People are starting to hate me for my references to before 0.5 came out. "Jeez, Avathius. Stop complaining about how the game wasn't nearly as laggy, contained half the bugs, and we all actually looked forward to the next update instead of shaking our heads and wondering 'what new fails will we face this time?'"
So, by popular request (just kidding) I have decided that this will be my last complaint post against Planeshift. I want to say I'm sorry for raging against you guys. I am currently working with a game in development, and I realize how hard it is. I do, however, think that this project needs to start over. Yes, start over. The world, races, and graphics are good, but I find the gameplay to be what is lacking. Start over with the gameplay. The "stances" idea is cool and unique, but it doesn't matter if the game's combat only relies on what stats you have. Yes, stats should matter a bit. But when the stats are raised really high, and it's very hard to max them, people get frustrated. Yes, this isn't easy, like WoW. But that's exactly what I mean! In WoW, the learning curve is remarkably easy. It's so simple to learn how to play WoW. With Planeshift, it's hard. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. If you make it difficult to learn, then the players who have been playing a while will have an advantage over the new players. Thus, skill-based gameplay would be a good thing. The same goes for your game. Once again, stats should matter. But skill should matter more.
That's it with PvP: it's more fun if everything revolves around the skill of a player. Running, jumping around, changing to defensive and aggressive, casting spells at the same time. That's fun. What's not fun is when you max your stats and somebody is able to kill you easily simply because their axe level cap is higher than your sword level cap. You get what I'm saying?
Now thieving. I would really like to see crime in this game. My "j" key lets me sneak: how about you guys put that to good use? I would like it where, if my factions make me in bad relations with Hydlaa, I would have to GRAPPLE-HOOK my way up the wall, SNEAK past guards, and LEAP across rooftops to meet with a rival guild leader and discuss peace terms (actually, been there, done that... but I did the roof-jumping just for roleplay purposes, and for fun, not because I had to to avoid being pwned by the guards). I want to SNEAK past Dark Rogues to access some secret hidden chest wherein lies a dagger which I need to use in order to ASSASSINATE Levrus, so he goes to the Death Realm for a short time which allows my fellow gang members to SNEAK into Hydlaa while the guards are preoccupied with investigating his murder so that they can INVADE Jayose's library, give him an ALL-EXPENSE-PAID trip to the DR, too, and STEAL some of his books, which they then use to BRIBE the Hydlaa government in order that they will release a fellow gang member from custody. Then, UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS we will STEAL AWAY under the COVER OF NIGHT in order to get back to our SECRET BASE while AVOIDING the WATCHFUL EYES of the Hydlaa guards who discovered our hideout SO THAT WE CAN ASSASSINATE THEM, TOO, SO THAT WE HAVE A FEW LESS OF THOSE PESKY GUARDS TO DEAL WITH.
Does that say it clearly enough?