The WORST first impressions?

Scribbles · Jul 19, 2012, 11:49 AM

I've played RO for quite a bit, on and off. (Btw, it's been a while). But there are just some things that make me turn away from a server almost immediately. I like server with a small, close community; mostly because large communities it's hard to make new acquaintances when there a lot of other stuff to do (but I'm reclusive..). But, I digress. I'd like to hear why you think these things are the way they are, and if you share the same opinions.

1: A mess of a website
If you can't have a presentable site, then ... why have one? I understand you paid for a domain name (I'm a struggling college student), but at least take advantage of hosts' site building tools. Also I've seen plenty of people who can do simple sites, for relatively cheap on this forum. I think it's a laziness thing.

2: CPs' as Homepages.
This doesn't turn me away immediately, but I've seen times where the forum would be up and running, but the CP had a database error and now no one can go anywhere. EVER.

3: Members Only.
I really don't like it when things are kept hidden until you join. I think you should sample the community before you join, mostly because... well, what's the point? Is someone going to steal your plans? I know several forum boards that won't let you post as an Anonymous user, but you can still view threads.

4: Rate us, then Play.
I've only encountered this a couple of times, but why should I have to vote in order to even download a game I haven't played. Kinda like those sites that ask you to rate how your experience was before you've had that experience.

Not quite sure if this counts as a rant, but I felt like I was, and I apologize ahead of time if I was one board off.

wireless · Jul 19, 2012, 12:01 PM

Website on Freewebs or something similar is pretty bad too

Gene · Jul 19, 2012, 12:23 PM

Quote from: Scribbles on Jul 19, 2012, 11:49 AM
3: Members Only.
I really don't like it when things are kept hidden until you join. I think you should sample the community before you join, mostly because... well, what's the point? Is someone going to steal your plans? I know several forum boards that won't let you post as an Anonymous user, but you can still view threads.

This.

Creme · Jul 19, 2012, 03:45 PM

Quote from: Scribbles on Jul 19, 2012, 11:49 AM
3: Members Only.
I really don't like it when things are kept hidden until you join. I think you should sample the community before you join, mostly because... well, what's the point? Is someone going to steal your plans? I know several forum boards that won't let you post as an Anonymous user, but you can still view threads.

Thisssssssss.

Scribbles · Jul 19, 2012, 04:16 PM

Quote from: wireless on Jul 19, 2012, 12:01 PM
Website on Freewebs or something similar is pretty bad too

Yeah, I can see this too. Mostly because server will want to set up shops for donations and... it's just not professional. But that's just me being picky.

jblazer · Jul 19, 2012, 05:07 PM

GM's that have a bad understanding of game balance.

Low rates:
DON'T LET THE ECONOMY GET SCREWED! there is nothing wrong with a GM discreetly vending shops. Like selling high end gears such as valkyrie, beezel, diabolous/nidghour gears at fair prices. Well it depends on a lot of things how a GM should intervene with the economy, like if it's a mavka-dominated server and the population..etc

It's not fair if only one guild has an owange mvp party one-siding WoE, you're just gonna end up with an in-active woe server.

High rates:
So many things wrong.... so little being done. GM's not balancing immunities, does everyone have to have 100% resistance cause the max stats are 250+?

high xp but low mvp card chances. So the whole server is basically just teleporting to 1 shot mvps, fun? may as well just remove them from the game entirely. And let people play the high rate for what they meant to play it, to PVP.

Yukino · Jul 20, 2012, 11:00 AM

I totally agree with keeping an aesthetically good-looking website. I am huge on graphics ><, and they normally make the first impression on me.
Same with CP's as the main home page--better to have a splash page at least if that's the case (so you can go to the forums right after). If the website can't be fixed within a short amount of time, PLEASE use re-direct lol.

Access to forums should be allowed to all--as for posting, that's another thing. But yeah, players should be able to see the major threads and at least some forum sections if they are not registered on the forums. It is stupid when you click for the staff page on the website or another page, and you end up on a forum page saying you need to register in order to see. I would like to see custom implementations, NPC details, and other things before I join a server =/ (and these details are normally described in a forum thread or so).

Some of my first WORST impressions:

-Having a website and forum filled with ads. Too much spam, takes time to load, and in the end, everything looks pretty ugly. Same with long domain names/free domain names.
-Copied designs from another server or have a design that is just too horrible to be considered a website design (the colours, images, and other aspects used; layout is not organized, etc)
-Having a huge list of staff members for a very small population (though I've went through this before as well)
-Selling customs that one can already see to be overpowering (seriously, some Administrators should think over things before trying to make a quick buck)
-Having music blasted at you as soon as you visit a page
-Bots roaming everywhere on the community board (though that would signify that the community is dying anyways...)
-The last update mentioned on the forums/main website page to be at least 2 months ago
-And a few other points to be described later...

yC · Jul 20, 2012, 01:15 PM

What about .. those use a facebook page as their website? I give them a lock on sight because they fail the RMS basic listing requirements but that doesn't mean you can't run into those in other means. There are also server that doesn't have a website just a download and _M/_F lol, no first impression whatsoever.

DeuxeVonL · Jul 20, 2012, 02:08 PM

Quote from: yC on Jul 20, 2012, 01:15 PM
What about .. those use a facebook page as their website? I give them a lock on sight because they fail the RMS basic listing requirements but that doesn't mean you can't run into those in other means. There are also server that doesn't have a website just a download and _M/_F lol, no first impression whatsoever.

Nailed it for me.

Triper · Jul 20, 2012, 02:30 PM

Just me that hates that websites with an huge pic at the top where you've to scroll down for centuries to see what the server has to offer? For me that's a no because meh, who cares about an huge pic with the server name. I just want to see what YOU have to offer. If I've to scroll more then 1 time to see something I just close the tab with it.

Splash pages are in the same step for me. Looks good? Sure but what they can offer aside that? Nothing? Then no for me if you just use for that.

Another fact that makes me refuse some is the huge loading of websites and some with auto-play youtube clips or songs. Srs, too much crap being loading and sometimes it's just to make me put sound off until I found what I have to block at ABP to stop listen to it when I just want to check the website. Simple and looking good is the best. The most stuff it has that nobody cares, worse for me.

BuBuChaCha · Jul 20, 2012, 11:50 PM

custom card rates: servers with 10000x normal drop rate then 100x on regular/mvp cards is more than enough to turn me off from joining a server.

Yuzo · Jul 21, 2012, 01:37 AM

Joining only to find you are already banned.

yC · Jul 21, 2012, 04:17 AM

Quote from: Yuzo on Jul 21, 2012, 01:37 AM
Joining only to find you are already banned.

lol how do that happen? Can't keep track of where you were banned? xD

Scribbles · Jul 21, 2012, 07:33 AM

Quote from: yC on Jul 20, 2012, 01:15 PM
What about .. those use a facebook page as their website? I give them a lock on sight because they fail the RMS basic listing requirements but that doesn't mean you can't run into those in other means. There are also server that doesn't have a website just a download and _M/_F lol, no first impression whatsoever.

It annoys me in general that RO servers have a facebook page... EVEN if they don't go anywhere, but you still see people liking it. I occasionally see the same people liking the same servers.

Yukino · Jul 21, 2012, 09:30 AM

I like my Facebook likes D<! I feel loved.

But anyways LOL, I agree with websites that contain only downloads and tell you to login with _M/_F. Same with using the server's Facebook group page as a "forum".

-Personally, since I'm huge on graphics, I just don't really like seeing the default Ceres, Flux, and StarGames CP themes, especially Flux's. Is it that difficult to at least make a logo and add some images/buttons to the default theme?
-Same with using the forum board as the server's main website (unless you added a main page in the forum and made it pretty D<).
-Servers that mention they have no downtime... are already dishonest lol.
-Websites with very small words/font size. Seriously, I don't want to take that much effort just to read the introduction paragraph XD.