Where do I belong?
I've been chasing the UO dragon for over 20 years now. Can't find a private/custom server that keeps me coming back.
Is 10-20 people all we can hope for in a non-Outlands server? That feels so empty, and even worse when you're constantly running into chars that are just afk macroing. That's what threw me off of UOR. This is my biggest lack in the servers I've tried, and easily the biggest hurdle for any server to overcome, I imagine.
The virtual lack of non-consensual PvP robs all excitement from me. I want to chase and be chased.
I haven't found any servers where the new/custom content is focused on bringing players together in order to foster emergent scenarios or motivations. Seems like it's all endgame PvM or crafting. The problem with that is it doesn't add any friction between players/groups of players. It encourages solo play or group play where everyone involved has a common goal and the only friction is against the game itself, instead of other players.
Speaking of friction, the stripping thereof seems to be a consistent throughline and the biggest drawback for me. GM'ing chars takes too long; remove friction by afk macroing. Farming dungeons is too tedious, time consuming or risky; remove friction by adding gates on every dungeon level. Remove friction by adding instances.
They all feel like solo/coop rpgs without the benefit of an engaging narrative throughout.
This is a bit of a ramble. Disagree with me to help me get some clarity on my thoughts about these and other issues of trying to enjoy UO in present day. I want the magic back.