As my tinkerer, thespian, sailor, spy Manecomb Thriftwood likes to say...
"There's a better world in all of us, we have butts to realise it."
Which is either a veiled threat of a smacked bottom or a timeless wisdom depending on how observant one is or, indeed, is not.
Anyone old enough to remember Ultima Online may remember how their gathering system engendered interesting conversations. With no one having to fight -- tooth and nail -- for the what-have-yous needed for their crafted gubbins, they'd congenially converse in a manner most merry that I wistfully miss.
I'm no extravert, mind you. Oh no, I'm an introverted hermit. I did enjoy crafting banter, though. I'd see all sorts of topics pop up, ranging from the mirthlessly mediocre mundanities of smalltalk to the erudition of the sciences and the romance of the arts. Lovely stuff. Lovely stuff.
Well, the latter, anyway, for me. Not so much for the former. Whatever floats one's boat or other means of conveyance.
It's fun to just listen, most of the time.
And I did. I did just that.
Not quite what I do here, mind you. I often find myself running for the hills to avoid the more cutthroat nature of resource harvesting, I hide away in my own little spot hoping no players turn up. Otherwise I'd just skitter off again to avoid the hostilities. I'm not a fan of player vs. player compeition, if I were I'm sure I'd be gallivating around and tilting at windmills in the beautious lands of Cyrodiil. I am most certainly not doing that, of course. Nor would I likely ever. Nothing against those that do, as it can take a non-trivial degree of skill and effort, which isn't the issue so much as heart-stopping anxiety.
I have generalised anxiety disorder. I have it bad. It's not pleasant. I wouldn't wish it on you. You wouldn't like it very much. You'd probably find it crippling. Still, not exactly a curable thing without destroying my identity through more extreme medications which, perhaps understandably, is an entirely unacceptable course of action.
I'd like to be able to gather nodes without anxiety. I'm wondering though how many just live for the thrill of having to fight over resources. Can it really be a lot of you? I wonder... I really do. That's why I'm asking! I think it's a very, very, very fine line of inquiry.
So let's ask you!
Are you tired of having to fight for nodes?
[Poll] Player-Instanced Nodes 88 votes
Yes -- I'm Really Rather Tired of it, Myself.
No -- I Live for the Fight for Resources! Rar!
Other -- I Like Banana-Flavoured MacGuffins of Immensity.