Thread:Otakueisama/@comment-67.251.82.80-20140910141951

Hi, I read your comment about your experience with E-2, and I thought I'd post this here instead of seeing it lost in the flood of debates that's washing away your original train of thought. I realise this is an extremely long response but I've written it with the best intentions, because...

I understand why you might be feeling the way you do. The freind who told me about Kancolle in the first place would likely agree that happiness in a random-number game is illusory, and he won't even play it. I'm guessing that, like him, you may enjoy games that reward your skills, like hand-eye coordination, reaction time, strategy or attention (especially the latter since you said you were giving it 100%!)  It's very true, Kancolle is not that kind of game, and if having those skills acknowleged is what makes you happy then it may be hard to feel like you've actually accomplished anything.

But I'd also say that there's some more subtle skills, the kind that a lot of people don't think are skills, like patience and long-term commitment, and Kancolle does acknowledge those in an equally subtle way. I think you do have those skills too because you'd never have jumped the VPN hurdle and then got all the way to HQ level 78 without them. What level is Mucchan? She couldn't have gotten there without your effort. Maybe it's not the same feeling of success that comes with dominating content and achieving goals, but I'd say it's still success, and it couldn't have happened without you, nor could the system have prevented it. So whatever you decide to do, first pat yourself on the back for having the persistence to get as far as you did.

You're right though, many things in Kancolle have absolutely nothing to do with the player's actions. We can't really take credit for clearing a map, but we also can't take blame for failing to clear it. It's not like a competitive action game where you know that if you won, it's because of your prowess. It might sound crazy but those games only stress me out, I have to work hard and practice every day or I'll only feel the shame of defeat. Kancolle makes me happy because it doesn't judge my abilities, but at the same time, there's really nothing about it that would give me credit for being outstanding. I can't blame you for wanting that credit, because you likely deserve it.

I think the problem with letting Kancolle go is that is that you'd feel distanced from your shipgirls, but even if you don't play, you can still love ships. I've a few friends who do exactly that, one even bought some Kancolle Nendoroids, hehe. If the franchise grows as much as Kadokawa would like, there may very well be a Kancolle game someday which does feel rewarding for you. In any event you've still got an account, and your kanmusu will always be there if you decide to come back. Never quit anything, just take extended breaks, hehe.

Whatever you decide to do, may it lead you to happiness.

-Aud 