Gauging RO activity

Irreverence · Mar 10, 2015, 10:11 AM

I'm working with a friend on a new server (about 3 months up and running) and, as every other server admins are trying to do, we're wanting more players. (this isn't an advertisement, I promise.)

I'm looking around various places, and I'm wondering, just how active is the game still? I played on the same server for ~10 years, so I didn't get around much. Do people still actively search out new servers, or have they rooted themselves in their 'at-home' server (much like I did) and refuse to move? (as they can't be arsed to start from scratch.)

Just trying to get a feel for things.

Rider · Mar 10, 2015, 02:52 PM

To answer your question about the activity of RO, it is more or less active and there are still a lot of RO players but most have just settled down or stick with their own group of friends or guildies. Which means individuals players don't go out seeking servers like how they used to because nowadays people know what they want and it is a lot easier to find a server that suits their needs.

When it comes to players numbers, that depends on the type of server and the features they have. People have more or less given up on high level of customization because those servers don't seem to run for very long. What matters most is knowing what the majority of the community wants if you're aiming to make a server with a bigger community.

I beg to differ with that every other admin you speak of though. I prefer a good and respectful community be it big or small anytime over a very big community that might only be filled with trolls and disrespectful people.

Irreverence · Mar 10, 2015, 03:35 PM

cheers, thanks for the reply.

More so "admins trying to make their server successful", was what I was jabbing at, not necessarily wanting hundreds and hundreds of people on my server. I agree wholeheartedly, quality over quantity, especially where my server is concerned.

Our big sale is our PvP. Each class is individually balanced, no class has an uncontested super-blast skill (even asura has been limited), berries are heavy as hell so PvP isn't endless; so I suppose a follow-up question would be: do people still want PvP, or is it all about quests and WoE?

Yuzo · Mar 10, 2015, 11:50 PM

Remember, if you try to please everyone, you'll please no one. Word of advice

Irreverence · Mar 11, 2015, 04:37 AM

I hear that. We're catering to one single group, a feat which I have yet to see: Serious PvP.

Upper and super high rates bungle it up every time. No balance, anywhere. Low rates are a slow process, with much slower PvP than I would care for. We're that happy medium between.

...Now I just have to figure out how to adequately sell that to people. D:

cauyao615 · Mar 11, 2015, 05:44 AM

its pretty active now...well the pinoy side of it...official PH server just closed and there are thousands of pinoy players now looking for a new server...if you notice there are tons of new pinoy made servers released lately, trying to get those homeless players...but those servers are really bad and very corrupt, they wont last long so if you're planning to make a new server its prolly a good time to make it now or at least plan for it...

Irreverence · Mar 11, 2015, 07:38 AM

Yeah, I've been reading up recently, and it seems as though private donations and and their like are everywhere. Server admins trying to money instead of trying to make a good server. *shrug* business is business, I guess.

Nationality doesn't matter too much to me, I'm just after the good PvPers.

Yuzo · Mar 11, 2015, 10:09 AM

Social servers seem to succeed for longer. It all comes down to what consumes more time effectively. End-game is everything, and you should revolve your server around which part you want to make prominent. I have had fun on all different types of servers. The end-game things seem to consist of: PvP, WoE, Battlegrounds and MvP. All of these I have enjoyed to differing degrees, but all thoroughly.

In servers I have seen it work, PvP is glorious if gameplay is a fork in the road which expands exponentially. A server I played on for the longest time had the greatest PvP experience. Each class had so many ways to play it, and the ones which everybody knew the best way, had nuances which made it oh so fun.

WoE is probably the most enjoyable, yet least reliable source of end-game material. If it is the only grab for your server, then you are in trouble. Since it is a huge showcase which only happens a few times a week, what to do in between? I have seen a server, though, successfully have it everyday, some days having it twice.

Battlegrounds tends to tie in with WoE, but it is another nice, time consuming activity. The biggest problem with it tends to be the fact it is a means to an end. The only reason you are there is to collect your badges for prizes.

MvPing - partying - is probably the best way to run your end-game material. It is very time consuming because people often want a monopoly of certain monsters. This means, if it is happening, those people will be online at all hours of the day, with competition likely arising.

Wasn't too keen on expanding too much on my thoughts. Just wanted you to see a healthy balance of the four is key to success in the private server business. Since you are focusing on the PvP aspect of the game, you should definitely consider designing the way your server works, i.e., leveling, equipment, mechanics, towards boosting that area in the best way possible.

Irreverence · Mar 11, 2015, 10:40 AM

I appreciate the reply, you've solidified a good number of what I have planned, as well as how I feel about the end-game. Just have to get enough players to eventually reach that end-game

ahbenzz · Mar 12, 2015, 03:07 PM

99/70, special stuff probably, and WoE/BG.

Irreverence · Mar 13, 2015, 12:30 AM

Wait, what? (random nonsense to bypass the word restriction)

Rider · Mar 13, 2015, 03:42 PM

Quote from: Irreverence on Mar 10, 2015, 03:35 PM
do people still want PvP, or is it all about quests and WoE?

The answer would be yes. There are people with different wants but the biggest problem is that they have so many options to choose from. Understanding the target audience is one thing but what really attracts players and make them try a server is content. A lot of people enjoy checking out random new servers outta boredom but they will leave sooner than not if they don't see anything special about the server.

Your biggest concern should be what makes your server different from existing server that are doing exactly what you do. Basically give people reason to try your server and if they like what you have done they will be sure to stay.

Irreverence · Mar 13, 2015, 09:20 PM

Glad to hear it. I've yet to find a high-rate with a PvP setup like ours, so I guess we've got that going for us.