Bitttymacod
Jahuu -- what happened 6 years ago was the server merger. As part of that merger all the material locations were moved so that those players who wished to keep their experience and skills wouldn't have a "big advantage" over those who chose to start anew.
As might have been predicted, that didn't work, and in Prime Roots it REALLY didn't work, since zones ended up right on top of each other and the prospecting and tracking operations failed/gave conflicting results. The Prime Roots mats were put back to status quo ante, but the basic stuff that used to be available in the near vicinity of the towns was reduced to one mat only (amber), and several reasonably safe locations for early stages of digging and crafting (i.e. materials for a whole pair of pants were available near to each other) went away.
Hmm, as I never experienced these times, I cant really say much to that. I had found mektoub waterhole in jungle by myself and it was huge adventure. It took week atleast to get to know the place and to realize there is 10 different type of mats and knowing not to dig sap where Raguses roam and what of these mats goes to armor and what to pistol bullets. Knowing to face pond to get oil and Hoï-Cho to get sap (and the joy of learning mat spec on prospect). Made me see forager as someone who survives in the wild with just pickaxe in hand. I'm glad that there were no easy mats near capital. Then, I ended up talking to other forager who showed me spots in q200 zone next to the capital, it was huge deal. Sure there was Fylish roaming, but after few deaths one learns to avoid it. Gotta find your place in the Atys as forager. You and wilderness, and never knowing when kitins might come...
Now people keep talking about the Prime Roots, so Jahuu goes in and learns soon (after few DP's..) to watch out for Voraxes and Tyrancha, runs fast and far when bunch of kirostas seem to attack from far. Learns safer places to dig, and to avoid certain spots if they are full of aggro in this season. Next season it might be easy digging, just like how mektoub waterhole taught. "Oh, a supreme pop", mark down weather, season and time of day and trying when it will pop again. Cleared the spot few times and ended up clearing some other spots now and then, not too much, just once in a while and mostly just dumping stuff into GH for our crafters. Getting craft levels higher and boosting stuff since everybody else were boosting too.. Ended up having NPC HA, boosting staff and shield, getting the "is this it?" moment running almost invulnerable to anywhere. The going exile and giving all away but dig gear was very refreshing, trying still to stay far from supremes and that feeling.
Back to the topic, some challenge IN THE END GAME would be fun. Supremes are way too easy to get and hitting the roof _alone_ is nasty imo. Maybe if it would need more people to really get supremes, like with the Sinvaders' idea of less stabile sup spots or whatever. End game is way too single player game now (again imo), I atleast want to rely on other players more.
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