119609-input-from-a-new-player

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Ok, I don't normally give feedback as a new player on the particulars of games, but this once I am simply overflowing with it. There are so many puzzling design choices.
 
First of all, let's cut to the chase. I don't know how the game is at higher levels, at low levels it's deserted. Actually, Illium is deserted which, I am led to believe, should be the heart of the global Dominion community on a server (Jabbit in my case). I have been playing various characters (played some Exile side too) for the past 4-5 days, and I have grouped with human players maybe three times. That is massively online, but certainly not multiplayer.
 
'But surely Cullwch you can be so magnanimous as to overlook such a shortcoming, I mean the really meaty stuff awaits you at higher levels!'
 
Yes and no. I paid for a game, a part of which is desolate, derelict and defunct. Part of the game content can only be experienced multiplayer. It would seem that I am, fundamentally, precluded from experienced a chunk of what makes up the sale price. Why is that? What is being done to rectify it?
 
'Oh, you! You can be so harsh. It's a well-known fact that Dominion side on Jabbit is considerably less populous than Exile side. Why can't you just move over to Exile?'
 
Poor argument. Imagine that you were sold a popular RPG Durgon Era: Requisition. It's advertised as allowing players to choose from 4 races. Dwarf, elf, human and centaur. As it turns out, you can only, actually, play dwarf and elf. The other two, you can create the character, but it never loads up. You cannot experience the world and the story as a human or a centaur. You'd likely be fuming and you'd ignore me if I said 'Well, why can't you just play elf or dwarf then? Come on, it's just a minor thing.' Being unable to play Dominion is the same thing.
 
'Come on, it's not so bad. Stop exaggerating. That leveling up bit will be over in no time. We all had to go through it, so why are you complaining?'
 
That leveling up bit is superfluous. As I stated, the leveling content has neither players, nor agency or thrill. Questing is tedious. A lot of the quests are needlessly long and onerous, the overarching story is... wait what story? The game has an interesting premise, a fascinating background against which a forgettable plot is presented. Most of the quests are incredibly dull story-wise. A few hours in I didn't even bother reading most, because by that point I already learnt that Cassians are pompous and vain, Draken are bloodthirsty and warlike, Mechari are exacting and cold and the Chua are cruel and ingenious. All quests after the first handful are tautologous in demonstrating the most basic characteristics of the races. I felt not agency playing them, I felt no character development and I most certainly felt no attachment to any of the personages (including my own character).
 
'Maaaan! It's an MMORPG, it's not supposed to have the plot of a single player game! What are you talking about?'
 
Sure but hey, lots of recent MMORPGs have had fairly sophisticated plots as well as strong core gameplay that is expected of an MMO. Also, if Wildstar has neither multiplayer throughout the leveling phase where most of the story is presented, nor a meaningful story, then it is about as meaningful as swimming with an umbrella is.
 
Alright, since everybody loves the topic on these forums, let's return for a bit to the lack of players at certain levels. Now, I can queue for things and wait indefinitely. Why are you even offering me the choice to queue for something which will never (by approximation) be? That is deceptive. That's like Durgon Era: Requisition telling you that to the north of the Lenderfels there's a big dragon you can go straighten out... but to access it you need a party of five, and the game only permits a party of three. Tough.
 
Also, why is there no incentive to return to lower level dungeons? You're clearly lacking the players to populate those areas with low level characters, so it's high time you thought of something to get high levels to return as part of some sort of system or scheme. Also, Adventures are a good topic too. I have not had a single adventure appear in my group finder, so it must mean that they need to be unlocked. Why? You're struggling with subscriber numbers and you're putting hurdles in front of them, preventing or delaying access to content that might attract subscribers and help them enjoy the game more. Makes no sense.
 
I have plenty of other thoughts, but I have already produced a sizeable wall of text, so it'd be wise to stop here for now. I know a lot of what I say is neither novel nor surprising, but it takes a large volume of critical comments to spur a corporation to act, so here you go, doing my part.	
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			I have to completely disagree with you about leveling.  The quests are the same as in every other MMO but I am enojying them.  I haven't had this much fun leveling in a game since the first few weeks of Warhammer, and before that in early 2006 WoW.  The combat is much more challenging and engaging than it is in other games and the limited action bars make choices much more important.  The only downside I have found so far is that I don't have enough time to play as much as I would like, but I am enjoying my journey.	
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I have to completely disagree with you about leveling.  The quests are the same as in every other MMO but I am enojying them.  I haven't had this much fun leveling in a game since the first few weeks of Warhammer, and before that in early 2006 WoW.  The combat is much more challenging and engaging than it is in other games and the limited action bars make choices much more important.  The only downside I have found so far is that I don't have enough time to play as much as I would like, but I am enjoying my journey.
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I have to completely disagree with you about leveling.  The quests are the same as in every other MMO but I am enojying them.  I haven't had this much fun leveling in a game since the first few weeks of Warhammer, and before that in early 2006 WoW.  The combat is much more challenging and engaging than it is in other games and the limited action bars make choices much more important.  The only downside I have found so far is that I don't have enough time to play as much as I would like, but I am enjoying my journey.
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			The quests in SWTOR are the same except for full voice acting during the giving and turn in phases.  Yes, I played SWTOR from early beta thoughout the first two years after launch.  I'm liking Wildstar a lot more.  And that's my opinion.	
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I actually really am enjoying the leveling process in WS.
 
 
I'm on entity and certainly no lack of players on my server.	
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The quests in SWTOR are the same except for full voice acting during the giving and turn in phases.  Yes, I played SWTOR from early beta thoughout the first two years after launch.  I'm liking Wildstar a lot more.  And that's my opinion.
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I am not saying that you have not experienced lack of players on Jabbit. I've noticed a few players say this, hhowever i recently returned to Wildstar and started again on Jabbit. I often see loads of people online.
 
What times of day do you play?
 
Single player story wise, trust me it becomes more exciting the higher you get. It has a very good story in place. I am saddened to hear of the dominion being low population :( i am exile myself, mainly because i don't like the other races on the dominion side, but the concept of them is very good and I truly hope they pick up  	
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