If you ask a Gemstone IV player why they (still) play a text-based game they will often answer 'because of the players'. Other players and the communication with them is one of the most appreciated and defining aspects of Gemstone. The community of players is something valuable as the interaction with other players allows for something new and exciting that was not scripted and is therefore unpredictable. Also role-playing is in essence a form of improvisation that is based on the reaction to other peoples' behavior.
Player Interaction Dwindles
It seems though that more and more people play alone which leads to less player interactions. Furthermore players use services offered by other players less often. In order to improve player collaboration some systems were created to provide incentives to use player services. For instance since a lot of players did not use player lock picking services the locksmith pool system was created. Other crucial services like healing and resurrection struggle with similar challenges that in many cases undermine the reason for certain professions to exist in the first place or at least erode their role-playing style.
Vicious Cycle
Some portion of the player base are not counting on the help from the community any more. These player try to be self-sufficient as player interaction brings about something unpredictable and unreliable. The reason for this behavior is due to the fact that high wait times can occur while desperately trying to find someone who would help. This produces a down-ward spiral as the less people need or want help the less opportunity for helping there is and vice versa.
As a result more and more players resort to:
Use automatic departing scripts
Use death’s sting salve from the shop
Use only herbs for healing
Use pocket healers and clerics
Use NPC healers and clerics
The Eye Watches Over You
The purpose of The Eye of Elanthia is reverse the trend described above and to make helping other players a more central part of the game again. The Eye offers a home to those that enjoy supporting other adventurers and like interaction with other players of the community. Moreover the Eye offers search and rescue services to those in need.