Server Less Inclusive and More Static Than Ever
-
@O'louth:
Ps. If the Player Plot Forum works, but you find someone playing in timezones you dont frequent, but you wish to pass a reward, sent them a forum PM with direction to a secret, persistant storage chest located somewhere he can go to claim his reward.
Not a bad idea…
-
@O'louth:
Ps. If the Player Plot Forum works, but you find someone playing in timezones you dont frequent, but you wish to pass a reward, sent them a forum PM with direction to a secret, persistant storage chest located somewhere he can go to claim his reward.
Not a bad idea…
I love this idea. So many times have I tried to catch a specific DM IG and we always seem to log in and out at opposite times so this could help alot with rewards.
-
I've noticed it's hard to get players to help someone push a plot when there is no DM on. No on wants to go on that epic underdark adventure, where they will be spending hundreds if not thousands in consumables, if they are going to come back with no gold, no loots and no XP. I've done it a few times for the story and to help others and I've seen a select few who do the same thing, however, I have honestly been PMed when I went to go do a random adventure with a plot "Do you have a DM." When I said no, they decided to not show. I have no problem getting no DM reward for a plot related exploration or offering or whatever so long as it advances the story and is fun along the way, however, it starts to drain on those who follow us around when they don't get much reward. Giving out rewards areselves from our own items and gold is helping, but not anywhere near as much as when people come because we have a DM.
I think seter's idea is on the money. I'd be willing to sacrifice some new features and new quests for awhile for a story focus to boost our numbers a bit. I remember not a few months ago, the average server numbers were in the double digits every day. People who hadn't played in years were coming back. Maybe we can grab some of them in facebook or such and find out what made them leave again?
-
Perhaps it could be time to start bumping up drop rewards? It's kind of annoying spending hundreds in consumables to take down a random spawn in the UD and getting 3 gold for it. (Exaggerating but you get the idea.)
-
Perhaps it could be time to start bumping up drop rewards? It's kind of annoying spending hundreds in consumables to take down a random spawn in the UD and getting 3 gold for it. (Exaggerating but you get the idea.)
I started doing this but only got as far as beholders
-
Be holders are the only creature in DND whose threat level is not diminished in NWN/COA. I'm all for them giving good drops since they are so deadly. Deadliest of all NPCs really.
-
@latoksinned:
I've noticed it's hard to get players to help someone push a plot when there is no DM on. No on wants to go on that epic underdark adventure, where they will be spending hundreds if not thousands in consumables, if they are going to come back with no gold, no loots and no XP.
Why does it take THOUSANDS to wander the server? I have wandered with parties and we always come out ahead.
-
Why does it take THOUSANDS to wander the server? I have wandered with parties and we always come out ahead.
I agree. Ive wandered solo, and often do, and usually come out ahead. I find quests are actually the most draining on my consumables and gold, where as exploration is more rewarding.
-
Quests are always the most rewarding. Exploration/DM events/PvP almost always leads to a drain on supplies and consumables. This is the nature of things, but exploration/DM events/PvP are often plot pushing and can sometimes include a single fancy reward. Quests are ALWAYS profitable in all my experience and only lead to furthering your supplies/gear/XP.
-
@latoksinned:
I've noticed it's hard to get players to help someone push a plot when there is no DM on. No on wants to go on that epic underdark adventure, where they will be spending hundreds if not thousands in consumables, if they are going to come back with no gold, no loots and no XP.
Why does it take THOUSANDS to wander the server? I have wandered with parties and we always come out ahead.
If you do not have a DM it is 100% a resource drain except at the highest levels of certain classes. Even with a DM it can be draining. For instance, last night we had a DM for our trip to the Lair. It went alright, and we generally made it through that part without incident.
But as soon as the DM left, the spawns scaled out of control. Deathwatch Beetle, A Half Fiend Warrior (That had 25ab, and hit for 30 damage,) Troll Chieftains and Berserkers, Bulezau, Dire Crocodiles. I spent easily over 3k in resources just to get to our ultimate destination and then out of that place.
I really didn't mind. I had fun, but a lot of those spawns were WAY out of our league and I'm still not sure how that Half Fiend Warrior didn't pound every last one of us into dust.
Basically, anywhere interesting is often a deathtrap. I don't know how you come out ahead on your ventures, but those nodes frequently only have a handful of gold and some weak items and scrolls. They nowhere near cover the expenses of exploring these places for a large party.
-
Sounds like that's more the cause of CARES designs that need to be adjusted.
-
/forum/vie ... cde18c1f95 Was true than and still is true now. Ord really called it all those years ago
-
This is true. Especially in v5, there has been a huuuuuge swing towards questage and levels. I said a while back that the server is much more Action RP. Does Roleplay still exist? Yes. Is the Roleplay good? Yes. But most people spend more time questing than roleplaying. By a significant ratio.
-
But most people spend more time questing than roleplaying. By a significant ratio.
I find it's like this on all servers that use scripted questing instead of exploring, especially when there's level ranges put on them.
-
Why can't you roleplay on a scripted quest? It's one thing to do a lot of questing. It's another to run through quests, barely RPing, and using OOC more then IC. Not everyone does this but… It happens.
-
The following is summing up what has been up thus far (hopefully making sense and providing clarity towards solutions).
In a nutshell the whole idea of this server is to roleplay. And don't listen to Dungeon Bastard when he says something about it. Roleplay. Creating a world where you portray a villain, hero, or something in-between in a series of epic adventures spanning across a tale told by the players themselves.
The problem is, and I am going to roughly sum up,
…There has been a huge swing towards questage and levels. […] Does Roleplay still exist? Yes. Is the Roleplay good? Yes. But most people spend more time questing than roleplaying. By a significant ratio.
People thinking bigger is better instead of doing the small things like 30 min. rp session with a character.
@latoksinned:
I've noticed it's hard to get players to help someone push a plot when there is no DM on. No on wants to go on that epic underdark adventure, where they will be spending hundreds if not thousands in consumables, if they are going to come back with no gold, no loots and no XP.
[…]
Basically, anywhere interesting is often a deathtrap. […] They nowhere near cover the expenses of exploring these places for a large party.Sounds like that's more the cause of CARES designs that need to be adjusted.
Fear of loss and a feeling of hopelessness when faced with dangerous situations. Which, apparently, is the work of a flaw in the so-called CARES system (I have no idea what it stands for). This is attachment to xp and loot which has already been obtained and the urge to keep it secured and as safe aspossible on a server 'trying to kill you'.
"I think its really on the DM's here. Find these behaviours and have an OOC discussion with those players on a personal basis through pms, or IG ports to the DM area. They need to be taught that EFU is not an MMO by the people in charge. Because when they are not, all the things you mention, are only rewarded IG when there is no supervision.
It is extremely difficult to communicate this kind of thing to players. They often aren't willing to acknowledge they are doing it. People will come back with responses like "So it's not okay to quest?" "It's IC for us to rush because our characters want to live and not have our buffs fade." "My character is just greedy this is IC". It comes down to that just because something isn't against the rules doesn't mean you should do it. It is kind of a "spirit of the game" thing that needs to respected.
Unhealthy stance towards what generally is regarded as IC and failure to reflect on a situation from a neutral stance. Players apparently are now stating these kind of things. An utter state of denial which apparently is, according to this DM, the reason for the behaviour of 'bigger is better' which, in turn, causes the stalemate in the server due to lack of immersion due to lone wolves, lack of rp and a general disregard for the 'spirit of the game'.
For now I'll leave it at this but there's allot more then this discussed. However, solutions are also being thrown around. So let us look at some of those.
@latoksinned:
I think seter's idea is on the money. I'd be willing to sacrifice some new features and new quests for awhile for a story focus to boost our numbers a bit. I remember not a few months ago, the average server numbers were in the double digits every day. People who hadn't played in years were coming back. Maybe we can grab some of them in facebook or such and find out what made them leave again?
Stalemate of technological advancement/ slowing production-speed of newer systems of encounters, loot and other things.
Seter says
"Another issue is the recent "Technological Advancement" or rather the struggle to maintain this like some arming race. Sadly allot of team members are busy correcting bugs, integrating new systems and fixing bugs related to them. […] The story must come first […]. I do not believe anyone would react poorly if the team agrees to focus on fixing the bugs they got, telling the story and temporarily shutting down all future production of new features."
Results could possibly be positive. Thus far I'm hoping facebook is friendly and people will respond to what has been posted.
Another suggestion is the creation of more powerful loot. Though I think it's a little in conflict with a 'low magic server'.
-
My biggest problem lately keeping me from being able to enjoy CoA is the constant forum rants/complaints about what is so wrong, as opposed to just being IG, enjoying what's available to us, and rolling with the punches.
-
My biggest problem lately keeping me from being able to enjoy CoA is the constant forum rants/complaints about what is so wrong, as opposed to just being IG, enjoying what's available to us, and rolling with the punches.
me too.
-
My biggest problem lately keeping me from being able to enjoy CoA is the constant forum rants/complaints about what is so wrong, as opposed to just being IG, enjoying what's available to us, and rolling with the punches.
me too.
lol: yes this. Just play, have fun. If you're not having fun, have fun.
-
My biggest problem lately keeping me from being able to enjoy CoA is the constant forum rants/complaints about what is so wrong, as opposed to just being IG, enjoying what's available to us, and rolling with the punches.
I'm really feeling this right now. I had a break not long ago, and have taken a step back to evaluate it all. A month ago i would of agreed with this post, but now i do not. It is as static an noninclusive as you make it. Over the last week i have done maybe 5 quests, been on 4-5 DM plots, at least 6-7 of other players plots with them and had several hours or pure RP with other players. Include yourself with others, do things. The DM's do not have to be there all the time for you to have fun. If there's nothing happening, make something happen. What i guess im saying is you get out what you put in, and im not talking hours, im talking effort.