How to Make a Failed RO PServer

[DragonHero]

I like you are writing this as a warning to potential server owner.  It's not really a guide of worth trying so I'll just move this to server discussion.  Because if they didn't plan for it as said in step 1, they wouldn't look for a guide in the first place.

Hopefully those that try to make a server will see this and get a few not-to-do out of it. 

Except I want to say, who needs custom is fine for me.  iRo back in 2003 was one of the best time I had with RO.

for me it was applejuiceRO and EroticRO LOL

[Naruto]

try getting along with the hercules and rathena team

LMAO

[Tomoprof]

So true.
I want to highlight, the "stay as Gravlike as possible" part.
The 1x rate or other superlow rate servers can't work, for the simple reason, they were made for 1000+ people/server, not 30-100 ppl. The concept having litteraly more field maps than players on a server is not going to work. Owners should understand, that making 30 people confortable is the goal they should set 1st, and if that 30 sticks, the new ones will come slowly.
For example, if I see prontera as the main hub, for 30 active online, I instantly ALT+F4 out. There is no right reason for the bigges city in the game, to be the main hub town.

[Eiponpon]

^ Close to official is great, speak for yourself

[SpaceFalcon]

This is probably the best topic I've ever had the pleasure of reading on RMS

Everything he described in the OP is actually identical to how I ran my server in 2005 when I was 13 
the incompetence, corruption, drama... good times.