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*sits next to Ny with a bag of oreos* Cookie?
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Originally Posted by Nylonus
Well since this is 'family therapy' I am going to be the creepy uncle that no one wants to sit next to.
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*warning**Wall of Text**warning*
I too am part of that silent majority in Jello Shooters. I rarely chime in and, in fact, I'm more likely to send a tell to someone who voices a question or a request in the channel. Jello Shooters has never been the channel for everyone. I know I've had in game friends that found JS just wasn't for them. It was a good channel for doing the big thing like recruiting for a Hami Raid.
Things are different now. The population of Protector is smaller and that is compounded by the fact that the activities tend to be instanced and not centralized in a single zone. You can't expect to get a mission team by broadcasting "level 16 scrapper lft" anymore. In my opinion we veterans need to do more to build the community and that includes all major Protector Channels. We need to be less divisive and more welcoming. Is JS less than it was? I don't know. I remember feeling left out by the JS channel until I got to know a few people in the channel. There are still many I recognize by global but haven’t teamed with before. In this smaller population era, Jello Shooters should try to be more than a "love it or leave it" channel.
I had one acquaintance in game move alts back from Freedom because I teamed with him more and introduced him to some of my other friends. He found it wasn’t necessary to move elsewhere to find the task force opportunities he wanted. During the free server transfers he brought the alts back and I think a few friends came back with him.
I try to do what I can to support the community. My MSTF runs are meant to provide a teaming opportunity for a task force that tends to be more frustrating and harder to run successfully. I try to support the events such as “Rush the Rikti” and Hamidon Raids. I haven’t joined in some of the other events going on and I need to join in sometime soon. I have nothing but respect for those that put together events now or in the past. Protector is still a great place but we can make it better.
I don’t think it’s my nature to look down on other players and if that’s ever come across I apologize. There are complaints about this generation of AE players but I have to take responsibility for some of their play. I haven’t taken the time to team with new players. What teaming opportunities have many of them had other than “AE farm team lfm”? Stalemate’s NPC is a great opportunity for us to change the status quo. Some of us need to step up and help these new players to experience the game outside AE. It’s hard because all of us have some people we team with now and they do come first.
I've always been a "behind the scenes" kinda guy. Never been very vocal on JS, never really succeeded at getting my own event together, and always pretty much kept to myself and my small circle of friends. But still, I always try to make the Hami raids... the RtR's.... the MSTF's...
But ya, after 5 years on this game, and 18-19 level 50 toons, all of wich are on Protector, odds are you've teamed with Ycebergg at least once when new content comes out, or you've seen a toon named "Ozmosis (insert name)" running past you somewhere.
I've started running on other servers, only because I have no more room on Protector. Pro was my first server, and still is my home, nothing is gonna change my opinion on that.
"You wear a mask to hide who you are, I wear a mask to show who I am"
Arc ID 91456: The Zombie Apocalypse Task Force:poster 1, poster 2
CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO HELP DO YOUR PART TO SAVE C.O.H!!!!!
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Originally Posted by bamaHulkers
I read this response from kidengineer in another thread, and thought the statements were worth a thread of their own. I think all four have really good merit, so comment on one or comment on all.
If we can keep the responses honest, we may learn something. If this turns into a flame war... well, that's an answer in itself, isn't it ?  |
I miss the days when Jello Shooters was actually a Protector channel.
I had been a silent member of JS for almost a year after starting CoH and that's how I knew a lot of the regulars in it and some of their Alts. I worked a Night Shift at the time and when some the night owls and Aussies I made friends with logged on I changed tabs and we went about our business 'arresting' baddies and poking fun at each other. I left JS almost 2 1/2 years ago now, and it was only because something had changed in it's tone and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
I miss the days when the server actually had spirit, we had a mascot, we had things like Robot Rampage and RP Task Forces (Not my thing, but still thought it was cool), we were a server of doers.
I missed out on a lot of this stuff due to my work schedules over the years, but I got a kick out of the stories that came out of them in JS or here in the forums. I did get involved in Rush the Rikti when it first started and helped organize teams from people who would broadcast for a team. Sadly, I got tired of being griefed by a few id10t's who would ignore the main people pulling and pull groups of rikti on me that Itreya couldn't survive no matter what.
I miss the days when this was a close-knit community.
I was usually the guy walking around in the shadows watching and going on with my own business but would offer to help run TF/SF if I knew I wouldn't have to log out shortly or go afk due to RL. Storm Tiger was the first one to introduce me to Kid and RSF Regulars group and I had a blast running with all of them, but sadly, my work schedule was about to change again (to my current one) and pretty much killed my running with them.
Just before the time running with Kid, I managed to bump into Wolfen (someone I know many people here dislike) and the Wolfpack and I started hanging out and doing stuff with them. We started super teams on different servers and Virtue, my current home when I play anymore, was one.
That was all it took, I rolled a couple Villans to offset the lone level 12 Hero Claws/DA Scrapper I had there and it snowballed from there with me having 7 level 50 Villains, 1 level 50 Scrapper with a Cold/Arch Def sitting just short of 49, and 4 more villans ranging from 22 to 45. I'm not a Role Player but have been know to get into 'character', off and on, on teams that did and always got invited back the next time I logged on.
I look around today and is a little saddened. Jello shooters was silent for a good portion of the evening. I see people complaining and I see few stepping up and doing things to better the community. WTH happened to us?
Like I mentioned above, I left JS quite awhile ago. I miss it's old days and those may never return. It may improve with G.R., but no one knows at this point. Sadly, I don't like to lead anything unless I need too, so I never stepped up to do things to better the community. That may be in part that I'm a Lead at work and would rather someone else do it so I can just go with the flow of things and that I now play on Virtue with friends and Wolfers. I know for a fact that RL has taken some of our friends away (money, jobs, new games) and things tend to seem quiet and lonely without them around like we had been accustomed too for so long.
If you haven't noticed by my Avatar (it's a bit outdated at the moment), I'm currently playing Aion and I have achieved my first level 50 there. I'm currently working on getting her gear up to par for the end game instances and pvp. That's where I've been since Sept. with short stints of coming back here and Dual Pistol closed beta. I was starting to feel burnout, so I'm giving CoX a much needed rest until G.R. I still love to play CoX and have pre-ordered G.R., but I really needed to take a break from it before I lost any desire to play it at all.
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I'm thinking Pocket D would be a better place to try this, as those with mainly redside characters could also chip in.|
Originally Posted by Riverdancer
Well then, think we can find 52 or 54 kins? Let's get someone airborne! I wanna slingshot a stone tank across Portal Court!
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But slingshotting a stoner to Monster Island would be entertaining.
As far a JS is concerned, I'm always logged in to it. There are times when people will go off on a tangent and talk/discuss/argue about something (regardless to it having to do with the game or not) and on those times, I just ignore it or move it to a tab of its own along with the other globals I watch.
It is a Global channel, not by invite. I do consider it a Protectorite channel (not Protector the server,) and I think many of the JS subscribers consider themselves Protectorites regardless of how much time they still spend on Protector.
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That's the first thing I do to almost everyone I meet. Partly, to see if what's being said matches the number of months on the badge. Mostly, because vets w/ sixty-something months under their belt don't seem to be interested in talking to strangers. (I know mother told you not to talk to strangers, but I promise, I don't bite.....at least not without offering aneseptic spray afterwords. |
Originally Posted by Witchfrost
People check vet badges the minute they see a stranger, it's a fact (and don't let me hear someone even try to say they don't - you're FOS and everyone knows it, whoever you may be).
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) Or, if they do deem you worthy of conversation, it's to say something less than eloquent/helpful. EX: During my first month of play, I was sent to G-ville for insps on a lvl 15 toon. My first toon, btw. I was told the best insps in the game can be found by the black heli on the other side of the Isle. I was less than pleased with what I found. That curbed my enthusiasm for talking to anyone above my vet level for a while. Luckily, I have a great sense of humor (albeit dry) and recovered from that quickly enough. I've only been playing for year, almost exclusively on Protector. Any/all Alts on other servers have long since disappeared. I'm one of the rarities (at least, that I know about) who has a stable full of villians, and one Hero, that I only play when I get specific requests from the few friends I have made. (as I've come to understand it, the blueside pop is much higher than redside) As such, it's been difficult finding anyone to teach me anything without a "you really didn't know that?" undertone. It wasn't until I started frequenting events posted on the forums that I have made greater strides in that area, without the undertone. Even still, I find myself feeling like an outsider on my home server. This isn't a complaint, as I don't take rejection hard.
Everything I've said speaks to my opinion of how close-knit this server is. It's been like the hazing I had to endure during my USMC days: fun, a little embarrassing, and a sign that they care. Just a suggestion to the "old-timers", be more friendly, or at least curtious. You didn't start with an encyclopedia of knowledge at your disposal, either.
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Why hello, SterlingSteel ! Pull up a chair next to Uncle Nylonus and make yourself at home...|
Originally Posted by SterlingSteel
Basicly what I'm trying to say is we are out there, we are active, and I want my SG to be more community active. I want to share the fun we have together with the rest of you. I'm rambling now, so that usually means I'm saying too much. So I'll end this post now. Thanks.
(Oh, and if my paranoia is true and the Protector Community does hate us, someone please let me know! |
I have to confess: I, for one, don't hate your SG... 'cause I don't really know your SG at all.
But if you want to be more active in the community, well I think it's an excellent idea ! Witchfrost was talking about "community leaders" - if it's a role you want to assume, then give it a try: the worst that could happen is that we might get to know more about you... and THEN really hate you ! (I kid, I kid
)The next time you're logged in, just drop a line on Jello Shooters or Protector Vigilance, just to say "Hello", that's the simplest way to get the ball rolling...
Keep NCSoft from shutting down City of Heroes : http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
I don't check Vet Badges, but not for the reason you'd think I'm trying to pass off.
They simply have no baring on anything. I only have up to 33 months in Veteran Badges, but I've been around since Issue 6 (over four and a half years ago). Then you have the folks that return for a spell right after an issue is released and only have like 12 month vet badges, but they've been around since pre-issue 1 (I ran into two in the same team mere months ago). Then you have vagrants of other MMOs who have been doing the online gaming dance for years (and despite what you might want to think, this game isn't so different than other MMOs). Someone like that can know the score, roughly, in less than a month (and be top notch in performance in 6 months flat). And even someone playing who has Vet Badges up to 52 months could just be a sibling or child of the account's actual owner.
Vet Badges only amount to the rewards they provide.
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Those are fightin' words, son...|
Originally Posted by Witchfrost
People check vet badges the minute they see a stranger, it's a fact (and don't let me hear someone even try to say they don't - you're FOS and everyone knows it, whoever you may be).
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I don't "check vet badges the minute [I] see a stranger".
It's true I do it, sometimes, but only when the player has given me a reason to believe he or she might be a new player - and NOT to blast them, but to give 'em a hand if needed. I might not be "Mentor" material yet, but I try to do my part when I can.
And if you still believe I'm FOS, then go read about the NPWN before generalizing...
Keep NCSoft from shutting down City of Heroes : http://www.change.org/petitions/ncso...city-of-heroes
::hoses channel with ice water:: Focus...breathe...
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Actually, I do-because while when my SG is on, yes, I do tend to team mostly with them, when they're not on or we have a few spots open, I'll invite anyone who wants something to do. I run PuGs and keep an eye on multiple global channels. I've never teamed with some people, but I know them by global name and reputation because I pay attention to what goes on around me on Protector.|
Originally Posted by Witchfrost
You recognize globals at the RtR because you see those same globals every RtR. I bet you recognize a lot of globals because you team with them night after night. Do you recognize globals beacuse you see them all over, commenting and running a variety of toons through mish arcs or TFs? I bet you don't.
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Maybe part of the problem IS that most people don't look outside of their own little groups, but you certainly can't ascribe that behavior to everyone.
Also, SterlingSteel, while I am more or less familiar with Project Checkmate and I have been witness to some of the, ah, behavior you mention that might have given the SG a bad reputation, a few bad apples does not a rotten barrel of apples make. Hit me up sometime with a PM, I have coalition slots open for the Teamsters if you don't mind coalitioning with a bunch of roleplaying loonies.
City of Heroes taught me that when the world is burning, you don't just stand by and watch, you grab a fire extinguisher and do whatever you can to stop it-even if it's not much at all. Sign the petition to keep City of Heroes alive HERE.
@MissKyo, Leader of the Teamsters coalition on Protector
No offense, Arch, but I liked how you followed this:
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with this:| It's true I do it |
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| And if you still believe I'm FOS, then URL="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=127273&highlight=NPWN"]go read about the NPWN[/URL] before generalizing... |
I only check the character's Vet Rewards if I feel they're behaving in a manner that denotes a lack of understanding of the game and the general tactics employed.
Surprisingly, I usually find the most belligerent and incapable players are the ones with a large number of Veteran Rewards. Typically not Jello Shooters, so that only makes me wonder whether or not people are still selling their accounts or if players are being too loose with letting their family members play around.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Several people have now chimed in about "rude Veteran Players". This is not so different from an age old drama about "Elitist Players", and just like "n00bs" or "id10ts" or whatever stereotyping label used, none of them apply universally.
I can be an unapologetic ***** on occasion, I'm also one of the oldest Protectorites around, one fact has nothing to do with the other. I can, and do, provide answers, assistance, and guidance to players when asked, but I've made some rather ardent enemies by speaking my mind from time to time too.
I wish we'd focus more on larger, big-picture issues like the impact of AE, PBM/Newspaper missions, Super Sidekicking, etc. than rehashing how this person or that person was rude/mean/inconsiderate.
Just a thought.
Well, based on the PM I just received, I have to say this thread's busted and done, at least for me. I believe the initial post wanted us to have a frank and open discussion, without worrying about hurting feelings and the like. Apparently though, I'm just a big ol' meanie, and certain folks can't handle it. Strangely, though, quite a few people have agreed with what I was saying, so I can't have been too off the mark.
You know the futher into this post we get the further off topic it gets........
JS for as long as i've been playing like Sooner mentioned has always been a more just for S&G type channel. We all chime in from time to time make our snirky little comments in hopes of getting a giggle out of some and a rise out of others.
I use JS to talk smack, and form TF's/SF's. I use it to make fun of current events both in-game and real life. I use it to see how many of you free spirited over aged adolescents like myslef out there I can get started on some silly little asscracked idea I have.
I like to think that I am one of the less rude/elitest/idiot or any other word you wish to use to describe me out there.
I dont care how many months your Vet badge reflects, if you want to learn and have fun while learning you can hang with me anytime.
I said it before and i'll say it again, I have my "click" and I run with that "click" almost ALL the time, but from time to time I like to PuG it too.
I've joined Kyo on her TFT's, Kid on his RSF's. I've run TF's with almost every one of you at one time or another, one thing is constant, whenever one you have asked for help 9 out of 10 times another one of you steps up and helps. That to me is what our community is all about.
A few years ago we used to have the herolympics for those of you who have been here long enough I know you remember them, Stale put it together. We ran a Tank-a-thon during one of those Herolympics to honor a fellow Protectorite who lost the ultimate battle and succumbed to Cancer. I for the life of me can't remember her name name but I do remember her. She was taken from "us" at such a young age and we moarned her passing but also we celebrated her life. That is community.
Not too long after that we lost another one of our Protector brothers in an awful motorcycle accident.......again we came together as a communtiy, we offered our condolensces to his family and friends, we ALL came together as a communtiy..no a FAMILY and honored him also.
There has been much loss over the years, loss due to unfotunate events, loss due to real life commitments. We have lost friends we can never hope to replace but we have also made new friends too.
Over the years yes Protector has changed, the game has changed, we have changed but one thing remains constant, the love we have for this game and the love we have for each other.
SO.....instead of looking back on what once was lets just look ahead to what will be.
Jello Shooters will always be that place we can go where everyone knows your name and thier always glad you.........you know the lyrics.
Rican......
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Being the OP (on a thread that actually took off for a change !) I can say that Witchfrost is dead on with what my intent was with this thread. And it held for a good while. Having said that, if we as a group "just need to let it drop", then by all means let's do so while things are relatively civil, and the lessons we've learned can remain unsullied by flames.|
Originally Posted by Witchfrost
Well, based on the PM I just received, I have to say this thread's busted and done, at least for me. I believe the initial post wanted us to have a frank and open discussion, without worrying about hurting feelings and the like. Apparently though, I'm just a big ol' meanie, and certain folks can't handle it. Strangely, though, quite a few people have agreed with what I was saying, so I can't have been too off the mark.
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However, if someone got their nose out of joint because a painful truth was revealed...well, revealing painful truths was my intent as well. Part of healing is removing the cause of the pain; you have a splinter, you don't wish the pain away, you remove the splinter, treat the damage, and heal.
We as a group CLEARLY have some "splinters" Some are tiny and almost inconsequential (My "I was here before the earth cooled !" rant was one of those
), and some are universal and in urgent need of being acknowledged and dealt with if we indeed care anything about (re)building community. Witchfrost, I have to admit here I kind of hijacked a very good point of yours to address my pet peeve. It was a tenuous seque from yours to mine, and I almost fear it started the current friction. So, I did understand your point, I just misused it.
Also, as Kid mentioned briefly, he and I haven't always seen eye to eye. However, it didn't take a great leap to "borrow" his response in another thread to begin this, it just took admitting that 1) He had good points that I felt touched on some widespread issues and 2) It wasn't worth carrying a grudge anymore. If anyone has an issue with someone else in this thread, these forums, or this game, take a moment and ask yourself why. Some of you will come up with valid hurts, slights, etc. that have yet to be dealt with. Some of you, if you're being honest, will come up with something ridiculous, and hopefully that will allow you to move forward.
So, now it's up to y'all. If this seems to be unretrievably busted, then I'll ask Niviene or Ocho to lock it (Not delete, since I think "we've done some good here", and I'd like to see it remain for others to read until The Next Purge.) Or, we can all take a breath, maybe let things set for a day or two, and press on toward rebuilding something we seem to all agree is worth the effort.
Well...I hate you all. Secretly of course.
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Not at all. Anyone who got their feelings hurt by Frosty just needs to toughen up a bit. |
Originally Posted by bamaHulkers
So, now it's up to y'all. If this seems to be unretrievably busted, then I'll ask Niviene or Ocho to lock it (Not delete, since I think "we've done some good here", and I'd like to see it remain for others to read until The Next Purge.) Or, we can all take a breath, maybe let things set for a day or two, and press on toward rebuilding something we seem to all agree is worth the effort.
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Hulkers, I don't know that we do need to "rebuild". Have things changed? Of course they have. Things change. That's the way of the world.
The old days are always better in memory than they were in reality. Who remembers the "Dirtwolf got a star in JS" drama? Or the violent PvP vs PvE debates when PvP was first introduced. The "Sherriff of Nottingham and the Princess" episode. Not to mention the cataclysmic display of emotions that prompted the creation of the "have fun" thread.
Anyone who thinks things used to be nothing but sugar and rainbows and happy-happy-joy-joy-snuggle-times around here either wasn't here, or is looking at the past through a thick set of rose colored lenses. And you know what? THAT is the past that people recall so fondly as our "tight knit community." And they're right. We were - AND STILL ARE - a tight knit community. With a lot of strong personalities and strong opinions.
But.. I'll say it again. We are still Protector.
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I'm not too convinced there, Sooner. You have to put a little more "umph* in there, like this:|
Originally Posted by Sooner
But.. I'll say it again. We are still Protector.
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WE... ARE... PROTECTOOOOOOOOOR!!!!!!!
"You wear a mask to hide who you are, I wear a mask to show who I am"
Arc ID 91456: The Zombie Apocalypse Task Force:poster 1, poster 2
CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO HELP DO YOUR PART TO SAVE C.O.H!!!!!
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Originally Posted by Sooner
The "Sherriff of Nottingham and the Princess" episode.
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You all need to bow or curtsey now.
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*/e Curtsie's*|
Originally Posted by Riverdancer
You all need to bow or curtsey now.
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??? What? I'm part scottish ya know!
"You wear a mask to hide who you are, I wear a mask to show who I am"
Arc ID 91456: The Zombie Apocalypse Task Force:poster 1, poster 2
CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO HELP DO YOUR PART TO SAVE C.O.H!!!!!
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we are protectaaaaaaaaahhhh
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Originally Posted by ozmosis
i'm not too convinced there, sooner. You have to put a little more "umph* in there, like this:
We... Are... Protectooooooooor!!!!!!! |
I really wanted to stay far far away from this thread - for a lot of reasons, but I caved. So.. here goes.
But notice what I didn't say. I didn't say "Only."
To the best of my knowledge, every server has at least one general BS channel where members of that community can chat and joke. On Protector, it's Jello Shooters.
And, yes... it IS a global channel. It wasn't made into a server only channel becasue, you know what... that's not an option. Every channel created by players is a global channel. Virtue United is a global channel FOR THE VIRTUE COMMUNITY, but it's still a gobal channel.
And, yes... it IS a public channel. That's on purpose. But it still a channel intended for the Protector community.
It's not Protector's LFT or LFM channel, though people do throw that out there sometimes. It sometimes acts as a GM/event channel, but now the game will give us that info, so that purpose isn't as important.
I can't speak for anyone else, but at no point have I ever said that someone wasn't welcome to chat on JS bc they were on another server. But the PURPOSE of the channel, as it has evolved, is Protector's general chat channel.
And, btw, I've participated in a few hami raids on Triumph. And while I was on Triumph, I continued chatting on JS. Why? Because I'm still part of the Protector community.
And... let me just ask you this: What reaction do you think I'd get if I hopped onto Virtue United or whatever freedom uses for their general chat channel and started trying to recruit a team for Protector? At BEST I'd get ignored. Most likely I'd mocked and harassed until I gave up and left. I certainly would NOT get a warm and friendly welcome and an offer to change servers to come play my TF on Protector.
The specific things you mentioned were the trademarks of specific people, at least one of whom has had a big schedule change that makes it difficult for him to schedule such things.
If you've got an idea for an event... by all means... schedule it.
We've always had squabbles. There's always been a "crowd A" and a "crowd B. (and C and D and D)" There's always been conflicts of playstyle or opinion. Those things aren't changes at all. It may just be that the questioner is a recent enough addition to our server to not appreciate the history he's questioning.
AE and radio/PBM missions vastly changed the way the game is played. The ability to change difficultly, the change to ways av/ebs spawn all changed the NEED to find a team.
The change to debt - half debt in missions - means that more people spend time in mission and less time on the streets.
The addition of villains to the game means that roughly half the server population is unavailable for teaming unless you find your way into a coop zone, but that doesn't always solve the problem - if I want to run Maria Jenkins arc, I am limited to heroes, for instance.
And whenever people come and go, the community, of course, changes. We haven't LOST Rasta, for instance, but since he works nights, we don't see him nearly as much, and the loss - or I guess reduction - of his voice definitely impacts the community. Some very well liked and influential Protectorites have faded away over the last couple of years, and that has changed the feel of community - but, of course, new people are rising up to find their own place.
And, finally - there are two very specific people that I hold responsible for some negative changes. And, no, I'm not going to name them. Ironically, I suspect neither could even imagine their actions would be considered negative. But the impact is there. And it saddens me every day.
This is still Protector. We've always been small - but strong. We have a lot of pride in our server, and rightly so. I know I have friends here that I can't imagine being without.
It's very easy to romanticize the "goodl old days," but... really... they had their rough spots too.
This is Protector. This is my CoH home. Things change, but this is still Protector.