First of all, allow me to explain that Planeshift is not by any means my fir MMO. In fatc I have surely been playing computer games longer than most who now play have been alive.
That said:
Not everyone likes the same thing in games. That is why in a MMO you deversify allot. Fighting, questing, crafting, etc.
This is the first MMO that I have been in contact where so much opportunity for creation and story telling exitst. Don't like the backstory so far? get involved with the developers and help move it in a better direction. That is a very GOOD thing.
On the other side of the coin, we have the absolute worst elitest attitude in any game, ever. And that is a very BAD thing.
Want to start a quest but don't have a clue? Too bad. You will never even get started unless someone helps you, and noone will. Its just not done here. Only those who wrote and implemented the puzzles (and their friends) are able to solve them.
It is possible, and quite likely, that a player can wander the world for literally months, apeaking to every NPC and never devine a clue as to how a certain quest is started, let alone finished.
Some folks find this attractive because so few are able to penetrate the real mysteries of the game. Very few players ever recieve the 'rewards' that can be had. Although that is how it should be, it should be a result of skill, advancement, guild, etc. and not simply hoarded knowledge. Its dissapointing.
Lots of examples exist besides the energy glyph. Here is another one.
Can fire be trained beyond 20? Good luck. Only another 'knowledable' player can help you. It cannot be determined by brute force, determination, or in game semantics. It is simply a 'secret' that is not shared. Again, dissapointing.
That should be enough to illustrate the point.
Sour grapes? Sure. I don't want to be an elitest in order to continue to advance in game. I have maxed swords, all physical stats (as far as can be determined in game) and fire to 20. Now days game play for me is standing around the common areas trying to catch an interestinf dialog.
