What can we do?

[Blackheart-X-]

Simple question.

Things are changing and they are not changing for the better.  I hate posting things like this but I feel it needs to be done and hopefully will make people do something.

When I first joined in 2006 this was the busiest mod, with the best ships, systems and most importantly , the best community.
Now, we have to open our eyes and be honest.  Now adays they are better mods than the void.  Hate to admit it, and by no means is this a slur against all who have created this fantastic mod, but the truth is that nowadays some of the mods out there offer everything a sci fi nut could ask for.

Better systems, 300 custom ships, starwars,startrek, bsg. The list goes on.  This server was always one of the busiest. The last time i looked there were 20 or so people on.  There were 5 servers more populated and I hadn't even heard of 3 of them.  If people don't play here then the there is no point in having an empty server is there?  Alot of people are drawn to populated servers, and that is a fact.  198 people were on Discovery tonight.  Tell me what they are doing right because I want it.  It is as strict as hell and tough as hell to get going in it ,bt it works. They have rules for everything yet people follow them and it works. well it must because they have 200 or so people on.

The one thing I always thought was immense was the community, but when I read the forums and see some of the posts and flames it just sinks in that the community isnt as it once was.  

A small group of guys have given alot over the last 5 years and it must hurt like hell to see this happening.

Please lets do something to make a diffenece for the good of all who play here.  I played here for a long time but the fun has went and I really want it back.

This post wasnt an attack or flame and in absolutley no way a slur against the mod makers and creators here.  I have full admiration for every one of them.

I hope this comes across as was intended. sometimes it sounds good in my head but doesnt read as good.

Cheers, Alan.

[Gabriel_Angelos]

What timezone are you in BH?  Cos I know that in the last 10 days I've seen the server pop reach around 60 peeps which cheers me no end even though my comp struggles with that many people at once and inevitably kicks me off for lag (it's the only time it happens).  I know where you're coming from but what appeals to me about this server is... yeah... some of the guys go at eachother in a non-positive way sometimes but apart from that we are a tight knit community in so many other ways.

I for one would be extremely gutted if the server were to shut down for good because of the friends I've made here, enemies and allies alike.  New players are coming to the Void or returning all the time.  Look at the Marauders, the clan I'm privilaged to say I'm a member of, is the newest clan on the block, I think we can all agree and is growing by the day... almost at breakneck speed on some days and half of us had never been on a Freelancer server before.

By no means do I write this as an argumentative response, quite the contrary, I've spent many a day since joining pondering over what can be done to attract more players to this wonderful server, I even advertised it on my now rather neglected Facebook page several weeks ago in an attempt to get some of my 200 or so friends (some of which I don't even know) to hunt down a copy of FL and jump in.

I feel that if I carry on that I'll start rambling so I'll stop there and say this... and I hope many will agree... the Void is far from dead.

Long live Void.

[Retribution]

It seems to be a connection thing thats draggin void down.
Everyday I come here or our own forums there are more and more posts saying - Cannot connect.

Its strangling the Void to death.

[DarkPand0r]

Well i've been getting strange lag at certain times recently.

Im in the UK so my ping should be reasonable. Just now i was at 240 + 1% loss.

Things will pick up, we need to work togethr and make this a fun server to play on by increasing role play and showing new players just what fun it is to be a part of the void.

[geromix]

These things are cyclic,time after again the activity drops and then picks up again,especially when a new mod has come out.

In 3 years of my time in Void i have seen dozens of such cycles.

What is happening is that ever since MS removed plug from Global Server and the problems with Vista compatibility the numbers have decreased overall.

Whatever that is left are hard core FL junkies and they are being distributed over a fewer number of servers with some servers being more popular than others.

While one cannot deny that there are other servers more popular than Void one has to keep in mind the issue of 'cycles' as i pointed out above and hopefully things will change.

Strail isn't going to pull the plug,so don't worry.

But it is worrisome,FL is an old game, really old,and has outlasted many of its peers.But its still alive and that is what that matters.

Maybe 2 years down the line...things maybe different then... ?

[=ESF=XENON]

i agree with Geromix , Void Faced many Eras , ones of glory and ones of low peak , but the common in all situations was that void is always here , and always best in my eyes , ..

i know that there are some server 300 + ships and etc..
believe me or not , i cant ride a ship except on void ..... i feel it's very balanced than other mods , i feel always there is a very spendable efforts added and much time of work in stablizing the server rather than rushing it with tons of new things , which is actually the core of why i love this server.

Let's hopefully help regaining the Golden days of Void
and We will if we united all on that concept .

Regards,
XENON

[McViper]

the thing which we can do is : Union . Stopping injuries and old RP Wars and don't take them as the life or the death.Be Fairplay.Have Fun Here.

Regards
Captain McViper

[Gr8-Lizard]

[quote="[-CDF-]TITANIUMCR";p="201406"]the thing which we can do is : Union . Stopping injuries and old RP Wars and don't take them as the life or the death.Be Fairplay.Have Fun Here.

Regards
Captain McViper[/quote]

[Blackheart-X-]

138 people take the time to read this and only 7 people reply to it!

Interesting eh?

[LIMAN]

Bad relations between players are not the problem,it was always like that,at least since i play.
Lag is also not the problem,there was always lag.

RP is at all time low,no evil ppl around,and even those who are around don't stick to their RP.Same goes for the navy.
I see Rogues chatting in Sparta and asking for pvp?!

But the biggest problem,at least for me, is that this 2115 mod is not that different than 2112.This means that we are playing basically the same mod for almost 3 years.
3D systems are boring,so are the battleships.We need new fighters,new weapons,clan ship skins,new normal 2D systems,new npc factions.....I know this is being worked on,but i have feeling it not even close to be finished.Its no ones fault there's just no one to finish this enormous job.We can only hope....

In order to attract new and old players,void needs radically different new mod.

[-Wolfie-]

liman mentioned something


sorry for bringing EVE into it again but right now its a great example

the 2 last expansions didnt bring anything new to eve (Empyrean Age and Quantum Rise), Apocrypha (the new version) brings in alot of new stuff

my point is, there might be 2 releases which doesnt really put new stuff into the game, but then something new comes at (in this case) the 3rd release

and im pretty sure more players will come when that new release comes

[ReverendDel]

Greetings Void peeps, as my signature states I'm a Server Admin on Discovery and I've perused this so I thought I'd lend a hand where I can.

Reasons why Discovery is active:

New Mod:

Whilst I would love to say that 198 is our regular maximum it isn't, our usual gets to somewhere around 160 to 170. The reason for our little upsurge is simple, the new mod release. Folks want to see all the new shinies. Ergo extra peeps

Draconianism:

It works. We stamp on rules breaches like no other server. We do deal with them in game without resorting to a sanction post or even a punishment if the player is sufficiently smart about it, but if it crosses our violation reports we hit it. Provided we have the evidence to do so. For all our brutal efficiency we remain unbiased

Activity:

Nothing says play me like an active server, let's be honest which one would you prefer as a newbie? 60 or 198? The gap seems huge, now 60 players is no small thing, it's our regular graveyard shift and our server is still plenty lifelike, But 60 isn't your regular amount. You have an average player count somewhere around the low 30's, now that looks like a dead server. It isn't by any stretch of the imagination, but to a new player it looks like one. You need to get your regulars to step up and either play more often or stage regular events that get the server jumping. Activity is the ultimate reason Disco stays active.


There's a few other things you could do that Disco doesn't.

Welcome your newbies, they are your lifeblood. Discovery veterans have a habit of snarking uncontrollably at things they don't like. This hostility breeds more hostility which results in ther new bie saying "Sod this for a game of soldiers" and wandering off elsewhere, or upon finding no active servers, stops playing altogether. Don't be like us in that respect. If they seem a little ill-educated when it comes to your establishment, educate them properly. Your veterans are the key to that.

Hope this helps, if you want anything feel free to PM me. I'll check in every couple of days or so.

P.S. One additional thing you can, and should do. Discovery forums have a section for other servers to advertise. Do so, Discovery USA is expanding as much because of that as anything else.

[eyeless47]

Ive only been playing on the server for a couple of weeks. But as has been said in previous posts I do agree with the whole RP thing.

Dont get me wrong some people dont enjoy it and some people do. Personally Im not big into playing RP, writing/replying to stories etc. But I am more than happy to play the rp of my character and shoot on sight etc etc. Im not sure why people do this, its pretty clear that thats how its done on the VOID.

Also another thing that ReverendDel touched on. In those three weeks I havent seen one event. Im not saying id necessarily be able to attend it due to RL etc, but there are plenty of people on this server who play it enough to participate in said events. I dont know if anything is in the pipeline or not?

Thats just my two pennys worth

[Zebulon]

Welcome to the VOID forums Rev Del.  Nice to know that you keep an eye open on what happens here.

I will respond with my own thoughts - these are not anything official.
1. Draconian Measures.  I tried that one. Seemed to be that I was on my own and that people were just not ready for the Hammer to Fall.  I have relented a little but I am still Master of the Rod and Wielder of the Stick.  Break the rules and I will knock you from the server.  We run a proportionate response and leave it to the discression of our VOID guardians as to how they will deliver this.  The final coupe is a permanent ban - this is rare and is reserved only for those individuals who cant connect their brains to their typing fingers or seem to feel that this server is a free for all when it comes to attempting to cheat the @ss of this game. Our bans range from a kick for ten minutes to cool down to a seven day wonder.  Go cool off for a week and come back when you are feeling more sociable.  Its realy that simple.  Our rules are not overly complicated and we do not apply the Draconian method of instant reprisal unless its very obvious what the miscreants are up to.  Believe me  - I use Discovery as an example when people tell me IM being hard on them!

2. Continental Drift. I believe our server is somewhere in Germany.  Im not a techy so I have no real concept other than the very basics of what happens and why.  I would love for Alan to have access to a Cray number cruncher all to our little old selves but thats "cloud cookoo land".  Players come and go.  Sometimes its for technical reasons and others its purely just for change.  Sometimes they need to break the obsession - on other occassions its because they have the hump or are disgruntled by decisions made - you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time - but never all of the people all of the time...!
This is after all basicaly a "shooter server".  If you are over level 20 prepare to be shot.  We have developed certain criteria to avoid the unecessary overkill of new players - however if no one tells us and we dont witness such behaviour then we cant do anything about it.  Too many players leave and then go moan about it on other servers and they have not done us the service of actually trying to address the problem.  Thats THEIR call - not our problem.  There are changes on the way.  Triming down of some things and enhancements for others.  Sometimes a place can get to "Fat" with goodies - 300 ships to choose from?  Jeez! No thanks! Dont get me wrong - a good selection of vessels is essential but wow - that realy is pushing the boundary a bit far for my own personal likeing - others of course may very well be sold on that idea alone and go play in that sandbox rather than our sandbox... Horses for Courses as they say.

3. Activity.  A Dead Server?  Well thanks a bunch for the leg up mate!  I am hopeful that this post of yours is not an attempt at "poaching"....  PM you about stuff?  Are you on a recruitment drive or something?  Please dont take this too personaly but I am certain that you would not be overly happy if someone posted on your pages about how your server is nothing more than an PvP  graveyard for Rule Junkies, Space Sim Addicts and a pretty unexciting place to play where new players get kicked off every five minutes for failing to carry the right sort of guns for the right sort of ship......  get my drift?  

4. What to do?  Well the last I looked we were in the process of establishing "advertising" of some sort on the various Freelancer forums that are out there - I dunno how that is going but I regularly see players on here that are definately new to the server as I am "meeting and greeting" when I can in VOID mode.  When I hang around in my neutral characters I also assist as best I can without taking away the fun of taking the time to build your characters up.  I try and promote the idea that we are a Combat Mod with RP elements that wont restrict you to a particular mode of play - if you love to PvP then fine - if you want to go take a look around and trade - then fine also.  As I  have said previously there are changes on the way - a leaner, meaner VOID mod that can accomodate all modes of play - "all things to all men".... maybe - who knows.

5. Perhaps for the second time in living memory I agree with what Shonen says.  Taking the point you raise about Veterans.  I have found that the majority of those who do not have ego's the size of Saturn are our best ambassadors.  One thing to check out is the growth of two clans in particular.  Dacia and ESF.  These two clans have become closely linked through friendship and co-operation.  Some of their methods are up for question and some of their clan members behaviour has been far from perfect, there are very few who can claim to be such.
Language can present its own problems as some things get lost in translation and this can lead to misunderstandings.  Everyone likes to be part of the big party - sure of course they do.  What we have here on VOID are some hardcore people at the cutting edge of the roleplay and combat balance.  We have excellent players who dont cheat and we have some who use dubious methods to get by - hey ho - that will NEVER change - there is alway someone out to beat the system.  Sometimes a change is as good as a rest.  When I need one I go play on the PS2 for a bit or go mess around on facebook with the browser games.  Each to their own.  Making people feel welcome and helping them to understand the way things are played here on the VOID is probably THE most important part of getting people to stay. Sadly there are one or two individuals who seem bent on eradicating others from the MOD and having the place to themselves for their little "chat and date" sessions.  If this continues then the server will die an ignominious death.  We have already had Strail threaten to pull the plug if players behaviour did not alter DRASTICALY.  Maybe they need reminding of this.

I am sorry to say that I wont be joining you on Discovery.  Its not my bag - as they say. Tried it- didnt like it. So if its all the same to you I will remain here as a loyal VOID guardian and if necessary turn the lights off and lock the door if everyone leaves - but somehow I dont see that happening any time soon.  

Again - thanks for your interest mate -and feel free to drop by any time.