Despite A Large Server Population, Capital Cities Are Sometimes Empty [Part 2]

[Cyndikate 2303]

The original feedback thread is posted here.

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/109587-150-players-online-and-even-capital-cities-arent-thriving-enough-with-rp/#entry1031332

 

I am fully aware that the feedback is noted, and I'm sure the tech team is looking into my suggestion.

 

However, I didn't come to make a suggestion, but with a simple question and hopefully expand to a discussion.

 

4.0, according to Telanir is going to be 95% freebuild. Shiftnative gave us a map of 4.0, and the amount of plots scattered across the map with the addition to a large MC generated region, the wilds surrounding it.

 

I don't know for sure if the new map is going to be as big as Asulon and Anthos was, or smaller. Regardless, the only few things I would ask out of the 4.0 map is to not repeat the mistakes, or everything that was wrong with the previous two maps, of how RP was badly spread out.

 

At first I was pleased with the Fringe because it was indeed a beautiful and well-made map. I'm starting to lose my enjoyment or the will to even get on anymore because despite a large population, RP was a PITA to find most of the time.

 

Now, what I've noticed from the last couple of weeks or so, there were a lot of players online at the same time, but not a lot of players are even at their capitals(Most of the time, less than 5 players). Either some capitals are empty, or just have very few players. It came to the point where I spend more time on LOTC finding RP, or a new RP hub than actually RPing. It was very frustrating to find that nearly every town you find is empty despite the ridiculous population.

 

Noted, that the same issues occured with Anthos as well. We reached 200 at that point, and it was difficult to find people to RP with. No one was at the Conclave, Abresi, or Kal'CityInTheCrossroads. Even spawn was empty.

 

What I want from 4.0 is a repeat of Elysium. In Elysium, there was always a large amount of players in settlements no matter where you go. Every city was active, and I wasn't forced to stick to one town because there were multiple sources of RP. In Asulon and Anthos, I stuck to one town because it was the only source for RP I could find. I no longer want this to be the case in 4.0.

 

Since most of 4.0 will be free build, I have some questions for Shiftnative and the rest of the staff

 

1.)What's going to stop other players from building their own town or 200 block forts? Players walking about and building their own towns, regardless of location is contributing to spreading RP and diluting the population from capital cities, which should acquire the majority of the population. In Anthos, I have seen players build towns in the Wilds.

 

Freebuilds are fine, and I am very happy with this. The real problem is that everyone and their cat wants to build their own little town for them and their clique to hide in. The plots and the soulstone business proposed by Shiftnative will only encourage that.

 

Will players be restricted to how much land they are allowed to build blockwise? Will the raiders be allowed to raid the non-nation affiliated cities freely? 

 

I am not trying to make exaggerations, or make predictions. This situation has happened before, twice, on both of the previous maps. I simply don't want history to repeat itself as it did when Anthos was released.

[mmat 7460]

Will the raiders be allowed to raid the non-nation affiliated cities freely? 

 

This is what should be done.

[monkeymo14 53]

I enjoy freebuild, because it adds to the more building RP and experimentation, without having to worry about regions, but the problem is that everybody and their grandpappy wants to have their own cool little base.

[Hanrahan 2983]

Faaaast travel.

[ARCHITECUS 4788]

The new soulstoned plot system is going to **** player concentration. 

 

Cities need to be made a deal smaller, and freebuild wildland bullshit needs to be trimmed down.

[argonian 14254]

Racials soulstones will help with this.

[Temp 2006]

RP being somewhat spread out isn't much of an issue.

You just need to give an incentive to approach the capital. For example, Human players host meetings, hearings, and official functions in the capital. If the capital is empty, the leadership of the capital just isn't giving the players a reason to visit.

[Stag 3234]

 

RP being somewhat spread out isn't much of an issue.

You just need to give an incentive to approach the capital. For example, Human players host meetings, hearings, and official functions in the capital. If the capital is empty, the leadership of the capital just isn't giving the players a reason to visit.

 

 

 

Temp. Why you so smart?

[Ventusyr 233]

What people need to come to capitals is incentive. The easiest way, though it would lower the amount of adventuring, would be removal of the shop stall plugin and having people actually tend to their stores. To make money, they'd go to cities, where people would come to buy materials because they don't want to get it themselves. I understand people don't want this because merchants would end up standing for hours waiting for roleplay to come there way and be hella boring, but it would also reboot the economy and bring players back to the city.

I'd say non-affiliated settlements should have no raid protection. Force them to seek guards and walls. I think shift native talked about the limit on protected land plots, which was only for VIP. I kinda disagree with the personal-soulstone-location but eh. Can be helpful if you want to harvest materials in the wilds but don't want to walk a million miles every time, just plop down a soulstone outpost deep in the wilds for easy access.

Just my dollar and thirty-four cents on the future.

[Lago 2572]

What Temp said. People won't and don't RP in a capital because it has a sign on it saying "I am a capital". They go there because they've reason to.

[Heff 2460]

What Temp said. People won't and don't RP in a capital because it has a sign on it saying "I am a capital". They go there because they've reason to.

which is why salvus was so successful, there was always something going on wether it was military, festival, robbery, hearing, etc. even if troops were moving through the city there was RP! It wasnt even a capital!

[Hiebe 2493]

which is why salvus was so successful, there was always something going on wether it was military, festival, robbery, hearing, etc. even if troops were moving through the city there was RP! It wasnt even a capital!

Thats cause it was in the middle of the map. Oh and human,

 

The problem is when someone gets overly popular (which i forsee with alras) the other nations will decide to gang up on them. Focus on yourselves.

 

For example, I have little to no reason to log into the dwarven nation and roleplay. I have suggested many ways to change this and even put in a prestige system somewhat like the humans had but no one will put it through or give it enough power to make it worthwhile. It seems like it is boiling down to the few who hold power and dont wish to loose said "internet" power for the betterment of roleplay and players overall.

 

Im done suggesting things Im waiting till someone flips out one day and say enough is enough, I dont want to be king I just want to help.

[Rhia 936]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.