An overview of PWI

So, a year has passed for me in PWI has finally passed, and I think it's time to set the good 'ol game down for a while. But unlike most of the people who ragequit this game trying to milk out the last span of attention they can get before they 'go', I'd like to share things that might give a little insight to what playing PWI has to offer.
I'll set it up in the form of a review, but it isn't. It's highly subjective.

1. First Impressions

I was drawn into this game by the presence of lion-based characters. I'm an avid fan of lions as they are my favourite animal, I was very much so impressed by its availability, and whatever customization it had, even though it was just a slight shift in the jaw, tip of the mane or eye colour, it still had my giddy. When I played it for a while, I saw people flying and flight develops a third aspect to online gaming for me because no other game that I played offered this feature (since the first MMORPG I've ever played in 2003 at least, and I've tried a lot of f2p mmo's). I very much enjoyed flight when I got a skymanta. It's an experience that wouldn't be forgotten in online gaming for me.

2. Community

Drama drama drama drama drama. Even a guild named "No Drama" has severe amounts of drama that it's become part of the PWI experience. Seriously, the people of PWI are so either touchy feely, thinking about all the drama I've ever experienced in the game makes me nauseous. Being in a guild does that... Though it can be a good thing because it shows that everyone in PW connects with each other... Even though it's for the worst. People even get into relationships through it! I was the leader of the Pride and being guild leader was strenous. People nag at everyone for help when everyone is busy and quit if they dont get what they need. Then when they leave it somehow triggers chain reaction of other people leaving. Those who are loyal to your guild dies a little inside as they grow accustomed to a growing number and suddenly losing that... It's just all a mess, all of you are in guilds, at least, most of you. You know how it goes.

3. Combat/Classes

Well, all it's highly average. It can be a lot better... But it's up to par with most standards of MMORPGs I've played before... Nothing compared to the new one I'm trying out right now, but it's a classic battle system.
I used to think that all the classes are balanced... However, due to high differences in wealth, I have to think the latter (Psychics and Assasins I still think are OP, especially with their new skills coming, that's a topic that I'll leave to the other threads). It makes PvP a lot more unenjoyable when people play not of skill, knowledge of class, hard work to get the gear you have, but just of pure wealth and buy your way to the top. It's old news, and there's nothing you can do about it. All you have to do is just enjoy yourself with your friends in a nice grinding session or instance.

4. Skills and Abilities

In the lower levels, skills and abilities came left and right and always added a new sense of pride when achieving an unlocked ability. That kinda stops when you reach 89 or 92 when I got my sage/demon skills because it's just repeats of skills you currently have, nothing new except for a few pleasing bonuses, but it's still not worth it if you have to pay your way through. I did enjoy anticipating a new skill everytime I gained a new one. I for one found the barbarian skill sets up to par with what they have to offer, plenty of room for improvement in my opinion.

5. Adventures

Throughout the entire game, I've played through all the quests since I was f2p with no experience boost like oracles until the release of hyper stones which I used to get me to 89 from level 85. Many of them are tedious grindings which kills things pretty much. But it's progression that gets it nice and dandy. There are times when I came short of quests to do, but it's truly all just grinding. Nothing more really... There needs more active storyline. FC is a great example, the problem is that it's the ONLY one... There needs to be lower level versions of FC's cuz grinding gets boring fast... and you'd have to be crazy to grind for exp in your higher levels.

6. Events

Some of them I like. Some of them started off as a good thing (the invasion of the bosses in Harshlands - Hidden Orchid). Cash shop events are a big dislike though. I dont think I should explain myself on this part... Just look through at least 5 pages in the forums and my points would probably be summed up in those.

7. Support / Forums

The forums for the most part are very entertaining. If something happens in PWI that people don't like. You bet your **** that the forums will be spammed in the GD and Suggestion box in no time flat.
The suggestion box is strangled out though. Besides the Cash shopping complaint, it's the lack of an open mind to the developers. You may notice a thread called Animal Form; it's been up for 7 months and it hasn't been acknowledged. 400+ votes for yes, EXCLUDING a similar (and much older) thread in the Barbarian class forums that is much older than the ANimal Form thread (which contains 500+ votes).
There are trolls here and there, people posting about quitting etc. (Just like what I'm doing, except I'm not whining about anything). The CM's connect well with people. eatwithspoons was fun and frankieray is cool.

Well, that's it... Time to uninstall PW. Been fun... (at least until a few months of the Rising Tide >.>)
I still want to have the Animal Forms implemented into the game, so once that is around, I might check back to look around. TTFN people of PW. I shall miss you... But I'm done. I'll miss the friends I've made.