Rezulm wrote:This thread is interesting, but also keeps me from playing the game more. Just seeing how people condone the actions of one guy to the detriment of an entire community...
People either give in and change their view... causing more of the same negative gameplay. Or they rail against it but really do nothing... just avoid it or move somewhere else. Or they quit and move on. The only players that have a chance are the foreign players who speak a different language because they have a built in "encryption" to their communications. They know who their friends are...they can gather and plot without fear of much infilteration.
I haven't really gotten into it because I don't know how to go about getting in with a group that isn't a bunch of griefing control freaks.
if they accept me, they're too trusting.
Why are the most obsessive and active players so negative? Where did this attitude come from and how did it become the norm?
Welcome to Salem! You're not quite posting in the right place, but to recap, this is a perma-death sandbox crafting MMO. Sandbox means there are very few rules. Currently one server's (Plymouth, fyi) largest faction demands payment in return for protection. This particular thread is devoted to killing individuals who will not pay said payment. A crafting MMO makes it a multifaceted, driven experience requiring time and care in planning both your character and your homestead. Things you build in the world stick around until you, or someone else, destroys them. Perma-death means it's hardcore.
Now, you bring up many valid questions that raise the philosophical debate of why the strong crave power, or rather the power hungry crave strength, but in the end it all points to control. This particular faction wants it and as this community is spread up amongst three servers and there is no (publicly known) competing faction that can stop the Tribe, it achieves that control with ease. Your assumption regarding players who are "foreign" is incorrect in that all players are the same, or rather, all players are given the same opportunities. Those who invest more time in the game tend to prosper more than the casual players, but recent defense updates have made it possible for casual players (hermits) to shack up and survive. You could also join/create a town which exponentially increases your odds for both advancement and survival.
You also shouldn't assume that just because no one has done anything about the Chief or the Tribe means the community condones the behavior. This is a large group built of people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and play styles. Many voice their opinions against the Chief even more often than for him. However, at present, he and his organization have not suffered much of a defeat. But this is where intent and action differ. If I want to end the Chief, I have to not only have a large group, but also a comprehensive knowledge of the combat system, organization, and coordination. Even then, given that the Chief has fallen before, this is a free-to-play system with free alt making, not unlike other MMOs. The Chief, presumably, has created several alts and built them up so that if one falls, another can take its place.
If you understand that, then you understand that it's easier, and safer, for any kind of resistance to build up their own force before even considering taking on the Chief. My suggestion would be to hermit yourself out in the wilderness, trading in Boston. If you want to play the Chief's game, go to Plymouth. If not, take your chances on the other servers. Either way, at its core, it's a sandbox, and there are inherent no rules of play set by the developers. If you don't like the rules established by the big kids, this sandbox, or perhaps this style of game in general, may not be the one you're looking for.
Edit: spelling
