It's nice to finally find someone else who agrees. I mean, a lot do but you're at the same level where you've experienced it, left, and came back to find it didn't change. I didn't leave for a year; a few months, but that's even more disappointing. Again, the only reason I've been on again because I still truly believe this can change and there's still that dying side of this game that is great. It's bad when we have to work to find the good side of a community but it's not like anything can be done about it at this point.
But is it really that bad?
From the sounds of it, it's like you want to find the good in the community, but don't really wish to put in anymore effort than what you already have. To be frankly honest, this, seems like something from your perspective ( of course ), while you think one way, someone else is bound to see it differently.
When I left, from this community, yes, it was something I chose and yes, I planned on coming back and everything... But I also wanted to give back to said community, for all the things it has done for me.... While, at the same time, I left to give myself an emotional and mental break. I was practically addicted. It got to the point where I was doing the same old thing, day in and day out, not really changing my routine, seeing the same thing over and over...
But I chose, to leave, hoping that I can do things that I enjoy doing as well as seeing if my thoughts about the game or the community in general has changed. And it has..
Now, it's easy to pick out the negatives / bad things in something.. but it can be difficult trying to accept the good because you're already do keened and focused on the negatives.
Whether you wish to agree, or disagree, that's entirely up to you.
When I left, the community ( as anything else in life ) was kinda toxic. I won't lie there. There was fandoms galore ( even after the update ), people complaining about said update ( specifically the maps ) and practically nej one liked what you did. None. Even on the forums. You had a fair share of backstabbers, changes.. the works. But when I came back, I saw that the community , even the forums , has changed.
Now, you can say that I clearly overlooked something, but nej. I honestly felt that the community has gotten better in a way.
Sure you have your fair share of toxicity but that's if you want to put yourself through that entirely. People were starting to come around to the whole update, fandoms weren't as bad and the roleplays are actually pretty good. Granted, it depends on when and where you happen to be during that session you're on, but there are numerous Roleplayers still happening. Especially in the Tunnels. You just gotta look.
But yeah, I saw change and I saw how the activity picked up.. sure, it wasn't much but it was still something and better than nothing.
Wait a minute, do know a possible solution to get new members coming in but it's never going to happen. No offense to the administrators because there's a valid reason behind it, I know, but a game lingering around less than 300 people a day when it used to be 800 is a very significant drop. Opening the registration completely would open the doors for yes, multiple accounts of people, sadly, but possibly a swarm of new members which we desperately need at this point.
I agree, opening the doors to new players can be a nice pick up. Registration is surprisingly opened more than it used to be...
And while this idea is good and all, you gotta think about the outcome down the road..
The maps are relatively smaller than the originals ( At least that's what I heard ), and the reason why was so it can help players not lag as much... as well as it not being so empty at the same time.. Granted, there's a download I believe that has the old maps for players to try.. but at the same time.. All these people in all theses maps? It's not necessarily and instantly, going to be a good thing.
Not saying it can never happen because the server can only handle but so many people at once... Maybe when there's some more improvement, yeah. But you gotta remember, new faces can equal more and new problems and more and new issues to arise and people complaining about certain things than what's happening now.
It's like, the issues you feel like you're going through, might be amplified and it won't be just you that's affected by it, but a majority of players and it might get to the point where people just stop coming on because it might not be worth it anymore.. might not be the Feral - Heart that they remembered, etc.
Because I'm pretty sure people will get sick of me spamming about taking people's femurs. I shouldn't be the only one talking by the lake, and it shouldn't be the same thing every day by the main part of the Grounds. There's other maps, yes, but the only one where I know there are people is Ficho Tunnels and those are mostly ones of different languages. All the others maps are for roleplaying.
Again, perspectives and how you see it.
Who knows, it might not actually be the same thing everyday.. and you're not the only one that goes and hangs out by the lake as well.
And while you think spamming about stealing femurs may be annoying, it might be amusing to some other people. It might be something they look forward to when it comes to something random being said in the chat.
You don't know, y'know?
And hej, at least it isn't dead quiet, right?
Okay, but I did notice one thing that has changed in the months I left: there's been a significant drop in roleplayers. I used to linger around the lake and roleplay when I felt like it and others around me would too, whether directly or indirectly. There was always some roleplay every day, even if it was short. Most of the time it was with wolves and cats, respectively, and they'd just be writing to pass the time and hope to fish up some others to mingle with. I get that I've only been back for a few days, but I've only seen one roleplay-- at 6 AM.
I have to leave for school around that time so twenty minutes of gameplay I want to see is very short.
But my point is, nobody roleplays anymore. It's all morphed to groups but groups are a struggle for me. I can only handle a few people at once. Also, most group roleplays are wolf and warrior cat or pride roleplays which are things I'm not into anymore. That doesn't mean I don't like them because I loved watching them by the lake, but that's just not my style. But now, hardly anymore roleplays by the lake and usually scare them off because I keep grabbing capri sun and popcorn (gross combo) everytime somebody hints towards a roleplay. They usually run away lmao.
Again, really depends on the timezones.
Depending on the time of day and the day of the week you'll get a huge wave of roleplayers ... and other days you'll get none, and they don't even have to be in a group on top of that.
Sometimes they'll be scattered across the map because any map can be a roleplay spot whether it was 'designed' that way or not.
And since you're only on for about 2O minutes, 6AM, that can be late in the night for other people. Lol.
Basically, it's hard to find enjoyable aspect now. It's not anyone's fault. Time changes things, yes, but man-- can't help but ask why. I had left for a few months before the update occured, and game back when it was set in place. I don't know what the community was like when it was nearing that, but I do know it was starting to shrivel though there was still diversity in conversation and open roleplays galore. I don't know if some people couldn't figure out how to install the update or just grew up and got bored of the game. Either or, the community I used to know crashed. There's a few left but they're hard to find and overshadowed by the same people screaming the same thing about the same fandoms over and over.
I have my reasons for being so salty.
What you came back to all depends on how you viewed it as.
You asked why? But that's like saying, 'Why does it have to change?'
Whether it be good or bad, time keeps going and waits for nej one. As we get older we tend to mature in our own way, good or bad.
We have different outlooks and we truly can't help that.
Whether you outlook is a good or bad one, you're the one that's judging it all ( Not saying this in a negative manner ).
But again, whatever happens from here on out, I wish you the greatest luck regardless.
If you feel like you're doing too much or trying to fool yourself into thinking something is there, then it's not worth it if it's making you more and more miserable.
Sometimes it takes years to be able to view a point or move away from something. You coming back, hoping to see change ( whether it be in your face or not ), may not be all that worth it if it's truly going to make ya feel sour inside.
Sorry if I'm rambling a bit. Heh, But everyone is different and at least you got to say what you needed to. Nice to also see people extending their paws and reaching out to you and sharing their stories.
Oh and for the whole fandom thing, can you really blame someone for talking about something they enjoy? It may seem like a nuisance to you, but to someone else, it's a convo starter and it can be good just finding someone else to express their love to. Yeah, it can be annoying when it's everywhere in local, but they can't help that they're enjoying themselves. We can't all be satisfied.
