Solace MUD Official Forum

Solace Development => Ideas => Topic started by: jAx on December 06, 2014, 07:32:15 am



Title: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 06, 2014, 07:32:15 am
Let's discuss player base growth for a minute. There used to be a poll on top mud sites that you could vote for solace that way when people were searching miss solace would come up more often. Do we have the dedication to do something of this nature again? Is it worth the time to advertise? Are we telling our friends??

We need some clean ideas of how to get the world populated, fill the clans, reward excellence with more shrined characters, let's think outside the box.

Comment below and message me via PM if you have any questions.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on December 06, 2014, 03:39:45 pm
+1 on the TopMudSites banner. I'll vote every day even though I am not in a position to play anymore. Solace is probably the most underrated game of all time, and I feel sorry for people who are out there playing lesser MUDs never knowing what they're missing.

I have a really hard time sparking interest in friends when I tell them my favorite game has no graphics or sound.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 06:24:28 pm
Heh, I was thinking a while ago about starting the similar thread, but wasn't capable of forming my thoughts into a straight-forward post.

In general, I think that first of all we have to determine the target audience for the project, who might they be and what do they want.

Possible player base, up to me, falls in one of the following groups:

1. EX Solace players, who have left for good
2. Players from other MUDs
3. Players from other online games(such as WoW or whatever they play now)
4. People who doesn't play anything right now and who might start play MUD as their first online game(such as myself, but it was about 16 years ago and the situation was different a bit at that time)

I won't really place a bet on #3 or #4, cause it's a bit loosy variant: for #3 you need to compete with games that have 200-2000+ players online at anytime and we have average online of 5 players today, so we will lose at the very beginning.For #4 I think that aren't able to find such people at all.

I don't really trust in #2 because most other minor MUDs(such as ours one) have also the minor playerbase and today we can offer them no significant difference.

I think of #1 as the most realistic opportunity, because Exclusive has contacts(emails) of all the previous players so we have the entry point yet for now we don't have anything to offer. As you remember, she send us all the welcome mail after solace reopening, but only a small percent returned.

So the question is, why don't they want to come back. I guess, that the main driver is the lack of time: we all grow older and do not have time to do all the hardcore, because it eats tonns of time. But also I think that everyone has his or hers casual hobbies, such as football or social networks, which can also be a descent waste of time. And I rearrange the question, it will sound like that: Solace is back, yes, we all simply have no time to gather a group and go to edges for 4-6 hours as it was done before, but in other aspects it's stil our beloved Solace, so why not change your casual hobby for it once again. I do not believe that most guys have no casual hobbies(yeah, we all have families, but we are no way the ants who have no time for our own) and watching matchday of FA PL + Champions League is no way better then gaining some nice shinies in an interesting area.



Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 06, 2014, 06:45:11 pm
- Another issue we are dodging is the state of the current game as a whole. I'm still operating on the assumption that we are lucky to be allowed to use this sandbox that is occasionally swept clean and has the random turd removed from.

- New players may not know the history of solace and be sort of entitled to think this game is being operated by a full staff etc.  and expect various and numerous feedback and patches etc.

- The target audience and possibly the only audience for many years are ex-players and the occasional ex-players friends.  If we are to expand that we would likely have to expand what people get which I don't think is realistic currently.  If the immortals or programmer ever announce they are committing more time then I'll be the first to push some effort.  I just would hate for us to get an influx of some entitled scrubs that piss off the few imms we have.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 07:02:03 pm
- New players may not know the history of solace and be sort of entitled to think this game is being operated by a full staff etc.  and expect various and numerous feedback and patches etc.

Why would a newbie expect a lot of changes: he isn't even familliar with game mechanics and wishes it to be changed already? As for bug fixing, I haven't seen any major bug that causes the game to break up for now. Also I haven't seen newbies at all.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 06, 2014, 07:14:28 pm
The bugs have been fixed except for a select few which don't Impact te world in a game crashing way. For example ranged weapons are still a little glitchy. Most of the code has been fixed thanks to Sirri to run smoothly. Other things can be fixed or changed as long as thy are properly addressed and they will be considered try and remember this isn't the official forum so make your notes in game and provide a link to the more descriptive and informative post here. Properly addressed and you should expect satisfactory results and answers.

To Lynx : concerning the older player base provide them the information that ranki has becomin easier as with mastering skills and spells and that should draw some of them back. Remind them this isn't old solace and that certain changes were made to compensate. As some of you older players might remember ranking was grueling and you could spend 8-10 hours just to get to middle ranks .... Now 8-10 hours and your a Hero :)

I will address more as I read them Im on the road today and using my iPhone, without the comfort of a laptop this is a feat in itself to respond as much as I have I just want players to know changes will be heard and made accordingly. Let's keep this going and stay on topic with positive feedback and refreshing ideas you guy are doing great keep them coming!!


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 07:45:02 pm
i think all is true. many of the good player are now 10 years older. i'm 30 now. when i played when i was 17 i had nothing but time and so did many of my friends. now i lost touch/hate those friends and with other online games it hard to talk anyone into learning text based game. but if they eve tried we all know they will be sucked in within a week,i've helped acouple newbies or so they said the past week, but i think the immortal staff does a good job. one problem i have now that is really pissing me off but o well. i think we need to get on the mud sites and get voting done and all of us need to write reviews and the newbie channel needs to be pushed and everyone needs to be helpful. if someone ask where should i go after rank 7, don't say go to the docks or south of kalaman. say hey go to your temple let me show you the area and where to maybe get a better sword and ring. yes we want people to learn but the only way to learn most times is in a group or with someone to show you, and this website isn't listed on the opening screen, if this isn't gonna be the real website make a real one


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 08:05:33 pm
Indeed, I confirm that Zondra is the first one who replies on newbie channel and that's a great job itself.

I wonder, if all of us do agree, that Solace is currently targeting mature audience with previous MUD experience(Solace exp is prefered)? I suggest to discuss this problem is step-by-step mode, so the current step is defining what do we plan to do: try to return old players or work with topmudsites/mudconnector and so on to attract REAL newbies to realms?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 08:10:11 pm
i think we need to reach out and do top mud sites. the more old players that return the higher chance we have of keep new players, ive said it before any new players can send me a pm on the forum, i'm around on my laptop and  on my phone and if asked i would even make a new char and show you around. i really don't mind, and answer any questions and race feats etc[only really good at fighter types,suck at mages]  once a person esp one who has mud exp they will be hooked i know it.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 08:29:26 pm
Well, I'm just trying to figure out the behaviour model: so, I am a mediocre experienced player coming to Solace from TMS, I roll a char, enter WHO and see 3 to 6 players online. Again, if you are a cleric it will take you a great deal of time to level yourself up and I think it's not the best idea to roll a char(fighter like) to help the newbies to exp to hero - it takes a lot of time and efforts, and most players just don't have it, for example now I'm sitting on forum while running and fixing the huge integration test application, so I have just moments of free time, I can't be online all the time to help people here and there. Also I have some family duties to do as well ;)

So, if your TMS action will drive to Solace 100 players(a huge number), what would be the reject rate(roll - exp a bit - leave). What is the key difference between Solace and many other MUDs with 4 players online?


 


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 08:39:22 pm
My goal is for 10-15 people on most of the time,  used to be 20s all the time


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 08:45:35 pm
My goal is for 10-15 people on most of the time,  used to be 20s all the time

How many hours per week should a player dedicate to MUD?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 09:36:10 pm
Id say like 7ish at least


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 09:44:10 pm
Id say like 7ish at least

With this weekply playtime, how long will it take for you to get any normal stuff(I don't mean autocasting items, of course, but something to stay in 1000+ hp for hero, 40+ saves to all and some hr/dr for fighter likes)?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 09:53:03 pm
An hour a day would save gear, also knowing couple times longer, hour in a good group exploring goes by fast, i know time is hard to find with family,  i have a 6 4 and 6month old, but if you like the game , we all need "me" time


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 10:11:46 pm
An hour a day would save gear, also knowing couple times longer, hour in a good group exploring goes by fast, i know time is hard to find with family,  i have a 6 4 and 6month old, but if you like the game , we all need "me" time

Well, if there would be more players, you won't simply be that good to explore a challenging area within an hour or two. I don't speak about edge or nether, but even Neraka or Silvanesty won't be that easy if you would have worser stuff on you. For example, in 2000-2002 even high ranked clanned hero had about 20-30% of unlimited things on him and having the huge load of swords with variety of damage types(like Beorn has, for example) was something unbelievable: in 2002 you would rarely happen to meet a plain troll-sword on the greater troll ;)

For example, here is the eq list of a very cool Heretic Warlord:

< 1050/1520hp 435/494mn 406/431mv | Tnl 0 | $1016.13561 | ND >
< > eq
You are using:
<worn on finger>    a ring maded of shimmering metal
<worn on finger>    (Glowing) a Varggin Shih signet ring
<worn around neck>  (Glowing) the torque of restoration
<worn around neck>  (Glowing) (Humming) a hexagram inscribed fiery pendant
<worn on torso>     (Glowing) (Humming) a suit of spiked adamantite platemail
<worn on head>      the lord-chancellor's mitre
<worn on legs>      (Glowing) (Humming) a pair of darkened leggings
<worn on feet>      a pair of red silken boots
<worn on hands>     a pair of fur gauntlets inlaid with emeralds
<worn on arms>      a pair of metal-plated sleeves
<worn as shield>    a copper tower shield marked with a wyvern
<worn on body>      (Glowing) white shaman robe
<worn on waist>     a bloody belt of trophies
<worn around wrist> (Glowing) (Humming) a crimson scaled bracer
<worn around wrist> (Humming) a vine bracelet
<wielded>           a thin silver needle

Would you need ANYTHING from above if you kill him with Arsa? ;)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 06, 2014, 11:29:45 pm
I played back then, i never saw a warlord that naked,  there is way better unlimited gear than that,


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 06, 2014, 11:43:03 pm
I can't say he is really naked, limited eq on him is not bad, still he wears white shaman's and similar stuff.

Back to topic, I see no way of casual-style playing here, so as the player base grows older and migrates to casual playing style(work + families would drive you there anyway), they find less ways to play and that's why player base shrinkens.





Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 06, 2014, 11:49:17 pm
I will work on getting this forum and website on the games MOTD so that players will know also to stop here and read some posts and gain some knowledge I think that a very good point


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 12:01:11 am
Maybe then May be let players know how long to play,  or rise the vape time


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 07, 2014, 12:25:16 am
Do you mean lower the timer? So that less hours are required to avoid vape?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 12:50:54 am
I don't think that lowering the timer is good idea: we would have increased amount of storers in that case.

I'm thinking of donate shcema, like the one that exists in most online games, for example, one day you(*tip* Ravol) wake up with your stuff vaporized. Now there are some Tower mages, Itrion and Arsa who are constanlty seeking for new challenge, and no hero fighters or clanmembers who can aid you in reequipment process: so for you it will take a huge amount of time to get the right equipment and join the fun again.

Ok, you go and pay through paypal and get an equipment set, not that cool like Arsa has, but still with normal saves and so on. That's just pre-idea, not a solution itself, but a donate system where you can spend money instead of time can drive the casual players in.



Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 01:05:58 am
I gave ravol'a limited mace when he'was younger to help him grow, i would help then get base eq, that seems fair,  even let him get his item back without defend,the pay thing is ok, just not pay'20 bucks for chromo or honors face etc


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 02:33:30 am
Well, we can not make you a part of system: a few years later you will have to do homework with your kids and face a new kind of challenges so this Zondra-based system will stop working.

Speaking of donated stuff I don't mean anything powerful, like cromo or other autocasting things, just some kind of equipment sets that will give you:

35-45 saves
+300-450 hp
+35-45hr/dr
+300-450 mana
some AC


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 07, 2014, 02:42:36 am
Then cons of that system is that some who can't or won't make purchases or donations....


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 07, 2014, 03:17:10 am
- New players may not know the history of solace and be sort of entitled to think this game is being operated by a full staff etc.  and expect various and numerous feedback and patches etc.

Why would a newbie expect a lot of changes: he isn't even familliar with game mechanics and wishes it to be changed already? As for bug fixing, I haven't seen any major bug that causes the game to break up for now. Also I haven't seen newbies at all.

- New player might assume rules are enforced ... For one


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 07, 2014, 03:23:25 am
- Also people love guides and maps in this day and age... Solace is about learning by yourself and paying your dues if you ask crusty vets...need better low level gear and guides to get it.  Need maps to places...why such a secret , in the game world it should be easy to get a map that is accurate.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 03:59:22 am
Then cons of that system is that some who can't or won't make purchases or donations....

Well, if you have your hour rate at work and you spend a hour getting basic limited eq, then you've already donated to MUD the similar amount of money. The only problem is that you've lost your money, but nobody here received it.

Also, this money can be spent for server maintenance: I have now idea, where Woland runs his server, but AFAIK he is not a big fan Putin so it can be a potential problem =) *joking*



Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 04:17:34 am
My six year old has homework every'night haha


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 05:02:17 am
My six year old has homework every'night haha

Imagine, what will happen when they all grow up... Or you can teach them to play solace and we'll have an addition to playerbase :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 05:27:41 am
Haha, my son would probably kick my ass in couple years


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on December 07, 2014, 07:37:45 am
Can we please stay far far away from any ideas that would move Solace in a pay-to-win direction?

I don't mind donating to keep the server running etc, but no one should have in game advantages because of their willingness to fork over cash.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 02:25:28 pm
Can we please stay far far away from any ideas that would move Solace in a pay-to-win direction?

I don't mind donating to keep the server running etc, but no one should have in game advantages because of their willingness to fork over cash.

There is nothing about advantages, it's about getting average limited set that allows you to survive in PK and maybe if you have enough skill to return your eq fast after full loot. We all know that it is not a good idea to go in hero PK with saves below 40, so when you go alone you need to waste a lot of hours to get them back. I am not speaking about the hours of money farming you need to spend to get all the potions, because you won't be able to reequip without a load of preps.

So when you are in situation, when you have to be online 3-4 hours for several days and your wife is getting angry with that kind of time wasting, what will you do?



Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 03:41:17 pm
i think saves are over rated i barley have 40 saves and i do alright, i think it depends on your class


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 05:46:47 pm
The saves are just a point in the list, I mean the casual gaming in general. When you play solace you do the following things:

1. Farming
2. Exploration
3. PVP

Without #1 you will be bad in #2 and #3. With all the time you've invested into your character the ones who oppose you have to do the same and the problem is that now we just can't act like 10 years before. And farming Lunn for darkened junk with all the potions and preparations isn't interesting when you do it 100th time in your life.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 05:55:07 pm
Gods wont'allow me to farm preps anymore,so great


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 06:15:56 pm
Gods wont'allow me to farm preps anymore,so great

It's not good, but I'm no speaking about you in general: heroes come and go, but the the concepts stay forever: you have to do 90% farming with 10% action, so if I play 1 hour per day I will only get 1 hour of action once per two weeks which is too small. When I watch FA premier league in pub with a good jar of stout, I am entertained almost all the time. So, when you have work and family and you value the "me" time, solace isn't good alternative compared to other things.

And also in old time you didn't had to work that much on your character to start getting fun: get to lvl 25(1-3 days), master what you need in a distant land, get standard not limited set and go into action. If you are dead and full looted, kill some lesser mobs, redress within and hour and go-go-go again. And with summon it was even easier: summon rat-man, mino merc, buffalo, kill kender and draconians that west from pal and you are ready for fun.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 06:20:01 pm
For hero clan wars, always needed alot of preps or cleric and abj trans in clan


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 07, 2014, 06:34:27 pm
For hero clan wars, always needed alot of preps or cleric and abj trans in clan

It's just current situation. When there were 30-40 players online you simply couldn't get all the orbs, cause they will be already taken.

I don't mean the potion/orb farming, I mean when you got yourself killed, how many hours do you need to reequip? This is also farming and it's not good. I mean it's ok to spend 4 hours in neraka to get chromo, it's bad to spend a hour in maus killing Lunn :)

After ezus I've rethinked the overall value of time which is quite short and when you run of it would you really think that killing vampire in maus with decimates was really needed?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 07, 2014, 08:00:54 pm
We just got chromo without fleeing once haha,also had perfect group


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 07, 2014, 09:37:04 pm
it s one simple idea - it need to be more interesting to play...

IT MUST BE EASY TO KILL, easy to grow, easy to group, easy get fun and interaction on every rank... not only when you uber dressed, uber mastered or uber clanned-shrined...

we need just one change - make play is more easy - because you all are right - players get growed and they have lesser time... if we will see 

when it was a lot of people in solace - there was simpel way to play - enter - get some basic eq and go fight - there was no such greate dependance on EQ like now...

because a lot of people have no time for all this uberish - and they just dont get fun

now - i spent about hour to kill barbarian in ice mountains for frost girdle - minor beltwear, and i spend already week to get not to hero, just 29 rank. all who i see via who group - they dont want group because of mastering, clans, alignments

and our playerbase is not bad - there are a lot of players and a lot of characters - just they dont play... because of 1.2.3.4.5...

they main probles is - we have a lot of unneeded restriction for interaction and reall fun...

group between clans - it s must.

conloss in pk - remove, because we need more pk and those who not afraid it
should be rewarded - no conloss in PK for such situation - it s

agreement between players to not full loot - it waste TOO MUCH TIME for player to reequip and mostly players delete - because they dont want to spent such amount of time again.. so those who full loot - get title of dirty thief and hunted by all...

remove limit 3 on group in exping, and make group bonuse even for one person growing - because it s really hard to find someone in group for now.




Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 08, 2014, 02:53:59 am
I will sign under each and every word of Den, especially, under those ones:

when it was a lot of people in solace - there was simpel way to play - enter - get some basic eq and go fight - there was no such greate dependance on EQ like now...


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 08, 2014, 12:20:50 pm
how to make us all more happy in game... that s the question


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Hiddukel on December 08, 2014, 03:38:03 pm
OK, does anyone have major issue with clans grouping? I can test this if no one minds. As long as follow good RP I don't have a major issue with it.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on December 08, 2014, 04:36:08 pm
OK, does anyone have major issue with clans grouping? I can test this if no one minds. As long as follow good RP I don't have a major issue with it.
I think no one will be against because of population absence.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on December 08, 2014, 04:49:29 pm
I will be against!

We have many goodies now in guardians and solamnia.
I dont wanna fight with 10 goodies (+Beorn *wink*)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 08, 2014, 04:54:34 pm
I think its ok to group ,not raid or defend or pk ,


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on December 08, 2014, 04:55:34 pm
I will be against!

We have many goodies now in guardians and solamnia.
I dont wanna fight with 10 goodies (+Beorn *wink*)
Beorn accepts only honorable fights 1 to 1, 2 on 2 and so on.  And Solamnia should act same honorable way. What about Guardians they will be the only clan who will be able to fight 2 vs 1. And as soon honor does not allows solamnia or me to help guardians in any honorless fights, so you can relax.  ;)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Hiddukel on December 08, 2014, 05:29:16 pm
OK, I will scribe note in realms when back


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on December 08, 2014, 05:32:53 pm
I am still against, it will ruin the old atmosphere for me.  :-\


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on December 08, 2014, 05:34:09 pm
Quote
Beorn accepts only honorable fights 1 to 1, 2 on 2 and so on.  And Solamnia should act same honorable way. What about Guardians they will be the only clan who will be able to fight 2 vs 1. And as soon honor does not allows solamnia or me to help guardians in any honorless fights, so you can relax.  ;)

Beorn is sitting in da shrine watching on his eq. Never saw him anywhere else. *wink*


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on December 08, 2014, 05:34:59 pm
I am still against, it will ruin the old atmosphere for me.  :-\
What is this old atmosphere?  ::)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on December 08, 2014, 05:36:11 pm
Quote
Beorn accepts only honorable fights 1 to 1, 2 on 2 and so on.  And Solamnia should act same honorable way. What about Guardians they will be the only clan who will be able to fight 2 vs 1. And as soon honor does not allows solamnia or me to help guardians in any honorless fights, so you can relax.  ;)

Beorn is sitting in da shrine watching on his eq. Never saw him anywhere else. *wink*
Actually he fought already with all with whom he only could... and with you too.
And when he is sitting in the shrine, he is just meditating. Today i was in Palanthas most of time for example, got 3 swords for blessing, got the robe with passdoor, fought Ravol, meditating in the shrine half in mind now awaiting for Mishakal (Hiddy) audience.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on December 08, 2014, 05:56:09 pm
And yes, it was really boring to spend one relatively free of work day in such way... no one was able to visit Nether or travel... And only Ravol was in PK range sometimes. And if you want to say that i'm an  EQ storer with words 'watching on his eq' then yes, we all are now something like EQstorers. All because of the topic name - a HUGE Playerbase.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 08, 2014, 08:04:46 pm
As for me, exping is not the biggest deal. It can be easily tuned this way: remove exp penalty for exping with with mercenary and also change mercenary lvl and attack rate vs mobs so he can do 3-5 attacks per round with average damage. Also allow them wear non-limited swords/spears/maces and so on(nightmare blades).

Even current exping system is just fine because yes, you do farming but you do it only once. All the farming(gold, potions, eq) you need to do on regular basis just suck(sorry), because it is no way interesting(are you REALLY interested in doing quest for bright shimmering pots or popping protection from evil south of x-road)?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 08, 2014, 08:11:29 pm
I like farming for gold and orbs i should be rewarded for putting time'in


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 08, 2014, 08:27:32 pm
I like farming for gold and orbs i should be rewarded for putting time'in

If we speak about playerbase enlargment then only the behaviour, that has 80% acceptance should be rewarded. If you can spent 6 hours on popping and 80% others don't you should get no benifits from your extra time, because you drive the game into hardcore that is not accepted by many and therefore you shrink the player base ;)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 08, 2014, 09:04:22 pm
novann - what old atmosphere, remember warder + solamnia old athmosphere - that s old, what atmosphere do you mean?

at least allow them grouping - not battling for a while, still i dream about 3 clan vs 3 clan... may be it will be reall one day


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 08, 2014, 11:15:32 pm
So someone who barely plays should be able to be just like me with tons of hours in


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on December 08, 2014, 11:59:43 pm
novann - what old atmosphere, remember warder + solamnia old athmosphere - that s old, what atmosphere do you mean?

at least allow them grouping - not battling for a while, still i dream about 3 clan vs 3 clan... may be it will be reall one day


What about heretics with Takhisis for example. Can heretics have nasty spells on them, if they are with one side with mages? Guardians and Solamnia (mages with healing assassins?)
Takhisis clan is strong when its have all classes. So they are againsts all other clans, so they have an idea to dominate. Now we will see some alliances, which destroy the idea of clans were coded.  Now we have invoker in solamnia. I want morgi cler at warders, knight at tower, and outcast at heretics (to hit from two hands (c) Stranix ;)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 09, 2014, 12:46:27 am
I think knights and warders can rp it tower if no'nerco


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 09, 2014, 01:58:39 am
So someone who barely plays should be able to be just like me with tons of hours in

It's too plain point of view: two different players in similar eq aren't just like each other. All this stuff is like sex: you are running 3 hours to different pharmacies just to get pills for the 3 minute sex ;)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 09, 2014, 03:39:26 am
Eh ill take solace over sex, too many damn kids already


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 09, 2014, 04:17:42 am
Eh ill take solace over sex, too many damn kids already

Ever heard of condoms?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 09, 2014, 04:22:51 am
I can't afford any more shrink wrap :P


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 14, 2014, 01:45:44 pm
So someone who barely plays should be able to be just like me with tons of hours in

You've got no life anyway, so why care? :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 14, 2014, 02:02:04 pm
Now we will see some alliances, which destroy the idea of clans were coded. 

The good way to empower play would the following:

1) Heretics/Tower/Cobar/Guardians - induction stopped, no players there.
2) Solamnia and Takhisis granted ability to mark Criminal for attacks in their cities (but no other guardian skills).
3) Remove class restrictions to join clans, induct only based on RP. If you want a rogue in Solamnia/Warders - you're welcome, if you RP it. Induction of non-typical combination is done only by imms though.

This way you will have three decently populated clans all fighting each other.

You could also think about adding minor features for looting the abandoned clanitems (for example Takhisis warriors getting critical strike when owning Heretics item or something like it).


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on December 14, 2014, 02:12:02 pm
Tau, I can't understand, why warders are left? Only Solamnia and Taks, neutrals can join either.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 14, 2014, 02:43:42 pm
Tau, I can't understand, why warders are left? Only Solamnia and Taks, neutrals can join either.

A TF fan here? 3-some is a lot more fun.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 17, 2014, 05:53:28 pm
growed today and realized it s seems no one person growing penalty...

i thanks to Immortals, it s nice especially for new commers, all experienced know how to grow and rock superfast...

let s discuse some dragon war :)? or herecy war -

1. half people go to heretics, all others go to other clans - that stage of war is completed :)

2. war begin - herecy against all - that stage is also completed

let s rock


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on December 17, 2014, 10:58:51 pm
Deh, may be you go to takhisis as I said to ya 1000 times, eh?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 18, 2014, 12:11:18 am
Dude, it's an RP mud, not a quake-like piece of crap where all the fun you can get is from senseless PK with additional powers.

"Two teams. Everyone in one team or the other. FIGHT!" is total crap.

Don't force your view of fun on other people. You're attempting to restrict gameplay with your suggestions.
If you want to attract newcommers, start by being nice to them when it comes to PKing, looting, RPing, etc...

Also, get Solace back on Top Mud Sites?


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 18, 2014, 01:16:01 am
Dude, it's an RP mud, not a quake-like piece of crap where all the fun you can get is from senseless PK with additional powers.

Err... no, it's a role-playing player-killing MUD :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: jAx on December 18, 2014, 05:27:06 am
Anyone seen or heard from Tanis??


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 18, 2014, 12:39:17 pm
Takhisis is not my style - i am mostly forester or elf, or chaotic, so - i dont like to play what i am not :) ...


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: unreal on December 18, 2014, 05:51:03 pm
ΔΕΝΘΡΚΐ!!!!!!!!!!!11 ;D ;D ;D

It's simple! Takhisis doesn't need such weak slave. ;D Only papa unreal can unleash it's true power ;) ;D


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 19, 2014, 03:24:19 am
Err... no, it's a role-playing player-killing MUD :)

PK is a part of RP. If it is not, you're doing it wrong.
And for that matter. RP is enforced. PK isn't. You can have a char that runs his whole life from battles.
You cannot begin to imagine running from RP.

It's an RP mud. PK is incidental.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 19, 2014, 03:37:40 am
Takhisis is not my style - i am mostly forester or elf, or chaotic, so - i dont like to play what i am not :) ...

Valgarik was far from forester or chaotic. And elvish nature was just metagame excuse for perma-sneak and better stats for mage. We all know it.  ;D


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 19, 2014, 05:32:11 pm
PK is a part of RP. If it is not, you're doing it wrong.
And for that matter. RP is enforced. PK isn't. You can have a char that runs his whole life from battles.
You cannot begin to imagine running from RP.

It's an RP mud. PK is incidental.

So I RP a character who runs and pkills, simple as that.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 19, 2014, 06:45:28 pm
So I RP a character who runs and pkills, simple as that.

- Can't figure out why we have population issues with such deep meaningful playerbase.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: dehucka on December 19, 2014, 07:40:11 pm
elf - is not best race you know to suck power, but still i love elves, more then half-elves i forced to play as neutralitized person for now...  if elves would induct to tree - i  would be an elf

but let s throw some ideas more - if noone want to...

i offer idea - to forbide uber shmotkas aka shinies (casting, anti-blind, haste etc) to unclanned person... so - only mighty clan gopnics would be able to hold and hoard treasures, and will be no their own hoarders as unclanned :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 19, 2014, 08:34:59 pm
So I RP a character who runs and pkills, simple as that.

- Can't figure out why we have population issues with such deep meaningful playerbase.


It's a mystery


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 19, 2014, 09:35:30 pm
So I RP a character who runs and pkills, simple as that.

- Can't figure out why we have population issues with such deep meaningful playerbase.

LOL no. Carrionfields has 9 people on primetime, 90+ when there were no World of Warcraft.
Solace has 5 people on primetime now, there were up to 40+ when there were no World of Warcraft.

Both are hardcore PK muds where RP is mandatory.

The reason why few people play Solace is different - the age of MUDs has passed about ten years ago. Now there are only nostalgic people of 30+ age, new ones go to the newer games.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 22, 2014, 04:40:39 am
i offer idea - to forbide uber shmotkas aka shinies (casting, anti-blind, haste etc) to unclanned person... so - only mighty clan gopnics would be able to hold and hoard treasures, and will be no their own hoarders as unclanned :)

I didn't know stupidity was a bottomless pit.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on December 22, 2014, 06:50:01 pm
I always thought with a smaller playerbase that the group range could be increased by 2 or 3 ranks.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 23, 2014, 01:31:54 am
I think moving up the group one or two would be nice


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: n00b on December 23, 2014, 10:39:33 am
LOL no. Carrionfields has 9 people on primetime

20+ on primetime.
During +100%xp or +50% skill learn chance events 50+ on primetime.

It from 18MSK till 9 morning MSK I think.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: n00b on December 23, 2014, 10:43:45 am
civilized <100%hp 100%m 100%mv 1500tnl (50.00%) 7 PM> who
[51 D-Elf War] Vhelicia the Legend of the Battlefield, Imperial War Master
[17 Storm War] Garsson the Militiaman
[28 Duerg A-P] Celent the Knight of the Inverted Cross, Black Servant
[20 Svirf Shf] Zarath the Shapeshifter
[51 Arial War] Von IronClaw the Legend of the Battlefield, Captain of the Brigade
[33 H-Drw Bar] Kregan Gower the Master of Words, Imperial Blade
[51  Elf  Hea] Caellyon the Fun-Loving Elf, Priest of the Lord of Luck
[17  Elf  War] Lorthren the Militiaman, Village Applicant
[35 Arial Sha] Vhalorn the Communer of Diseases
* 1 Human War* Karvash the Scrapper

Players found: 10


prooflink!! :) Moscow time 10:41 - it is not a primte time for CF and this is new char who can not see invis/camo/hidden
PK gives edge points in CF so every mage/assassin/thief/ranger is hidden when he is idle. (resting or waiting for repop)
So add couple of hidden chars 2-5 I guess.

No. I do not compare. I just fixed wrong facts. :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: n00b on December 23, 2014, 10:53:48 am
I always thought with a smaller playerbase that the group range could be increased by 2 or 3 ranks.

There was and idea long time ago - a some kind of a flow for any character created.
A Loner.
He is the one who prefers walk alone. He have exp bonus (like group of three) when he learns alone.
He have parry/dodge maybe autoattack bonus when he fights group of players alone. More enemies, more bonuses.
No matter if they in group or not.

When he in group - he loose all bonuses. In any group 2 or 3 members he learns like any one learns alone.
This flaw is for experienced players. You should know how to get it. Something like clerics worship place where you must go and ask lone ranger or someone else to teach you.

This was for players who play not in prime time.
pros:
players who play in low-time have chance to grow almost as fast as in group
players who have no RL friends who also play MUD have almost equal chances to learn and to fight

cons:
players who wish not to learn alone have less chances to find group when loners online.
three loners online will compete for an area to learn. Instead of one group vs trolls we will have three different players who learn in three different areas, blocking them for others.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on December 23, 2014, 08:53:28 pm
No. I do not compare. I just fixed wrong facts. :)

Correction accepted. Conclusion doesn't change though :) I guess I don't know what is Solace prime time either :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 28, 2014, 06:01:04 pm
want to know why player base is low. assholes like  Ignimur. kill and full loot my fighter, ok fine but loot wyming eq? and daggers you don't need? and ogre rings? other than daggers sh*t eq but you full loot everything esle? just the point of it makes people stop playing bc it's stupid. take what you need and leave the rest, why only 5 people play mud.  thats why people return to solace then leave


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: duncon on December 28, 2014, 06:49:30 pm
sad but true,


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: shadyn on December 28, 2014, 07:29:05 pm
AHAHAHAHAHAH


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 28, 2014, 07:53:38 pm
why is that funny? i'll have better eq tonight. just why loot wyrming eq.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: n00b on December 29, 2014, 10:26:05 am
why is that funny? i'll have better eq tonight. just why loot wyrming eq.

Night is dark. water is wet, snow is white, full looters are assholes. It is just some of universe dogmas.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: shadyn on December 29, 2014, 11:58:23 am
funny coz my little poor heretic been killed by him aswell... and looted aswell... some things just never changes


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 29, 2014, 03:50:07 pm
- Solace has always been a sad little sandbox...but it makes it worse when people change it into a litter box.

- These same people keep sh*tting in it and asking why it smells is the most amusing part. 


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Genocide on December 29, 2014, 08:05:46 pm
- Solace has always been a sad little sandbox...but it makes it worse when people change it into a litter box.

- These same people keep sh*tting in it and asking why it smells is the most amusing part. 
true


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on December 29, 2014, 09:55:20 pm
I think full loot should be more difficult.

Maybe a slight lag when getting items from someone's corpse, or force them to name each item individually instead of "get all corpse" or "get 1. corpse;sac 1.". Will make it more difficult for friendly loots, but I think the pros outweigh the cons.

When you are looting tons of things you don't need or sacrificing items just to cause grief, you are being a d*ck-- plain and simple. If you be a d*ck to enough people for long enough you will have no one left to grief.

People get butthurt over something from the past and don't care whose day they ruin.  Maybe your char has a reason to hate someone else's char but the players in this community mean more than anything. Keep it in mind.



Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on December 29, 2014, 10:05:57 pm
wow, still don't have the hang of the forum after all this time


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 30, 2014, 01:52:20 am
- Solace has always been a sad little sandbox...but it makes it worse when people change it into a litter box.

- These same people keep sh*tting in it and asking why it smells is the most amusing part. 

this at me bc of my post


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kage on December 30, 2014, 04:29:59 am
- nah , i write this sentiment everytime this subject matter comes up.  I have also retaliate full looted people etc so I'm not going to preach from a pedestal of pristine holy gaming.  

- It is a cycle and I'm sure I've stunk it up myself but not to the extent of some.  Its a solace game culture , you can be "above" it all and never get ahead or compete or decide your level of corruption.

-  Some people will argue "this is not kindergarten .." Or some such thing referencing some hay day of solace where chemosh ruled with an iron fist blah blah blah.  The sad truth is that time is over and the game is available as a sandbox that the dev is kind enough to allow us to run around in.  Some people will spoil this because the owner has not the time or will to babysit some fun killers or cheaters.  So it becomes the Wild West...cheat or be swallowed up.  

- If "all" people we're able to govern themselves we wouldn't have government lol.  So solace is not governed and i dont expect it to be ,i  appreciate the gift of an open "shell" or husk of a game I once loved if nothing else for nostalgia.  I would like to ask some who are reading and maybe have not posted yet to think twice before they ruin what we have left of this game ...even if its just a shadow of its former self but that wont work of course because some people need rules becaus they lack the capacity to govern themselves ... They need limits set on them and they will search endlessly to work around them even when restrictions are in place.

-  So yes, I've always been in favor of looting parameters and inconveniences put in place to limit the ease of full looting.  Get all.corpse ...is just lazy and dumb...it should never have been that easy imo even in the die hard timeframe of pk solace.  Should have to look and type what you want... Jeez there is even a cooldown on requesting items but you can just carry 2 persons worth of belongings with a smal phrase in half a second.

P.s. Anyway its just a small population of a dead game that makes these situations more dramatic and more personal. 


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on December 30, 2014, 05:30:23 am
i'm ok for looting. although i hardly ever do it. never more than 1 or two things, can only think of one full loot i've ever done. with limited player base and trying to get number back up if even just alittle id be happy with 10-15 people playing. still have nice clan wars etc. but players like a rank 28 cleric of morgion which for all time is op at rank 28, then pretty weak at hero, to sit at 28 for months just to pk and full loot crap eq does't help the game, you can get your rush from the pk but if i was a newbie, i would most likely leave and not return, if i had gos and chromo etc then yea i would expect it to be looted, but to loot and sac wyrming eq and like ogre rings from rank 24 char is just dumb. i want my foes to be strong. i've even enemies gear at lower ranks to help them grow so we can have good fights at at higher ranks. not sure who ravol is but i have good maces when he was 20ish so we could fight and he killed me with that mace i might add.but it was fun. and when he killed me he took one or two things gos and rings i think but i didn't care it was fun and he didn't wanna full loot me bc he had fun fighting someone who was tough rather than kill naked char or wait a week for me to reeq. remember what the fun parts of playing are, and the more people that due it the more people will return and stay. sorry for rant but i still have fun playing and exploring and learning new things all the time. 


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: n00b on December 30, 2014, 01:50:04 pm
I think full loot should be more difficult.

There are situation when full loot has it's reasons.

I will describe situations when I full looted without any regrets.

1. My knight was solo ranking in civ area. Thief came to kill me, attacked me, but had to flee. I did not wish to change place to forested, for my own reasons. But he kept coming and fleeing. My learning became much slower, because I did not want to drop health and mana lower then 50%. I killed him and got all his weapons i told him he will get them back later. He became mad, found another weapons and attacked me again. I killed him and warned. He came again. It was really annoying. He often was close to success lagging me with trips, bleeding me etc. So when I killed him third time I full-loot-saced him. To give me hour or two while he reequips.

This is definetly normal situation.

2. When you play alone against enemy clan. You separated one of them (summon, kidnap, etc) - you killed him - you full loot him. Hell. they are three and more on you. You killed one they are two on you. You do not want them become three on you again.

3. When someone full looted-saced you. I do not believe that if you acts kind towards ass-holes they will become better. He broke your nose - broke his neck.

Many others situations have reasons for fast full loot.

Full looting after interesting and balanced combat is a sh*t. And those who do that - sh*theads. And the more they do that, the more sh*t in their heads.

Water wet...night is dark..


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on December 30, 2014, 11:10:17 pm
1. My knight was solo ranking in civ area. Thief came to kill me, attacked me, but had to flee. I did not wish to change place to forested, for my own reasons. But he kept coming and fleeing. My learning became much slower, because I did not want to drop health and mana lower then 50%. I killed him and got all his weapons i told him he will get them back later. He became mad, found another weapons and attacked me again. I killed him and warned. He came again. It was really annoying. He often was close to success lagging me with trips, bleeding me etc. So when I killed him third time I full-loot-saced him. To give me hour or two while he reequips.

Everyone, eye yourselves in such an example of humility from this knight... and his RP skills.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on January 29, 2015, 04:14:27 pm
i have made up my mind i'm out for a while. people wanna ruin mud by full looting every two days while waiting for induct three on one, makes game not fun for me so why play, i kill someone two on one dont loot you, you call in trash char friend and full loot me. thats fine but know this is why you are going to be only person playing...neirth to help me can you close my zondra account well my only account i can't see how to do it. good luck


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on January 29, 2015, 04:53:45 pm
Zondra, no need to take those things so near to your heart... such sh*t always happened in Solace and you will not change it.
And the eq. is easy to get now because of playerbase:  I think there is not more then 20 players now playing this mud.
Better let us just split on two teams and do a Deathmatch: Full Solamnia VS Takhisis, full Tower VS Heretics, half Solamnia&guardians VS half Chaos&Takhisis and so on...


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on January 29, 2015, 05:11:54 pm
Mud doesn't need me, good luck


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on January 29, 2015, 05:42:39 pm
Mud doesn't need me, good luck
Mud is not alive. It does not need anyone.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: novann on January 29, 2015, 08:17:33 pm
Pity, you left. I thought about leaving too, much found that mud is the better thing for meh to let my brains rest.
Hope you'll return.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Lynx on February 02, 2015, 03:05:08 am
Hey, is there anyone playing NOT to leave the mud? I was hoping to return and play a bit more when all the sh*t around would settle down...


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: andrey on February 02, 2015, 08:49:55 am
Welcome back. Solinari has returned, so there shouldn't be such boredom, that was continued last two weeks.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Gran on April 05, 2015, 02:44:52 pm
An hour a day would save gear, also knowing couple times longer, hour in a good group exploring goes by fast, i know time is hard to find with family,  i have a 6 4 and 6month old, but if you like the game , we all need "me" time

an hour a day to save gear? Has this changed? Didn't work for me :D


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: duncon on April 05, 2015, 04:26:08 pm
hmmn. i believe this is something that should be looked into, especially if we want to bring people back who don't have time. due to family restraints


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Proph on April 05, 2015, 06:08:04 pm
An hour a day would save gear, also knowing couple times longer, hour in a good group exploring goes by fast, i know time is hard to find with family,  i have a 6 4 and 6month old, but if you like the game , we all need "me" time

an hour a day to save gear? Has this changed? Didn't work for me :D

I always thought it was half an hour a day.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Gran on April 06, 2015, 02:36:44 am
whatever it is .. I played ... and returned possibly 24 hours later and KABOOM .. nada gone zilche nekked lol but .. I was gifted with items so was grateful for the experience of wearing pretty shinies for a brief time. So back to exploring, hunting, RUNNING lol and enjoying. :D


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: omledufromage on April 06, 2015, 04:25:19 pm
When you are of low rank, items of much higher level then you will vanish much quicker, as part of regulation that tries to stop high ranked chars to gift low ranked chars and make them disproportionally strong for their level.


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: zondra on April 06, 2015, 05:08:22 pm
Gran assassin was at least 32 i helped rank her and gave alot of the eq


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Gran on April 07, 2015, 03:15:39 am
Yep :)


Title: Re: Playerbase
Post by: Kstatida on April 10, 2015, 01:39:15 pm
I always thought it was half an hour a day.

Back in the days Kiri has changed it so that it depended on number and quality of gear. Don't know if that piece of code is in effect though.