a lot of people have already said the first thing that popped in my head.
the best and the worst, and everywhere in between: the variable of the people you get on your crew or team.
but, honestly, that's not the best for me. the friends I've made here count as a very close second. the absolute best is twofold. when I played Ragnarok Online, I worked hard to get our server to grow and to help new players, and I loved it. I found my niche. here, with Guns of Icarus, I've settled back into my niche again - and it is glorious.
combining that with the teamwork aspect of this game, guys, I am a much more confident person than I was five months ago when I first started playing. the level of communication required to do well in a match has pulled me out of my shell. this level of betterment of self - that is the best thing. there's been so much that I've wanted to do that I've shied away from with some level of stage fright. that is going away. it's impossible to express how happy and grateful I am for this.
I know that's probably not the data you were looking for Keyvias, but it's a nod of thanks to you guys.
other stuff I enjoy:
-shooting a hades, especially with lesmok rounds
-shooting a hwacha as a gunner, especially when the captain and I sync up well with timing of firing/not turning the ship
-a dev team that engages the community
-the clan I've leapt into <3
-good engineers that keep the ship alive much longer than anyone anticipated.
-effective communication among the crew
other stuff I could live without:
-ships with silent crew
-bright maps. Dunes/Practice are the worst.
-despite being in Clan Clan...mine launchers aren't my thing. don't hate me guys
-mortars. as awesome as I am on the hades, I usually can't hit anything with the mortar unless we're right up on the enemy. -_- you would think I'd be able to figure out the arc...
-playing main engi on a particular Squid on a Crazy King match. I spent that whole match going back and forth on the ship and whacking engines, and it was a looooooong match. my left hand hurt when the match was over. I don't doubt I'll find myself on a Squid in a Crazy King match again...but ugh, it's not something I look forward to. I don't look forward to Crazy King at all anymore.
-20 stacks of flame on anything, especially if there's a long cooldown in effect on the component. it just makes me sad.