U U U U U

Most irritating thing in Endless Online?








Without a doubt. I have no idea why people insist on using 'u' as a greeting - maybe it originated from some other game and EO got infected over time - but really, people. If you want someone's attention, mouse over and look at their name. And if you're stopping them to buy what they're wearing, don't waste your time.. they're wearing it for a reason. It's not as if you stop people in your local town centre and ask to buy their clothes (well... I hope you don't... crazy people), so why do it online?

¬¬... ignore the 'U'ers and maybe it'll die out.

Anyway, news reached my ears via the intrepid reported Espii (link to the right) that Vult has dropped the first hint about v26. Word is that it will be bringing the classses aspect into the game, and this can only be good news. Having gotten bored of levelling, I've switched my stats around to get Large Heal and the Bard spell, but healing people for 12 each time and running out of SP after the third cast really doesn't cut it when there are people with potentially 300+ hit points and green potions are so cheap.

Sure, the new bosses and tough areas are great. But I hope the classes bring in some balance. At the moment it's either:

a) go all magic
b) get KSed and killed quickly


So this is how I see the classes. It's total guesswork, so don't take it to be official or anything. As with all MMOs, these should be the basic classes and their strengths and weaknesses:

-Warrior

The standard melee class. High strength and defence.
Pros: Good for tanking.
Cons: No range attacks.
In EO terms: go for Str and Con.

-Mage

High magic attack power.
Pros: VERY powerful range attacks.
Cons: Elements will have a lot to do with attack power. Slow casting (hopefully!). SP limits.
In EO terms: Pure int.

-Healer

This is an interesting one as there's still no sign of stat increase spells (aka 'buff plz'). Aside from the usual healing magic, I hope to see some of these spells added at some point.
Pros: Every party will need one.
Cons: A pain to level.
In EO terms: Wis for healing magic, and maybe some Con for extra SP. Once the healer runs out of magic, the party is screwed.

-Archer

Well something had to be done with all the bows floating around out there!

Pros: Fast range attack
Cons: Consumable items (arrows).
In EO terms: Link bow strength to Agi. At the moment it's still linked to Str and it's rather silly for a warrior to use a bow.

No doubt there will be subclasses and hybrids as well. I just hope the update doesn't tip things even more in the magic's favour.

Moderation...

Yay 100 page views already, with no advertising at all :] Thanks everyone.

Next subject: EO moderation, or lack of it.

I was browsing the forums of an RO private server that I play (xilero.net). The server has around 1000 on at a time, so similar in size to EO. It has optional donations, for which players receive 'uber' items if they choose to do so. Apart from that, it's free to play just like Endless is.

Anyway, they have a Reports forum, where any scamming, KSing, harassment or abuse can be reported. If the evidence posted (usually a series of screenshots with timestamps) is enough proof that it's a legit report, and the accused doesn't have a good defence or fails to respond at all, then the moderators there take instant action and ban the offender permanently. Observe:

http://forums.xilero.net/forumdisplay.php?f=12

Wonder if a similar system would work on EO? Add this extra forum, hire 4 or 5 people to investigate the claims and moderate the forum, and repeat offenders are reported to the HGMs (Aengie or Vult) for them to take action needed.

Of course at the moment the admins are focusing on developing the game and we're left to look after ourselves, but it's something to consider in future. Just maybe... a little less harsh than instant banning? :P

Change the record!

Two recurring topics on the EO forums.

One: Mizzy.
Two: Paperclip.


Aren't you bored yet? Seriously.. there are so many topics on these two and none of them are interesting. It's incredible how the players of Endless Online can talk so much, yet say so little. As if they think their opinion actually MATTERS to Vult, when in both cases it's obvious he won't do anything because there's nothing to be addressed.

Mizzy: Does events. Is intolerant of idiots. Combine EO events with this intolerance and you get a lof of people complaining and getting kicked for it. Believe it or not, the game does not revolve around what YOU want. Endless Online is little more than a testing ground for Vult's coding, so anyone who thinks their level, gold, or fresh-from-the-stinking-dark-basement Tsearch hacks matter at all is in for a big shock at beta (assuming we even get that far). All Mizzy is trying to do is provide some entertainment for the players, and to keep them playing and testing the game. But if you screw around, try to disrupt it, or decide that it's not to your exact liking and mouth off to her, chances are you'll get a admin-style slap in the face. And the forums DO NOT want to know. People will be kicked. People will complain. Get over it and move on.
Mizzy is the last admin Vult would consider for removal, because she's the only one that both moderates and interacts with the players. Grow up a little, or do us all a favour and sell your computer and use the money to go back to school.

Paperclip: Is banned for good. No amount of petitions or threads about it will change that. Most likely he'll get past the ban and make a return to annoy us all again. But until then, he deserved a ban and got it.. let it go.

On a different note, the v25 buzz has died down. Looks like it's back to the 'making your own fun' days, everyone.

The Guild Network

Ok. Back a little later than planned. Hot summer day + broken down train + hangover = not a happy Ben. Anyway.. the promised post.

You've probably heard of the guild networking idea. Sabanthrea originally proposed it several months back, and the idea has been redeveloped by Espii and will hopefully catch on a little better than last time. Let me explain.

There are many guilds out there who have reputations as honest, clean guilds. There are also many players out there who just love speeding and scamming. Occasionally one of these players (or as I like to call them, 'morons'), will slip into one of the decent guilds. The guild networking idea is basically a collective of guilds who will keep an eye on each other's members and report these morons to the guild leader. Said member gets warned/kicked and refused entry to any of the other guilds in the network.

Guilds that have agreed to this so far are: PGD, ROX, VVV, EX, MNM. RA, HOJ and NC are considering the idea. If these three sign up, that'll be almost 2000 members watching over each other voluntarily. And people say the EO community is going downhill? Nice to see there are SOME decent people still around .

It's not much, and will not stop people speeding. But in a game with minimal moderation, we're hoping it'll at least make people think twice about downloading Tsearch. Sure, you can speed and get an extra few exp for it... but at the risk being kicked from your guild? Is it worth it? You decide.

Opener

Well. Since everyone else is jumping on the 'I want to be like Wikky/Nezlo/Espii/other people' and getting their own blog for their inane EO rants, I have too. This won't be anything other than a soapbox for me to post my thoughts on the game, so if you want to find the route through Hell or to the fire void, or want to check the top EXP gainers, then go to other blogs.

First meaningful post here will be when I get back from visiting family on Sunday. Ta ta.