Community Meeting Minutes | Apr 3rd 2016

[Fireheart 2777]

I encourage those of you who missed it to listen to the audio for the in-depth discussions. Everything is recorded here for easy reference if you need to pull it up and each question is answered. Spelling issues and mistakes are recorded as given and will not be altered. If you have an issue with how your message was portrayed through writing please PM me so we can come to a conclusion.

 

 

Community Meeting | Sun - Apr 3th 2016 - 1:00:12 PM PST.

 

Meeting called and led by Ski_king

 

Agenda: Go over questions posted before the meeting.

 

1. Nolan: Would it be at all possible to return back to the voting system where we got minas instead of random items that are rather useless?

 

Telanir: We had an Admin meeting and we decided that voting for minas will return. The random items will be removed.

 

2. Nathan_Barnett36: Plans on donation perks?

 

Telanir: We are going to have huge changes done. They will no longer be known as donation. Instead they will be paying customers. In terms of perks that will be widely available we will be having LWC available to everyone and other small perks as well. Examples such as soulstones being consistent as well as pillars. People will need to remove items from enderchests as the perk will be removed. Plans in mind can not provide an advantage over a player. Visibility names for custom names, expanding custom items such as renaming items and coloring them, and a lot more. In general we will be making sure that those of you who purchased VIP in the past get perks in relation to the amount. These changes are drastic and beyond our control to dictate.

 

We are making a change away from our donation tier system. It will all be in an in-game currency shop; in there you will be able to use a coin package that you purchase to purchase in-game perks. We will also be holding a meeting about donations to help keep our server a float called “Your Voice.” This format will allow all players to come together and converse on a topic within TS. We will be holding a “Your Voice” on donator perks in the near future.

 

3. Cianann1212: Since the donator perks are gonna be removed ( Or at least most of them. ) , does that mean us non-donating casuals will get them? ( Or atleast some of them, like LWC.)

 

4. xXessenceXx: What are the staff teams doing to increase new-player retention rates? I try to help out all of the new players that I see come online, and a lot of them truly DO need help. I feel like staff should try to help out more instead of me (a regular player) doing some roleplay tutorials for them.

 

Ski: An idea would be to work on a kit to help players get started on the server. Admins and GM’s have specific roles with certain roles relating to community relations. Currently we are working on GM specification to iron out the roles and create guidelines. The new player focus is not something that died with Read’s departure.

 

Telanir: I will be looking towards a buddy program. Most people that come onto the server and stay is due to friends. People who do bring in buddies and people who are active will receive a reward for bringing people onto the server. The more people you refer the more perks you will gain. The longer the player is on the larger the reward.

 

Are there any ways for players to get some land that isn't through a nation leader? Ex: if my character wanted to set up camp at the old dark elf city, I would have to ask a ton of different players to get a campsite there despite it being unused, ruined land (trust me I've tried). Is there some sort of way to address that?

 

Fireheart: The charter system is in need of a revamp and will be worked on for 5.0. It is rather hard to make changes now to the current system without making an uproar.

 

Does Media Team still exist?

 

Telanir: It is privatized with different groups working on it at once. There is no official media team to LOTC so to say, but there are groups that work to create content.

 

When (if it is) is 5.0 coming?

 

Telanir: In the coming months you will hear more about it. ShiftNative has been working on the new map currently alongside several other staff. As soon as we have the ability to let players build we will hold a discussion to decide how to work that out. We really want to have it out before Summer ends.

 

Combust: We’ve recently have begun to work on a map that serves a large event area similar to the north. It will be a hostile environment that will have a lot of area to explore and play on. It is going to be an ancient elven island and heavily involved in the 5.0 lore. We will be releasing it in parts as they are finished and the current goal is to have bounties, storyline, and dungeon events. Next weekend is when we plan to start. Rather than one large event it will be a lot of small events.

 

5. The Elfen Lie: Will memes get banned from LoTC?

 

Disco: Yes.

 

6. Oblivionsbane: How can we help with 5.0 if it is coming?

 

Telanir: More details later on once the world is closer to being done.

 

7. Thaddeus11: How are we going to handle the clear split in PvPers and RPers on the server? I feel this is a blunt question, but one that needs to be asked.

 

Telanir: In the past there has been a huge line with people on both sides arguing. This compromise is Defender default which is something we are planning to keep. This is based off votes and feedback from the players. We have been fixing issues with defender default such as when someone does request text fighting they will get their buddies to join this. To fix this I will be introducing a plugin that will introduce a check system in who is involved.

 

8. Vasemir: What are your priorities now (except for payment system)?

 

Ski: Right now a majority of it is the payment system. Another big focus is GM specialization and defining those roles. Making sure that everyone is active and pursuing project relating to their field. In addition we have the agenda system where each month we have an overarching goal. This month is economy.

 

Telanir: The idea is to not multitask and to focus on one topic. In the end making us hopefully more effective as staff.

 

Are you planning to lower entry barriers on the server? I don't mean application nor whitelist, but rather first steps on the server.

 

Disco: Yes, as it stands it is hard to get set up on the server unless you have a friend. The buddy system will hopefully help this issue.

 

What are your thoughts about cannons?

 

Ski: Lore must be submitted to the lore team and accepted, but the Lore Team is open to receiving cannon lore.

 

9. Harold: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/143245-community-meeting-sunday-april-3rd-4pm-est/?do=findComment&comment=1348533

 

Telanir: There is a focus on new player retention. We are not looking to repeat something that has failed, but instead encouraging players to help new players in general.

 

Ski: Dohvi would be the one to speak to about that. The FM team has been complained about a lot less than in the past. The only time the FM’s get complained about is when people act like dicks and get warned for and followed by out-rage.

 

Disco: The favor in the vote for defender default and a lot of people praised it for improvement.

 

Ski: Tahmas proposed it as a rough idea and GM’s voted on a trial where people seemed to like it. Hence why it is a thing for the time being.

 

Telanir: It wasn’t a bug, but rather a player picking up on it and using it. To be fair they did report it.

 

Ski: To some agree there will be a skill wipe following after with the way we transfer rp items sticking like we did for last map.

 

Telanir: We will be looking at how we can deal with all the duped XP, as if yet we don’t have a stance to make public.

 

Disco: The original role was to increase interaction with role play, but the main concern is skill abuse.

 

Ski: Even though this is an RP server it is something we can not enforce evenly and so the status quo is that is not enforced.

 

10. Lunar: as it currently stands bandit rp is impossible because the player needs to stop and rp with you in the first place, and due to meta gaming if a player sees someone they oocly know to be a bandit they won't stop and the bandit can't do anything about it. Can we be allowed to down and REVIVE them if we yell halt and should they run from rp pop them?

 

Disco: Rules were changed that if you are in rolepaly combat you can’t just dip. This includes defender default rules. If someone does it you can down them. I think it is metagaming if you assume it based off of a name title. The only solution is to instead of yelling halt to have a prewritten emote.

 

Telanir: If you are having issues with pinging someone you have to do it with your fist. Otherwise it won’t ping.

 

11. Shiloh Atatis: What is the ETA for 5.0's release?

 

Ski: This Summer.

 

What are the major setbacks that are contributing to the delay of the map?

 

Ski: It is not delayed. It seems like it will be on time.

 

What is the current plan to complete this project? Is this plan currently in use?

 

Ski: We have already touched on this, just continuing to work and keep ramping up activity. Just know that we don’t believe we are behind or at the point to delay it.

 

12. ZipZapMan: In the future, will there ever be any limits/standards set on Nations with the number of settlements that they have? For example, Oren which currently has eight carts that lead to a settlement and sometimes branches off into more carts. Will there be a standard created and enforced to avoid stretching out the player base so we don't end up with empty areas like we currently have now?

 

Fire: Look down to question 13 and 14.

 

Telanir: In the future we would like to get rid of instant travel and make fast travels to a lesser perk.

 

13. Narthok: Additionally, do the staff have any intent or thoughts about fixing the broken nation charter system?

 

Fire: It is something that we plan on working on for 5.0. Rather than making changes on

this map which would make many upset.

 

14. Japzzi: Is it possible to clean up some of the empty settlements or towns?.

 

Fire: Not currently. It will be more heavily enforced in 5.0, but this is typically how shelf life of maps works. Restricted at the start and slowly ruined by the end.

And is it possible to reform the way nations work? To make leaders more active.

 

Fire: Speak to your nation leaders who are active. If you have issues RPly fix them.

 

15. Vasemir: Do you have any intention of reworking economics?

 

Ski: That is a part of this month’s GM agenda. Where GM’s do a project related to the economy.

 

16. Zer0: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/143245-community-meeting-sunday-april-3rd-4pm-est/?do=findComment&comment=1348885

 

Disco: We are working on a general antac such as what we said when Combust spoke.

 

Ski: 5.0 will be an A letter starting name. We will not change that.

 

Freema: There will be trailors to hint events.

 

Ski: The server will upgrade to 1.9 as soon as possible. It will be ready when it is ready.

 

Ski: We are looking into a different antag other than Iblees in general. There will be a strong storyline idealy.

 

Ski: We are going to be nuked.

 

17. Man of respect: Will skills be reseted once the new, full map is released? I believe they should be reseted, so new players may get a chance. It's like when you join a strategy game that has people playing it since five years, and you've been around for your first day.

 

Ski: We spoke about that above!

 

18. KentuckyFriedCreeper: I know this is a bit of a random question but like in Aegis with Al'khazar (capital of Oren back then) is there any chance that the next oren capital will be furthest away from the cloud temple? Only reason I say this is because of how fun it was back in Aegis making your way along the king's road through bandits, undead, zombies, etc taking shelter in a tavern overnight talking to other weary travellers, strolling through a recently destroyed city with potential dangers to finally get to the gates of Al'Khazar was a really fun and slightly rewarding (in a way) feeling, as you walked through the gates of the city and into the town square to see all sorts of RP. (btw there were a load of other human towns along the way so you didn't have nothing to do on your way to the capital)

 

Telanir: There are no details as to yet. You can image what you want for now.

 

19. The axeman51: Will baby rp ever be a thing? is the gizzy gazza thing dead?

 

Disco: You can if you want, gizzy gazza died.

 

Telanir: The video didn’t get a lot of views so this will be cut.

 

20. Luv: Will social media be used with LoTC any time again in the near future?

 

Ski: Two of our trial GM’s are going to be working on this and have grand ideas!

 

Cookie: So, provided that we get an audience that would support this, the social media idea aspect of LotC will be worked on. Tahmas and myself have a lot of people to talk to before we are able to say anything else.

 

21: Vasemir: Will you encourage players to play IC instead of using Skype? Maybe using forum instead of external communicators?

 

Ski: Yes, we always do this and what we encourage!

 

22. Wud: Why did pvp items I lost during /ci wipe not get refunded, yet someone else got p1 weightless refunded by an unamed trial gm?

 

Disco: Most PvP items were refunded when we could give. We will refund you the best we can.

 

23. Tom_Whiteman: Will we be moving to a temp map?

 

Ski: No. We don’t plan on it.

 

24. ShameJax: When will Ski be admin?

 

Fire: When the magic plugin is released.

 

What are the plans for 5.0?

 

Ski: We covered that above!

 

Can we please see the return of the Golden hoes from fringe and anthos? It'll give a use to emeralds.

 

Ski: No, we can not.

 

25. DarkSalvo: Adam or Nathan.

 

Staff: Josh