The "Loud Minority, Silent Majority" Problem in MO2

[WeAreAllMortal]

One of the most damaging dynamics in Mortal Online 2 is the disproportionate influence of the loudest voices in the community—namely, the griefers, PKs, and the ever-present "git gud" crowd. While they aren’t the majority of players, they dominate the forums and in-game culture because they’re the most vocal and invested in preserving the current state of the game, which, for them, is a perfect playground.

Here’s why this dynamic is so corrosive:

1. The Vocal Minority Shapes Perception:
   When new players or even developers glance at the forums, they’re greeted by a disproportionately loud group that’s quick to dismiss constructive feedback. Their message? That the chaos and lawlessness of MO2 aren’t just acceptable—they’re ideal. Anyone who challenges this status quo is branded as weak, unfit, or unwelcome. In fact: all of the above! This misrepresentation skews the perception of the player base and misleads developers into believing the majority is satisfied with the current system.
   
   The situation in-game is more complex. While there are many helpful and compassionate players who go out of their way to support newcomers, their voices are often drowned out by a vocal minority of spoilt brats who dominate the culture with their bravado and trash talk. New players often encounter a mix of genuine kindness and condescension, but the overarching message is hard to miss: “This game is hard,” and unless you “git gud,” you’ll struggle to survive—or so they’re told.
   
   The refrain “git gud” isn’t just about improving gameplay; it’s often paired with a more dismissive undertone. I’ve personally lost count of how many times I, or others, have been met with the retort, “This game isn’t for you!” simply for asking for help. And heaven forbid anyone criticizes the justice system—or the lack thereof! Such attempts are met with instant dismissal or outright hostility, reinforcing the sense that meaningful change is unwelcome.
   
   As one might expect, “git gud” in reality generally translates into joining a large guild for protection and adopting the same predatory mindset that enables the griefers to thrive. Even the most welcoming members of the community can’t fully counterbalance the fact that the game itself enables—and even rewards—a lawless environment. The lack of justice isn’t presented as a flaw to be addressed but is often spun as an intentional feature, with the unspoken implication that being preyed upon is simply part of the “sandbox experience.”
   
   This dichotomy leaves new players with the impression that while there are helpful individuals, the system itself is stacked against them unless they assimilate into the established dynamics. It’s not just the griefers who send this message—it's baked into the game’s design and culture, making it a steep hill for anyone seeking fair and meaningful gameplay.
   
   This hostile onboarding process ensures that many new players don’t stick around long enough to realize that the griefers don’t represent the majority. In the forums, the loud minority might act with a thin veneer of civility, but in-game, that crumbles entirely, exposing a toxic culture that does far more to harm the game than any perceived difficulty ever could.
   
2. The Silent Majority Disengages Entirely:
   Most players—the ones who value balanced gameplay, fair competition, and immersive mechanics—don’t just avoid the forums; they quietly leave the game altogether. Why? Because engaging with the loud minority, either in-game or on the forums, is often an exercise in futility.
   
   On the rare occasion that these players venture into the forums, they find the same mindset that drove them away in the first place: a community dominated by players who have either adapted to or outright exploit the existing system. These voices, while seemingly diverse, all advocate for maintaining the status quo with minor tweaks at best. The underlying message is clear: “The game is largely perfect in its imperfection, and you need to conform to it.”
   Faced with this, the silent majority doesn’t bother to argue or even to participate—they simply log out for good. And with every player who leaves, the dominance of the loud minority becomes more entrenched, perpetuating the illusion that their views represent the entire community.
   
3. The Cycle of Attrition:
   As each player who values fairness leaves, the community loses diversity and potential for growth. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: griefers drive players away, which leaves more space for griefers to dominate. Over time, the community becomes insular and toxic, further discouraging new players.
   
4. The Bullying Extends to Forums:
   Griefers don’t limit their tactics to in-game antics—they bring them to the forums too. They shut down meaningful discussions by belittling, dismissing, or outright mocking anyone who suggests constructive ideas, such as implementing a justice system. It’s the same playground mentality: drown out opposing voices with noise, not logic.
   
5. Developers Receive the Wrong Message:
   Because the silent majority rarely engages—either in-game or on the forums—developers are left with feedback primarily from the loud minority. This vocal group, while small, is mistakenly seen as the "engaged" community and, by extension, the game's core audience. As a result, developers cater to their desires, sidelining the critical perspectives of those who’ve already left or are quietly disengaging. This skewed feedback loop ensures that necessary changes—like a functioning justice system—are continually overlooked.

The tragedy is that Mortal Online 2 has the potential to be a truly great game. But instead of fostering a vibrant and diverse community, it’s stuck catering to a shrinking subset of players while bleeding out the broader audience that could help it thrive. The normal players—the ones who want meaningful PvP, fair challenges, and balanced gameplay—are pushed out by the very culture that claims to value strength and competition.

Without addressing this imbalance, MO2 risks remaining stagnant, perpetually losing its potential to appeal to a wider, more engaged audience. It’s time to recognize the damage this dynamic is causing and take steps to rebuild a game where all players can thrive—not just the loudest voices.

It’s time for the developers and the broader community to recognize the silent majority’s untapped potential !
By addressing the structural issues that drive them away and challenging the dominance of the loud minority, MO2 could finally become the dynamic and engaging game it’s meant to be—hardcore, but fair.

 

[Melhisedek]

Make Mortal Great Again, trolololo......Donald, are you here now?

 

[Emdash]

there isn't much of a vocal anything anymore except maybe discord

 

[finegamingconnoisseur]

I think there is a common perception out there that every player who leaves is one who values fair play, balance and immersion, and every player that stays is a toxic, anti-social griefer or ganker. A somewhat black and white picture of what the community looks like, if you will.

I won't deny that that can be true for a number of players on a case by case basis, though I also believe that every player is unique as an individual who not only processes and deals with setbacks and unpleasant experiences in their own way, but can change over time as they grow as human beings, for better or for worse.

I do believe that while some players who suffer setbacks and unpleasant experiences may leave, and leave for good, there are those who will choose to stay because they found a reason or a way for them to forge ahead despite the odds stacked against them. Some may become like the very people that caused them the setbacks and unpleasant experiences, while others become stronger in their resolve to be who they really want.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the community is in a continuous state of flux. The landscape of the community changes as older players and guilds move on, even the well-established ones, whether by choice or real-life circumstances forcing them to do so. Newer blood come in, either become established or leave, and the process repeats itself.

In that sense, I feel that the community is actually a very mixed melting pot of different players with their own unique perspectives and playstyles, and is ever-shifting in one way or the other.

One thing that has proven true, is that when a community has reached a tipping point where certain elements in that community has destabilised it sufficiently as to threaten its greater wellbeing, it often collectively rises up against it.

Case in point, I remember reading somewhere that in MO1 before I came back to the game in 2013, there was a guild so toxic and anti-social, that the entire server banded together and drove them out completely.

With that view and anecdote in mind, I would say that the MO2 community is very much a living entity unto itself, and has a way of reaching a state of equilibrium in its own way.

All this is not to say that I don't think that the justice system in MO2 can be improved or overhauled whilst keeping within the spirit of the game.

Addendum: I was not aware of this until recently, the entire MO2 server banded together to siege a guild called Nightfall which I've heard of, but never interacted with.

 

[Teknique]

I think there is a common perception out there that every player who leaves is one who values fair play, balance and immersion, and every player that stays is a toxic, anti-social griefer or ganker. A somewhat black and white picture of what the community looks like, if you will.

I won't deny that that can be true for a number of players on a case by case basis, though I also believe that every player is unique as an individual who not only processes and deals with setbacks and unpleasant experiences in their own way, but can change over time as they grow as human beings, for better or for worse.

I do believe that while some players who suffer setbacks and unpleasant experiences may leave, and leave for good, there are those who will choose to stay because they found a reason or a way for them to forge ahead despite the odds stacked against them. Some may become like the very people that caused them the setbacks and unpleasant experiences, while others become stronger in their resolve to be who they really want.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the community is in a continuous state of flux. The landscape of the community changes as older players and guilds move on, even the well-established ones, whether by choice or real-life circumstances forcing them to do so. Newer blood come in, either become established or leave, and the process repeats itself.

In that sense, I feel that the community is actually a very mixed melting pot of different players with their own unique perspectives and playstyles, and is ever-shifting in one way or the other.

One thing that has proven true, is that when a community has reached a tipping point where certain elements in that community has destabilised it sufficiently as to threaten its greater wellbeing, it often collectively rises up against it.

Case in point, I remember reading somewhere that in MO1 before I came back to the game in 2013, there was a guild so toxic and anti-social, that the entire server banded together and drove them out completely.

With that view and anecdote in mind, I would say that the MO2 community is very much a living entity unto itself, and has a way of reaching a state of equilibrium in its own way.

All this is not to say that I don't think that the justice system in MO2 can be improved or overhauled whilst keeping within the spirit of the game.

Addendum: I was not aware of this until recently, the entire MO2 server banded together to siege a guild called Nightfall which I've heard of, but never interacted with.

I like this post, and agree with it. One thing I differ with is that, often blue guilds that “defend their territory vigorously” are demonized. They are usually branded a Zerg or “fake blues” or are criticized for a personality flaw. This also happens in real life, any organization that states it has principles is vigorously held to them by whole organizations that openly say they have no principles are generally ignored. The community needs to be aware of themselves and do better

 

[WeAreAllMortal]

I think there is a common perception out there that every player who leaves is one who values fair play, balance and immersion, and every player that stays is a toxic, anti-social griefer or ganker. A somewhat black and white picture of what the community looks like, if you will.

I won't deny that that can be true for a number of players on a case by case basis, though I also believe that every player is unique as an individual who not only processes and deals with setbacks and unpleasant experiences in their own way, but can change over time as they grow as human beings, for better or for worse.

I do believe that while some players who suffer setbacks and unpleasant experiences may leave, and leave for good, there are those who will choose to stay because they found a reason or a way for them to forge ahead despite the odds stacked against them. Some may become like the very people that caused them the setbacks and unpleasant experiences, while others become stronger in their resolve to be who they really want.

It's also worth keeping in mind that the community is in a continuous state of flux. The landscape of the community changes as older players and guilds move on, even the well-established ones, whether by choice or real-life circumstances forcing them to do so. Newer blood come in, either become established or leave, and the process repeats itself.

In that sense, I feel that the community is actually a very mixed melting pot of different players with their own unique perspectives and playstyles, and is ever-shifting in one way or the other.

One thing that has proven true, is that when a community has reached a tipping point where certain elements in that community has destabilised it sufficiently as to threaten its greater wellbeing, it often collectively rises up against it.

Case in point, I remember reading somewhere that in MO1 before I came back to the game in 2013, there was a guild so toxic and anti-social, that the entire server banded together and drove them out completely.

With that view and anecdote in mind, I would say that the MO2 community is very much a living entity unto itself, and has a way of reaching a state of equilibrium in its own way.

All this is not to say that I don't think that the justice system in MO2 can be improved or overhauled whilst keeping within the spirit of the game.

Addendum: I was not aware of this until recently, the entire MO2 server banded together to siege a guild called Nightfall which I've heard of, but never interacted with.

Thanks for the thoughtful and eloquent reply, Finegamingconnoisseur! I think you’ve touched on something incredibly important: the MO2 community, by and large, is indeed brilliant. Your point about the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the player base is spot on—it’s one of the things that keeps the game world feeling alive and engaging.

Now, I can see how my posts might give the impression that I’m overly critical of the community, but that’s not the case at all. The truth is, I think the MO2 community is the absolute best I’ve ever encountered in any MMO. Without exaggeration, it’s filled with some of the most passionate, creative, and resilient players I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t be pouring such a ridiculous amount of effort into these proposals—I’d have moved on to something else entirely.

The reason my posts seem so focused on the negative aspects is simple: problems need solutions, while strengths don’t. The community’s many positives don’t require addressing because they’re already working. What does need addressing are the elements that detract from the experience—namely, the toxic behaviors of certain predatory players and the mechanics that enable and even reward those behaviors. That’s where my attention goes because those are the parts that need fixing to make the game better for everyone.

It’s like fixing a house: you don’t tear it down because the plumbing’s a mess—you roll up your sleeves and fix it, no matter how unpleasant the job. A few years back, I had the dubious pleasure of dealing with a blocked toilet pipe in my own home. Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned, and I ended up covered in… well, you can guess. Did I curse and gag? Absolutely. Did I want to demolish my house? Of course not. I tackled it because I liked my home and wanted it functioning properly.

In the same way, these proposals come from a place of care. I don’t see the MO2 community as irredeemably toxic—I see it as something incredible with a few glaring issues that need fixing. By addressing those issues, we can make the game and community even better than they already are.

So, let me say it again loud and clear: the MO2 community is fantastic. And when I’m down here in the muck, tackling the less-than-stellar parts, it’s not because I think the whole thing’s broken—it’s because I see its immense potential and want to help it thrive.

Thanks again for the great discussion—I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on how we can build on the community’s strengths while addressing its challenges!