Originally Posted by Radek Wilkes (Grd)

Exactly, that was my point.

They left blaming others.. if they can't be arsed to start/no longer try and aid the RP community, then they have no right to say that any of us that are left are unreasonable.

Originally Posted by Devlin

I think one of the fundamental problems with the roleplay community is one that has always been present - but is more debilitating in the present situation.

The problem is this: that from the second anyone gains power, they are immediately sliding down an unavoidable slope. As time goes on their enthusiasm inevitably drains, however gradually, and they become, however much they try to ward it off with futile willpower, the archetypal bitter GM.

I know, because it's exactly what happened to me.

For the first part of my UO career (an odd career that drains the coffers instead of swelling them) I was wracked with unrestrained enthusiasm, and was desperate to make a name for myself by making stunningly crafted scenarios, etc. I meant well but I was hot-headed and cringingly annoying (hello Borbarad/Raul/Henry Winter) - but I do think I did some interesting things. I was motivated primarily by a desire to please those above me (though this might have been more to do with my young age).

The desire to please and amaze has always been central to the creation of new scenarios/events in UO. The issue arises when fresh-faced, enthusiastic little people are given the position of AGM or worse, GM. It is at this point that the nauseatingly demotivating truth outs itself: the people at the top are equals, and there is now nobody left to impress. What's more, the people surrounding you at the top are in various stages of embitterment due to grievances and the constant pressures of entertaining their respective guilds.

As soon as you are expected to please there is no longer so much fun in doing so. The organization of a spectacular event will not be met with praise and promotion, but often indifference, or even worse, complaints. Even if people are grateful to their GM they may not show it obviously - there is, I think, in all of us a subconscious tendency to take for granted the ones that run the show. This is not a defence for weary GMs, but an attempt at explanation for why so many have lost the enthusiasm to support new ideas - and instead nay-say them.

In my early days I could never understand why the older players talked down every idea - I was very vocal that I would never end up like that. But I did! And I realized finally how easy it is to dismiss the enthusiastic as naive. They're not. They just haven't been corrupted by an unblinkered view of the community and its problems - and they're still filled with an idealistic optimism that is not, as many would say, unrealistic. All too often on the forums, much-touted 'realism' is just cynicism in drag.

And that is, in a roundabout way, what I see as the most fundamental problem: the ones with the power to make change are the ones (through no fault of their own besides accepting power) least inclined to do it.

In my mind, the only way to solve such an issue is for GMs to stop taking the natural course of action when confronted with an enthusiastic guildmember. Do not tell them "Here's the ICQ of Grd's GM, sort it out with them please" or "You seem enthusiastic, would you like to be AGM?". To do either is to set them on an unavoidable slope that leads ultimately to the draining of their energy.

Don't let the aspiring young ones see the top. The moment they realize that at the summit (epitomized by the GM and Command boards) is only a barren slope downwards, is the moment that they will lose their lust for activism.

And for the community to find new life (through centralization, or a less radical re-structuring of guild relations) it is that lust for activism that must be maintained and nurtured in those who have it: not beaten down by those marred by depressing experience.

Originally Posted by Kaelyn

Am I the only one that never wanted to get promoted?

Originally Posted by Tabbitha

Who said anyone left 'blaming others' ...and what gives you the right to state that was the reason .

As for the rest of your comments,they are solely your opinions.

Have you spoken to any of those people and based your opinion on facts?

Originally Posted by Vierna

One of the things that keeps recurring in threads such as these is lack of variety. Kaelyn has raised this point a few times and she’s spot on. We have “city” guilds and one or two “specialist” guilds like mine and that’s it. Perhaps we could look at maybe for example “crafter” guilds. By that I mean guilds dedicated to crafting not “heroes” disguised as cooks or tailors. They could be independent of any “politics” etc and perhaps rather than purchase from NPC’s, we should purchase from them. Okay, granted it has its limitations but at least it’s away from the norm.

Originally Posted by Kaelyn

It does not help to have a game where crafters are mostly useless and guilds that rely 90% on pvp to transport story and conflict.

Where when not some pvp is going on it is boring.

Originally Posted by Vierna

One of the things that keeps recurring in threads such as these is lack of variety. Kaelyn has raised this point a few times and she’s spot on. We have “city” guilds and one or two “specialist” guilds like mine and that’s it. Perhaps we could look at maybe for example “crafter” guilds. By that I mean guilds dedicated to crafting not “heroes” disguised as cooks or tailors. They could be independent of any “politics” etc and perhaps rather than purchase from NPC’s, we should purchase from them. Okay, granted it has its limitations but at least it’s away from the norm.

Originally Posted by Hedlyn

The problem is just a lack of people interested in playing these characters.