What can be done to save Sundren?

[ManUtd4Ever]

Be a leader of troops, be a frontiersman, maybe get a new area named after you.

I completely agree with this statement. However, what is always required to make any player's actions in game have a lasting impact is follow through by the staff. The same staff that is generous with their time in spite of RL challenges.

It took many months to plan and finally execute the Skull Cleaver Schild event through no fault of anyone. This event was designed to have lasting impacts on the area. That was months ago. Nothing has changed. There have been at least two updates since then.

We all get busy with RL. The point that has been made in the forum post multiple times is follow through. We have some many plot lines that are left unfinished. Pick one, any one and lets move it forward.

I do not agree changing NPC stores or eliminating transition points is going to have as big an impact on the player base as advancing the story line. If a player is not around, then lets rotate to someone who is and advance a story line that they have a major part in. Reward those folks who log in all of the time and get the baud rate back up.

Cheers!

[Ashathor]

I agree with ManUtd. We shouldn't be focusing on things like removing transition points or rebooting the story, but continuing from where it is now. An active and engaging story can definately get people involved, a lot more I think then simply doing a reboot or removing transitions.

The story should be the focus. If players can come up with impactful actions that their characters want to make or the players/DMs progress the story in an engaging way, I for one will be a lot more excited for it then seeing all this progress just erased. There are perhaps other things that can be done like improving the items stores have or adding new content I guess, but players need to try to progress with their characters goals with character requests and work with the main story.

The main story and the plots of other factions need to move forward by both the players being creative and working actively towards them, but of course a DM is needed for things like the main plot and for certain side-plots to work. In short we need to move forwards and focus on what really matters, improving what is already there and not erasing all the history that has been made.

[pixiegirl]

I'm game for a reboot. Within reason of course.

[Rhifox]

One of the problems with doing away with the world map, as mentioned, are the stores. That could be lessened by just having multiple NPC's (set in various locations: Exigo, Forum, Aquor, or Port for example) linked to the same stores (mostly just Potions/Healing kits/Scroll/Ammo vendors). All others you should have to make the trek to find!

Agreed. Especially after the Second Sundering, anti-government groups in particular lost access to a lot of stores, which was rather problematic. I tried ICly contracting the tailor shop in Aquor to sell the same items as the tailor in Sundren City, but GBX, who had DM'ed the tailor for me, never got around to updating the stock.


I will agree with updating the story being a priority, but I don't think that means that other stuff shouldn't be looked at. Story updates are not going to be happening 24/7, while stores, quests, and casual RP is needed for the filler time if you're going to keep people interested. Also, plot updates and events, as said before, should be clearly and regularly announced ahead of time on the forums. Moving from ad hoc progression to event-based progression might seem rigid, but it's much more likely to achieve success when the community lacks the numbers to have a self-sustaining casual RP environment.

I do think the world map should be removed, and actual routes put in place instead. This helps players run into each other, and players running into each other encourages RP. The map makes it simply too easy to skip around. Of course, there might not be the developer manpower necessary to build all of those individual road areas, nor are there enough players to support casually running into each other at the moment, so this is probably a low priority.

Another thing: Advertising. With the GameSpy servers down, where/how is Sundren currently being advertised?

[sonuvalich]

Another thing: Advertising. With the GameSpy servers down, where/how is Sundren currently being advertised?

It's like Yogurt said: "Merchandising, where the real money from the movie's made!"

[Doubtful]

ManU, you wound me. A simple pm would have sufficed not a public call out.

As for a reboot, hell no. Never going to happen.

Players need to step up as much as DMs do, in all the various times I've posted up suggesting players should pm me to arrange plot closure/ new plots/ fun times or sad times not one single person has bothered to say "hey, Doubt, I've got a cool thing I'd like to do" instead I guess folks just stare glassy eyed at their visionating devices expecting someone else to write a tune and dance to it.

The biggest thing that would help Sundren out is if everyone, players or staff, started being proactive rather than reactive.

You want cool quests? Write some and send them in so we can put them in game for you and your friends to enjoy.
Want funky items? Make some, send in the items for us to check out and get in game.
Got a great flaversome NPC you want to see? Write some dialogue and a description then chuck it our way, you might see that NPC lurking about in game.
Maps? Do it, we'll see if it's up to snuff. We can give pointers if it isn't.

Grab a character and forge a destiny, get people involved and have fun.

[ImaginaryBoy]

If the powers that be could set up a thread on the forum as a "This week in Sundren" type thing where they can update it once a week, or however regularly is necessary, with things that have happened relative to the story?

I know I stopped playing for a while but still came to the forums every now and again, perhaps if there was a one stop 'this is what has been happening in game' thread, those sort of people would be enticed back?

[Sparkie]

Well, for a bit more of a look into what's happening with me: I'm writing my final exams right now, and if I'm not writing them, then I'm studying or about to sleep (the later being the case right now). This week, any time I've had a chance to log on, I get called away to help someone else study or to do house work.

We all know that RL's a bitch, current events in my life being just a minor example of this, but I still say that everyone has to put more effort into Sundren when they have the time.. I'm not saying log in at work, or at school, but just get on there when you can. And when you are on, check the forums, because a DM may be announcing their times that they shall be killing players- er, I mean running events for people because they love each and every one of us- and they may be on at the same time you are. And don't be afraid of asking the DMs to do stuff with you- you never know, they may just drop you on Athas for a while, letting you have kick ass adventures on the desert planet. More likely not, but you never know.

That being said, I do understand the fear that some players have when contacting DMs. For the most part, people are just afraid of a DM saying "no, that's a stupid idea," or anything else along those lines. The fear of rejection is a powerful thing, and it has kept me from sending a pm to Doubtful, no matter how many times "He won't say it's stupid, he'll be for the Viridale subjugation idea!" (for an example of an idea I've only ever had once). I still can't build up the courage to pm him and say "Hey Doubtful, I've had this awesome idea for X character, would you be willing to run an event like this?" All due to the fact that I, like anyone else, am afraid of having my idea be rejected.

And before anyone says "Sparkie, you noob who states the obvious, almost everything you've said so far has already been said here, many times. You should just quit life, (goes on to rewrite a YouTube comment here)." Yes, a lot of what I've said has already been said in triplicate, I've always noticed that the best way to get a message across is to beat people over the head with said message, hoping that this time it will imbed itself into the recipients skull. So, hopefully my two cents is actually useful, if only for the extra weight to aforementioned statements.

[Mournas]

Not to be that asshole who said "I told you so ..." but when players are being forced away from the server due to certain DMs and their 'Unicorns, Kittens, and Shit' like attitudes, and players complain on more than one occasion due to their misconduct then perhaps those complaints should be taken into account. I know staff is relatively bare-bones right now, but I know plenty of players who have been driven away from Sundren for this very reason.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Are the quests being reintroduced as before or is their absence a tell that they are being rewritten/changed? Even mindless fetch/carry quests can sometimes get people together when DMs arnt available.

[DM_Acorn]

Thanks Dave! This is the whole shooting match for me. Rather than ask/suggest a bunch of stuff like re-mapping server resets and the like, tell a story. With a small dev team we don't have resources to pull of a fraction of what has been suggested so far.

Changing world map transitions? Really? That will encourage MORE people to log on? Maybe for the lucky few who have nothing else to do but live in a virtual world. If I was up at the temple of Auril when i logged on and my party was at ixis and I had to walk the whole way to the gate to buy potions and then all the way to Port, I would probably quit right then an there. Immersive yes but also a hugantic-gianormous waste of what little time I have to enjoy RP.

Players need more power! I am pretty sure I've said this.

Here is the secret to PC power - If you need something, you need to ask.

"Good morrow good Acorn, I want to give X player this for accomplishing that." - I can make you said item.

"Hey mister Acorn, I set my underlings on a mission to patrol the pioneer way. I want a big badass bandit to be there waiting one day." - I can spawn said creature for you.

**notice how these were not personal requests, (I want my character to do X) If you want story you gotta tell it for others. It will come back to you I promise.

Now, be warned, if you say "Hey DM, I want to remove the BH form sestra by causing an earthquake that would dump the whole town into the sea." - Then we have problems...not saying it CAN'T be done, but we have mappers to consider then.

For me, it's the story. The maps, connections, travel, stores and so on are all secondary.

The story needs to move along, even if only in an episodic manner with short plot-lines. And the plot-lines that happen need to be completed. Old ones that never finished are gone, but new ones must finish.

The players need to be involved, perhaps even the prime movers. This may require ceding some control from the staff to the players. If so, so be it.

IMHO, this is what will bring people back and attract new players.

[DM_Acorn]

I like this, I can do it.

If the powers that be could set up a thread on the forum as a "This week in Sundren" type thing where they can update it once a week, or however regularly is necessary, with things that have happened relative to the story?

I know I stopped playing for a while but still came to the forums every now and again, perhaps if there was a one stop 'this is what has been happening in game' thread, those sort of people would be enticed back?

[DM_Acorn]

Are the quests being reintroduced as before or is their absence a tell that they are being rewritten/changed? Even mindless fetch/carry quests can sometimes get people together when DMs arnt available.

Most of the old quest don't fit but could be re-written, but I think that adding new quests would be about the same amount of work for a far greater reward. Feel free to write quests and submit them to the DEV team.

[Doubtful]

Are the quests being reintroduced as before or is their absence a tell that they are being rewritten/changed? Even mindless fetch/carry quests can sometimes get people together when DMs arnt available.

Most of the old quest don't fit but could be re-written, but I think that adding new quests would be about the same amount of work for a far greater reward. Feel free to write quests and submit them to the DEV team.

This. It's open season on content and suggestions.

Got a quest you think would fit in, write it, submit it and if it's fitting and fun we'll stick it in.

If every player wrote a quest and submitted it we'd have quests pouring out of the servers ports and loads of stuff for players to do even when DMs aren't about.

You're all imaginative and creative people, now's your chance to put that to a new use and get something permanent added to the game world for your and everyone elses enjoyment!

http://www.sundren.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20603

[Seheren]

You've heard the staff.. Let's pepper them with requests relentlessly!

Also, make some quests. I, for one, have one I am working on ((Almost complete, I swear))! If I hadn't been sucked into huge amounts of work and family members getting married I would have finished by now...