And you didn't play last year, was much harder for noobs...
Actually, when I started playing cRPG (I think retirement just was implemented but I'm not sure), the game felt pretty okay. I was doing ok in Native (sometimes first of the 22nd "noob" siege server, at that time it was totally dominated by OP 2handers and I was part of the LWA abusers). Sure when I was level 1 I had an hard time killing anything, but that was fun nonetheless. I accepted my peasant status. When you are hungry, food tastes better. So does the glory when you are a peasant scum. And I think this is a very important step that was removed from the mod in january.
Back then, skill was usually associated to being able to block. And by blocking, I mean blocking a straight attack. Nobody had ever heard about holded swings in a duel, and only the uber players were doing feints (mostly because it was ineffective against the average spammer). Nowadays, blocking is the very least you can expect from a player. Average people do basic footwork, feints, sometimes holds and block better. Good players are awesome blockers, have good footwork, feint swiftly, hold when it is appropriate, know their reach and most of the game's unintuitive "features" (or glitches if you prefer). Elite players always were exceptionnal and still are, but they didn't improved much. At some point, getting better is very slow because you lack opponents and people to emulate.
Btw, that learning curve still makes me laugh x) The only thing that isn't accurate for cRPG is considering riding as a shortcut. Archery also isn't a complete EZ mode, when you don't have the heirlooms.
