Then read here! (A good summary at the bottom, in bold, for those who don’t like the three rather long/verbose listings.)
As there have been a lot of “This game sucks”-messages on the chat, I feel compelled to use this opportunity to clarify a few things:
For every disappointment, for everything that doesn’t quite strike your fancy, there is a reason. Following up are the reasons why you may think this game sucks:
A) You came without expectations as you never have played a game matching the description even closely, and just thought “Give it a shot.” only to find out that it doesn’t quite suit you.
B) You expected something – but something different. As for example a full-fledged role-playing system with intriguing character design, with a character screen boasting 10 different equipment fields for torso armor, helmet, leg armor, boots, gloves, weapons and whatnot and 10.000 different pieces from normal to super-epic-ultra-cool for each of them.
C) You expected a game like this, or it didn’t matter, but you imagined a standard fantasy humans and elves and orks setting with Mages throwing fireballs, monks healing etc.
D) You expected something you think of as “better” – 3D graphics with bloom effects, optional gore, ragdoll physics, real-time combat with 255 other players at the same time in photo-realistic environments as it says in the… wait, it doesn’t say anything about this in the game description!
E) Expectations and tastes aside, you simply started the game and are stuck. You don’t know what to do, you encounter errors or situations you can’t solve, and you feel left alone.
Now, my answers to each of these concerns:
A) I congratulate you! Staying open-minded and trying stuff you don’t know is a great trait. Of course, it’s sad that the game doesn’t quite suit you, but thanks for trying it. Hope you find something more your way soon.
B) There are role-playing games and there are tactical games. This game has a heavy emphasis on tactics, so it plays more like a turn-based tactics game (like UFO Enemy Unknown, Silent Storm, or maybe Battle For Wesnoth) and of course, some “role-playing” elements that are within the game are somewhat simplified, in order not to interfere negatively with what this game is really about: Tactical Combat. (Actually, there isn’t even a mention of what amount of “role-playing” is possible in the game features list, that could give a hint.)
C) Sorry. But this game is and will always be a little bit different. Not just because it can, but because it is good that way. There is too much standardized fantasy out there already, anyways.
D) Again, sorry, but this game is made by a single programmer as a hobby, he doesn’t earn anything with it, but pays the server costs to run it. His developer team is made up of other hobby-participants who do have real-lifes to live as well, as they, too, don’t get paid. The game is in constant development, and many things may improve over time, but for now, you’ll have to be satisified with what a handful of writers and graphics people can do in their spare time. Plus, noone said that anything like this was in the game (or will ever be).
E) Well, that’s not good, but maybe you can get help simply by asking or requesting it. People are usually nice, and although it may take a while until you get an answer, solutions usually come. And after all, this isn’t a 24/7-activity game. It’s a game for your break. Killing time.
And there are a lot of different ways to cope with your disappointment:
1. Not saying anything, and simply quitting.
This solution is good if the game is simply not your taste, didn’t fulfill your expectations in the right way or didn’t strike your fancy.
2. Requesting help/Asking questions.
This solution is good if you’re stuck somewhere, or don’t quite get a design decision. Maybe some of the dev team will helpfully tell you why this or that feature is (not) in the game, and why certain things have been designed the way they are.
3. Making a forum topic and suggesting improvements or changes.
This solution is good if you think the game might be interesting, but falls short in one way or another. Remember, always keep it constructive, and you’re much more likely taken seriously. Still, you’ll have to accept a “No.” by the management, if a design suggestion you have made doesn’t quite fit into the game.
*Remember: This game will never be that other game you play or have played, so if you like the other game so much more, you should just stick to playing it instead. If some features of aethora appealed to you, you can still suggest them within the other game and hope they will be realized.
Also, telling that this game sucks and/or other game xyz is simply better (without giving reasons) and then quitting helps noone. You just look like a jerk, we still don’t know what you didn’t like and why, and there has been no improvement for anybody.
So remember: If you are stuck, or have a question, or don’t quite understand something, ask a question or make a suggestion. If you simply don’t like the game, or think another game is much better, you may be better off simply to quit without notice. If you have a good reason (or think you have) not to like the game, you can of course post it, and quit or stay, as you like.
But, at the end of the day, simply saying “This game sucks, goodbye” has never helped anyone. Including you.*
