because of the game's exceptionally harsh death penalty and the need for top-tier equipment to do anything that earns respectable money. 

 

You're not gonna want to hear this but reading this paragraph actually made me appreciate the community a bit more. I like the way you put it and I think it belongs that way for the overall good of the game. Keep in mind that it's impossible to completely (or near-completely) eliminate tragedies such as this; especially without also near-completely eliminating the players' freedoms.

 

 

I disagree. There are dozens of ways or dealing with these problems without getting rid of Free Trade, or getting rid of 'freedoms'. It's just that historically Jagex has been very careless with this. We don't need to accept the careless disregard of the libertarian mindset. It's not an either or situation. We can have a game where people are safe, and it's fun, and we aren't all callous Darwinists. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I understand that you have clarified that the lure isn't important itself, but I and others would appreciate it if you could post the video or give details. Not because we want to lure people ourselves, but rather so that we can avoid it. You seem like a veteran player, and if it got you, I'd assume it's pretty sophisticated and dangerous. It would be a good public service announcement.

 

As for the article, I am sorry to hear what has happened to you, and I am largely sympathetic to your post.

Sounds like he got peached 

best drops (reasonably accurate/up to date): 1x Elysian Sigil (LS), 1x Arcane Sigil (cs), 4x Armadyl Hilt (solo at 100m, 100m, 50m, and 5m), 2x Saradomin Hilt (solo at 25m), 5x Draconic Visage (34m,1.2m,1.2m) and various cs/ls/ffa Nex splits.
Drygore Drops: 7 Longswords, 3 Maces, 3 Rapiers, 3 Off-hand Rapiers,  5 Off-hand Maces, 3 Off-hand Longswords

ROTS Shields: 12  Seismics: 16

Ascension Crossbows: 6  Spider Legs: 10

Countless Armadyl armour pieces, Saradomin amulets, Dragon Hatchets, and Fremenik Rings.
Range~Herblore~Construction~Constitution~Defence~Farming~Magic~Attack~Prayer~Strength~Summoning~Slayer~Mining~Dungeoneering~Firemaking~Agility~Magic Mastery~Summoning Mastery~Cooking~Smithing~Fletching~Thieving~Hunter~Woodcutting~Fishing~Runecrafting

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

I first started this game when it was released, and up until 2006 it was the best times of my life. That doesn't mean there weren't scammers or lurers then but there was a sense of community and respect for other players. The beginning of the end was when the game was advertised on miniclip in like 2005, when Jagex started doing everything it could to make money, and that meant catering to the lowest common denominator. They got greedy and lost the players who had supported them before runescape was a game. Now the games a mess and an embarassment to say you even play.

485th person to ever play RuneScape


Blue107- perm banned 10/12/2007. $300 USD reward if you can get me in contact with someone who will take 5 seconds to look at evidence and get my original character unbanned. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I can't say that I don't agree with majority of your post.

 

I've been lured once, and have learned from it. Honestly it was a stupid mistake and I knew it was fishy when the player contacted me. I still enjoy the game even though a player may have been a complete d-bag and stole items from mere a child (Fun fact, I quit for a days and just eventually came back).

 

As for the last paragraph I don't see the game dying anytime soon, and I don't think the game will ever be filled with pure d-bags. Sure, some players are rude, but majority of players are kind on RS.

 

EDIT: Okay, this thread is old as crap, why did we even bump?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

You go from portraying an attitude of uncaring resignation to one of anger and hatred. Interesting points but maybe try to be more level about it.

 

The way these posts usually go is that the anger and resentment is there from the beginning, it's covered up because showing strong emotion over 'just a game' is somewhat of a taboo. Telling people that something that should hurt doesn't bother you is essentially lingual posturing.

  • Like 1

From the empty days of hope, deny the darkness
Follow my voice, we'll run far away from here

If only to hide, to escape this life
And live forever, forever in the sun

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I still remember losing my very first rune plate armor to a simple trade removal scam way back in 05.  ahh....the nostalgia of this game. 

Durmstrang.png

Go Chicago Bears!

 

"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment

Would you capture it or just let it slip?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im sorry to put it so simply, but if something is too good to be true it probably will be. Don't hate on the community of a game because you lost what you have under cause of underestimating the possible situation. 

 

Cheers

 

-Fast

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.