[OPINION WANTED] Gemstone Platinum

[100% Wool]

...getting tired of normal GS

Anyone ever play platinum or have played platinum.

Opinions please?

~ Rumples

[firegirl]

Hi there!

I actually am a regular Plat player. I guess you can say there is pros and cons of Plat. I personally love it. I like the small-knit community, it is more personable and feels like a small town and you know the quirks of everyone.

It is a smaller community, which some do not seem to like. The one advantage of this is that everyone knows you after a couple days.

The past month it has been quite hectic in game and growing in numbers. I believe there is about 5 new settled in prime characters that just migrated over this month.

It does take a little time to get used to the small differences and get to know everyone but ANYONE is willing to help a new player and we throw gifts and equip them if needed.

We try very hard to promote RP and keep it constant. You will hardly see OOC action, sayings or reactions and if it happens, we try to steer them the proper way.

The nice thing about Plat is that we are all friends outside the game as well. We have a AIM chat set up as well if you ever just want to yap about stuff. Everyone is welcome. You will see some the worst enemies in game are buddies in chat, kinda funny.

As far as merchants come, so far these two weeks we had 5 of them and it is usually that everyone walks away with something.

If you want to hunt alone, you are able ANYWHERE (with the portal system) or looking for someone to tag along, all you do is ask and everyone takes time to join in on the hunt as well. We actually like spending time with eachother! heh.

All you gotta do is email Khaladon and ask for a free trial, give it a month's chance and see what you think. if you are not into smaller communities, you can always ask a group of friends to come with as well and test it at the same time - might be fun.

If you do venture to Plat, make sure you do a post on the boards there and let us know who you are so we can properly greet you. Any questions about anything, just ask. We are more than happy to help you feel at home in Plat.

~Fitch

[mgoddess]

The only thing I didn't like about Plat was the death mechanic of droppage...makes dying annoying. Of course, I only played for a month, so I didn't have much time to play past a certain level...but, overall, the community seemed awesome, and I loved being able to get to any hunting ground I wanted. (If I wasn't so used to such a big community in Prime and wanted to start over at level 1 with a character, I might actually consider trying Plat again...unfortunately, I really don't enjoy the level 1-20 grind.)

[Warriorbird]

Apart from certain folks, a great community.

[Ebondale]

I've actually considered switching to Plat for the RP I hear it has. If I wanted to make the switch would I still be able to play Ebondale in Platinum or are they completely separate servers and I would have to begin a new character?

[Artha]

You'd have to start a new character.

[Jonty]

From what I read a long time ago, you'd be able to use the name, but you'd have to start from level zero.

[Nilandia]

You will need to start a new character. The balance of power is much lower in Plat, however. If you're titled, you're considered decently strong, and we have less than 10 capped people, in my estimation.

The community is extremely tight-knit, as has been mentioned. Unfortunately, it can also work against you. If you have a dispute with someone out of game, it can get pretty ugly, as I've discovered recently. I'm currently taking a break from Plat because of it.

Gretchen

[DCSL]

I tried Plat but it was not for me. I tried playing a mute and people kept whispering to me over and over again how to use the SAY or ' mechanics. Or kept trying to magically heal me with very little build up or RP, which was very frustrating indeed. It was also hard to play someone was was not friendly. My character wasn't mean, but she was taken as such simply because she wasn't huggy-kissy-licky. Although given that you're Barumples, I'm sure you won't have trouble with that aspect, heh!

To me, it was like trying to get into the River's Rest clique, which I've thus far only had the patience to do with one character. Rewarding, I'm sure, but frustrating, hurtful, irritating, and time intensive. I really don't need that kind of hassle.

[El Burro]

But roleplaying a mute is so much fun!!! My personal favorite is roleplaying a one legged human with a lisp.

[Rowi]

I play Plat more now then I do prime, I love it, it isnt easy, you cant sit there waiting for spells and such, you gotta hunt! The RP is decent for that matter as well!

[firegirl]

The only thing I didn't like about Plat was the death mechanic of droppage...makes dying annoying. Of course, I only played for a month, so I didn't have much time to play past a certain level...but, overall, the community seemed awesome, and I loved being able to get to any hunting ground I wanted. (If I wasn't so used to such a big community in Prime and wanted to start over at level 1 with a character, I might actually consider trying Plat again...unfortunately, I really don't enjoy the level 1-20 grind.)

One of our guidelines we try to promote is that you announce regardless what area you are hunting in so that we can get to you faster and get your items as well. if worst goes, we help replace the stuff if we can. I personally have lockers full of weapons and armor I collected over the years that I just give away.

[Ebondale]

So how do they work stuff like... collected premium points and things like that if you switch to plat? Do they do anything like that in plat or do they just kinda assume you'll get tons of alterations simply for the fact that you're in Plat?

[firegirl]

No point in wasting your points on alterations. They come in bulk in Plat.
In regards to the Point system.. Khaladon is workin on something but we are not sure the Prem points are accessible in Plat. He likes to keep us waiting and antagonizing over it.

[Ebondale]

No point in wasting your points on alterations. They come in bulk in Plat.
In regards to the Point system.. Khaladon is workin on something but we are not sure the Prem points are accessible in Plat. He likes to keep us waiting and antagonizing over it.

Simu as a whole likes to keep people waiting and antagonizing over things.

[Skeeter]

I found plat to be like playing prime in single-player mode.

I would go hours without seeing another person. Plat wasn't for me, which is kind of odd since I basically was a hermit in prime. I guess I like to know that I can interact with 100's of people if I so desire, even if I choose to regularly ignore 99% of them.

[Ebondale]

So I guess it kind of has an Elderscrolls III: Morrowind feel to it? Big world and you're the only person in it?

What down is like... the main town that people live in?

[Drinin]

I'm a Plat convertee as of this past October, and I love it. The only reason I log into Prime anymore is to burn through the XXX of my bard (89) and paladin (50). If I could bring over my paladin to Plat, I would. The first week of Plat was weird. I didn't know that everyone was hanging out in the Landing so when I was sitting in VC in Ta'Vaalor it was lonely. Since then I've met a ton of people and have had a lot of fun. I thought it would be difficult going from a very high level bard to a very low level warrior (who is level 23 right now), but it wasn't. Once I dove in and gave it a shot all of my fears pretty much disappeared. I'd still love it if there was a like a 'one-time character transfer option' or something. Even if it was capped at only allowing certain levels I have a couple of characters in Prime that I'd love to bring over (who are sub level 30). I just don't have the time these days to completely re-start another character from scratch.

[Drinin]

Also, if you do get a free trial, give it the entire month. During the first week I really wasn't into it, but as the month wore on I found that I really enjoyed Plat.

[Ebondale]

That actually sounds really cool to me. Are there many empaths in Plat that sit in TSC and heal?

Also - If I upgrade my account to Plat do I have the option of creating both plat characters and prime characters with the same account? Cuz that would kind of suck if I had to pay 90$ a month to keep both a plat account and a premium account. It'd be nice to have a 50$ account that I had the option of playing prime or plat on...

[Syberus]

I believe plat comes with a premium subscription (so you get both for 50 bucks). I've been tempted a number of times to switch over, but I can't piss away almost 9 million experience...

[Drinin]

We do have empaths, but I have yet to see one that just sits and heals all day. Generally, they hunt. If you need an empath, usually they're good about coming in after a hunt and patching people up. I personally just use herbs if there isn't an empath sitting in the Park (our gathering spot). Sure they cost money, but there's very little to spend cash on in Plat anyway. I was given most of the gear that I use, and spent about 500k (250k went towards adding another enchant to a 4x flaring longsword I purchased) during Ebon's. My warrior at level 23 has a little under 2mil in the bank and nothing to spend it on.

[Numbers]

A few years ago when Plat was still new and had a bunch of controversy surrounding it, I'd gotten a few RPA's. Instead of giving me an experience boost, they gave me a free month of Platinum.

I sent an e-mail and said I'd much rather prefer the experience boost as a reward, instead of a sleazy attempt to upsell to one of their long-time customers. They told me it couldn't be changed.

So, I go in, roll up a character, and was astounded at the absolute emptiness of it. I go to TSC, there's three people there (they were the ONLY people in the Landing), and all of them are zombied out. I eventually get bored, go into rats unarmed, and promptly die.

I get located once before I manually departed, and then started to wander around kobolds while still being located. As I got killed by the kobolds, immediately I'm fogged to, just as I was manually departing.

I get a send from a GM (don't remember who) actually reprimanding me for doing all of this, and saying it wasn't appreciated in Platinum.

After containing some very well-crafted strings of cursing, I informed her that it was a free trial, received as an RPA, that I would have preferred the experience boost, but was refused. She then politely (/sarcasm) informed me that wasn't her problem, and that if I couldn't live by the "rules" of Platinum (apparently a rule there is that you can't depart when there's a cleric slavering for some experience), I probably didn't belong there.

I gotta tell you, that was a REALLY big straw that had just broken on my camel's back when it came to Simutronics.

[Nilandia]

While I played Plat, Nilandia would sit in TSC, but not really to heal, even though she could, very easily. She stayed there because she enjoyed the tree (being a Sylvan) and it became habit after she left the park because sorcerers brought their demons there while it was still legal (she's petrified of demons).

Still, people would constantly run by her to the park, and I'm pretty sure at least some of them were looking for empaths. Got boring really fast, I'll tell you.

Lesson: Don't expect a healing empath in TSC. Don't BE a healing empath in TSC.

Gretchen

[firegirl]

it will take a couple weeks to know the Empaths routines are, some do not mind you just asking where they are on the net if you are in dire need of a heal and they will come. Another easy solution is invest in Grilled cheese sandwiches, that will get one Empath's attention.

Our gathering spot is usually the park. Even the cuddliest of Dhe'nar sorcerors come and rest there and watch everyone frolick about.

We have the militia that meets every Monday for a meeting and hunt. I believe the hunt is open to everyone but the meeting is for members of the Militia only.

There is a weekly dart game that anyone can enter on Tuesday nights in the Park Niche. 250K is the usual prize that Mithogras grascioulsy puts out.

Myke also has a PRO involing hunts for Voln members so mastering comes quickly.

We have the portal systems that make it easy to run about and once you come, we can direct you to a map of it.

We have the Arcane Order and the Fireside Inn as the Houses of the town. Oh yes and that tower..

There is THE CIRCLE, Ur-Daemon summoning fun bunch of people that I am still not sure what it is but we are trying to figure it out. shhhh.

House Faendryl, well.. no comment on that one as we are at the moment divided and running a small storyline in game.

Player Shops all exist only in the Landing, so it is easy to shop about if wanted.

And I agree with post above, it takes more than a week to feel connected with everyone. Once you are though, it is like home.

[firegirl]

After containing some very well-crafted strings of cursing, I informed her that it was a free trial, received as an RPA, that I would have preferred the experience boost, but was refused. She then politely (/sarcasm) informed me that wasn't her problem, and that if I couldn't live by the "rules" of Platinum (apparently a rule there is that you can't depart when there's a cleric slavering for some experience), I probably didn't belong there.

I gotta tell you, that was a REALLY big straw that had just broken on my camel's back when it came to Simutronics.


Pretty sure that "Rule if it existed is gone. You can do what you like really. There are some that rather decay than be saved by a half-krol (for example).

Sorry, they tried to force it on you though.

[CrystalTears]

Heh, I played in plat when it opened. Wow, that was a while ago. It was very different from what it is today, I'm sure. Alterations were a-plenty, but then we ALL were new to it and so everything was more of an adventure than it normally would.

Raising was dragging people to the temple since no one could raise. Getting orc beards could ultimately kill the entire population because the ones saving the dead people would die, heh. About a day or so into it an alterer came around so that everyone could get a unique item. People scambled to the kobold villages just to have a piece of clothing to alter since no one had money. LOL. Good times. We had our share of drama since everyone knew each other and so everyone tied in with each other in some way or another.

About a year after I quit I went back and it felt different. Less people, everyone doing their own thing, people in their own cliques, and it took a LONG time to get recognized and spoken to. It just wasn't my thing anymore because I like to have people around.

I will say it's worth checking it out with the trial month. It's a different kind of experience that you have to try out first hand.

[Sean of the Thread]

I just rolled up a vulture empth for your TSC. He is gonna sit there and script heal for the next 6 months at least since that was my gift of adventure for Plat.

[100% Wool]

I tried Plat but it was not for me. I tried playing a mute and people kept whispering to me over and over again how to use the SAY or ' mechanics. Or kept trying to magically heal me with very little build up or RP, which was very frustrating indeed. It was also hard to play someone was was not friendly. My character wasn't mean, but she was taken as such simply because she wasn't huggy-kissy-licky. Although given that you're Barumples, I'm sure you won't have trouble with that aspect, heh!


GAG!

I so want to roleplay a character SO DIFFERENT from Barumples it isn't even funny.

I'm tired of prime; I'm tired of playing a cookie cutter empath. I miss the old days where RPing and being different actually mattered. Now that I look at it I feel bad turning into a "script kiddie". I was just tired of everyone passing me up since 1998-99. I miss people whispering to me and saying shit like "Damn you just made my day; wish more people roleplayed" now all my whispers consist of "Hey you aren't a ranged empath anymore, HEAL ME BITCH!"

So yeah, I want to try something new ; I appreciate all the replies/feedback! Hope to read some more opinions.

[Drew]

I'm tired of prime; I'm tired of playing a cookie cutter empath. I miss the old days where RPing and being different actually mattered.



What old days are you talking about? RP in Prime is the best it's ever been these days. If you don't believe me I have 10 years of logs you can look through. Usually when people miss "the old days" it seems to me they miss their friends they started playing with.

[100% Wool]

What old days are you talking about? RP in Prime is the best it's ever been these days. If you don't believe me I have 10 years of logs you can look through. Usually when people miss "the old days" it seems to me they miss their friends they started playing with.


Show me where please.
Maybe cause I'm in EN. But, the only person I've met so far since I got back a week and a half ago is Leash.

I didn't start playing with anyone; I met them as my character progressed and a lot of people I know still play actually.

[Dwarven Empath]

I have a few questions for plat players.

Say up upgrade my acct to plat.

Char's on this acct: Medi

So I make another character on that acct?

Then if I play Medi, he would be premie? And the other character on that acct would be plat?

Medi...

[Ebondale]

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking but I just upgraded my account from Premie to Plat.

The odd thing is that my two oldest characters from Prime are right there on my list of playable Plat characters. Whats the deal with that? Can those two characters exist simultaneously in both realms? I'm afraid to log either one of them into Plat for fear that it would make them a permanent Plat character.

[CrystalTears]

The odd thing is that my two oldest characters from Prime are right there on my list of playable Plat characters. Whats the deal with that? Can those two characters exist simultaneously in both realms? I'm afraid to log either one of them into Plat for fear that it would make them a permanent Plat character.

I believe that just means that those names are available for use if you wanted to use them in plat. Your regular characters stay intact, they don't get converted or anything. The only thing being reused is the name, so yes, the name can exist on both realms and they don't have anything to do with each other.

[Syberus]

Yea, what CT said. Since Plat is a seperate server, the name is reserved for you but nothing else. You can have a premium "gary" and a platinum "gary" where the premium one may be level 75 and the platinum 12.

[Sean of the Thread]

This thread is a just an huuuuuge Upsell conspiracy.. I'm going to go join the other boards with Tijay.

[Warriorbird]

You just couldn't quit him, huh?

[firegirl]

Your PRIME characters stay in Prime as is. The names that you have on your Prime account are reserved in the Plat server, only your account can use them if you want. You will have to start a brand new character but can use the exact name as your prime character if you wanted.

Nice to see you join us Ebondale! I won't be around this weekend but we got a Chat room through AIM, got any questions just pop in there or make a post on our boards. The room name is GSPLAT.

This weekend there is a Ur-Daemon Faendryl Wedding ritual going on that I am sure will be pretty interesting to see. Just ask about and I am sure you will get an invite.

[Drinin]

--The room name is GSPLAT. --

I never knew we had a chat room going, heh. I'll have to pop in from now on.

-Skaln

[Ebondale]

I must be some kinda nub cuz I can't figure out how to join an AIM chatroom that doesn't involve me inviting someone to one that I create. ;)

[TheEschaton]

I tried plat once. I played a mute bard, but I ran into the problem of people trying to teach me how to speak.

I tried to use a bit of charcoal (from the kobold mines) to write messages on whatever surfaces were available, but then I ran into the problem of forcing other characters to read, or read in common, or whatever. So I had to scrap that idea.

Plus, I had limited knowledge of/there was limited amount of verbs to "body language" my mute out.

I dislike the whole portal system, personally. People make such a huge frickin deal about how big the RP is in the game, but then you have a system to bypass all travelling? I don't care if it was introduced in an RP storyline, but that rots. If it was intro'd with a storyline, that's just an excuse to justify a system that doesn't make much sense, IC, or IG wise.

Maybe I'll try Plat again once I'm back, since it's only $10 more than premium now. Back when I tried it, I believe it was something like $40-50 more? And after my free trial I couldn't justify spending that much on a game where I was frustrated with my one character.

-TheE-

[Ebondale]

Portal system? What portal system?

[Rowi]

there is a portal system under the town well, cost 25k for a 30day ticket, itll take you to every town in the realms, when there are so little many folks around, someone dies in Vaalor its nice to be able to get them. not like we have 3 clerics and 4 empaths sittin in VC.

[Ebondale]

I had no idea there was a portal system. How do you buy the ticket and where under the well is it? :)

[Rowi]

go well, climb rope, go crevice, nw n nw nw go hole, give seller 25000 silver, pick a direction!