Back To Beta Campaign

[ullquiora]

I would like propose a Back to BETA Campaign. This is the first time since Bryntryst that I find myself on the same page as the administration in place here. I am sure that many of you can agree with the following.

They are open. They don't cheat or bend rules. They don't have paranoia problems. They honestly care. There is a REAL talented coder. There is a REAL talented builder. They both are active in RP. They have direction. Stuff gets done. We haven't seen this since the old days.

My suggestion is for us to take a real retrospective look at what has been successful in the past (both in BETA for attracting people, and afterwards) and what hasn't. We as a group seem to have lost sight on where we came from, and in the process are seriously making the future uncertain.

note:

I swear to everything holy to me that if you derail my thread with any nonsense that isn't constructive I will reach through your floppy drive, seize the first appendage of yours that is present, and withdraw to the confines of cyberspace with it.

[-red-]

I came late 1.0, so I dunno. I just wanted to add that Bryntryst was a pimp.

[ullquiora]

You have been around long enough to see what tactics afterwards either worked or didn't work for maintaining a playerbase (or attracting it.) My reasoning for making this post is because it seems as if people assume voting is the only way to attract people to the game. Voting is excellent when used in culmination with other methods, but a very weak attempt otherwise IMO.

[-red-]

I can't pretend to know what was happening with the administration. There were a lot of rumors and what not, but I didn't involve myself in it. Even if there was less-than-saintly behavior going on, they were doing what they could to keep this game we love running.

I don't think there's a need to go 'back to' anywhere. Progress is about going forward. I agree that things are looking bright since I've been back (all of a couple weeks?), perhaps it's better to focus on keeping that going. Take a look at what's working now and hold on to it. We can learn from our history, there's no growth in repeating it, no matter how nice we thought it was.

[ullquiora]

While I agree with you that looking forward is good, we can get a very clear picture of what works and what is a waste of effort in regards to growing.

We have had it all, and lost most of it, in terms of size and popularity. It would be rather foolish to not look at the circumstances leading to the popularity and draw new ideas based on them.

[Croyvern]

Ok, I am not sure I understand the intent of your post.

I always considered voting was taken away due to abuse.

Looking back my one regret devlopes from no longer being allowed to choose my religion after creation. IRL my family raised me to be christian, I learned later in life from an older friend that praying to the god of Abraham did not require me to speak in my brothers(JC's) name. After countless books on religion I find now that I tend toward a far more eastern belief system...JMO

Certainly not intending to derail your thread.

[ullquiora]

... maybe I am unclear. The voting in regards to TMS. Did I fail in describing my idea?

[Sandbox]

i'm not really sure what your're asking... i thought this games been in beta for last 10 years? j/k obviously.

[Serinkane]

New ideas would be fresh for getting some new players in the pbase, though I wouldnt want to see a drastic change in the game. Voting seems a bit low as we push down to 19th.

[ullquiora]

Well, for the last 10 years this game has used many methods to draw players. From forced voting to log in, to forum trolling, and even offsite advertising just to name a few of the ones that spring to mind.

I am not saying I am in favor of any of those, nor do I say I am opposed to them. I am just suggesting that something other than "vote moar" may be necessary at this time and gathering successful ideas from the past may be in order to do so. This game went from pbase online at any given time of 0 (at opening) to 25+. It then went over time from 25+ to 5+. Apparently, something happened over the course of those years.

I am just suggesting we get back to basics. What basics are exactly is open for discussion.

[Grim_Reefer]

More extensive questing and quest rewards for those moderate players who aren't pk heavy and want more out of RP abd PVE type stuff. Right now PVE and questing is good for nothing but getting ranks or getting cps. Maybe some kind of achievement system, some kind of viewable list of accomplishments so that others can bask in your glory, class specific questing, I don't know. But definitely less focus on PK aspects (The races/classes are fine and do not need to have any more time wasted on them right now) and more focus on RP/Questing/PVE. If you want to have more players, you have to appeal to a wider audience. If I wanted it to come down to this just being pk, I'd go back to playing Godwars MUDs.

[The-Nameless]

I started playing FL because it was the first mud on TheMudConnectors web based mud client. Had a list of every mud on the net and Aabahran happened to be the first non-numerical one on the list.

[The-Nameless]

More extensive questing and quest rewards for those moderate players who aren't pk heavy and want more out of RP abd PVE type stuff. Right now PVE and questing is good for nothing but getting ranks or getting cps. Maybe some kind of achievement system' date=' some kind of viewable list of accomplishments so that others can bask in your glory, class specific questing, I don't know. But definitely less focus on PK aspects (The races/classes are fine and do not need to have any more time wasted on them right now) and more focus on RP/Questing/PVE. If you want to have more players, you have to appeal to a wider audience. If I wanted it to come down to this just being pk, I'd go back to playing Godwars MUDs.[/quote']

I think we need to add another 2-300 quests in game. Make master questor a real achievement. I also think we need more Gear-like zones. That zone is a nearly perfect blend of Wit, sneaky devilness, and beefy mobs.

[Sandbox]

i think the shrinking pbase has alot to do with kids these days needing visual stimulation, my wife for example will not play simply because she is a "graphics" person. "Better graphics and more stimulating pictures" are forced down kids throats all day long, so much so that i doubt the vast majority of people these days would even try any mud, let alone ours.

[ullquiora]

then explain the sheer numbers of players on the muds in the top 5 of TMS...

[The-Nameless]

then explain the sheer numbers of players on the muds in the top 5 of TMS...

FL was never going to be one of the 150-300 player juggernaut muds. We simply don't have a cabal system setup to support THAT many players (a max of 8-9 per cabal means at most 70 cabaled chars at once) Fl has focused much more on individuality, and quality. I have been on muds that have 0 RP interest, and are run by ooc rings of veteran and elite players. It is an annoying cycle of people who can just constantly cycle, sell chars, sell gear.

Fl is about being unique. I will keep 10-20 players at a time to keep the unique feeling generated by FL instead of washing it away to try to fit into a mold we where never designed for.

Also pushing back to Beta is pointless, this is literally a completely different game than it was then. I say the future is in development, more of this RP nonsense you guys seem to like so much, and consistancy with Imm activiy. I see we are meeting these, and the numbers are slowly rising. Coincidence? I think n ot.

[ullquiora]

So, in other words... you do absolutely nothing and hope it gets better? How convenient. =p

[The-Nameless]

So' date=' in other words... you do absolutely nothing and hope it gets better? How convenient. =p[/quote']

I swear I have read your posts, and you only read what you want to. What we are doing right ****ing now is feeding the pbase. We have more visible imms, more titles, more cabalers, more eq, more RP plots, and better skill balance than before. Yet for some reason you want to revert back to what we evolved from? Just because you are an ape, doesn't mean we should go back to being one.

[Serinkane]

The Pbase has been a little more active as of late, though it still would be nice to see some fresh faces. Props to the Imms for the rp plots, and interactions as well.

[ullquiora]

I swear I have read your posts' date=' and you only read what you want to. What we are doing right ****ing now is feeding the pbase. We have more visible imms, more titles, more cabalers, more eq, more RP plots, and better skill balance than before. Yet for some reason you want to revert back to what we evolved from? Just because you are an ape, doesn't mean we should go back to being one.[/quote']

I think we've a misunderstanding. I do not mean rolling back the code, or rules for that matter. What I mean is that I would like to see a collective brainstorming of advertisement and player drawing methods used in the past that have been successful.

Just because I am an ape doesn't mean that I am not trying to think progressively. I would like to rehash past successes to build some ideas as the only one I've heard is "vote vote vote vote". All of the things you've mentioned are things that the staff are doing for us. I don't think that voting is the only way that a small group of people can get the word out and attract others. My intention of this thread isn't to list ways the staff can make the game better, because they are perpetually at work with that. This is more of a player thing.

[The-Nameless]

I think we've a misunderstanding. I do not mean rolling back the code, or rules for that matter. What I mean is that I would like to see a collective brainstorming of advertisement and player drawing methods used in the past that have been successful.

Just because I am an ape doesn't mean that I am not trying to think progressively. I would like to rehash past successes to build some ideas as the only one I've heard is "vote vote vote vote". All of the things you've mentioned are things that the staff are doing for us. I don't think that voting is the only way that a small group of people can get the word out and attract others. My intention of this thread isn't to list ways the staff can make the game better, because they are perpetually at work with that. This is more of a player thing.

Keeping RP going is player related

Keeping RP events is player related

Players can vote, or bring new players. Improving your level of RP, as well as those around you.

Voting brings new players. If you wanted to get a car, you would look at the top 5 or so int he style you want, and find the one you like best. If someones wants a mud, they will find FL in the top (noone is gonna play actively seek a mud that is past 20-40 at worst.) if we are in top spot, more people will click out of curiousity. Here is where your RP comes into PLAYER RETENTION. You show someone a good time, help them, and give them some RP to think about, you will have someone to talk with tommorow. YOu give someone a pk with a looting, then vanish into the night. Well you better ****ing vote again cause they newb who came here to see why we are #4 just left.

[ullquiora]

Please relax. You seem committed to being right more than I am committed to arguing so let's say you are right and listen to what others have to say.

[Atebos]

One thing I have noticed is that players on other mud forums share their artwork and story skills. It could be a short story detailing an event that your current characters had in-game. Just a random thought.

[ullquiora]

One thing I have noticed is that players on other mud forums share their artwork and story skills. It could be a short story detailing an event that your current characters had in-game. Just a random thought.

How would you suggest showing it off? On the site? I admit when I read your post I immediately thought of social networking sites like facebook or twitter.

[The-Nameless]

I just see your posts recently as cutting tiny pieces of another post out to try to make the entire post seem flawed. Really RP, and Class go farther than anything you can do. Nothing is worse for a new player than to get utterly raped by a seasoned vet, take a loot, then have NO idea why it happened, give people reasons you do what you do. Be the typical villain, and explain your plan. IT HELPS but don't leave a newbie bloody, naked, and confused. Hell some vets get pissed when they take silent pks, gangs, full loots, out of pk full loots (This makes me literally want to stab people) full sacs, character targeting. It all gets old, some of us may not be able to quit, but if you only been here a week you could forget about us in no time at all.