I thought I would bring it up to the top
As a new palyer (3 or 4 months) I am just getting to the part where you question what you are doing. I game for fun, and while crafting can be fun it is a major time consumer. I spend like 40% of my time crafting just to have the arrows to shoot when out gathering raw materials. Sounds kind of cyclical and any spontaneous adventures that come up are usually centered around collecting craft-able items. How many times will we "Rid the Haven mines of the Ogres" .
I am sure that this is a phase that all new comers go through. I will say that the RPing has been great fun so far. I am sure that the GMs have spent many (many many) hours working on a system that will promote RPing as the highest priority. That is what we are here for, of course I wouldn't mind being able to go collect oak on my own with out getting turned to goo by a few spiders . But I guess if I wanted that I should have played a half-giant or half-orc or half-ogre fighter instead of a elvish ranger, I just like to whole ranger concept .
Well there is my newbie rant
Just remember I love Layonara and I am really enjoying the interactions with the people I have met here (both in and out of character, you know who you are)
Cheers,
John