Successfuly Running a Server

[Devilanche]

Hello all.

You know, I am a person who believes that when you commit to doing something...You should do it with the most energy and enthusiasm you can. I have GM'ed on many servers, had one or two of my own (both successful, but taken down for financial reasons), and I know how to script and release them. I know a lot about servers. But what really seems to never change between any server...Is a lack of knowledge when it comes to how to run it.

Running a server is not hard. It takes dedication, maturity, and commitment...But you don't need to be a super-scripter or God of Ragnarok to make your server great. But, I'm about to explain to all of you what will make your server great. Remember, I'm just here to offer what I believe to be helpful advice...Not to run your server for you. It will take your own personal dedication to make these 5 rules work:

1. Game Masters: Keep your GM staff TIGHT. When I say tight...I mean no more than 4 GM's, hopefully in multiple time zones so they can be on throughout the day, and make sure you know them and trust them with your life. The biggest problem with RO servers today is corruption- and if you yourself are not corrupted, and you don't want a corrupted server...Choose GM's who you know you can trust to be loyal to fair gameplay.

How to make this happen:

- Limit what GM's can do. Don't allow anyone but administrators to distribute items, add levels, etc.

- Don't allow your GM's to have normal accounts. Its unfair- but if they're online, they should be playing as a GM and doing their job- no playing for fun.

- Hire people you've known for a long time and that you know wouldn't betray your trust.

2. Early Releases: DO NOT release your server before it is done. Don't open a server before everything you are planning on doing has been done. People do not like feeling like their server is ''a work in progress''. They need to feel stable, secure, and believe the server will be around for a looong time. However- depending on the particular SVN you are using...You may have some bugs. To iron these out, simply play and test the server yourself and with your GM's thoroughly.

How to make this happen:

- Make sure that there are 100% NO bugs, or if there are, they aren't accessible by normal players. There will always be GM bugs, but a GM should NEVER be doing anything that would bug in the first place.

- Do not announce your server to ANYONE before it is finished. You and your GM's should be the only one to know about your server. Once it is finished- release it publicly. However, if you want people to come and HELP YOU bug test your server, you can allow a few, perhaps 10, people to come on and play and have them report bugs back to you.

- Always check things immediately after you make them. For example, if you just scripted a new NPC, go restart the server and make sure it appears and that is functioning. Don't just do it and ''assume'' that it works. If you do, you might end up with an unprofessional, non-working NPC that will cry ''amature'' to people, or even worse....A bug-creator in the making.

3. Player Contact: You must realize that players do not want GM's to act like humans. They want to see them as a higher authority. You should always be 100% polite, friendly, and in some cases- forgiving with players, but be very strict in terms of rules and regulations with them. Doing this will allow people to respect you for your mannerisms, but also fear you, because they know doing bad things will make you take swift action on them. GM's should not be ''buddies''. They should be authority figures who are of the utmost politeness and friendliness, but do not form bonds with players which could potentially allow for breaches in rules or ''I'm the GM's friend so I can do what I want'' kind of problems.

How to make this happen:

- Make sure that all of your GM's stick to your code. Make sure that they understand the rules correctly and can practically recall every one of them from memory.

- Always make sure that your GM's enforce the rules as strictly as possible. Create a 4 point system: Warn- Mute- Suspend- Ban. This will give people who are acting-out ample chance to correct their mannerisms and be more friendly and courteous. If they do not correct their acts by the 3rd point, the 4th point comes into play, and they will be permanantly banned. This will also serve as an example to other players of what not to do in the future- thus reducing the occurence of these events to begin with.

- Your GM's must be incredibly friendly. Always offer players advice, ask how they are doing, if they need help finding anything, hell...Even give them ideas for leveling spots. This will create enough of a bond with players so that they think ''Wow, these guys are nice''. But don't get on a personal level. Don't talk to them like a frat-buddy. Just be courteous enough to get them to realize your politeness...Nothing more, nothing less.

4. Keeping Things Fresh: Always try to keep the server updated, always putting in new things and pushing it forward. You don't want to drastically change how your server looks, feels, and works (unless people completely hate it and it needs a face lift), but you do want to enhance the experience of gameplay.

How to make this happen:

-  Add quests, new NPC's, new texts for current NPC's...Hell, even update NPC sprites. Update things which will make the game look funner, fresher, and more professional...But don't change things which people play your server for and like- or you WILL lose your playerbase- and it's not always easy to find a new one.

- When you first begin your server, before it opens, create a timeline. ''How long do I want to keep this server open?''. Lets say we want the server for 2 years. You will have 24 months in those 2 years. So, think up updates in advance for those 24 months. For example, ''October First Year: Add new NPC's and update cache. November First Year: Add new color palettes and weapon sprites''. And if you ever want to change them, or add something more, just edit your plan.

- Host a lot of events. Always have things for players to do. You might think, ''Well we don't want people to feel too suffocated with events...'',but players never will. They don't have to participate, they can go to other places, do other things. If you host too many events, just make one really big event that you host alongside them, but at longer intervals- so it seems more special. Say, a big guild tourney every month or two.

5. Create a feeling: Always try to be unique. Don't copy off of other people, steal ideas, or anything like that. You may think it makes your server look cooler, or more professional- but all it really does is make it look like ''just another server'', because it won't be special...It will have been done before. You want to think up your own brand news ideas and put them into place, and even if you don't think they'll be as popular as others...They'll still attract people for being special.

How to make this happen:

- Think about things you've like to see more of in the Ragnarok universe, and play off of that. ''I want to see more monsters...'', maybe you can double the monster respawn rates, perhaps put some new ones on other maps, anything like that which makes your game unique.

- Give it a good storyline. Add a sense of wonder and intrigue into people's playing experience. Make them want to play to find out what the story is and how it works. Weave NPC's and items into it and create your own unique gaming universe.

- Try to get inspiration from places in the game, or even things in real life. Try to do whatever possible to give your server an edge in the innovation department.




Well, that about concludes it. People may not agree with all of my points, or my examples, but one things for sure...It's better than going blindly into running a server with no guidance. Feel free to leave comments and tell me your ideas as well. Peace.

 Placed on the 'Moderated' list for the distribution of private messages of harassing nature to users. This is not permitted and is dealt with accordingly [Both accounts and any further accounts you sign up for will be placed on this status]

[Skotlex]

If everyone read these before starting a server, new server spawn rates would drop around 90% (if not more) because it's just too much work and no fun for the people involved. :B

[Anti-Static Foam Cleaner]

- Don't allow your GM's to have normal accounts. Its unfair- but if they're online, they should be playing as a GM and doing their job- no playing for fun.

So you want to pay them?

Because last time I heard, doing something which is not fun for several hours a day is called "work".

[undercover]

So you want to pay them?

Because last time I heard, doing something which is not fun for several hours a day is called "work".

not for me.. work is something I enjoy 
Devilanche well said I agree on most besides the GMs not having legits part. Why would they want to GM then? You think people enjoy helping all these new people at RO? So are you telling me they will just log on everyday (or every other day) for a few hours and get nothing back in return?

[Loki]

Poor GMs have no fun. No wonder they release pent up anger on to the server.



Seriously, the GMs should at least have some fun like making events that involves them interacting with the players or have a legit account. Admins are responsible to look after server corruption as they can access the server's DB.

[Devilanche]

Ask yourself this....If someone doesn't want to be a Gm JUST to be a GM...Why would they? What would having an account do for them? The only reason people who are GM's want player accounts is to give themselves a little ''advantage''. There are PLENTY of people out there who enjoy working for a server, spending time thinking up events, moderating, and scripting. It may not sound fun to those who have had no real experience of it, but when you're part of a really successful team of developers who want to bring something new to the table, whether you play or not...You'll enjoy your time spent. I had a server a long time ago, and by the time it was closed it had about 300 players and 5 GM's total, including myself. I had 2 scripters (myself included), 2 moderators/forum moderators, and a web manager. I honestly cannot recall more than say...Two times we had any real serious incident, such as a verbal abuse fight, scamming, etc. And why? Because my GM's were feared and respected. And they enjoyed that. They enjoyed working on RO and bringing their ideas to life through my server, and thats what we did...We made a special experience. Trust me, you don't need a player account to enjoy RO. You haven't really experienced RO till you've run a server.

Plus, who doesn't like bragging rights?

Oh and...

@Skotlex: Is that a bad thing? Why would we want more junk servers appearing? They get abandoned within say, a month, and then their entries just rot on the RMS listing for awhile, and further muddying the pool of water for the decent servers. We don't want more bad, junky, underthought servers..We want a higher standard of quality.

[Pandora]

Agreed on everything but those:

"Do not announce your server to ANYONE before it is finished." I've seen server announce and create a hype about their servers a few weeks before, this ensured that they launched with a nice starting population.

"Always check things immediately after you make them. For example, if you just scripted a new NPC, go restart the server and make sure it appears and that is functioning." Actually, use a test server, that's 2x more professional.

I'm also icky on the gm not playing with legit, but there are enough topic about that already so it's not worth discussing.

[Mewi]

Well I am very iffy on that "fear" comment.  I do not want players to "fear" me.  I simply want them to know that breaking the rules will have consequences...  "Fear" makes it sound abusive, like a terrorist uses fear?

As for legit GM not playing legit character...  Very unfair if you ask me and ultimately you will infact end up with GMs going to play on other RO servers which of course is a conflict of interest.  You want them to be able to interact with the community on a personal level to some degree.  Keeping them from playing a legit is 'unconstitutional' X3. 

It is bad to stay completely out of sight of the community as well.

[Descent]

Ask yourself this....If someone doesn't want to be a Gm JUST to be a GM...Why would they? What would having an account do for them? The only reason people who are GM's want player accounts is to give themselves a little ''advantage''. There are PLENTY of people out there who enjoy working for a server, spending time thinking up events, moderating, and scripting. It may not sound fun to those who have had no real experience of it, but when you're part of a really successful team of developers who want to bring something new to the table, whether you play or not...You'll enjoy your time spent. I had a server a long time ago, and by the time it was closed it had about 300 players and 5 GM's total, including myself. I had 2 scripters (myself included), 2 moderators/forum moderators, and a web manager. I honestly cannot recall more than say...Two times we had any real serious incident, such as a verbal abuse fight, scamming, etc. And why? Because my GM's were feared and respected. And they enjoyed that. They enjoyed working on RO and bringing their ideas to life through my server, and thats what we did...We made a special experience. Trust me, you don't need a player account to enjoy RO. You haven't really experienced RO till you've run a server.

Plus, who doesn't like bragging rights?

Oh and...

@Skotlex: Is that a bad thing? Why would we want more junk servers appearing? They get abandoned within say, a month, and then their entries just rot on the RMS listing for awhile, and further muddying the pool of water for the decent servers. We don't want more bad, junky, underthought servers..We want a higher standard of quality.

Feared...? GMs that are feared can sound a death knell for a server.

My entire staff is fully respected on my server. The players have no reason to fear them. There are consequences for bad actions, but using fear as a catalyst for abiding by rules...that's just...I dunno.

As for the legit thing, I have to say, completely wrong. You can monitor GM actions, and as a few people in the thread have already stated before me, playing another server is a conflict of interest. There are so many times I see certain server owners saying "A GM position is a JOB, not play, so find another server to play if that's the case"...sure. So when said GM gets tired of not being able to interact with the community on a player level or even ENJOY the results of their hard work, they'll leave for the server they were forced to play on in the first place.

[Poki]

You're not fit to become a GM if you don't enjoy being one.

[Devilanche]

You're not fit to become a GM if you don't enjoy being one.

My point exactly. Thank you.

As for fear...

Maybe you're not understanding the point. Players need to love, respect, AND fear you...Just as I stated.

Fear is a key component in making people behave. The ''fear'' of going to jail, the ''fear'' of dying in war if you don't listen your commander....It keeps people in line. You don't have to use scare tactics or threats to make people respect and fear you, you just need them to understand that disobeying will NOT be tolerated....And that is fear.

[Miya]

That why a perfect balance between fair and fear needs to be put in place. I wouldn't want  a GM stalking me every second, yelling at me in all caps, just because my character "walked oddly" and now I'm a bot. Seriously, some GMs take it -too- seriously when it comes to enforcement, and end up banning more innocent people then not. Finding someone willing to play the bad guy on the middle grounds is difficult, but not impossible. Finding people who want to even be a GM and actually have the skills and personality to do it is just as hard. Myself for example, I don't GM but I do a lot for my server I am on. Just because someone provides a server with help doesn't mean they should be automatically dawned on with GM powers, even if they're limited. A player who can help out without being rewarded is also another rare find, but amazingly good for the Team that runs a server.

To make a server even remotely successful takes a lot of time in making sure it's actually something special. Not just another basic-settings server. Make it unique with a few things, get a team that can actually afford to Pay for the server, and a couple GMs able to dedicate time to scripting or eventing. You could have all this and still not lift off because, it might not be "In Season" for RO players to start migrating from their current servers to new homes. With the Player pool getting thinner, it becomes a survival of the fittest. Just hope you get darn lucky when you put up your server and people are looking for something you offer.

[Devilanche]

Thanks for repeating what I just said.....

[Miya]

"Well, that about concludes it. People may not agree with all of my points, or my examples, but one things for sure...It's better than going blindly into running a server with no guidance. Feel free to leave comments and tell me your ideas as well. Peace."

Sorry if my idea agreed with you to some extent ^_^;; I felt it wasn't needed to go into full on detail of the gritty work of server owning, that's not something you can tell someone to do. You can only offer words of encouragement or helpful suggestions for that. Everyone will run things their way, not just the way you believe is right. You don't have to be so "...." about someone agreeing and posting an opinion, which you said we could do~ No harm intended.

[Devilanche]

"Well, that about concludes it. People may not agree with all of my points, or my examples, but one things for sure...It's better than going blindly into running a server with no guidance. Feel free to leave comments and tell me your ideas as well. Peace."

Sorry if my idea agreed with you to some extent ^_^;; I felt it wasn't needed to go into full on detail of the gritty work of server owning, that's not something you can tell someone to do. You can only offer words of encouragement or helpful suggestions for that. Everyone will run things their way, not just the way you believe is right. You don't have to be so "...." about someone agreeing and posting an opinion, which you said we could do~ No harm intended.

I'm not saying you were attempting to deal any harm...I'm simply saying, you just repeated what I said. Lol. ''Try to make your server special''. xD