As I've told some of you, I (Sheep) will be leaving CoA. I'll return in a year or so! Keep the flag up while I'm gone :)
Latest posts made by A Stranger
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RE: Out of Game / Leaving Thread
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RE: Retaining players/Lower Numbers
We need more unique merchants selling items that fit the theme of the area. What's the point of going to the deepest an darkest place in UD, if you can't find a single Turnip merchant? Disappointing!
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RE: Low charisma characters and Tips for RPing them
Based on my current concept: Act shady as hell, don't trust anyone, do shit (like keep a thieves diary) that makes people hate you.
= 8 cha.
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RE: Retaining players/Lower Numbers
Motivating players to stick around IG longer is a key-factor. Changing server-mentality regarding certain factors would act as a driving force. Here are things which we could do with a re-approach.
- Aim for more fun things to do while IG:
Quests are fun, crafting is fun. Hunting is fun. Discovering new places/lore is fun. Let's remove some party caps on quests and see what happens. Add an actual bounty master who accepts orc-heads, goblin ears and kobold teeth (not just the Quest NPC which only accepts them if you are low enough level). Add new lore/hideouts to be discovered that can be used by the playerbase.
Add more places that encourage people to go out exploring, even if you are a bard doing a solo exploration mission. Keep it a challenge, like add a mirror there which forces the character to fight his own reflection to get to that specific room of rewards or something. Also, set up a "quest giver" for players to reset the area so it can be explored again by the next character that drops by.
The gambling hall is great. It's only a shame none of gambling machines are scripted. We have the Rat race in Sewer Bars which still somewhat works- and btw, I like it. We could do with adding a public gambling system where players could go and place bets and spend their time, and maybe get some gold to buy more supplies for more adventures.
Are horse races and such possible? Maybe through errant quests? Or maybe an arm wrestling competition for all levels that can get you a couple of extra GPs for your trouble. Or a shady mission to steal a caek from the local bakery for a mischievous group of caek-monsters.
- Driving toward a more meaningful/interactive DM/Player experience:
It's understandable DMs make statements in mIRC about the lack of players during silent hours, when there can only be one or two players online versus one or two DMs. Indeed, the DMs are there to have fun too, but focusing solely on one or two specific characters comes with a decision that breaks the basic principles we've agreed on this server: Be fun and involving in order to get the DM-love.
Often times, during the silent hours, DMs find these players idling, or adventuring on their own, both of which are generally not regarded as something suitable or interesting for a DM to interact with. The DMs are then faced with a dilemma of choosing to interact with said solo player who at the time is not involving anyone, or the DM can choose not to do anything at all and log because of it. He/she adheres to the code by doing so, as we know fingers have been pointed toward DM favoritism for less. But a massive opportunity is lost.
@Example:
A DM logs in, and discovers Jon Snow has made a sending for a patrol. Sadly, he's doing it during the silent hour, but decided to go out solo anyway, looking for those imaginary white walkers Jon Snow keeps on rambling about. DM decides to spawn some zombies and rename them as "White walkers", then uses them to lure Jon Snow to discover further proof to solidify his beliefs. Jon Snow (PC) gets DM loot as proof of his discovery and shows it to Samwell Tarly (PC), and they go out to patrol together next time.
Now, I may be completely blind in this regard, and its more than likely that DMs are already actively doing this. I just want both sides to know that it's okay to DM just for one character, especially during the silent hours. Aim to breed A&I and conflict by bringing people together to interact, but it's fine to have your RP session with the solo guy that's IG. If the solo guy is entertained, he'll spread the word for you, and next time- there may be more people IG during the silent hour.
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Beyond all the many flavors our server has to offer, be it heavy immersion or fun adventure, the key to get people interested and logging in is having a blast with what we got. The server is not broken, and thinking outside the box still works wonders.
- Aim for more fun things to do while IG:
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RE: Ideas for immersion/intigue/player tools
Edited as I need to learn how to read the rules of this thread, if I want to post a comment not directly related to this thread I should start a new one
What Sandman did with the kobold caverns can be used as a GREAT example. He made actual areas that were rewarding in terms of resources (healing supplies!).
Edited as I need to learn how to read the rules of this thread, if I want to post a comment not directly related to this thread I should start a new one
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RE: Where is everybody..?
I verk all day long.
Verk verk.
Verk verk verk.
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RE: Ideas for immersion/intigue/player tools
Disclaimer: The following are ideas based around the character I'm currently playing, as being immersed with a certain concept helps me see what the world is lacking. I apologize in advance if these ideas sound self centered.
Here goes:
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Renaming tools: Tools, to a certain extent, allow players, like smiths to name/describe items they make, giving said weapon a cool flavorful twist and not just a generic "Steel Sword 10102".
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Access to rumors: Allow players to pay NPCs to spread a rumor of their own in game for a certain period of time.
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A Treasure creator: A player could target a certain, public spot, which would spawn a persistent storage and create a map into the players inventory. A player could then stuff things into the storage and allow others to find it without them being present.
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Plant tool: Allow players the ability to plant stuff on other players. I know Zool said it's pointless to have the tool if people would get the message of receiving the item. But I disagree.
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The Pit Patrol: You know how you talked about giving factions quests of their own that they could do with other players? This would be perfect way to get some purpose for the Pits and allow Guard PCs to involve players, and possibly even use it as a penance for petty, low level criminals, by forcing them down into the pits to mine while the PC guard fought off whatever critter would come their way in the special area. Making the penance of a criminal act to be completed in the form of a quest in the pits.
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RE: So how are player numbers holding up?
Didnt say you suggested that, Olouthsauce. My post was aimed in similar direction. I wholly agree with you on the lack of a stronger DM presence, of which random DM events have been the keyfactor in breeding said presence for the playerbase.
But like I also said, we cant do much about it. So have fun with what players are still playing during those times. If you do that, a DM will catch up with you having a blast and will try to make it there to give you a hand with it!
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RE: So how are player numbers holding up?
I would love to help with the lack of euro DMs. But I cant do much about it. Every time you take a new guy to fill the DM boots, you loose an active, amazing player IG, with a huge risk of him burning out or leaving the server after that (some consider becoming a DM the final stepping Stone, nothing else)
Sadly, scheduling events ahead has taken its toll, seeing the player numbers go crazy everytime there is a DM event prescheduled. With lack of DMs no longer pulling random events from their hats, Players no longer expect the unexpected and therefore dont bother logging in.
Still, there are players IG. Two guys IG can still turn into a party and create massive fun together. They just need to be inclusive of eachother and think outside the box if at the time you didnt see any reason to interract with the other player IG. Two players can quickly turn into three… Then four... Five, and so forth, if players are having fun together.
You dont need a DM to have fun.