Amygdala

This.

For an invite to BMT of Champion, you may also wish to contact one of the mods: @Cobalt Azurean, @Cutlass, @Fanged Knight, @Force, @Starforce, etc.

Hope to see you in channel soon.

I agree with what you are saying. Absolutely, new players will need to be introduced somehow to the channels we use or the resources we enjoy as a server. But I think the reaction you are seeing isn't about vet players not wanting to help new players. Most of them help new players whenever possible. It probably has more to do with the fact that the OP didn't actually ask to know about the server, how to find a team, how to better connect with people, but instead jumped right to "the server is dead and we should merge the servers". Generally, comments along those lines are less likely to receive a favorable reaction, as it is a subject that many feel strongly about.

I actually do make use of the search function and invite a lot of people to teams that way. On PuGs I generally check globals to see if there are any I don't recognize. If I don't recognize them, I then check if they are in BMT. If not, I tell them about it, ask if they are interested and contact a mod. I've run across people who have played on the server for 5 years without knowing about global chats, or raids, or server events. In that sense, I can see how you might describe the server as being insular when looking at life outside BMT, CU and the forums.

However, despite the fact that I do try my best to connect with these types of people, it is impossible to track them all down. Sometimes people themselves have to take the first steps, which may include forming their own teams, sending a few tells to people in game asking about the server, or coming here and asking about how to get better connected. Not skipping straight to server merge doom.

On a positive note, when considering activity inside Champion's global chats, I view the server as a lot less insular and more connected than it was years ago. As others have said, it really has become like one large SG.

I don't have a Mind/Fire Dom, but my Mind/Psi Dom was able to easily solo the ITF without any temps (should have set it to masters, but didn't). For that run I relied mostly on Confuse. However, from experience I've been able to perma hold level 50 AVs with ease and defeat them using that method instead. When I tried it on a level 52 AV, it was possible, but a lot less reliable, especially if you miss that odd time. I do not have TK in my build, but I imagine it would help remedy that issue.

I don't speak for everyone when I say this, but I wouldn't assume that because someone doesn't like an idea for a particular event, they don't appreciate the time and effort you or anyone else has put into it. Like you said at the start of your post, some things just don't appeal to people. Force is a good example of someone who will never like a costume contest. The guy has the same toon with the same costume with variations on the same name.

You have asked for honest feedback and in many cases, received just that. I know it can be difficult not to feel insulted when people express a dislike for an idea you had, but realize it's not personal.

Just wanted to address the subtext here. I'm assuming you feel it's not easy to think of things to do because somewhere you feel you need to always be thinking of things to do. It doesn't have to be that way. People should run stuff when inspiration strikes them, not because they feel they have to. Just have fun with it. No one should feel pressured.

I made a brand new Kinetics/DP Defender, so you will have some company at the lower levels.

Perhaps this isn't being conveyed clearly, but from my conversations with Dazz, what you are describing is exactly what he (and others) are aiming for with this new idea: a support framework. Resources that are actually resources and not some group that will run events competing with other individuals, but help individuals with their own events. Sure, there are people on the server who can up and lead their own events without a hand, and that's great. However, there are others that say, have an idea for an event but lack funds, or people who would willingly donate money, but really couldn't care less about running a costume contest. So the way I understand it, the goal is to bring these groups of people together such that opportunities can be brought to light. So that someone who is thinking "Hey, I'd really love a banner for my clown suit PvP event." can go to this resource group, look up someone who will volunteer to do banners, contact them and make it happen. I think Nator's Rock Trivia Night is a good example of how something like this would work. He came up with a good idea and several people got behind it and helped in various capacities. The only difference is that now, instead of throwing an idea out there on the forums or asking around, you'll be able to quickly identify the types of people you're looking for.

The issue is that, despite the goal being a more open, free flow type group, is that the framework (however minimal it is) will have to be decided upon and articulated so that people know what it is, how it works, and how to identify it.

I definitely understand your skepticism when it comes to another 'committee'. I too share the same feelings towards them. Not to speak for Dazz, but I feel he recognizes this, and genuinely wants to make it as inclusive as possible, even in the planning stages. Hence, the survey.

I've found that reading through Ramiel's FAQ gave me a practical understanding of the Alpha Slot, so I would highly recommend doing this. I've been able to answer the vast majority of questions in game after reading this information once.

I also recommend going to your Incarnate Abilities interface and just taking a look around. Click on each of the tabs and take a look at what is there, and things start to come together. I've encountered many questions about how many shards it takes to craft X component. This information is readily available in the Incarnate window.

On a personal note, I'm not someone who does copious amounts of research prior to experiencing new aspects of the game. I like to figure things out as I go, but I also like to know enough so that the pieces make sense. I've found that between Ramiel's FAQ, the Incarnate Abilities window, and the page that Capa Devans posted, I feel very comfortable with crafting Alpha boosts and answering questions in game.

Yes, there were quite a number of deaths on my team, but there were noticeably fewer as people adapted to the movement required. Everyone agreed that it would probably get easier with more practice.

And that is why I hesitate to want to discuss strategies involving specific ATs with specific powers, e.g., Empathy with Recall Friend, as you suggested. I feel that staying attentive and moving about is far more important, and should become easier with more exposure to the TF.