I remember Pico. I remember life before Valg.  I remember life
before Voralian, Tar Valon and a host of other additions to
the game.  And yet, I have never made hero.  A few days ago, I
tried again and today, gave up in disgust and deleted again. 
But this time, for a different reason.

In the past, xp sinks utterly killed me.  I'd grind and grind
for hours and then, the woops, mob death.  I'd look at the xp
hole I just dug for myself and it was so devastating to
morale, I'd give up.  

Now, that's changed.

With the fact that invis potions are essentially handed out
like candy, any class that can't see invis is screwed.  And I
made the huge mistake (for the most part) of making just such
a class.  Though I've played over many years I don't consider
my PK skills to be that good, but I consider my ability to
survive gank attempts to be well above average.  I developed a
knack for survival as the vast majority of my levelling is
done solo.  I constantly check the who and where and usually
spot incoming problems long before they happen and avoid them.
 And even when I miss the incoming gank, my wits are still
about me and can usually still manage to survive... until now
that is.  

This attempt, three times by the same warrior quaffing invis
potions and the fourth by an invisible shaman.  I survived the
first three and had I not failed a scroll, I would have
survived the fourth.  Wait, invis warriors and shaman?  Yea, I
was surprised.

Now I'm sure you're saying things like, 'well, if you can use
scrolls just use a detect invis scroll.'  And you'd be
correct. I could have, were I filthy rich and could afford to
keep one going constantly.  I was not.  And I have this thing
about having to keep paying to keep a detect invis scroll
going, costing me a small fortune in the process, when one
single invis potion is all the potential ganker would have to
pay to keep me from seeing them.

And I'm sure you're saying, 'oh, well, just group with someone
who can see invis.'  And you'd be correct there as well. 
Except for the fact that groups aren't that easy to find, at
least not for me.  Everyone has their own political
affiliations. If you try to stay out of the politics, they
make the excuse that you weren't picking sides or you didn't
look like you were supposed to and they gank you.  If you dive
into the politics, you're targeted by every OTHER political
mindsets and they still gank you. Which, is why I've always
typically soloed with the theory that if they aren't sure what
you are, they'll leave you be (for the most part). But,
sometimes you don't get a choice and the politics finds you.
So, the choices, in my mind, are squatting in a guild hoping
to find like-minded players without giving away your mindset
and painting a bullseye on your ass or, just go solo it.

More than anything, I've simply wanted to learn the game.
Learn the ins and outs of where to find this or that piece of
gear without dying a horrible mob death so that one day... I
might turn the tables.

I don't see that happening now even moreso.

With invis potions being sold for a pittance, the already
massive gear advantage that older players have over those like
me has been magnified to the point that I have no desire to
try again. 

And before you say, 'oh, just play a human assassin or a
duergar AP,' let me point out that I'd prefer to play a class
that I consider to be fun, one that I'd enjoy RP'ing, and not
be forced to play a particular class because warriors, shaman,
paladins, etc. can now run around with a bag full of invis
potions.

Thanks for trying to convince me to hang around though. But I
think this time, the advantage given to experienced players of
having all the nice toys plus invis, has gone over the top.

Delete - Delete