What makes a good server gone bad?

[Alexina]

I have to say this since no one else is.  I've played a few servers, and to be honest have had a nice three of four years break from RO in general give or take.   The servers I've played on I never had an issue with really.  I just want to know if you have an issue with a server why don't you just move on?  Those who have stayed there for a month or more first, why did you? Why didn't you notice the issues sooner?  What made a server you've been playing on for a decent time suddenly bad? 

I'm just curious to be honest.  What makes a good server suddenly bad?

P.S.  I also want to note I'm new to these forums so I hope I posted this in the right section.

[Descent]

Perfect place for it, Alexina.

[Zelos]

When corrupt GMs/Admins come in, a bad exploit that ruins the game for others. Server gets auctioned to some immature person who doesn't know what he's doing. Things like that.

[Alexina]

I guess a new owner would cause that, or if an owner was slacking and not watching those he made into GM's.  It just seems odd that someone would make a server go through all that work and hand it over.  Like I said I don't get it for the most part, I've been fine in most the servers I played in.  Most places you go to there is going to be good and bad sides, you have to measure that almost right away before wasting valuable time I guess.  Large numbers in servers or being on at different times as the GMs could mask this well I suggest.  Wow, never thought one would have to do so much research before joining a server.  RO sure has changed since I last left it, guess I just got lucky in my own ways.   

[Zelos]

Zairik did when he owned ScytheRO. He auctioned it, and made some money, then made a brand new server, PoisonRO.

[Elenaya]

Well it's not really a matter of people not noticing the issues at hand in the beginning, but for the most part, people don't leave, because their friends are staying.  Either that or they enjoy what they've gathered on the server and don't want to leave that behind.

Also as well as some give into the corruption of the server and become corrupted them self while having fun playing the game.

But yeah, in general and overall, it's the Admin's lack of care that brings the server down to hell.  He started hiring half-assed GMs, he barely puts effort into his server anymore, and his overall attitude will begin to go down hill.

Pretty much that's all.

[Zelos]

Topic Bumped.

[LemonCrosswalk]

Even beyond corruption, people also prefer new servers. It's more fun when you can actively compete with people to get on top. If you join a already set up server, the events tend to lean towards the high leveled. Even when you get up to the high levels, everyone is already geared up and can still beat you. The GMs have to make sure they still welcome new players as well as keep the older ones they have.

[Hutchy]

Here's my answer, plain and simple: The people who play on it.

I could care less what's going on staff-side anymore. It's the community that is closest to me, and if the idiots outweigh the nice - or even tolerable - players, I'm out.

[Soma]

Here's my answer, plain and simple: The people who play on it.

Quoted for truth.

[Elenaya]

But then again isn't it the staff's responsibility to take care of incompetent players and make sure the community is going at least decently well?

Sure, there can be morons at the beginning, but if their behaviour is outrageous, I'm sure that can be taken care of.

[LiteX]

But then again isn't it the staff's responsibility to take care of incompetent players and make sure the community is going at least decently well?

Sure, there can be morons at the beginning, but if their behaviour is outrageous, I'm sure that can be taken care of.

Agreed, if there are players insulting everyone in the server for no reason while the admins and gms are slacking, the it's also part of the GMs' fault, and most cases,a server goes bad when a corrupt GM appears

[Alexina]

Alright, but can you really expect the staff to watch the whole server?  Maybe smaller servers, but people can't be everywhere at once, and even staff have lives outside of the game.  Is there away to save this?  I also want to sit back because I'm seeing a lot of it being blamed on staff, but that's kind of like hearing it's a parent's fault a kid turns out a certain way.  That's both a give or take statement, sometimes it is, other times, well no matter how hard they try there seems to be no stopping it.

Basically trying to turn the thread into a, what not to do on servers you run, or how to keep your server players happy thing.  How does one keep a good server good and running?

[LiteX]

Alright, but can you really expect the staff to watch the whole server?  Maybe smaller servers, but people can't be everywhere at once, and even staff have lives outside of the game.  Is there away to save this?  I also want to sit back because I'm seeing a lot of it being blamed on staff, but that's kind of like hearing it's a parent's fault a kid turns out a certain way.  That's both a give or take statement, sometimes it is, other times, well no matter how hard they try there seems to be no stopping it.

Basically trying to turn the thread into a, what not to do on servers you run, or how to keep your server players happy thing.  How does one keep a good server good and running?

What I meant above is the majority of the players doing it while the GM reads the reports and doesn't give a damn about it because he is either lazy, or the annoying playerd are his "friends"

[Hutchy]

I don't see why GMs should be held responsible for tiffs between players. But anyway...

Elaboration is good.

if you have an issue with a server why don't you just move on? Those who have stayed there for a month or more first, why did you? Why didn't you notice the issues sooner?

Here are two examples from opposite ends of the spectrum:

I played iRO and had no qualms about leaving because I hadn't attached myself to anyone there yet, as I had only been there for a month or two. I was young, and my inability to pay the monthly fee was ultimately what drove me away. In this case, leaving was extraordinarily easy, and I had no second thoughts about doing so.

Conversely, I played SeRO for a good nine months and made a lot of friends who are still very dear to me. It was far harder to leave because I was emotionally invested in part of the community, so despite the particularly nasty forum PMs that prompted my departure, I still check back because I miss certain people (even if I don't actively play).

Could GMs have done anything to prolong my stay on any of these servers? No, aside from banning people I didn't like, but that's a *ridiculous* thing to ask. We all have to share the sandbox, and can't really expect everyone we don't get along with to be booted from said sandbox; from here we can either wait it out or leave. So there are your reasons for why it's harder for some people to gtfo.

How does one keep a good server good and running?

In cases where the community is the issue, I don't think there is much that GMs can do. Sure, they can ban/jail/mute problematic players, people who abuse bugs, people who insult the staff... but that still doesn't ensure that everyone playing a server is going to have the time of their life. Thinking a server is "good" is an opinion, not a fact, and I think it's kind of silly to expect your typical 16-year-old staffer to devote the time/energy required to even ATTEMPT to please everyone. Pleasing everyone is impossible. What makes a server "good" is different to every person, so there's no clear-cut list of Dos and Don'ts. Hell, all nine or ten servers I've played have been good ones; it's things that are out of the GMs' hands that caused me to go on my way.

Tl;dr - When you care for the people you play with, it's hard to leave. However, GMs can't be held responsible for every damn person who rubs you the wrong way.

Interesting topic. I'll keep my eye on this one.