Observations from a older subscriber

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Since Thursday I spent more than 20 hours replaying my level 53 Fixer (who is now level 55).

Here is what I learned:

This game is not friendly for solo players. I ran around literally not knowing what to do. I ran into various Whom-pas leading me to places in the hopes of finding players. I found a lot of high-level players in Newland City, but they were just standing around idling.

The player base for the most part is friendly. Unfortunately AO is so complex that I did not ask nearly half the questions I wanted for fear of being stigmatized and ostracized. I tried to use Google and these forums to find answers for many questions. Some were answered, others haven't.

I thought game play in Shadowland was different than game play in Rubi-ka. Turns out SL is not only not the same, but it is worse. I can solo all day long but the desired method of leveling up happens with pocket groups and grinding on Hecklers. That's not fun.

As a Fixer I also learned half of my class abilities do not work in Shadowland.

What in the hell is up with Ergo?! For an ancient machine it sure does talk a lot. Would have love to have a "SKIP INTRO" button, or some sort of way to speed up the conversation. I tried to do the quest with Deep Breath Nine and instead of getting the key for the near-by dungeon, I got bupkis. I constantly went back to Ergo, got the empty canister, hoofed it all the way over to DBN and same deal. I did this 5 times before giving up.

Bugs! After running around with some weak-ass Sleekmaster Classics someone told me "those are weak guns, but they very good for beginners." Then they told me about "Perennium Beamers". I spent a great deal of time trying to locate some. Someone decided to give me a QL151 Perennium Beamer for when I get higher in level. The item did not appear in my inventory. I was confused. The player then asked me to exit the building and, to my surprise, it is in my inventory. For a game this old should this stuff not be fixed by now?

I ended up going back to Temple of Three Winds because it is the only place I remember finding a group and generally having a lot of fun. Only problem is most of the players at TOTW are under my level. So I barely got an invite. Fortunately while at the Temple I was invited into a nice organization called H.O.L.Y. They have been very nice and helpful. But I cannot help but think had I not joined the organization I would still be running around confused as hell.

I wager my nano programs, armor, and so forth is laughable at my level, but given my overall knowledge of AO I feel like I could spend every waking hour learning how to play and it still wouldn't help.

I just don't know what to do. I would like to continue playing AO but the game leaves much to be desired. First and foremost for me it felt like one big WTF. You'd think after 20 hours I should be able to get a concept of where to go, what to do... the basics. I've played easy games like WOW and I've played fairly difficult games like EVE Online... but AO is like in a class all its own with regards difficulty.