You're right of course, the 'lost' time getting keys and planes access, Howling stones, quibbling over this trivial experience does seem petty doesn't it. And they are autogranting AA anyway, so those of us that were proud of our multi-K AA balances will now no longer have anything to point to, it could all be autogrant. And you're right about fun, but I WAS having fun getting AA and experience, building a tough character, learning to overcome tougher and tougher content. 40 points doesn't seem like much, and now, of course, it isn't. And as for experience, once upon a time, it was tough to get, an AA or a yellow was a precious thing, 2% was a gold mine. Time to get my head out of my......memories and get with the new EQ. On the other hand, it wasn't so much the tremendous number of AA, as the principle of the thing, 'grinding' aa only to log on and find them gone. But again, you're right, a little swarming or a good group, 40 aa is trivial anymore. How is it a grind any more, really?
I did a few betas, and I remember what it is like to sit down with a 85+, 90+ toon and a passle of AA, then try to learn to play such a toon against awesum mobs. It was a tough switch for me, used to starting with nothing and hand carving a toon to take on all that it could, knowing intimately its limitations and advantages, what to fear, how to push the envelope. Now it will be a completely different challenge, trying to work with people in that condition, or trying to fit myself in, not completely understanding the consequences of a passle of new AA I have that I am not familiar with. On the other side, struggling for AA will be pointless waste of time, when they could be free. Very similar to the key-access thing, isn't it: the challenge was there, now it's nothing. But it's free! What's your problem? So's welfare.
My FUN WAS to climb the exp/AA ladder, to breathe free at a new level, take on badder and badder content. Now the badder and badder content has become more like a package tour. My fun was taking on the challenge to survive, to overcome the content, to be able to take pride in a badass toon, hand carved, ably played.
So I drop out of this thread. The only two comments have been of the nature, "Quit whining." So I will.
Thanks again for the input. But even with all this free stuff and the radical nature of the change of the game, I still somehow find it all irritating, like an excess or unfair charge on your credit card or tax bill. Another sign of the modern times, you don't have to like it, just live with it, it's small potatioes, so what if it's crooked or stupid? You can't do anything about it, so keep smiling, have fun. Don't adjust the reality, adjust your attitude.
LOL, good hunting, all.
Edited, Feb 9th 2014 9:26pm by Numantic