Ways to get players in game...(add your own)

[Vlaid]

I have noticed lately that not only myself but a lot of players seem to hang out in IRC a great deal more than actual head IG.

I was trying to think of some ideas on how to get players IG and try to keep them there a bit more (or at the least encourage them to play EFU rather than play IRC).

Maybe it would be possible to have certain inns (pissing crone, house of heroes, ect) where you can receive IG "letters". It would also drive more traffic to a central area a bit more for casually bumping into players.

Maybe we could have usable public boards added to key areas for posting brief things.

We could even add a separate board devoted to "adventure seekers" where people can put up a temporary message to facilitate finding other adventurers without using the sometimes abrasive "shout at the entire server" via the sending system. The messages lasting only a very short time but being very cheap to post up.

More things that can be done IG (small activities with very minor rewards) would also be a boon I believe. I just simply run out of "stuff" to keep me busy or interested in staying IG (find myself logging out or only playing in very short spurts to do something specific for this reason).

This isn't a referendum on what is or isn't wrong with EFU, so please don't turn this thread into your soap box for your personal grievances about the server.

[Aethereal]

A fair observation.

Crafting systems tend to be a good idea in this regard. Though EFU:R has suffered some barriers to this that were not there in past incarnations. I know since my very first character on EFU, I used to toy with the alchemy system for example and though I had to ask around to learn the basics, it is less accessible now, despite the permanent labs.

This is primarily due to the in-game guide that was previously accessed through the player tool being removed along with that tool.

Although it might be said the alchemy and herbalism systems are well balanced now, with the magical shards encouraging collaboration and exploration, the great difficulty of some DCs, even with Legendary and high quality shards of magic are somewhat extreme and discourage deep exploration. (The player of Greer Kraldon has even given up on it, which is quite significant).

Whatever the case, I for one no longer very actively engage in these systems (admittedly, I've had more than my share of fun/time with them) though I do have a few successful proteges and do still enjoy teaching others in-character and in-game (a good bit of roleplay there).

My point: perhaps some new crafting systems could be considered, or the older ones adjusted. Though I do not have any specific suggestions for something new right away, perhaps a new thread would be more suitable for such brainstorming anyway.

[granny]

Player based economy would be something else too!

To put more emphasis on our merchants, potion brewers, alchemists, herbalists and other crafters would help.

I suggest this because I have noticed the trend starting on the DM's current designs for the game towards this kind of stuff.

A permanent group of player owned shops would help on this, I think. You rent a shop for a period and employ a shop seller, put your items to be sold, establish the prices and have not to be always around to negotiate prices. People would be able to have access to your goods even if you are not available.

One of the MUDs I come from had an economy totally player based and the communities that lacked decent traders and crafters would be weaker than the others which had a lot of cohesive merchant interaction.

[PlayaCharacter]

It's worth noting that there has been a long pattern of respiration between IRC and the server in the EfU community. This is not necessarily a bad thing. After a long period of being IC for upwards of 8 hours a day, sometimes I really need the meta break.

[Divine Intervention]

I've always thought it would be kind of cool to have a scripted arena/gladiator system.  It's all very well to have PC run events, but the opportunity to showcase your champion/hero/gladiator pc in different random battles would be a good way for characters to earn reputation, foster gambling/betting and probably draw people together to watch.

It might require a new area and perhaps IG developments, but something like two entrances to a big pit with either 1v1 fights, 2v2's or large group battles against formidable illusions/captured beasts is roughly what I was envisioning.

[Zango_Unchained]

I've always thought it would be kind of cool to have a scripted arena/gladiator system.  It's all very well to have PC run events, but the opportunity to showcase your champion/hero/gladiator pc in different random battles would be a good way for characters to earn reputation, foster gambling/betting and probably draw people together to watch.

It might require a new area and perhaps IG developments, but something like two entrances to a big pit with either 1v1 fights, 2v2's or large group battles against formidable illusions/captured beasts is roughly what I was envisioning.

I've always thought something like this would be super cool.