Ok, you are not wrong on a lot as well. Mainly I will agree with the bit about finesse but for those of us who have hung around for a while, things like that will probably not be a deal breaker.
I hear what you are saying on the other points but without a major action, the most that is going to be doable with Classic is band aid fixes. And even the best one of those in the world is not going to make a drastic shift in numbers. To address some of the "core" issues we need to meet them on a "core" level.
For example, lets say that today you just decided to join Classic and are now a novice on the server. How long would it take for the rookie you, to be able to compete with the strong version of you? Probably a really long time but what I am trying to get at is the current Classic has a humongous gap between level 99 characters. Which means even if a player grinds it out to 99 they still might not be any kind of a match to someone of the same level.
In some cases, Classic just needs a little TLC. Again I want to stress that all the things they've focused on have either been for the end game experience, or for the very beginner. They've not addressed any of the issues when it comes to socializing or anything between the start and end game.
How long would it take for the rookie you, to be able to compete with the strong version of you?
Maybe a few will be willing to go that extra mile and get cards, gear and transcend but most would probably rather quit. If the top of the mountain is too high and not seen as achievable then there could be a shortage of people willing to take on the challenge.
I have two answers to this.
1) Not very long if I joined a guild
2) rookies should NOT be aiming to be competing with me. They should be aiming to compete with far lower tier players, other rookies and low end guilds.
I am at the very, very, very, very far end of what a new player should be aiming for. I am the end game! It would be nonsensical to assume they can ever catch me, if I keep playing. That's not how MMORPGs work....
In light of that, the answer could be to lower the top of the mountain. That way the gap does not get as big. Rare gears should be looked at, the stat and skill bonuses after trans and other things I'm sure. As of now, Expanded classes have no role at 99. They can still show up but they would be far outclassed in almost every category. And I guess that is partly how they were designed but if we want to make life at 99 as interesting as possible then we want to include as many odd jobs and players as possible, right?
Expanded classes (linkers) have roles. Very desired roles, but in PVM it doesn't matter if you're a level 50 linker or a level 99 linker, your peers won't share exp with you. That's a fundamental problem with RO as a whole, not Classic.
The current Classic population is scattered all around, so there is not a way to lower the power gap and to still have it be fair. Not unless the change is done on a global scale.
There are people who play just to be able to climb the mountain because they like challenges. In my eyes, the problem isn't that newbies feel like the climb is too hard, it's more about there being no other newbies to make the climb with. Extra issue, those at the top of the mountain should be continuing to look up, not turning around and throwing rocks at those below. Again I feel like this is an MMO conundrum. If it isn't items and levels that are the issue, veteran experience will always win the day, if not established groups and numbers.
So in my eyes the issue really becomes, how to you make the people are the top look up again?
To clarify, by restricting trans and going down to x1 rates, it would hopefully change PvM for the better. Trans levels are like 50-70% of a characters game time so it should still even out and maybe be slightly easier. This could encourage more newbies to try Classic and reduces the end game gap, which could lead to less players getting discouraged. It is the best idea that I can think of to get a big and sustained bump in numbers. (tho I like the server when it is small and quiet as well)
Getting to 99 would be a lot more difficult but also possibly a lot more rewarding if we can get the balance right.
I'm all for 1x rates tbh, it keeps people pvming longer. No, 99ing wouldn't be hard. But there would be more parties for longer until all the veterans hit 99 again. Then it's dark frames to 70, geographers to 84, thors/bio to 99.
If I'm just going to be cannon fodder, then I would avoid PVP too. If players think they actually have a chance, then we might see more action.
Which would be solved if there were more "fodder tier" players in PVP. It's unrealistic to expect to compete with someone like say, myself, a guildleader who's been here since the start if you're new. But there should be other new/low level players to play with. Currently there is not.
What you say about people maybe not having time for it also rings true. I myself would not give any guarantees about how long I would play but I am thinking more about the welfare of the Classic population as a whole. It would not be fun to lose what has already been earned but I think it is a worthwhile sacrifice for long term gain. I see the choice as 1. we keep what we have but some systems are a little broken or 2. we lose everything but get to fix some of what is broken.
I think making those long term fixes is worth the cost. In the short term it would be a drag but just think of the others who would then be able to start their own adventures.
Why I don't think a wipe will work: Lessons ARENT being learned from any prior server, everyone knew how classic was going to end up and nothing was done about it. Some changes such as Ephemeral gods actually ended up being more of the problem they were designed to prevent, the inability to sell to smaller upcoming guilds, etc. Instead they just stagnate and merge and polarize between the two top groups.
Bonus points: Warpportal and the lack of faith the RO community at large (not just iro players) have in them.
(besides a wipe would not be too bad for experienced players who already know how to train and make progress, although I know it would still probably sting)
Would it really solve the gap tho? These people will get to 99 fastest in their groups, and the people who lagged behind before, will still do so...
And finally I don't believe we should be trying to make Classic 2.0 with a lot of add-on's and extra modifications. Once the central core is developed and stable I think we should mostly leave it be. (with all the current stuff and works in progress included) Classic should be Classic, we should not try and turn it into Renewal.
I disagree with that fundamentally. Classic should be a pre-re mechanics server with its own unique future and content, otherwise we get.... what we have now.