Right. At 24, when this shit had just launched and everyone was breaking their balls against the content trying to figure it out and the gear was badly itemized and the mobs overtuned, being able to clear the shit in x amount of time was an actual demonstration of something, skill, talent, luck, whatever.
Now its just a testament to having no life. Because goddamn Ossoi. This shit is 15 years old. We're 40 bud. Kids. Jobs. Families. Responsibilities. The queues raped a lot of people who work during the day's playtime. And there was no rush. Still isn't. We have no clue on phase 2 dropping. It could be next month. It could be 3 months away or more.
The people who rushed to get everything done will be bored and not logging in by next month.
Many may not come back for P2.
Taking it a little slower might be beneficial to player retention longer term.
Slower is the way to go. I am beating a dead horse saying this over and over here, but I only do it because I know first hand so well how easily it is to burn out and get bored and how easy it is to not get burnt out and not get bored. All you gotta do is ignore competition and ignore the nerds that are having a miserable time grinding all day long, but want you to be miserable t0o, so they try to shame you into playing the way they play. Just ignore it. Who fucking cares what level you are and what level they are and what items they have and what items you have.
Are you having fun? That's all that matters. This is your free time. Time is the most valuable thing in the world, and free time is precious. If your free time isn't being spent having as much fulfilling fun as possible, you're doing life wrong. I can't stop preaching this because it was the most valuable gaming lesson I've ever learned and it has paid me back insane dividends.
If you don't know how to do it, just make a few simple rules for yourself and follow them no matter what. It's really simple:
1) If you find yourself frustrated,do something else or log out
2) If you find yourself bored, and not wanting to do whatever you're doing in game, stop doing it and go do something else or log out.
No ifs ands or buts. Not even guild loyalty or friendship is worth breaking these rules. Your friend needs your help grinding some shit for hours that you are going to hate the entire time? Fuck no. Now, you can find ways to make those hours fun, by chatting and hanging out or whatever, but if you can't accomplish that, it's not worth it. Don't break the rules and you won't get burnt out and the game will give you way, way more quality mileage and mileage in general. This goes for any game, but particularly for MMOs.