The Overuse of 'FULLY CUSTOM' in Ragnarok Online Private Servers

[PLVgg]

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Hello fellow Ragnarok Online enthusiasts,

I hope this post finds you well. Today, I want to shed some light on a concerning trend that has been bothering me within the Ragnarok Online private server community – the excessive and often inaccurate use of the term 'FULLY CUSTOM'.

I understand that private servers aim to offer a unique and engaging experience for players, but the term 'FULLY CUSTOM' has become a catch-all phrase without a standardized measure. I believe it's crucial to establish a more thoughtful and quantifiable approach when assessing the level of customization in a server.

To address this, I've compiled a list of quantifiable avenues that we can use to critique and evaluate the actual extent of customization on any given Ragnarok Online private server. By considering these aspects, we can move away from vague terms and provide a more accurate representation of a server's identity.

I propose a star symbol rating system for each avenue.
Servers can then be categorized into three main types: Brickhouse - Backfoot - And Ambitious.

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Source Modifications:
(★☆☆☆☆)
Minimal or no modifications to the source code. Stays true to the original Ragnarok Online source.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight source code modifications, possibly addressing minor issues or bugs without significant alterations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate source code edits, introducing some new features while still maintaining compatibility with the original.
(★★★★☆)
Primarily relies on Ragnarok Online structure but introduces significant source code edits for unique gameplay features.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized source code, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online source.
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Client Modifications:
(★☆☆☆☆)
Minimal or no modifications to the client. Stays true to the original Ragnarok Online client.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight client modifications, possibly cosmetic changes without significant deviations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate client modifications, introducing some new visual elements while still maintaining the core Ragnarok Online client structure.
(★★★★☆)
Primarily relies on Ragnarok Online structure but introduces significant client modifications for a unique visual experience.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized client, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online client in terms of visuals and features.
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Database Modifications:
(★☆☆☆☆)
Minimal or no modifications to databases. Stays true to the original Ragnarok Online databases.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly focusing on balance adjustments without significant deviations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate changes, introducing some new content while still maintaining a connection to the original databases.
(★★★★☆)
Primarily relies on Ragnarok Online structure but introduces significant skill rebalances or additions.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized databases, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online databases.
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Graphic Elements:
(★☆☆☆☆)
No modifications to graphic elements such as monster recolors, item descriptions, sprites, maps, UI elements, buff icons, or skill effects. Stays true to the original Ragnarok Online visuals.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing minor changes to item description pictures, buff icons, or skill effects without significant deviations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate graphic modifications, introducing some new sprites, UI elements, buff icons, and skill effects while maintaining the core Ragnarok Online visual style.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications to graphic elements, including monster recolors, unique item information pictures, customized UI elements, buff icons, and altered skill effects.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized graphic elements, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online visuals. Includes extensive changes to monster appearances, item descriptions, sprites, maps, UI elements, buff icons, and skill effects.
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Sound and Music:
(★☆☆☆☆)
No modifications to sound effects or background music. Stays true to the original Ragnarok Online audio.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing minor changes to sound effects or background music without significant deviations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate modifications to sound effects or background music, introducing some new audio elements while maintaining the core Ragnarok Online audio style.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications to sound effects or background music, including unique audio tracks or altered sounds that enhance the server's atmosphere.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized sound effects and background music, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online audio. Includes an extensive library of unique audio tracks and effects.
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Instances:
(★☆☆☆☆)
No additional instances or activities beyond the standard Ragnarok Online content. Stays true to the original instances.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing a few solo or party instances with minor variations, but remains relatively close to the standard content.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate modifications, introducing new solo and party instances, dungeons, or events with unique mechanics while still maintaining ties to the original instances.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications, featuring a variety of engaging solo and party instances, dungeons, raids, and events with original content and challenges.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized instances, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online instances. Offers a wide range of solo and party content, including unique dungeons, challenging raids, and dynamic events.
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NPC Scripts & Functions:
(★☆☆☆☆)
No additional functionality beyond standard NPCs. Utilizes standard dialogue windows and does not include quality of life items or customization.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing a few quality of life usable items or minor dialogue window customization. Limited use of sound effects and cutins.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate modifications, featuring quality of life usable items that call NPC functions without needing to visit NPCs. Some customization of dialogue windows, use of sound effects, and occasional cutins.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications, including a variety of quality of life usable items, extensive dialogue window customization, use of sound effects, and occasional cutins.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized NPC scripts and functions, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online. Offers a wide range of quality of life usable items, extensive dialogue window customization with unique fonts and styles, immersive use of sound effects, cutins, and unique branching NPC dialogue options.
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Progression Systems:
(★☆☆☆☆)
Follows the standard Ragnarok Online progression systems without significant alterations. Progression closely mirrors the original game.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing minor changes to leveling, class progression, or equipment progression without significant deviations.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate modifications, introducing some new progression elements while still maintaining a connection to the original systems. May include unique class progression or equipment progression options.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications, featuring a mix of original and custom progression systems. Focuses on unique class progression, equipment progression, or additional progression elements.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized progression systems, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online. Offers a wide range of unique and immersive progression paths, class options, equipment systems, and potentially introduces new forms of progression.
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World Building & Character Empathy:
(★☆☆☆☆)
Follows the standard Ragnarok Online world and character design without significant alterations. Minimal focus on character empathy and exploration.
(★★☆☆☆)
Slight modifications, possibly introducing minor changes to NPC personalities, but still limited in terms of custom storylines, voice lines, and exploration.
(★★★☆☆)
Moderate modifications, introducing some new regions, explorable areas, and NPC empathy. May have a basic custom storyline and additional lore elements.
(★★★★☆)
Significant modifications, featuring new regions, explorable areas, and enhanced character empathy. May have a well-developed custom storyline, voice lines, and additional lore.
(★★★★★)
Fully customized world building and character empathy, showcasing a server that is completely distinct from the original Ragnarok Online. Offers a wide range of new regions, explorable areas, NPCs with depth and empathy, a compelling custom storyline with voice lines, and rich lore and mystery. Includes easter eggs for added immersion.
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Final Rating System:
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Brickhouse:
Total Stars: 10-18
Description: A server that remains consistent with Ragnarok Online, with minimal customization in very specific aspects.
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Backfoot:
Total Stars: 19-35
Description: A server that relies mostly on Ragnarok Online structure but introduces customization in specific areas.
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Ambitious
Total Stars: 36-50
Description: A server that is fully customized, showcasing a complete departure from the original Ragnarok Online with extensive customization across all major categories.
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That being said, please direct your attention to my project, which aims to score very high by these metrics.
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[owlow]

Bro you don't understand I have huge misaligned wings from 2007, it's a 5*. But seriously, with more and more actual custom servers showing up lately, it would be nice to have some more clarity on this for the site ratings.

[Metan]

I quite like the idea, I think RMS could benefit from this if if interests yC. I think I'd change "Database Modifications" to "Items, Monsters and Skills Modifications" so it's clearer for everyone if they have changed or even added new skills to some classes; same for monsters or items, which would not be necessarily attached to new places.

[yC]

I quite like the idea, I think RMS could benefit from this if if interests yC. I think I'd change "Database Modifications" to "Items, Monsters and Skills Modifications" so it's clearer for everyone if they have changed or even added new skills to some classes; same for monsters or items, which would not be necessarily attached to new places.

Well, after all these years I found the misuse of the RP flag already need my attention once a week or month to clean them out.  There will always server think their modification is unique even if it isn't ...

For something really out of the ordinary experience, use the RP flag.

[betwixtbetween]

The difference from the giga devil wings naruto SSJ level 999 customs back then were people doing balls to the wall fun customs like it's a wc3 map instead of the pretentious "I'm going to save RO look at my galaxy brained '''''''rebalancing'''''' of pre-re" we get nowadays

So original mate woohoo.