"Sure, you can rank as a group but you can also farm observation as a group. And it's not like ranking actually helps social interaction -- you are typically too busy grinding mobs. Whereas when you go sightseeing as a group, you typically talk and it facilitates expressing your character's opinion on the things you see."

My experience is the opposite. Observing in a group means rushing through with one guy calling out keywords giving you no chance to actually read descriptions on the one occassion you're doing it for the first time, whereas if I regularly group with someone I feel like it's a bonding experience.

"Also, farming observation to the limit is trivial and no more difficult than reaching hero rank. And I know I keep looking at things even after I reach the cap, and bring people around on explore trips. It's fun when you put it into perspective."

It usually takes me over 300 hours to hit the observe cap. It usually takes me less than 300 hours to con die. I've never come close to the explore cap and recent experiences suggest it wouldn't even be possible for a character who didn't take time out to go exploring prior to reaching hero.

"Also, when edge bonuses for observation were made 1/3000, I suggested that the obs-exp cap be halved instead, with bonuses staying 1/1500. The maximum effect would be the same, but less of a "grind" for those who don't like doing it."

This would mitigate the problem.

Also, I want to say that I *like* exploring, and looking at things, finding hidden keywords in room descriptions etc. What I don't like is being *forced* to do non-exploring (it's not exploring if I already know the area by heart) and non-observing in order to be competitive in PK.