I did read the posts, as should be obvious - and it actually is obvious.
As was mentioned before, everybody was able to participate in the termite thing. You had to invest, of course - plenty of time and the will to get heavily involved into RP. For it is, indeed, a sandbox game, and RP is an important part of it. If you want to get involved, you can be involved. As it is, nothing comes without a price. If you want to become a Ranger, you have to invest. If you want to be an Akenak, you have to invest, and so on. It's more or less easy to become a Karavaneer or a Kami or a Tryker, Fyros, Zorai or Matis, but everything "above" quest running needs more effort. The Rangers - and, by Jove, I'm not one necessarily favouring them - put a lot of work and effort into the termite studies, which were, surprise, part of the Ranger education, not a "mini game" (as it seems the termite mounds were understand as such). Everybody, of course, was allowed to drop his/her loyalties and join the Rangers ... and get involved in RP, as the "mini game" was part of that. If there were plenty of favours towards someone/something recently, it was to the Ranger's fraction, not to "special people", but I guess that is what you get when you try to introduce a new fraction - you want to get them in with a bang (and, after all, it was "only" the Matis who were shot down in the process. I still carry the scars.).
As for logging in at MegaCorp - probably everybody was able to do so? I did neither search for the site, nor tried to get on. Did you, or are you just banging a drum because it didn't cross your mind? From what I heard, MegaCorp was mentioned in the Ryzom "bible", so those players who have actually read it - and there seem to be plenty - have obviously researched for it, and I think there even were links posted somewhere on the Ryzom forums for those who have no idea what's all about. That people could log in pretty early was unfortunate, though. But from what I see, everybody could have been that "lucky".
As was mentioned before, everybody was able to participate in the termite thing. You had to invest, of course - plenty of time and the will to get heavily involved into RP. For it is, indeed, a sandbox game, and RP is an important part of it. If you want to get involved, you can be involved. As it is, nothing comes without a price. If you want to become a Ranger, you have to invest. If you want to be an Akenak, you have to invest, and so on. It's more or less easy to become a Karavaneer or a Kami or a Tryker, Fyros, Zorai or Matis, but everything "above" quest running needs more effort. The Rangers - and, by Jove, I'm not one necessarily favouring them - put a lot of work and effort into the termite studies, which were, surprise, part of the Ranger education, not a "mini game" (as it seems the termite mounds were understand as such). Everybody, of course, was allowed to drop his/her loyalties and join the Rangers ... and get involved in RP, as the "mini game" was part of that. If there were plenty of favours towards someone/something recently, it was to the Ranger's fraction, not to "special people", but I guess that is what you get when you try to introduce a new fraction - you want to get them in with a bang (and, after all, it was "only" the Matis who were shot down in the process. I still carry the scars.).
As for logging in at MegaCorp - probably everybody was able to do so? I did neither search for the site, nor tried to get on. Did you, or are you just banging a drum because it didn't cross your mind? From what I heard, MegaCorp was mentioned in the Ryzom "bible", so those players who have actually read it - and there seem to be plenty - have obviously researched for it, and I think there even were links posted somewhere on the Ryzom forums for those who have no idea what's all about. That people could log in pretty early was unfortunate, though. But from what I see, everybody could have been that "lucky".
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Salazar CaradiniFilira Matia
Royal Historian
Member of the Royal Academy of Yrkanis
First Seraph of the Order of the Argo Navis