Player poll: Prefered solutions to the density problem?

[Murky Majare]

Seriously...

How many DMs that have slaved and worked hard on server X for years do you think will go "yay! They close down server X, now I will happily move and DM on server Y instead, thus increasing the numbers"

Forcing a server shut down will not increase player number, nor will it increase DM numbers.

Players who do not mind moving.... are already moving.
Player who stick to one server... stick to one server for a reason, and if that reason is taken away... then they have no reason to stay.

Ditto with DMs.

I mean, seriously... how elite do everyone think that we are?

[NickD]

Seriously...

How many DMs that have slaved and worked hard on server X for years do you think will go "yay! They close down server X, now I will happily move and DM on server Y instead, thus increasing the numbers"

Forcing a server shut down will not increase player number, nor will it increase DM numbers.

Players who do not mind moving.... are already moving.
Player who stick to one server... stick to one server for a reason, and if that reason is taken away... then they have no reason to stay.

Ditto with DMs.

I mean, seriously... how elite do everyone think that we are?

This is why I voted the second option. We can say we'll drop dead servers to beta all we like, but I have my doubts as to whether it will actually happen. I believe we need a mature and controlled growth of ALFA instead of acting like a bunch of kids eating all our chocolate eggs on Easter morning and then getting sick.

[fluffmonster]

dropping servers is trouble. you'd have to totally change mindsets about how servers are managed. As soon as anybody has a sense of ownership over a server, they'll act as if its *their* baby.

[Mikayla]

It would be nice if they acted with some common sense as well as a view to the big picture - when it became obvious ALFA was not going to need two underdark servers and would be better served by one, I willingly merged my server into Nhamre's. When it became clear that his portion of the server was closer to readiness than mine, I willingly gave up what I had been working on for a year and half (Menzoberranzan) to complete Ched Nasad. Taking ownership/responsibility for something is great and should be encouraged, but people should also be aware of what is best for the community as a whole - now, that does not mean we should be shutting down servers right and left, it just means that HDMs and DM teams should keep in mind what is best for ALFA as a whole - and personally, I think most of the HDMs and DMs in ALFA usually do.

[danielmn]

wow, what a long read that was.

I beleive, from my perspective as a dm on teh OAS, that it is the OAS DM responsibility, as well as PLAYER RETENTION responsibility, to match up approved applicants with an appropriate server (appropriate equalling the players style of play and time of play, as well as their own wishes.) I have recently begun outside communication between approved apps and dm's of the servers those apps would like to play on, ensuring the dm knows a new person is comin, to make em welcome, and so that we can keep them and boost our numbers slightly. I believe matching players/dms/servers should be a no brainer, and takes very little extra work on all our parts, let alone making new players welcome. You want numbers? We are getting 4-5 new apps each 1 1/2 weeks. Those that get pushed through the process and are good to go NEED TO BE KEPT. THat is my action toward the problem. It is all I can do, besides loggin on alone onto my live server, which I do constantly, cause I can entertain meself. Others need players/dm's, and that's cool too, make the move. If NC was cut, I'd be upset as hell. I don't think I should be FORCED to migrate to another server for someone else's benefit if I am fine where I am. As forementioned, different playstyles...I like where I am, like the few players I play with, and am content. Are the servers not very active? Yes. I also beleive this is because of the winddown of NWN1. But I intend on doing my best to do what I can for my accepted apps. I spend much time on the OAS, and do not like seeing people I've spent hours upon hours with coaching and helping leave because of blank servers.

Get off chat, get off the forums, and play. THat goes for DM's too.

[Amirsyl]

Get off chat, get off the forums, and play. THat goes for DM's too.

Ditto on that advice.

In fact, I wish I could have said it myself.

Someone has to be the first PC on whatever given server. I'd also add that I think everyone should have more faith in the incoming playerbase's ability to RP. One thing that typically turns me off is when I get the feeling that veteran RPers here have left because they lament those that have gone the way of retirement. I had one RP session where I encountered a PC that seemed to come across as almost depressed for those that have left. I felt a little over-looked.

My suggestion is that no servers be dropped. You'll lose more players that way. Have faith in what you have and log in and be your character. Don't worry about who's on and where. I'll also add that your communities will thrive with a playerbase that actively attempts to schedule get-togethers. Co-ordinate more on the boards instead of deliberating upon them and trolling about. I see some of that, but more proactive ideas than tearing down servers is needed here.

Improve what you have, instead of adding further areas or servers as well. Dropping a server or even pulling it back into Beta will only give more players a reason to leave.

[Dorn]

One thing that typically turns me off is when I get the feeling that veteran RPers here have left because they lament those that have gone the way of retirement. I had one RP session where I encountered a PC that seemed to come across as almost depressed for those that have left. I felt a little over-looked.

Well put friend.

[Swift]

It would be nice if they acted with some common sense as well as a view to the big picture - when it became obvious ALFA was not going to need two underdark servers and would be better served by one, I willingly merged my server into Nhamre's. When it became clear that his portion of the server was closer to readiness than mine, I willingly gave up what I had been working on for a year and half (Menzoberranzan) to complete Ched Nasad. Taking ownership/responsibility for something is great and should be encouraged, but people should also be aware of what is best for the community as a whole - now, that does not mean we should be shutting down servers right and left, it just means that HDMs and DM teams should keep in mind what is best for ALFA as a whole - and personally, I think most of the HDMs and DMs in ALFA usually do.

Merging 2 yet to go live servers is one thing, dropping an already live server that players have potentially earned sought after non monetary rewards on(houses, businesses, temples, shrines etc) is a totally different kettle of fish. Regardless of whether you would suck it up and do it, how would you feel if your home, your storage and everything else on the current Underdark disappeared because it was decided ALFA cannot sustain an underdark area?

Thats not something we should ever do to players.

[Mikayla]

Swift:

Regardless of whether you would suck it up and do it, how would you feel if your home, your storage and everything else on the current Underdark disappeared because it was decided ALFA cannot sustain an underdark area?

Well, depending on how the next couple of months go, I may be able to answer this question for you in the not to distant future.

[Mulu]

I'd need to know the actual numbers for ALFA to answer this question, though I suspect Bloodlines and Realms of Annoklia beats ALFA for activity on a per server basis even for ALFA's most active servers. ALFA gets a bit of a cheat on the total score by having so many servers, even if they are mostly dead.

Hmm, how do they sustain their numbers? Lots of active DMs who don't burn out, or a nice round-robin of them?

Lots of active DM's who don't burn out and genuinely like each other, as far as I can tell. Of course, single server worlds have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, I'd never play on Annoklia, and never have, because of a single player there I truly dislike, even though there are many other players there I think rock.

[ç i p h é r]

Is a "dead" server defined as one with little or no DM or player activity? If so, how will removing it help improve density or activity elsewhere? The numbers would be too negligible to make any impact.

Have we ever considered using a SINGLE server as the starting point for all players to begin their ALFA adventure? This server would naturally be the most active server ensuring lots of newbie goodness and could be staffed well enough to ensure constant oversight as well. The first live server might get this dubious honor, and with high player count as the mark, an urban metropolis might be the ideal setting. As servers come on line, players can begin exploring new areas, independently or in groups, or seek new places to plant their roots.

Add to this an ALFA storyline that all servers are tied into (something which has been tossed around but never taken any form), including static quests, and now migration to other places or servers can occur based on actual choices players make (quests direct the players). Having static quests span servers would really give ALFA a sense of connectivity or oneness too, come to think of it, though it need not be limited to such quests.

Perhaps if we're clever enough, the starting server could also act as the OAS to conserve our DM resources, where non-members could only play within set boundaries beyond which they cannot pass.

Just some random thoughts stimulated by the discourse here. I've long since forgotten what this thread was about.... :S

[Ronan]

I'd need to know the actual numbers for ALFA to answer this question, though I suspect Bloodlines and Realms of Annoklia beats ALFA for activity on a per server basis even for ALFA's most active servers. ALFA gets a bit of a cheat on the total score by having so many servers, even if they are mostly dead.

Hmm, how do they sustain their numbers? Lots of active DMs who don't burn out, or a nice round-robin of them?

Lots of active DM's who don't burn out and genuinely like each other, as far as I can tell.

Well then, their example is pretty useless for us, that will never happen in ALFA

One idea thats crossed my mind is to keep PCs from being created on "dead" servers without DM intervetion (ie, no visa is issued). On BG, I too-often see new PCs created who I know will not receive any DM attention (generally because they don't fit in to established factions). These players generally play for a while, then quit, unless I can usher them off-server. Ideally new players would be ushered to good places to play by the admissions staff, but in practice it seems like that doesn't happen, or the players ignore it.

[danielmn]

Ro, see my post above....Both retention and oas dm's are on this problem ASAP.

[Murky Majare]

So these peak/peek/?? times that we are going to kick servers after...

Is this US East Coast peak, West Coast? Europe Western, Europe Easter, Australia, Singapore...?

Also...
How do we possibly write this rule down to specifc numbers? Or is the idea that it is up to the admins "judgement" ?

If we say the peak/peek/whatever number is 12, and server A got 11 players 24/7... then they are to be dropped, right?

[HEEGZ]

I've started recommending DF and the SD/NC/TPI/Sembia area to new members. Any other currently active servers I will add to the list if you tell me which timezone. As Ronan pointed out we are getting alot of new members on BG that I simply don't have time to run and they are not coordinated when/where they login so they end up soloing and bored. I made a post on the BG forum to help coordinate them but it honestly hasn't worked at all. My personal opinion is that Sembia is currently the only server with enough DMs at the different timezones to recommend as a starting server, perhaps TPI as well? As Dan pointed out the OAS DMs are going to begin helping with server/DM/player matching ASAP as I think some new members from the past month have already left.