Yes, it is arguably nostalgic for beginners to take the Danger Zone Taxi to Sleepywood and get trapped there. But also consider that unlike old school GMS, there won't be people hanging out in Sleepywood/Ant Tunnel who can save them, and it's not like you can reasonably expect people to join the Discord specifically to ask for help... The existence of the VIP taxi in Lith Harbor is a scam, and I see no need to defend a scam on the grounds that it was conducted by Wizet itself. Sure you can laugh at noobs getting stuck in Sleepywood, but some of them have probably quit or remade their character after that. I think it's stupid. The solution that makes the most sense to me is to add a level requirement to the VIP taxi because duh, how can you expect to be comsidered a VIP when you're only lv10, but there are other options to consider.
It costs a lot, so most new people would not use it without reading first what it is. Also, if you die you get teleported back to sleepywood at least. Do you have any evidence that people on MapleRoyals have remade their characters over this?
If you die to the green/horny mushrooms trying to escape Sleepywood by going west to Henesys, you also get teleported to Sleepywood. That is the core issue and the "nostalgic" trap that people think is funny when it's not happening to them
I think we can add "taxi service" as an extra tagline below Phil's name, kind of like how Duey the package deliverer has one. This would be the least intrusive positive change imo (though I still don't think we lose anything of value if we prohibit beginners between lv10-14 from using the VIP taxi)
Not exactly evidence but pretty close, a friend of mine who haven’t played any maple since gms, took the vip taxi cause he couldn’t find the regular one, if he didn’t have me on speed dial he probably would’ve given up trying to get out of there, he was pretty frustrated when he called me for help, this scenario could be ‘jokes and fun’ between friends, but when you are alone and have no one that can help you I can definitely see a good reason to make it more clear that Phil is the regular taxi, like was already suggested, imo a tagline is a great idea.
I know this thread is devolving, but I did want to add a data point that when I first started Royals. I couldn't find the Taxi and walked to Henn to then taxi to Grendel.
Clearly the true villain here is not Phil but the VIP taxi driver. Lifting his victim where they will never see the light of day . Spoiler: EVIDENCE
How can a taxi even drive into a cave? And why is the taxi not in the cave afterwards? Maybe the damn taxi should have the courtesy of being in the cave and driving you back if you change your mind. Just like Spinel will take you back to the town you originally came from for free after using her traveling service
It has come to my attention that the one of the poll choices "make it more obvious that Phil is a taxi" has been gaining traction ! Let me give you a reason not to vote for that ! First off Phil is NOT A TAXI SERVICE. He is a Hard Working tour guide who takes pride in his work. The very fact that labeling him as a mere taxi is to degrade his profession and dedication to his job . Reasons to not replace phil as a TAXI. 1) A mere taxi would just drop you off from Point A to Point B , Phil would take time and effort to explain to you all about the wonderful citys in Victoria Island. 2)Phil has busted his ass off for years at his job. (Don't fire a hard working man in this poor economy) 3)Phil takes his clients safety seriously unlike those greedy taxi drivers. 4)Phil works 24/7 and only takes short breaks when things are slow as you can tell from his haggard looking eyes. But you might say that's just the result of a poor work life balance , you couldn't be more wrong this just shows Phil's sheer dedication to his job and his clients. Spoiler: A TESTAMENT OF PHIL'S DEDICATION TO HIS JOB
