This post is an attempt to draw some suggestions out of the Neocron runners as to what we could do as a community to enhance the game world for ourselves
Events
I did a little escort event and a treasure hunt event while back in an attempt to create some serverwide fun. It was relatively successfull, but there was definitely room for improvement. Better advertizing of events, getting more people in on the organizing side, organizing the attack etc. etc. I still wonder though why there isn´t more clans/people trying to hold events, big or small. There was a certain amount of ill will to us in 17th for arranging the event too, which I find strange. Why just meet up to be negative?
When I get back from holiday in about 2 weeks I want to get more events going, both organized by myself/clan and other people´s events.
So what I am wondering here is:
1. What kind of events do people want? PvP, Chase events, Treasurehunts, Roleplaying, Tournaments, King of the Hill, Mission type events? I´ll take any suggestions as to cool things we could arrange. Would be nice to have some events that could suit LE´d runners as well.
2. How can we best ensure that people will participate? I have no problem supplying gear/cash for awards, but what other ways can we motivate people to join? Ideally I´d like people to join just for the fun of it, of course still with prizes, and for bragging rights.
3. This could probably have been part of 2., but what times and days would suit most people?
4. How can people most effectively aid eachother in arranging these kinds of things? Surely there must others than me that wants to arrange stuff, and have ideas for things we could all do.
5. What kind of support would we need, and what can we expect, from GMs?
Promoting the game
I´m sure we all would wish for a few more players. But how could we get them here? And how do we keep them?
I´ve helped out quite a few people who have been new, and some that have returned. I´ve tried different tactics, starting a new character with them, showing the the processes to get weapons and get missions. Showed them around to a couple of prospective place to lvl, handed out weapons and gear. Let them explore for themselves. The results have been varied, and I am curious as to what other people have experienced. So how do we make people stick? How can we keep them playing with us?
I do have a couple of ideas for keeping people interested.
1. We could set up a community Teamspeak. The game is greatly enhanced in my opinion when you can talk to people, instead of having to type it all out. I don´t really know enough about teamspeak hosting, but a decent number of channels and some specific ones such as trade/lvling groups/looking for team.
2. Not smothering people who come in game. I´ve seen a few instances of so many people wanting to help, that the sheer amount of advice just drowns the poor noob. Now the positive side is alot of people wanting to help, but it would definitely be better if we leave one or 2 people to guide the new ones first steps.
3. Starting a neutral, friendly clan for supporting new players. Now by this I don´t mean we should get all noobs to take their LEs out. Instead the idea is that people who are interested in showing new people the game make a character and put it in this clan. This way people who want to help will have a clear clantag that shows they are willing to help noobs, we could make some noob weapons and store them, have characters that could support new people when lvl etc.
4. People need to pick up players playing alone. Don´t just watch as they run around doing their own thing, talk to them, involve them, get them into some team activities etc. A neutral clan could also be created for this, a lvling clan people could join, so that people who are turning /30,/40,/50 and aren´t ready for opfighting and such, can come together and lvl/get gear together.
As for promoting the game outside, we should really try to make some kind of promotional website. Techhaven is an excellent site, but how about making some sort of webpage that would include the videos people have made, startup advice, features of the game, fanart etc. And just that. Keep it relatively simple, just with good teasers and honest advice.With links of course to TH and neocron for people who want to delve deeper.
As Always,