Before this wipe I could recall only a handful of times I ever had to use it.
Now, though I'm constant using it to sort out how much time I need to spend doing something else until I can 'learn' more in Salem. Is this really what you were after Jorb? A game mechanic that send folks away from the game?
That's essentially what it's become... at least before you know everything.
The mechanic has a place- it's proportional to the purity of the item. I think it fits in well down the road; but you need to push the 'initial or start up' pool to 1M (that's 1,000,000)... and then drop it to whatever based on BB and such.
It's far too soon for any introductory toon- to be pushing them to do something else, play something else... waiting for the pool to regen.
Sure I can wander around in the mean time- and it's one of my favorite past times; but wandering around with the ability to test materials. I'm just trying to get to prospecting... quarrying will be next week sometime... but then I have work and other pursuits that take precedence.
How many new problems have you created for yourself- hard core folks are mostly alt-o-holics to begin with; but you've created a game than mandates alts for everyone if they want to succeed. Pushing tasks, goals along one learning path or another. It's your server... your dime filling to with storage to handle the extra. Even from a business overhead point of view- this mechanic is broken and will end up costing you more down the road.
It is what it is. Bummer.
Sucks to be the rest of you.
I'm just waiting for TESO to go live.
