Gronthar Chonk, Better Grass, and the Long Wait to Play — March 26, 2026

Overview

The chat spent the day bouncing between Scars of Honor specifics and the broader mood around modern MMOs, with a surprisingly clear throughline: players want the game to feel handcrafted, readable, and grounded in its own world. That came through in the immediate reactions to fresh screenshots and teases. People zeroed in on improved grass, cleaner UI, small costume details like tail holes in pants, and race silhouettes that feel distinct rather than overly polished. Even the jokes circled back to the same point. A Gronthar should look like a warlord, not a model; a forest should feel like a forest, not a bright beach; a mount idea should sound like it belongs in the setting, even when the idea is a cavebearcat or an owlbear.

That visual thread merged with a second, louder one: access. Several people were plainly impatient about not being able to log in yet, while others took a calmer line and said they would wait their turn. The announced test window gave the conversation a shape — request access on Steam, expect the demo period from late April into early May, then brace for a long stretch before the next chance to play. That gap became part of the mood. Some saw it as normal for an indie MMO still building core systems; others fixated on the fact that an 11-day test could be followed by months of silence in practical terms.

The biggest sustained debate, though, was less about one feature and more about what an MMO has to be in 2026 to matter at all. The chat argued over whether gameplay or story is the stronger hook, whether leveling still matters in a genre obsessed with endgame, and whether MMOs are losing ground to co-op RPGs, live-service titles, and shorter-session games. The tone was not purely cynical. Several people said the studio earns goodwill by showing real gameplay, communicating directly, and avoiding pay-to-win. But the optimism was cautious. The game was described as charming, serviceable, and sincere more often than revolutionary.

Players also kept returning to class and system identity. There was interest in scars as a progression hook, especially if rare scars become chase rewards from raids or other difficult content. There were questions about skill trees, passives, and healer coverage. The mention of Battlemage as a possible tank using a barrier resource sparked excitement, but it also sharpened concerns that the roster could end up too thin on healing options if only a couple of classes fill that role. Meanwhile, race availability at launch remained a practical concern, especially for people already attached to Bearan or hoping for post-launch race swaps.

Outside the game itself, the channel had its usual social drift: weather complaints, hospital updates, anime chatter, Roblox horror stories, and a long side discussion about AI-generated art and the shrinking market for working artists. Even that tangent fed back into the game conversation. Players repeatedly said they would rather see concept work shaped by real artists than by image generators, especially for a project trying to build a strong visual identity. In a chat this large, the side jokes mattered because they framed the standards people were applying to the game: authenticity over shortcuts, personality over generic polish, and enough world flavor that people can imagine living in it rather than merely queueing through it.

Game discussion

Race looks, silhouettes, and what “fits” the world

The most concrete feedback centered on Gronthar presentation. A repeated request called for a bulkier, more strongman-like body type, with several players saying the race had drifted too far from concept art into a cleaner, more conventionally attractive shape. The complaint was not subtle: some felt the current direction made the race look less fun. The preferred version was rougher, scarred, heavier, and more imposing — the kind of character who looks like a seasoned warlord rather than someone posing for a fantasy underwear ad.

That tone carried into the jokes. People riffed on rotund Gronthar, greasy pig looks, and the idea that the fattest figure in the room should obviously be in charge. But underneath the humor was a consistent art-direction point: players want races to have memorable physical identity. They do not want every body type pulled toward the same polished heroic template. The positive reaction to the “chonky” Gronthar idea showed that exaggerated, flavorful shapes are not being treated as a compromise; for this crowd, they are part of the appeal.

Bearan came up in a different way. Some players are already attached to the race and want clarity on whether it will be available at launch. One person said they would happily race-swap a Paladin later if Bearan misses early access or launch, while another noted that having the models done is only part of the work because armor fitting and animation still have to be completed. That exchange stayed practical rather than dramatic, but it showed how race choice is already tied to class plans and long-term commitment.

There was also a strong current of “small details matter.” A tail hole in clothing drew praise because it avoided the lazy clipping that players have seen in other games. Ear animation for a pig-like character was suggested as another detail that could add charm. These are tiny observations, but they reveal what the chat is watching for: not just headline systems, but whether the world and its characters feel cared for.

Environment polish and the latest screenshots

When new environment shots appeared, the response was mostly positive. The updated grass got a lot of approval, with several people saying the game is moving in the right direction and looking less like a mobile title than before. The minimap and UI also earned compliments for being crisp, sharp, and easy to read. That matters because readability came up as a strength rather than something players merely tolerate.

The praise was not blind. A few people pointed out issues with leaves and foliage density, and one person thought the water looked odd for the area shown, comparing it more to white-sand beach water than something that belonged in a forest or plains setting. Another wanted darker lighting in wooded areas to better sell the mood. Others suggested adding flowers among the grass to break up the ground cover and make the scene feel richer.

A compact version of the screenshot feedback looked like this:

One recurring wish was for seasonal changes in the world. A player specifically hoped grass could shift color over time if seasons ever make it into the game. That kind of request fits the larger mood of the chat: people are not only asking whether the game works, but whether it can eventually become a place with texture and atmosphere.

Classes, scars, and role coverage

The class conversation was scattered but active. Players asked for more information on skills and passives, and there was clear excitement around the mention of Battlemage functioning as a tank through a barrier resource. That idea landed well because it suggested a role identity beyond the standard sword-and-board mold. It also opened the door to broader speculation about class variety and whether support roles will be spread across more archetypes than expected.

Healers became the pressure point. Once people started listing likely healing classes, the mood shifted from curiosity to concern. If the game launches with only Priest and Druid as obvious healers, some argued, healers could become painfully scarce. Others immediately started naming possibilities that might ease that problem — Mystic, an artificer-style ranger healer, even a pirate-flavored healer — but those were hopes rather than confirmed plans.

The healer concern can be boiled down to a few repeated ideas:

• Two clear healers may not be enough for group content demand.
• Off-healers could help, but only if they are meaningful in practice.
• Unusual healing identities would make the class roster feel healthier.
• Players already expect healer shortages if support options stay narrow.

Scars drew a more enthusiastic response. People liked the core concept and especially the idea of earning scars through play. One player wanted scars to work more like chase augments that can be hunted down and then equipped later, which would make rare drops feel more exciting and community-relevant. Another imagined raids where groups hope specific rare scars drop for certain classes. The shared instinct was clear: scars should be more than passive stat stickers. They should create reasons to run content, compare builds, and keep playing.

PvE, PvP, and what kind of MMO this is

When someone asked whether the game is focusing on PvP or PvE, the answer from the crowd was effectively “both, but not equally right now.” Players listed arenas, battlegrounds, dueling, and open-world PvP as existing or planned pillars, while also noting that PvP development seems to be winding down until 1.0 so the team can focus elsewhere. The consensus leaned toward calling it a PvE game with PvP support rather than a PvP-first project.

That distinction mattered because some players are already wary of systems that can destabilize populations. Faction swapping got a quick rejection from multiple people, with the argument that it leads to one-sided servers unless used only as a population-balancing tool. Server and faction transfers were framed as emergency levers, not convenience features.

The chat also briefly touched on early-stage PvP during development. A newcomer asking about crafting was warned that the early test phases may be a bloodbath, even if that is not the intended long-term structure. The warning was half serious, half celebratory. Some people were plainly looking forward to the chaos.

Playtest and access

Access frustration was one of the day’s loudest emotions. Several people bluntly asked why they could not log in, where their access was, or why supporters were not being let in ahead of everyone else. Others pushed back on the impatience and said they were fine waiting their turn. That split defined the section of chat around testing: one side treated access as a reward that should already be flowing, while the other treated it as a limited rollout that is better handled carefully.

The practical information that emerged was straightforward. Players told newcomers to request access on Steam and pointed to the late-April to mid-May demo window. That answer got repeated enough that it became the closest thing to a pinned community response in the flow of chat.

A few key access points kept resurfacing:

• Request access on Steam now.
• The demo window is expected to run from April 30 to May 11.
• Some players hope supporters get priority or earlier entry.
• Many are already bracing for a long wait after the demo ends.

That final point shaped the mood more than the dates themselves. One player complained that the hard part is not the 11-day test, but the possibility that the game then disappears for at least six months, maybe longer, if the next milestone slips. Another person tried to calm that down by saying there are plenty of games to play in the meantime. Still, the anxiety was real. Limited access can build hype, but it also sharpens the sense that every test day matters because the next chance may be far away.

At the same time, the studio earned some trust simply by being visible. More than one person said they are getting better transparency and communication here than in other communities where they have spent money. That did not erase impatience, but it softened it. The chat repeatedly contrasted this project’s visible gameplay and direct answers with other MMO campaigns that have leaned harder on promises than on proof.

Customization and art direction

The art-direction discussion stretched well beyond race models. It also turned into a broad argument about AI-generated imagery, concepting, and whether community suggestions should be visualized through machine-made mockups at all. The immediate trigger was a mount concept shared with an AI origin attached. The reaction was swift: several players said they dislike AI art outright, and one flatly said they would rather sit with a real artist and sketch out ideas than rely on generated images.

That did not mean everyone rejected AI in every form. A few people said it can be fine for rough ideation or that they enjoy how strange and broken AI images can look. Others admitted that AI meme videos still make them laugh. But the dominant feeling was that AI-generated finished art cheapens the process, especially in a game community trying to discuss visual identity seriously. One person called it a free tool for the uncreative and unwilling; another lamented that artist marketplaces are now flooded with generated slop and bot scams.

The debate widened into a small labor-market conversation. Players talked about how hard it is to find real artists on gig platforms, how many “struggling artist” DMs are actually bot scripts, and how much professional art talent is currently looking for work. ArtStation was mentioned as one of the few places still seen as relatively trustworthy for finding actual artists. Even in a general-chat setting, the subtext was obvious: if the game wants a distinctive look, the community would rather see human craft than generated shortcuts.

That preference also showed up in the kinds of customization people asked for. They wanted outfits that are “out there” but still believable within the world. They wanted rougher Gronthar styling, visible scars, and race-specific details that make silhouettes pop. They joked about cups, frogs, spiders, and whimsical mounts, but the better suggestions usually came with a caveat that they should still fit the setting.

A few customization and creature ideas that got traction:

• Bulkier, scarred Gronthar options
• More unusual but lore-fitting outfits
• Frog representation in mounts, pets, or cosmetics
• Monster-like mount concepts such as cavebearcats or owlbears
• Better facial and ear animation for expressive races

The chat also briefly touched on future races, with one player recalling that cat and mouse races had once been mentioned as early post-launch additions. That was not treated as fresh confirmation, but it did feed the sense that players are already mapping out the game’s future identity in racial variety as much as in classes.

Other game topics

Crafting and gathering drew one of the more useful newcomer exchanges of the day. A new arrival asked where to find information on artisan systems, and the community answered with what little is currently known: there are gathering and production skills such as woodcutting, mining, smithing, cooking, and fishing, and minigames affect output quality. Beyond that, much remains sparse or not set in stone.

The response was notable because it quickly turned from facts to hopes. Multiple players said they want crafting to stay relevant without necessarily becoming the sole source of best-in-slot gear. One preferred crafters to matter through tuning, rerolling, and improving gear rather than always producing the absolute top items from scratch. Another said making gear can be a full playstyle on its own if the economy supports it. The shared fear was the familiar MMO trap where crafted gear is either too expensive to bother with or too weak to matter.

The crafting wish list was fairly coherent:

1. Keep artisan professions useful at all stages.
2. Let quality and minigames matter in a meaningful way.
3. Avoid reducing crafting to vendor trash production.
4. Give crafters roles in gear adjustment, rerolls, or optimization.
5. Make gathering and production feel like a real progression path.

Fishing got its own small burst of enthusiasm. One player simply hoped fishing would be fun and include treasure or secret loot. That fit neatly with the larger desire for side systems that feel rewarding rather than decorative.

There was also a short but lively thread about class-flavored repeatable content. One player suggested that each class could have its own recurring quest style — a warrior taking gladiator jobs, a priest making healing rounds, a ranger hunting dangerous beasts, and an assassin doing assassin things. That idea connected with another request for class areas or hideouts, with a complaint that other MMOs have not leaned hard enough into class identity outside combat.

Outside Scars of Honor, the channel spent a lot of time comparing MMO ideas and failures. Ashes of Creation came up repeatedly, mostly as a cautionary tale and a source of refugees. Several players openly identified themselves that way, and the tone toward AoC was bitter: skepticism about leadership, frustration over cosmetics and monetization, and a sense that the project’s credibility has collapsed. Riot’s MMO was cast by some as the last major project that could seriously challenge WoW, though even that hope came wrapped in worries about corporate overdesign. Lost Ark, WildStar, Warhammer Online, Guild Wars 1, and Fractured all appeared as comparison points for systems, audience, or missed potential.

The most interesting side debate in this section was philosophical. The chat argued at length over whether story or gameplay is the stronger driver for an MMO. One camp said no MMO survives bad gameplay, and that story is the weakest hook because books, films, and single-player games can tell stories better. The other camp argued just as strongly that if the world, narrative, and setting fail to create investment, there is no reason to stay. The discussion got heated, but it exposed a useful split in expectations:

Even the people who disagreed most sharply seemed to agree on one thing: the early game has to hook players fast. Suggestions included showing endgame power in a flashback opening, offering a class testing ground before character creation, and avoiding stale quest design that turns the first hours into a chore.

Community and off-topic

The social texture of the chat was as busy as the game talk. The day opened with weather complaints, ceiling leaks, temperature misery, and a hospital mention, then drifted into jokes about winter comfort, Bearan pelts, and how impossible summer feels in hotter regions. Those exchanges were light, but they set the tone for a channel that moves quickly between real life and game speculation.

A big off-topic pocket formed around other games, especially Crimson Desert. Players talked about class-locked gear, Shai quests, bounty hunting, inventory issues, and the feeling that too many enemies are just generic human bandits. Some were still having a great time by treating the game like a slow slice-of-life adventure and wandering into trouble, while others were already asking where the monsters and beasts are. That conversation mattered mostly as context: the community is actively comparing every upcoming online RPG against what it is playing right now.

The MMO genre discussion also spilled into generational and social territory. Several players argued that MMO audiences skew older now, with guilds and free companies full of people in their late twenties through forties. Others said younger players are less willing to commit to games that promise payoff after 100 hours, especially when shorter, more immediately rewarding genres dominate. There was some grumbling about attention spans and short-form media, but the sharper point was economic and practical: people are less willing to gamble huge blocks of time on a game that starts weak.

Then the chat swerved into Roblox. What started as a joke about a child preferring Roblox over MMOs turned into a pile-on about Roblox culture, embedded chat apps, moderation fears, and the platform’s grip on younger players. The tone was mostly comedic, but it also reflected a real divide between what this older MMO-leaning crowd values and what they see dominating the next generation’s gaming habits. Terraria and Hollow Knight were held up as signs of hope; Roblox was treated like a digital swamp.

Anime and media chatter rounded out the evening. People mentioned Frieren, Dungeon Meshi, and Jujutsu Kaisen, with the usual mix of anticipation, spoilers, and image-posting that moderators might side-eye. None of that connected directly to the game, but it showed the channel functioning as an actual community rather than a pure feedback board.

Takeaway

The day’s chat made one thing plain: players are not asking Scars of Honor to reinvent the MMO. They are asking it to make good on the fundamentals with personality. They want races that look memorable, environments that feel coherent, classes with real identity, and side systems like crafting and fishing that matter beyond filler.

There is also a strong reservoir of patience — but it is conditional. People are willing to forgive rough edges, long waits, and limited test windows if the studio keeps showing honest progress and avoids the empty spectacle that has burned MMO fans elsewhere. That is why improved grass, a readable minimap, and a well-placed tail hole in a pair of pants got real traction. Those details signal care.

The pressure points are already visible:

• access timing and the long gap after the demo
• healer scarcity and class-role coverage
• race availability, especially Bearan
• keeping crafting relevant without making it oppressive
• preserving a human, distinctive art direction

For a general chat, the conversation was unusually coherent. Beneath the memes about frogs, cups, spiders, and chonky warlords, the community kept returning to the same standard: this game needs enough craft and conviction that people can imagine staying in its world, not just sampling it for a weekend.