The Elitist Mentality

[TigerBurge 2,375]

The Elitist Mentality: Destiny’s Biggest Problem

May 26, 2015 • By Anthony Taormina

Destiny Elitism

Well before Destiny hit store shelves, gamers could tell that Bungie’s latest game, their first non-Halo effort in more than a decade, would be something special. However, few could have predicted how much of a phenomenon Destiny has become.

Despite a community of close to 100,000 strong, Destiny has proven itself to be among the most divisive releases in recent memory, garnering as much critical praise as gamer derision. In fact, the game has fostered its own sub culture, part of which has been positive and part of which has been negative.

That negative side of the Destiny community has appeared in various forms, but the most common is an elitist mentality. While Destiny is supposed to be an all-inclusive experience, the way Bungie designed the game, specifically the random loot drops and endgame content requirements, is such that many players get shut out simply for not being deemed “good enough.”

The Destiny “Elite”

Now, video game elitism is nothing new to the world of online games, but for many gamers Destiny will be their first encounter with it. MMO players know the feeling all too well, but luckily there are matchmaking options to help them circumvent those cutoffs. Destiny, on the other hand, has no matchmaking for its endgame content, meaning if a player is deemed “bad” and they don’t have any Destiny-playing friends there is nothing they can do to get around that.

Prison of Elders - Skolas Boss

Destiny elitism is present in many ways, but has only further come into light with the launch of the House of Wolves DLC. Once the second DLC expansion for Destiny arrived, players found themselves in yet another position of inferiority, as Bungie raised the level cap from 32 to 34. So, any who had yet to get to level 34 would obviously not be considered for the top tier content, namely the Prison of Elders combat arena.

To make matters worse, once players did hit level 34, they still found a barrier to entry for Prison of Elders’ level 35 arena. After videos surfaced showcasing how best to quickly defeat the level 35 boss, Skolas, many figured that the only way to do so was with a team full of Gjallarhorns and a Titan using the ‘Weapons of Light’ buff. It’s obviously not the only way, but it seemed the easiest and so many assumed it was the only.

It didn’t take long for the Destiny community to jump on that assumption after that. Just a quick browsing of Destiny “matchmaking” sites like DestinyLFG.com showed an overabundance of players requesting that teammates must have Gjallarhorn if they wanted to do level 35 Prison of Elders.

DestinyLFG Must Have Gjallarhorn

However, since Gjallarhorn is among the most rare guns in all of Destiny, that seemed like a pretty lofty expectation. To punish players because they weren’t lucky enough to see the exotic rocket launcher drop was bordering on absurd, and yet few were willing to acknowledge that. Or to require that players have finished the Prison of Elders level 35 before joining the team seems counterproductive to the whole point of a looking for a group. Not to mention, the numerous accounts of players joining a group only to be kicked out because they didn’t have the “right” gear or weren’t deemed worthy enough.

Destiny’s Lighthouse

Then came the launch of the Trials of Osiris multiplayer event over the weekend, and yet again Destiny elitism reared its head. After discovering that players that went 9-0 during a run would unlock a secret area called The Lighthouse and a chest filled with rare rewards, many were obsessed with visiting the location themselves. And as a result, the requirements for joining a Trials of Osiris group jumped from a casual interest in PvP to “must be the best in the world.”

Destiny Trials of Osiris Lighthouse Area

Once again, Destiny players took to the forums and subreddits to voice their displeasure, feeling shut out from top tier rewards because they weren’t deemed “good enough.” In the case of Trials of Osiris, there are still plenty of worthwhile rewards to be had just for a few wins, but most are focused on the flawless victory. In fact, some players are so concerned with getting duped into adding a “bad” player that they claim they will institute a vetting process to determine the joining player’s skill. It’s as if trying to participate in any endgame content is a job interview where a rare emblem for the 9-0 run is the ticket to future success.

Fixing Destiny Elitism

Ultimately, there’s no easy solution for getting around Destiny elitism, or any type of video game elitism, but it’s no less an ugly side of this particular community. Because of certain decisions Bungie has made – i.e. no matchmaking for raids, Nightfall strikes, etc. – they have created a situation where the top tier players can shut out any who want to be top tier. And in most cases the top tier players only became top tier because of a lucky drop. They didn’t do anything differently to earn their Gjallarhorn, or Hawkmoon, or Etheric Light; the Destiny gods simply smiled upon them and frowned on another. And because that other player was frowned upon they have to count on the generosity of strangers to get into a raid or Prison of Elders game.

Destiny Top Guns - Gjallarhorn

We’re sure that with Destiny 2, or the Comet standalone release, Bungie will institute new ways to circumvent this elitism, but for now it’s shutting out a lot of eager members of the community. There are lots of people who want to try the raids, or Prison of Elders, or Trials of Osiris, but their perceived inferiority is preventing them.

Have you seen any cases of Destiny elitism? How would you like to see Bungie combat the issue?

http://gamerant.com/destiny-elitism-prison-of-elders-trials-osiris/

[JsinOwl 644]

Interesting article. I've never used LFG, so I can't say I've encountered this, but seems a real problem nonetheless.

[TigerBurge 2,375]

Interesting article. I've never used LFG, so I can't say I've encountered this, but seems a real problem nonetheless.

It's a major issue. I've seen it a lot. Do you use Reddit? Check out the r/fireteams for Destiny. The elitest mentality is bad. People think you must have a Gjallahorn or must be 34 to compete. Which is completely wrong. Then people start to believe they need those items to compete

[crippled_viper 258]

It's a major issue. I've seen it a lot. Do you use Reddit? Check out the r/fireteams for Destiny. The elitest mentality is bad. People think you must have a Gjallahorn or must be 34 to compete. Which is completely wrong. Then people start to believe they need those items to compete

I agree Chris. You don't need to be a certain level or have certain weapons. But I feel that the best weapon and level is your team and communication.

[crispymorgan 1,054]

The biggest barrier for me to overcome is that PoE is just so fucking boring.

[Diddums 4,346]

If people start requiring shit to be able to enjoy themselves, then they need to put the joystick down fkr a bit and get some sun.

This is a videogame. We play this to relax and enjoy ourselves, elitists can kiss my ass.

[Stretch616 697]

Elitists can suck my balls. It's a videogame, get over yourself.

It is a shame that this type of person has probably alienated some of the more casual players. I'm tempted to get on Reddit now and create a noob team thread where the requirements are a sense of humour and the ability to fail the gorgan maze at least 15 times before asking what's a jumping puzzle. I have a lot more fun playing with those people than people insisting that a 365 Ghally is the be and end all of the game.

[Diddums 4,346]

It's funny you should say that as that is word for word how I built one of the most successful guilds on our server during my wow days. It was great fun and even the hardcore pros respected us, many had other characters who would roll with us because it was much more fun than getting shat out for misplacing a step in a raid.

[techno 3,510]

The biggest barrier for me to overcome is that PoE is just so fucking boring.

Not so much that but it's lifespan is way shorter than a raid boots this week theoretically I'm done, but I see the problem and as with cod before the YouTube community have played their part,all these "pro" players just burn through this stuff post it and then every try hard squeaker wants a piece.

I literally have no desire to do 35 or trials it's just not worth it yet I still like to run raids for fun kind of says it all.

Gjallerhorn and fatebringer again most needed.

I will never use lfg etc I know some have but it's not me, I would move on first.

[cyberninja2601 1,106]

While I don't disagree with anything in the article I don't think it should come as a surprise for any online game. 

 

That stuff has been going forever. Just look at CoD clans, BF squads and any other game.

 

People like to win and stats are a matter of pride for a lot of people.

 

I think destiny's biggest problem is the game's repetitive nature. I know I just got bored a doing the same old same old once we figured out how to do a certain strike or raid.

[Sennex 1,903]

Good article.

 

I wish they had covered the Arrogant Destiny player type as well. Or the ones that have to measure dick size every time something is mentioned.

[TigerBurge 2,375]

Good article.

I wish they had covered the Arrogant Destiny player type as well. Or the ones that have to measure dick size every time something is mentioned.

Hahaha hahaha

Where's the fucking like button

[techno 3,510]

*cough* ^^

Bungie haven't helped by releasing iron banner one week after the update it defiantly favours people who have ground to level 34 and have upgraded 365 weapons

[Sennex 1,903]

Bungie haven't helped by releasing iron banner one week after the update it defiantly favours people who have ground to level 34 and have upgraded 365 weapons

 

Sadly it is a common tactic in MMO's

 

It further separates the "Hardcore" player from the "Casual". 

[Diddums 4,346]

Hmmmm.

I can't say I've played more than the average gamer since release and I'm 34 with 365 weapons.

[Sennex 1,903]

Hmmmm.

I can't say I've played more than the average gamer since release and I'm 34 with 365 weapons.

 

You play way more than the Average gamer bro

Hell, I play way more than the average gamer

 

Comparison:

ME:

Titan           6d 4h 38m

Baby Titan  0d 1h 47m

Warlock      3d 7h 14m

Total           9d 13h 39m

 

EDIT: Add maybe 5-6 hours to my total for my Hunter before I deleted it

 

DAVE:

Titan          14d 14h 50m

Warlock       2d 11h 50m

Hunter         3d 5h 13m

TOTAL:      20D 7h 53m

[Baabcat 1,646]

34's pretty easy to get to , and 365 exotics are real easy. In fact if I could grind enough IB to get 4 etheric light I'll have 3x34. Not sure I'll have time but even without that I expect to have 3x34 inside a couple of weeks, and I won't even be playing that much in that period

[Diddums 4,346]

I meant since the drop of the wolves xpac.

[Sennex 1,903]

Even then bro, you have been playing a lot lately. Maybe not as much as usual for you, but you have played more than my 4-5 hours.

[TigerBurge 2,375]

34 is extremely easy to get and anyone who prides their selves on being 34 needs a fucking life. It's about luck. I would say this game more than others takes more luck than skill. To me the true skill in this game lives in PvP. You can't cheese shot there...... Except the thorn.

[Sennex 1,903]

I got 365 on Hawkmoon thanks to No Land Beyond 

[DarkArch3typ3 58]

You guys need to join me3 where it's always skill. No luck. Pure raw powdered skill.

[cyberninja2601 1,106]

You guys need to join me3 where it's always skill. No luck. Pure raw powdered skill.

 

 

I don't know getting something good in those Specter packs seems pretty luck based to me 

[DarkArch3typ3 58]

Trying to get a lot of coin with vanilla weapons takes a lot of skill, I think anyone can back me up on that lol.

[JsinOwl 644]

There's elitism in every online game, but what never occurred to me here is that because Destiny has no matchmaking it's even worse. You can be effectively shut out of certain content until you find an LFG group willing to accept you. That's pretty shite. As Stretch pointed out, my favorite moments were helping people run VoG their first few times.