What kills a server!

[Triper]

Advice: Stay on topic. Personal fights are off topic and should be discussed through PMs.

[Balbanes Beoulve]

There are only really two things that kill a server, it's always one of the two (or both). Either community or staff.

Community:
- server hoppers as mentioned above
- players quitting RO altogether (they grow up, get children, ..., or even a job)
- players quitting because other players did quit
- players quitting because the population became too low
- players quitting because someone posted on forums "server is dying"
- players not willing to join a server that is already 3 months or older
- players not willing to join a server that doesn't already have a huge population

Staff:
- corruption
- inactivity
- server owner simply lost motivation hosting a RO server
- server owner realizes how much work hosting a RO server is and that he doesn't have time for this
- server owner has something really dramatic happening in real life and disappears from the internet (and might actually be dead)
- server owner thought he will have 1000+ players with his awesome server concept but then sees that he really only has 20

This. Right here. Most of these reasons if not every single one in combination. I think that most of the time, the very players that complain about the community and shortage of players should realize that they hold that unique power to increase a server's worth and longevity.

[Yuzo]

When GMs are appointed through referral. The server needs a new GM, and somebody already on the staff team recommends one of their friends to be appointed. Its worse when there are long-serving members of the community, who have given large contributions towards the server, are never given a look at.


I guess that's how the real world is run. It just stinks when these people have done sweet-'f-all compared to others who have almost given their life to the server.

[Kensei]

When GMs are appointed through referral. The server needs a new GM, and somebody already on the staff team recommends one of their friends to be appointed. Its worse when there are long-serving members of the community, who have given large contributions towards the server, are never given a look at.

Not all referred people are bad, and not all long-serving members are good. Mostly depends on personality and experience in this case.

[shishi]

- GTB cant kill servers if you know how to use a magic user
- Too many OP Custom item kills servers
- corrupted gms kills servers
- New mechanics and some bad skill change can make a class useless.

[Yuzo]

Not all referred people are bad, and not all long-serving members are good. Mostly depends on personality and experience in this case.

It always ends bad. Its a "boys club" type of thing. If each member is in the same social circle and on the same thought train, its a recipe for disaster. The server can only head in one direction and that is either a solid sideways line or a plummet downwards. They will only cater to particular needs which they feel matter. The staff team will not be diverse enough and certain members of the community who do not feel as though their needs are being met as they once were, can feel left out and eventually become frustrated. I've seen and experienced it.

[Kensei]

It always ends bad. Its a "boys club" type of thing. If each member is in the same social circle and on the same thought train, its a recipe for disaster. The server can only head in one direction and that is either a solid sideways line or a plummet downwards. They will only cater to particular needs which they feel matter. The staff team will not be diverse enough and certain members of the community who do not feel as though their needs are being met as they once were, can feel left out and eventually become frustrated. I've seen and experienced it.

Not really. I've been in servers whose staffs are picked by referrals and they're doing good. Mostly it's players' vote, referrals, or GMs picks.

For you, what's the best way then? Because well, I don't see picking applicants from RMS is actually... helping.

[SnowBunny]

Because well, I don't see picking applicants from RMS is actually... helping.

Never. Ever. Pick. From. RMS.

Although maybe like 1% of the applicants might actually do something right..

[MorsRO]

well what kill ro server to me is custom and donations item..
they kill stability in ragnarok with stupid powerful item..
and fast cash alternative motivated..zz 

[maggot4life]

>BIAS GM
>STAFF OPing their own legit char
>Economy inflation

[Waear]

Champions. They ruin all aspects of the game, especially MvPing.

[Kensei]

Champions. They ruin all aspects of the game, especially MvPing.

Champions won't ruin anything if there's no healer or easy MP recovery items.

[ToiletMaster]

Pay to win servers lol,

there's no point playing if you're paying it to get the best equipments you have

[Raziel]

An imbalanced server and a very bad community is all that takes. Seen corrupt admins still have their server running because WoE guild don't really care as long as they get what they want.

[Menchiballs]

What kills a server? Server wipe (?)

Not sure about that. I do hear that once you do a wipe, there's a high chance of it being repeated again in the future and we know what will happen next.

Definitely agree here. Sure nothing is going to last forever, but it's really disheartening, especially on LRs. If that hadn't happened on the server I played for a few years I probably would have stayed!
Much more free time to play before wipe -> After wipe I just don't have the time to build up the characters again. I think this could be the case for anyone, we all have changing circumstances and need to take breaks, etc. And to come back when you finally have the free time to see everything gone can lower your morale, sadly.

Also, as many others have pointed out: corrupt/biased/overall shoddy GM team is another big one