The Sweat This Playtest Is Astronomical

I'm not entirely sure why, but the playerbase in this playtest seems a lot more toxic, unfriendly, and generally annoying than even Playtest #4. I can't have a single High Roller game without a range hacking Barb 1 shotting me from lightyears away. Nor can I play Bard and try to adopt some homies.

BESIDES GOBLIN CAVES. I have not a single damn clue what the big difference is, but every single player I meet in Goblin Caves is just a complete sweetheart. Then I head into the good map, and everyone is trying harder than I've seen anyone try in this game. Until they're almost dead, then the tune changes real quick to "Brobrobrobrobro pls don't do it PLLLLLSSSSSSSSSS can we be friends I don't want to die pls mr ranger man"

It seems to me the Howling Crypts playerbase is full of people who think loot is their entire life in this playtest alpha game. If the game was released at this point, I wouldn't give a single *frick*, but how are any of the newer players going to learn the ropes? I'm glad I have previous playtest experience, because this being my first would be hell, and I would hate the game.

Besides. Goblin. Caves. I personally dislike the map, but my god the people there are just 10/10. I adopted an entire lobby of Rogues and Barbs as Bard, and we all went to go fight the boss and died laughing together. It was a great experience. I'm by no means saying that should be super common, or the ONLY way to play. But it's incredibly disappointing to see the unfun nature of every other player this playtest. I have maybe 10 clips of hilarious, really cool, or really interesting moments from Playtest #4. I have one for this playtest, and it's that one.

The cheating has to be the worst part of the entire playtest though. I understand cheating is inevitable, but what I don't understand is why this playtest? It being torrented, surely there's not a single bit of anti-cheat, but why cheat in the first place? The game will be gone again in only 2 days. Range hacking, 1 shotting, etc etc doesn't only make the game unfun for those being murderlurdled, but it's completely unfun for the 1 shot 10 light year away Barb that won't have these cheats in the future. I suppose getting all Legendary, Purple, and Unique gear is pretty neat, but where's the fun in using it, if you know you're not going to lose it? Until 2 days from now when EVERYTHING is gone. When the game fully releases, these smoothbrain cheat engine users aren't even going to play, because they don't know how. Gives me "Bro Imma hit you offline, because you killed me in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2" vibes.

Not to mention, the shit talk last time was so much better. I miss being fucked on by "Ayo buddy.......I got a question for you." - "What's good, homie, whachu want?" - "What class are you gonna pick when you get back to lobby?" - Then I get absolutely man handled by a triple invisible Barb team. <--- Speaking of which. In a game based on D&D, where did the creativity in the player base go? It was certainly there before, but it doesn't seem to be now. Where are the cheese spots? The darkened corners? Where are the legitimate outplays? I haven't hit a single hunting trap, gotten a single consumable thrown at me, nor have I even found a Ranger that can hit me if I side to side shimmy... Now everyone's just going Triple Rogue with double jump, poison, and absurd damaging daggers. Or Locust Swarm Cleric. I understand these things are in the game by design, but cHRIST. Do one interesting thing this playtest, and I'd be happy.

Last playtest I got absolutely DEMOLISHED a few times to the point where all I said was "WWHAAT?! DUDE. YOU'RE JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TAKE ALL MY LOOT, YOU'VE EARNED IT" - But in this playtest, the sentiment seems to be "I hope you get a callous inbetween your toes, and are super uncomfortable for 14 days straight for the piss poor behavior you've exhibited here."

Maybe I'm just getting unlucky, but the playerbase does not at all feel like it used to. I miss the mind games. I miss being jumpscared by people instead of 1 shot by them. I miss a lot about the old playtest, but the game I love is still THERE, people just seem to be ruining it sadly. I will continue bonking fellow adventurers in the mouth, but I'd like there to be some type of interaction as well. I miss the lads from last playtest. Out skill me, out ranger me, out rogue me, do anything but sweat your balls off, and try to make the most overpowered thing you possibly can. It's incredibly disappointing to see.

Love you doods. See y'all in Das Dungeon.

Edit: Besides the 4 or 5 turbo virgins who still drink monster and punch holes in drywall, these comments have been fantastic. A lot of sensible and/or interesting points on why it is the way it is. I'm hoping the top comment about it being mostly because of the torrent is the case, but I think it's a mix of all of the positive and negative outlooks on it. Much obliged for the brain food, friends. Have a good playtest! If I run into any of you, no promises I won't kill you, but you'll know it's coming. I will indeed be screaming Tenacious D songs and running people down as my ranger, or my Bard.