Bringing old players back

[gab1]

This server used to be heavily populated, as in, not a long time ago, the server was at 50/50 for the epic turnover to Efu:M.

I think some parts of the server turned me away at first, getting boring, maybe the difficulty was too high for some people on one side, other veterans love the high difficulty. I think it's balanced out now but the mission was always to stay alive, it's a semi-horror setting.

The server has been fleshed out enough and it's always the same few folks playing. Maybe we have to increase our bribery skills and allow custom concepts and extra loot, subraces for inactive players to return. Pragmatic. I'd also be interested in the xp system being modified for more casual play. The mayoral elections and ever changing politics are fun, fair from an IC perspective (as fair as any other aspect of real life...), and something you don't really get in any other server, the high quality of RP.

If it were my server i'd get rid of subdual as it causes alot of strange things to happen, how do you get beaten by a greataxe and survive. It would increase the realism level and fear of death aspect... true bravery and cowardice. I totally believe in the roleplaying as well, and see subdual as pragmatic and useful towards a roleplay server. It would also increase the responsibilities for armed or magical assault, something that's more brisked away because of subdual (quasi ah i'm dying, but sometimes, or should i say almost never, roleplayed that way) and something that enrich storytelling and "fun"

[Pigadig]

Regardless of anything else, removal of subdual is a terrible idea. Primarily because people then have the choice between murdering someone or ignoring them, which leads to less RP. Beating someone up can lead to further conflict.

[el groso]

I think coming up with alternatives to bringing old players back is a fine idea, provided it doesn't spoil the server. But I fail to see how removing subdual system would do that.

[Talir]

It is still heavily populated. If you're worried about the numbers, the best things that are done is what you guys do in-game. When you're all having fun, plotting, questing, interacting and conflicting, it's more fun for others as well to climb aboard.

[Big Orc Man]

The spirit of wanting old players to return is obviously quite universal!

Recognize, though, that the tastes and preferences of our current and ex-players are as varied as can be, and that what appeals to one player may turn that player off.

It provides a very difficult balancing act.

[Numos]

The bottom line is NWN is old. EFU is far from dead or dying, but there are a  lot of other shiney new games to play. So long as there's stuff to do, people will keep playing on the server.

Bribing old people into coming back is going to make newer players feel less valued, and you'll start to see a lot of stagnation if the same old guard players are running around with subraces and extra attention - with no new blood or ideas coming in.

I don't think subdual mode causes weird or bad things to happen. Getting beat by a sword and survivingl requires some suspension of disbelief. If character's start dying off in random scuffles and robberies that contribute nothing to the narrative its going to make people shy away from conflict rather than embrace it. "Realism" is not necessarily a good thing. There's already plenty to fear on EFU; your hard-work crafting a character and story going to waste because of a stray fireball from a duel shouldn't be your main worry.

My one suggestion would be that its very hard to get "anything" going on the server if you're short on time: Whether running for mayor, exploring, or questing. If you have six hours a night to spend plotting, spying, and running around the island you can get plenty done and have a good time... but if you only play one or two hours a night you're often lucky if you can get people together to hit the granary or poisoned well - let alone go someplace cool. I think more less strenuous, less-time consuming places for casual players to go in lieu of hanging out in the square might be nice.

The fact that newer players will be sinking a huge chunk of their gold into sendings, toll-booths, and resting at the mist's end (they don't have wages, remember) might also be a little off-putting - especially since its difficult to earn without joining an association or having a large network of friends.

[Bearic]

...
 
My one suggestion would be that its very hard to get "anything" going on the server if you're short on time: Whether running for mayor, exploring, or questing. If you have six hours a night to spend plotting, spying, and running around the island you can get plenty done and have a good time... but if you only play one or two hours a night you're often lucky if you can get people together to hit the granary or poisoned well - let alone go someplace cool. I think more less strenuous, less-time consuming places for casual players to go in lieu of hanging out in the square might be nice.
 
...

 
 I'm happy to say that with the new areas in the mist, random area transistions that pop up, and caravan/invasion things give quite a bit to explore and find new stuff every day - even in two hours. =]
 
 Just gotta run around outside of town, is all.

[Zoe]

6 hours a night? Good god, no.

FWIW I generally play no more than 2 hours a night, and I don't play every night by any means. If I'm involved in some sort of event then I'm on for longer but that's much rarer.

[Howlando]

Thank you for your post and although I agree with your sentiment that I'd like to see more old players return, from experience I'm pretty sure your proposed ideas are not good ones. You'd also be amazed by how many old players are lurking around under fresh account names.

[lovethesuit]

I find it much easier to play characters that satisfy my own standards if I go away and come back. I keep coming back, though, and the major reason I do is because I like a lot of the community here on a personal level. I count very many people here as friends, and in fact I've traveled internationally to visit a few of them. I think that the key to getting the players lies in the community. The game itself has its faults, but I try not to get attached anymore to winning and losing. That makes all the difference for long-term playability.

[Mort]

Lurk lurk.

This is a game that requires a lot of time commitment in order to be enjoyable. As people grow older, their responsabilities toward society increase and their commitment to this community goes down accordingly.

Unfortunately, bringing back the old crowd of the 'good old days' isn't possible nor will everything be as you remembered it.

[Secutor]

Encourage your talented RL friends to play!
 
/lurk

[Coin Lord]

Lurking.
 
Rest assured there are many of us who would wish we could play more but kids and such stop the night-long login's that we used to be able to do.

[Dr Dragon]

All I can say is removing subdual mode would made me not come back. Unfortunately Im to busy to be as hardcore as I used to.

[The Man In The Mist]

What is this...

Doctor saying he cannot take it to the max?

That's it. I quit.