Elixirs - The Controversy

[dudetus]

Most threads regarding to Elite cap have turned into a debate between "purists" and "elixes" to determine which way to play is the right way to play this game. Fusionstrike summed up the situation quite well:

People keep bemoaning the 4 day cap thing and suggesting ways to "fix" the problem. But the problem is actually that there is no problem. There is only a difference of philosophy. And this is not something that can be fixed. It's like proposing that all of humanity get together to agree on the "right" religion to believe in.

Camp 1: gameplay purists
This group believes the game should encourage and reward skill exclusively. Anything that makes a player better/faster/stronger other than pure repetition and practice destroys the game. You can recognize them because they say things like "that's not an achievement" and "it used to be better before x was added and ruined everything". They are also typically outraged about new powerful items added to the game that are obtained in any way other than how they got their uber-gear because they represent an unacceptable shortcut.

Camp 2: you get what you pay for
This group sees nothing wrong with players paying real money to simplify the game. They feel that someone has to pay for the game to exist, and it might as well be those who can afford it so others can still play for free. You can recognize them because they say things like "they can play how they want, it doesn't hurt you" and "nobody's forcing you to play that way". They point out that most of the game is free, and for it to stay that way someone has to fund it. They grant that those with the means to buy content will have some kind of advantage in items/time to goal but are ok with that. They accept that not all content will be free and that some content/event you may want will cost you.

Each side has people who believe passionately that their view is the right one and misses no opportunity to bring it up. The rest fall somewhere on the continuum between the two camps and can't believe how much energy the hold-outs invest in arguing their point of view.

This is how it's always been and ever will be, lo until the end of time.

It is IMHO amazing how this same game loving people are so in war by such a small thing.

Elixirs are a matter of perspective. Some want to use elixirs to fasten up the lvling and to get the nice loot easy. Some want to play the game without elixirs to get the full game experience.

The Elite Egg reward for capping in 4 days was the straw that broke the camel's back. There have been debates since the Nuri cap but the debates have turned into rage wars between usually 2 sides, the purists and the elixes. Both sides have been certain about their way to play the game, disregarding the other side's arguments. The elixes and purists I am going to describe are stereotypes. There are several variations of both sides, but the most flat-out and stereotype characters are described below.


The points that the elixes are missing are usually the game experience. They rush to the new cap asap and farm the new sets asap to earn themselves money and the new gear. Elixir parties are a mayhem. All just kill blindly by the insane damage bonuses the elixirs give. Teamplay experience is completely missing at most times. It's all about the exp, or the loot. Usually the storyline is disregarded and the only thing that matters are the exp and the loot.

And the points that the purists fail to recognize are that the elixes fund this game. STS is a business. They give us content to get themselves money. It's not a charity work. Elixes are required for this game to keep it running.


It's pointless to argue with this matter. Both sides have good arguments. Elixirs ruin the actual game by the lack of actual teamplay and lack of personal skill. This can be seen best as "Scatterbears" at high levels in increasing numbers. Not to mention missing the storyline. But on the other hand, elixes fund this game so others can play this game for free. There could still be the plat purchasable maps which used to be. Elixirs offer us all an option. We can use them to make us stronger, faster, get exp easier, yada yada. Or we can play this game for free, enjoying the game experience in it's fullest, learning to play as a team effectively and gaining personal skill.


But in the end, GAMES ARE ALL ABOUT FUN. We play Pocket Legends because we want to have a good time. Some view fun as exploring and questing the game with no worries of tomorrow and lvling comes by as it comes. Some want to get all the possible equipment, cap asap and to be gazillionaires. It's nothing wrong with having fun the way a person wants. But both sides should respect other's way to play this game as it is only a matter of personal preferences how u want to play this game. STS has allowed us to play for free, or we can play in a "hardcore" way. It's amazing how STS has allowed us to choose by looking at other MMOs. We are all fortunate to choose the way we want to play.

So, have fun at this game the way u want and let's not worry about as insignificant things as elixirs, shall we?