Time for hibernation

The new Genesis expansion is now just 48 hours away.

It brings with it the possibility for many new adventures. New races, new characters, fresh TW map and more.

Since the launch of the Raging Tide expansion and server, Fuzzy has loved the time he spent here. The panda has seen many good times and many bad times. Made many friends, and 1 or 2 enemies. (Although, if they honestly thought themselves to be "enemies" they take things far too seriously)

It has been said that over the last year and a bit, the game itself has taken a turn for the worse and become unbalanced. While yes, there are still ways to feel productive, the current state of things effects no other class the way it does barbarians. We are asked to be used and abused to help everyone out to get them to their end-game and once there, simply forgotten. This is a complaint Fuzzy hears from many barbs across all servers, and it is true also on our own.

So, many people suggest to either get claws or create an aps character. After more than a year of resisting, Fuzzy did in the end roll a BM. One or two of you may have seen him around. To say that this solved the problem of not feeling useful is a gross understatement. A 4aps BM (never even mind a 5) is the most mindless pve toon ever to play. Auto-attack, spark, auto-attack, spark, auto-attack, hf, auto-attack, marrow, rinse and repeat ad-nausem. While Fuzzy loves to farm pve, and is extremely proud of the fact he farmed 95% of what he has, doing so now as an aps toon is far from enjoyable. There is no challenge left to any instance. Nirvana, Warsong, 3-3, Abaddon, SoT..... all are a joke. World Boss's as well are simply no challenge at all. The pve aspect of the game has ceased to be enjoyable due to the ease with it can be completed.

As for the TW aspect, this too is something Fuzzy has simply ceased to find enjoyable. Things such as R8/R9, attack blessings, and extremely affordable refinements are things that have played entirely into the hands of the ranged DD class in TW. The last time Fuzzy participated in a TW, an archer with a R8 +8 bow was able to crit Fuzzy for over 15k. While this is still far from being able to 1 shot the panda, it does frustrate him. +7/+10 full JoSD G15 Nirvana armour should not be that easily damaged. Even making use of the best available pots, a charm, and having pretty damn good gear, all it takes now is 2 archers each hitting a crit to kill a 23k hp barb pulling a cata. (at least this barb)

Also, having led a faction for close to a year is another reason Fuzzy no longer finds enjoyment in TW. For most people, it simply a case of "sign up and show up". Fuzzy envy's those people. There are extremely dedicated members to each of the TW factions who spend time trying to strategize and organize. To the people in the other factions who do this work, you have Fuzzy's ultimate respect. It can very easily become much like a second job. The amount of time it requires is something that Fuzzy became burnt out on, along with all the time required for the other responsibilities of leadership, and it was a contributing factor to the panda giving up lead to, and leaving his faction.

So, with all that has changed, and all the changed still to come, Fuzzy believes it is time for hibernation. The panda is going to effectively go into retirement and leave Raging Tide.

Thank you to all who have made the time spent here so much fun. There are FAR FAR FAR too many of you to name. Were it not for some of the people who populate the server there would never have been any way to ever achieving half of what Fuzzy accomplished.

The only regret Fuzzy has in leaving Raging Tide is that he was unable to kill Harpy Wraith. However, it is still nice to bow out with 99.99999% of the checklist complete.

Good luck for the future RT, and remember to be a little nicer to your barb brethren still out their breaking their back for you.

b:sadb:bye