Ok ok ok ok ok..... I hate posts like this, but I'm putting my $.35 in here. And in black and white, so as to not disturb your precious eyeballs (you're welcome).
I'm one of those older players.... joined UL in '98 or '97...can't remember, hell, it was too long ago. UL was the FIRST computer-based game I ever played. It wasn't the last. So why am I not playing my WoW toon or some other intensely more developed game? Why, oh WHY did I get resurrected???? I'll tell you.
Roleplay. Plain and simple. UL was such a hit when it came out, because it offered something no other game did. That... is still true. Outdated? Yes. Needs upgrading? Of course. But the facts are the facts.
So let's think on a few things for a moment, shall we? And yes, I have my condescending hat on.
How many minutes...hours have you spent on this post... whining and complaining? You want things done. So do I. So do we all. But there comes a time to step back and look at what you're saying. You want X, Y, and Z different. Ok, so do I. Now what? You want a bunch of volunteers to spend MORE of their FREE time making YOU happy, so YOU can spend 1 hour a week in game? Really? Seriously???? Go volunteer at a food bank.
There are some (I'd guess about a dozen that I've read so far) WONDERFUL roleplays in your whinings. If you want the teaching system changed.... get your sweet, round buttocks in the game and CHANGE it!
Want to build a 8'ft tall statue of Zaxun to play 'Pin the Tail on the Bad Guy' with? DREAM and go build it! You don't like the way the houses are set up???? Get in there and build a house of ill repute or whatever your little heart desires! Wait... a Casino? Hmmmm... interesting idea....
I can remember (barely) a couple of decades ago, when people used to stand around in threshold (in mass numbers) and WHINE about what all we COULDN'T do in UL. Well, guess what? WE CAN NOW!
@Dina - Love you too *throat punches Dina* I truly love interacting with your character and miss that joy!
Let me just address the PC thing...without giving away too much. When I got back, there was an abundance of goodie-two shoe crap going on. I nearly broke my promise and left UL because of it. But... I don't break promises, and opened KoES. In other words, I saw what UL didn't have and did my flat-level best to bring something new to the game. Did it work? Did population levels rise and evil flourish? Of course it did. Am I a GM? Nope... I told them what to do with their NDA and I meant it.
The PC is an experiment in what can happen when people are tired of the norm and want to do something themselves to change it. Yea, it's daring and it prolly wasn't meant to be as successful as it turned out. Please, my fellow addicts, use this as a template. The small group trying to rebuild the EA are to be highly commended and we should encourage them all we can.
When we were all playing before, we (most of us) were teenagers and early 20's. We played after school or when college classes were out. Ok, welcome to the 21st century. People grew up, propagated & made lil dreamers (Pheasant, buy a cage). How did the roleplays work then? Remember? Some old fart dreamer would put up a lengthy post (journal) about how they were going to do this and that. Others read these posts. People got curious and entered the DreamState.
So while you're wiping noses and changing driddies, think. Coraal told me the other day that while he's away from the game, he's thinking on ideas. Exactly how much time do you people waste watching stupid cat videos and asking eachother "Sup?" on your phones?
So, as the good Catholic girl I am.... (and yes, I'm really Catholic), I issue you all a challenge.
We are in the season of Lent. For you pagans who don't know what Lent is, it's a time (40 days and 40 nights) that we try to give up something for a reason. You don't have to believe to try this out. For the next month, give up some time on your smart phones, ride a bus to work or do something YOURSELF to give yourself 30 minutes per day to think about SOLUTIONS to the very good problems you have listed above. And don't tell me you can't write either. You've already burnt that bridge by posting here.
Tired of doing the same crap in UL over and over????? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. If all you do is make an rp post, and then dream once a week... I bet if the idea has ANY rp value, people will make THAT the hour they dream. Gosh, if 10 people did that.... that's 10 different hours of interesting stuff going on.
Don't wanna dream at 11pm local time? Ok, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Create a roleplay that YOU want to do, send out plenty of notice (be it post, Notice, etc). Daily life is boring. Granted. That's why I raised my kids and retired. Sure, I have lots more time to dream than you do, but it's the IDEAS that is the draw with this game. Where else can you think up some crazy idea and actually have the medium to at least explore the idea with a group of highly creative people?
Oh wait. You tried that ONCE and it didn't work? What? Are you three years old? Of course not. First attempts at ANYTHING rarely succeed, ask any fledging bird, or newborn mammal.
So why am I playing UL still? I will be totally honest with you. I am trying to keep my brain as active as I can in order to prevent dementia.
You think I'm joking... I'm not. This is a game for the brain. If you just want something to shoot at, there's PLENTY of those. But truly, think about this for a moment. How many games are out there (damn, I miss Riven/Myst) actually require you to THINK? THAT is the lure of Underlight and why this game can and must live on.
To the GM's: Love you guys... thank you for all your hard work. *I* won't let you down!
To Tary: What language are you coding in? I'm a programmer. Can I help?
The men and women that built and keep this game going for so very long did it to serve US. It's about damn time we turn the tables. It is time, my fellow addicted roleplayers, that we return the favor and do for them! I was away from this game for 14 years. It was a sad, miserable time to wake up in the middle of the night with some wonderful idea, and realize I had NO way to see it lived out inside a State of Dreams. I'll be DAMNED if I allow this place to succumb to the ravages of blood-splattered screens and fancy graphics!
I love you all and I am honored to be in this small, but highly creative group of people.
~Lacie~