What DamageFactor and GeldMacher said.... As to having limited time and spending it staring at a Golem.. I trained only the one skill that way... but at the same time, I do know why we do it. As DamageFactor and GeldMacher said, unless you have at least a GM in the skills to fight, you are going to be struggling to stay alive and in my book, that's not really a lot of fun. No one wants to spend most of their hour or two just getting rezzed and picking up belongings!


Unless you have some trusted and good friends to go with who can watch your Butt for you, it is really important to get that GM status in a few skills. I was fortunate in finding a couple really nice people back when I was training up my Mage and Swordswoman. They guided me and helped me stay alive while I got to where I could handle myself and even be a benefit to the party.

Yet again, I am forced to wonder, what's the deal... it isn't a requirement to spar with Golems... how is it hurting those who don't do it? The only thing it really does, besides add to lag around Luna and noise there, is help players gain their fighting skills with a little less pain. It seems to me there is an attitude of "I worked for mine the hard way, so you have to do it my way too." Maybe it wasn't an intended use of Golems... and I may be very dense, but it just doesn't seem that big a deal to me.

What it hurts, is the game. I realize that is an odd thing to say but we must all come to understand one thing: golems were never intended to function in this manner. And yes, while it does tend to annoy a few people who worked their skills "the hard way" or "the right way" or however you wish to call it, I think we can all agree that this is not the way that skills are supposed to work.

But don't get me wrong. I don't blame people who spar with golems, or 8x8, or even script their skills for that matter, because as the game is now, raising skills is mind-numbingly boring. It would be nice if people didn't need to use golems, but until the game is fixed in that respect, people will naturally opt to render the entire skill range of 0-99.9 completely pointless.

I don't blame people who attend golem whack. But the un atendeds need to go, and i do wish there were better methods of raising skills, i used to hunt earthies to raise skills, it was fun and you got gold and gems.

I am in agreement with Damagefactor on the content for lower skilled folks. I remember GMing swords as a newb hunting in despise, going from level to level, starting out at lizzies, then down to ettins, earthies, then down to trolls and ogres, then finally where I died a many a times at the Ogre Lord island.. It was all worth it though, I learned my skills through gameplay, earned gold and jewels to sell back, got one hell of a kick butt shield, that I use to this day 13/12(hci/dci) fc1 4,1,3,3,3 heater shield, and one of my prized possesioned rings 1/3 16lrc 4sdi, 4ph. Both those off OLs. I do believe in skillgain through gameplay.

Hmm - Maybe its just a philosophical matter of how some people like to play games..

If you think about it - some folks get a single player PC game and then run out and get the "GOD MODE" cheat codes to play. They like to Run around starting at level one with all the games powerups, Infinate health, and the BFG strapped to their backs. POW! Some would say that is boring play - others aaying its necessary wanting everything now with no risk or things progressing in a slow arc that bores them.

With MMOGs - well we all have to abide by the same rules. Maybe Golem bashing should stay - but like a few of you pointed out- throttle back the limits to which this can be taken. Maybe Max out the stat limit to that of an advanced character token template for fairness.

As others have said (and I too have also done), If you're going to GM a stat from an already high percentage - why not do it on monsters like the OrgeLords or Ettins or something. Not too terribly hard and it gets you out in world and probably you won't be as likely AFK while you do that.

CatHat

Ogre Lords + skill gain, for the win

Ive worked many a skills on those buggers....

Personally I was hoping for training dummies for the win.

I wants a Golem

I GMd my swords, tactics and parrying on Earthies... I know how to do it, LOL... That was three years ago and I managed to stay alive most of the while even. I haven't been out hunting earthies in a while, (I'm not partial to magic casting creatures) but I even helped clean up when someone's dragon went wild in Shame back then.

I have played some console games with the cheats on, I do not deny it. I have also killed probably 10 million 'sludgies' (our name for the little critters that exist in abundance at the lower skill range) in games such as Link and Zelda.. with no cheats... just to raise the character for my husband to do his part of the game.. leaping into.. I mean Over lava pits.. So I've been on both sides of the situation.

I have no problem with the Golem Bashing either way. It is just my observation that people play differently and have different goals. I won't miss it if it goes away, nor am I likely to use it again. I even gave my golem away after I GMd LJ with mine. You want to talk boredom... walking around chopping tree after tree and carrying the wood back and forth.. that's boredom. LOL. Much worse than mining! I even enjoy mining.

.... and for the record... Ettins are my 'foe of choice' ... they are my recreational hunt.