Old friends

[Lovend]

Hi Elanthians,

How is the player population these days north American times? (I work 9-5 so interested in prime time PM).

I made level 1 the other night and saw about 5 or 6 people in TC in Icemule which was cool. I died to a squirrel and even got a drag back to TC which was amazing to me. It sounds like the game is still alive. I'm just curious. Are there still a lot of legends around? I have a legend rogue and was wondering if hunting areas still have empaths and clerics nearby. I would hate to come back to the game and find it a lonely life. Luckily I could pick my own boxes, but my rogue was never fond of herbalism and his vanity would never allow him to live with scars from the hunt.

If you guys could give me an idea of the pulse of the game currently, that would be great.

Love you

[hello]

Under Lord Master God Lord Wyrom, the game is going through a sort of renaissance. A lot of old time players are coming back (perhaps albeit as F2P at first). We're pushing on the ceiling of 500 players on primetime..regularly.

With that being said, it's difficult to socialize in the game as F2P (strongly recommend you try the game as Sub, especially as a former player you'll notice glaring deficits in Simu's F2P model). CHE's are barred to F2P and picking boxes or even healing/rezzing are restricted. On the otherhand, you can still participate in some general events, in fact, I attended a merchant event and got something Lightened for free.

The Landing is the place to be if you don't want to feel "alone". Lot's of the high level players will zip past you doing their own thing but a few actually play the game old school, like Roblar and Svardin. They will usually drop everything and try to assist you. There is also this thing called "Dreavening" in the Landing, which is in the Inn right outside the Landing North Gate; a talking dog "Dreaven" will spell you up with every protection spell in the game... as long as you don't call the doggy a racist.

Oh, one more thing. There is a new piece of software in which YOU MUST USE in order to get the full benefits of the game. It's called Lich. https://lichproject.org/ Go to it and download and install it, check this folder out for more help.
http://forum.gsplayers.com/forumdisplay.php?104-The-Lich-Project

Have fun!

[Neveragain]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm78e83hRis

[GoblinAttorney]

Welcome back! I play later in the evenings and see player population in the four hundreds on weekday nights. Weekends can even hit 500+. Of course a good portion of that is pocket/mule characters but I haven't any trouble finding awake and aware characters for roleplay.

Lich is by no means necessary but I have to say that scripts like narost (displays maps and your current location) are a pretty good quality of life improvement.

[Khariz]

You really should also post this question on the Official forums. You are going to get a lot of assholes trolling you on this forum (see above). But the game is as healthy as it has ever been. Your question about "legends" is cute and quaint. The majority of the people playing are all capped level 100 characters (or have a handful of them on their account). Everyone is a legend. But you will find that most people are helpful, friendly, and ready to assist whenever you need it. The game rocks right now, in my opinion.

[Lovend]

I figured most people were about 100. What do you mean capped? I remember some people like Blades and Simmer got up over 120 I believe just picking lockboxes for tiny amounts of experience.

Is it possible to casually play around my level and progress without groups?

I believe I gave all of my gear and silver away, so I'm a little worried. I had a +25 ice age perma-blessed falchion Vixxenish parted to me when she quit. I should have never given my stuff away, but it's been affective keeping me away. I have been just toying with the idea of coming back since the state of MMO's is pretty bad right now and there's nothing to play. Uthguard has about 600 people prime time as well, but it's dying out quickly. :/

[BriarFox]

We have a soft cap of 100 now. You cannot level any further, but you still gain experience points and training points, and you can max out all of your skills eventually (at something like 10x the experience needed to reach 100).

[Allereli]

I figured most people were about 100. What do you mean capped? I remember some people like Blades and Simmer got up over 120 I believe just picking lockboxes for tiny amounts of experience.

Is it possible to casually play around my level and progress without groups?

I believe I gave all of my gear and silver away, so I'm a little worried. I had a +25 ice age perma-blessed falchion Vixxenish parted to me when she quit. I should have never given my stuff away, but it's been affective keeping me away. I have been just toying with the idea of coming back since the state of MMO's is pretty bad right now and there's nothing to play. Uthguard has about 600 people prime time as well, but it's dying out quickly. :/

capped is level 100. Characters cannot get higher than that in level, but they still gain experience and train in skills. this way they can always hunt instead of being forced to pick boxes. You should check out the New Player category on the wiki: https://gswiki.play.net/Category:New_Player to get reacquainted with mechanics

GS was down to ~250-350 during primetime a couple of years ago (maybe even lower) and it has definitely gone up. The population is very active in both player-run groups and GM-run storylines. You can see various scheduled events here: http://forums.play.net/calendar?game=gemstone+iv

An example of a current storyline is here: https://gswiki.play.net/Keeping_up_with_the_Kestrels

[Lovend]

Thanks for all the info

[hello]

BTW, at cap the progression is mostly horizontal (greater versatility) than vertical (outright more power) although for semis there is some exception.

BTW, I feel you on giving away stuff before you left. I had an ithloss claidhmore that I so wish I had back. BUT check your old toons, if it's been decades like me sometimes you find that you had a 'rainy day' backpack stashed somewhere without you knowing it.

[Luxelle]

But ... the Legends are still the Legends.

Welcome Home.

[Jhynnifer]

Briars popped in once or twice a couple of years ago, as did Muffy. I think our most well-known current legend is Ardwen.

[hello]

Briars popped in once or twice a couple of years ago, as did Muffy. I think our most well-known current legend is Ardwen.

Word on the grapevine is Drisszdt (however you spell it) has also been skulking about, obviously not as the character Drizzdt. The warrior, I believe the first to grandmaster the guild? or highest level whatever.

[0zymandius]

Mustafo has reportedly been around a few times lately

[hello]

Who's still here from the beginning? Like before the AOL switch? Anyone?

[Luxelle]

Who's still here from the beginning? Like before the AOL switch? Anyone?

I dunno from AOL ... but GEnie should count for something. :) There's a few of us, but I did not resurrect either of my 20+ year old characters when I returned to GemStone.

[hello]

I dunno from AOL ... but GEnie should count for something. :) There's a few of us, but I did not resurrect either of my 20+ year old characters when I returned to GemStone.

Why wouldn't you try to get back your original characters? Usually, there's something priceless in there.

[ktig]

Mustafo has reportedly been around a few times lately

Yessir he was!

[Methais]

If GS3 was the last time you played, then there's an enormous amount of new stuff in all aspects of the game to catch up on.

[MotleyCrew]

Bring back the legend for a month or two, if you hate it, quit again. Not much to lose.

They say knowing is half the battle, well the other half is trying.

[Tenser]

If GS3 was the last time you played, then there's an enormous amount of new stuff in all aspects of the game to catch up on.

I can attest to that.

[Galactic]

I can attest as well...recently back but have been off and on over the years it's almost like a new game from the gs3 and genie days... And everyone has been a lot of help.. thx all...I sold most of my old stuff..but you can try and hunt it down..as for hunting there is level 110 critters ..so should always be a challenge somewhere and events are more and better then ever... I lost my drive in MMOs as well

[MzFit Toy]

For the record, not all the cool kids are capped. Some of us are fighting it as much as possible. So, don't think it's all capped and baby bots running around. There is a good, solid middle ground of new, returning, and older players with baby alts.

I left for 16 years, and came back about 2 years ago, having NO idea what I'd find. In fact, I was a little shocked when I found out Gemstone still existed. I did end up bringing back my 1995 account/characters, and have made a couple new ones, though I have yet to cap any of them. One is waaaay too close though!

But, there was a bunch of older players that came back over the last year, and I think even tonight one showed up. Come on in, rejoin the insanity. You know you wanna...