You log on but feel strangely unmotivated to play. You hang out in Haven for a bit, check out the auction house and maybe the forums, and then, meh...you're outta here!
So what do other players do to keep the game fun for them?
1. Start or join or swtich guilds. Hopefully meet a bunch of new people.
2. Play one of the mini games.
3. Craft something that requires heating and therefore requires you to play. Perhaps a new weapon you've always wanted to try, or some armor from the shadow lairs.
4. Adopt a newbie. Offer to help a new player to complete some missions. Replaying some of the rank missions can be surprisingly fun when you are playing with someone who is doing it for the first time.
5. Handicap yourself by, for example, doing the Roarmulous Twins mission sans shield. In a group, it's even better.
6. Make meaningful and entertaining contributions to the forums.
7. Try your hand at merchanting.
8. Host a contest.
9. Try to come up with good suggestions for improving the game.
Any other ideas?
Four. Always four. I tend to only equip items of a star rating that I need for the mission (although I do tend to carry one 5* weapon just incase something goes awry, like greaver swarms)