The Missing Link

[MasterAegon]

As we all know, Loka suffers from a continuous roller coaster ride when it comes to the population of players. Our exposure thanks to Porpoise among some advertising methods, we recently saw our largest increase. New battlegrounds and world PvP elements keep us fresh in regards to very unique things that hardly any other server can compare.

However, everyone sees that one thing always comes full circle. Inactivity. New players join and fall inactive within a week. Even veteran players to the server get bored or distracted and slowly begin to low crawl through inactivity as well. Now we realize there are many reasons as to why these things happen. Life, obligations, or even so much as needing a break are all significant factors.

However, we are hoping to find out what all of you think could be the missing link as far as the server goes! Every member of the Loka team wants to see the server thrive and be what the players want it to be. Everyone from the brand new player to Crypt are looking for ways to make our community better. This thread is the new catch-all for your thoughts and suggestions. What is that you think Loka is missing? Do you believe we're lacking in an area that would keep people returning for more?

Kindle the conversation so we can all discuss it and find out just what the missing link is.

 

[Dwemer_Sphere]

I am kept constantly busy on the server with the Builds Im doing. Or asking favors from the research team to help build the one near spawn. I Find myself taking a break on Loka for most the early part of the day due to Lack of roleplay. recently with Midgamerx having been on leave I found that most my time just got stale with no roleplay interaction. This being I would say mostly on part of my own Fault for I could have tried to start some form of roleplay conversation I believe now looking back. But the real events that happened Like the Confrence and the Discovery of the statues and research So far I had a great deal of fun having the community involved in it. I think some More Server event like roleplay would be fun. Im not talking like it has to be big. No new builds need to be done for it or anything much like that. I think just having a community roleplay where everyone or a large portion like 4 to maybe more people would be interesting enough where they can come together and really focus on something Dire at head maybe something that is to come or maybe something that is happening it does not need to be another blight like event that brings a long lasting effect that all people feel and see. But something small something that could develope from the community into something large even. Allowing the people who really involve themselves into it can alter and change the direction of the event in favor of good or bad based on the findings or roleplay they do.

 

[MasterAegon]

That's all good and well but I mean more of what does everyone think the server needs to draw and maintain a constant population?

 

[Grubul]

I would consider the reason for them being inactive, might be not knowing what the server is capabile of. I am playing here because i know what the server can offer.

most of new players dont visit the webpage, for the info.... maybe it would be time to rework the tutorial? maybe add a small fight against a super old iron golem that does almost no damage, to pass, and activate the knife to get to spawn.

The tooltips are old and misinforming with the old commands, and new players want to get right in the action. I see them asking to join a town, or to do something for fun, but they dont know how, or dont know where to search for the info.

Id say that we need the tutorial itself to be an adventure, that promises us to have that kind of more adventures when we get to Loka.

 

[Cryptite]

I could agree with a sprucing up of the Intro course, given the effects and whatnot we know how to do.

Another thing I'm working on right now is updating the website to reflect the new information. This above all else includes getting Town Pages to come back so that towns can have a much better way to advertise themselves on the website.

 

[Ronshaud]

I'm not sure if I consider myself really inactive, because I get on minechat everyday to check and see whose online; but what I think the server needs to get players not to be inactive is maybe more events?

I've been in 1 RP Event so far. And with the research team being a bit inactive.. There is no more replaying.

A lot of the players are waiting for Loka to update to 1.8. I've seen some players log on the server and say, "Is this server on 1.8?" Before I respond, I think they realize that they're on 1.7.10, then they log off and never get back on. Some have said, "When this server goes to 1.8, I would come back." Or, "Message me when this is 1.8." Do you think that might be the cause of them leaving? Or maybe their leaving because the server is too hard? Most have complained about the difficulty of Loka because they die quickly.

At the rise of our population, it slowly started to decrease. So Admins have said they aren't really interested anymore. Is t because being a Guardian is too OP? If you die, you just tp back to where you died.. My guess is they don't think thats fair. Admins have a hard time being active(some of them). Having Admin work, IRL things, and having tp powers..

Whatever the problem is, we need to fix it ASAP before we lose some people that are very important to the server.

Idk if this opinion helps, but hey, there it is lol

 

[MasterAegon]

We've suspected the update for 1.8 could be a big factor but that's something we just have to wait on.

Seems already that people are feeling the need to defend any periods of inactivity. Don't. That's not what the thread is about and we don't want anyone to feel the need to explain themselves. We just wanna know what people want more of or ideas for what might be missing that everyone could want more of.

As far as admins go, I'm not sure what you're talking about. Being an admin is a responsibility. Those that went inactive didn't do so because they were part of the admin team. They all had their own reasons.

I've liked the thought of more RP events but that may be something that's truly waiting the release of PvE elements. We have our own player driven things but newcomers don't get a taste of the rich history and it's too much to swallow.

Perhaps we're just not breaking things down Barney-style enough for new players. If they can't log in, jump into a town, and immediately be in the middle of something then it seems they bail. Are we too anti-mainstream with too few mini-game elements? Are we missing elements that people can do solo which is fun whether there are people online or not? There's a lot of possibilities.

 

[adderman500]

There are several reasons why Loka isn't as huge as many other minecraft servers. The most critical one is that unlike many other servers, Loka requires a relatively large time commitment to access the really good stuff. Most of us who are active on the server and forums have commited a seriously large amount of time. Heck, Loka has been something I've at least nipped onto fairly regularly over the course of the last 3 years, and I must have sunk weeks into it. The majority of minecraft players these days are generally younger than they used to be, shorter of time, and prefer to immediately access "fun" through minigames and suchlike. As a result, they don't tend to want to invest a lot of time into the game, and in fact many don't even play survival at all any more. If people aren't willing to commit to the server, they don't see its most valuable assets: foremost the community which is unparalleled as far as I'm concerned, the lore (linked to community) and the true potential of crypt's custom town plugins. As a result people don't tend to stick around here, which is a real shame.

What we do need to do is get active on reddit, which seems to attract a lot of our more promising players. I think reddit generally reaches an older audience (by older I mean over 10-12 years of age) and therefore has more of the kind of players we're trying to appeal to.

 

[Cryptite]

I do think targeted marketing is our biggest problem. We need to find out where all the SMP players are and get to them to tell them about Loka. Unfortunately the biggest demographic that "top-listing on websites" hits is the Hypixel type (young, impatient, minigamers, etc). I do think reddit is one of our biggest places to go; but we really need to find out where SMP players live.

I still think keeping our thread on Minecraft Forums constantly bumped and replied to is probably going to help a good bit perhaps.

Definitely need to increase our reddit presence.

 

[CrazyNinjaCows23]

Its exam time for me too so maybe that might be a reason?

 

[Dwemer_Sphere]

Maybe we need a New server Destorying virus.. something to wipe the slate clean. Some cataclysm to really cause death to all things.. towns in a panic, Fearful, Really pressed for time and resources to halt the growing plague upon the land. To save them selves. Maybe Something different then the blight. Like a Giant erruption that seeks to evelope the world in darknes... A horde of Undead that live through the day and night. Or mayber Large undead assualts upon towns As they try to get inside and go on a murdering rampage. We need to clear the crop Per say...

To many towns with not any players in it.. YES im talking about mine aswell..I have been thinking this over. If we had Ether a smaller map which can be comtroled by an empire lets say the Alliances that are now standing become the world powers in a form taking claim over a small part of the smaller map. Woulc cause conflict between the nations whichs leads to more political negotiations more pvp more things happening keeping newer members intrested Revisiting the introduction and really As someone said here "Barney Styling" them by teaching them the things they need to know on the world around them. I understand what this means for Fel'Bthalft along with other New towns That are in the easiest to say inactive and taking up space. To limit the space of players in a smaller map is a natural way to bring conflict and constant excitement to the world. More chances for Roleplay character to character. More chances for World PvP, More chances for Territory fights, Do I think If this happened it should All be started anew..Yes. Do I think this can be done on the current map. If limited and Cities that reach out that are Active Those I can name are I would Believe Dragonstone, Albion, Freesia, Arcadia, PorpoisePavllion. Places like those who have around 3-5 members active online places like them which really brings to life with Builds and cities they create ((Im going from speaking about like Albion and Dragonstone as I have not seen others... so dont cut my head off for not mentioning your towns.))

Alt towns towns of others who are just held together by the alts of others on the server I think should not exist. It would take up space in the already smaller map and would divide even more new players to those towns that are being run by Alts of players who are already in another which would give in the long run unfair advantage to those towns in conflict but mostly cause a rift between the division of new members amongest the in Short Capital Towns and i dont mean like Capital as we know it here on loka I mean towns that are Capitals of their Empire. These town who embody their ideals through the structures and monuments they build in both Building, Conflicts, and Roleplay. This would allow newer members brought by advertisement campaigns to really enjoy quickly the server as everything is close everything is happening quick there is always something happening something to do. its not the dull drag of quarrying, stripmining, terraforming, building, and the same old same old day in day out. We need to appeal to the masses each place each empire the Server as a Whole. which having the reduced map would do. Yes resources would be more vaulable as there would be a limit to the availabilty to even things as common as stone dirt. As now you have only what is there in your empires territory to gather. But that also would cause a REASON for conflict The other guys have a NEEDED resource you desire. Well ether go over there take their Mesa biome through conflict. Or negotiate a trade diplomaticlly through roleplay or not how ever you wish to go about that. The larger the map gets the More elbow room everyone has the easier they can breathe the more laxed they get the more they do of simple mining and working surviving and the less conflict happens it becomes a stale drag of days that are counted by resources and time spent.

My purposal is short. New map, Smaller map, Divided Empires dictated by the Alliances we have now. This gives them developement between their Empires internally and Externally. I believe to help really bring in order this change a Capital Town must be present. For each Empire their must be a Symbol, a reason to keep fighting besides just resources, Their must be a place of refuge for Those early weeks and months where Towns have yet to develope. A Landmark and central economic home where buisness and interraction can be made INTERNALLY BETWEEN EACH EMPIRE! not between the World as the empires had not yet grown to that state. The Territory, town, and other plugins already made would thrive here on a smaller map where the lands are defined by The empires that own them and the Natural look of it. One empire could own the Mesa they be the reason to trade with them or attack them if they would not listen to trade. If someone Owns an ocean and makes a nation floating upon the surface of the ocean or under they own resources there aswell Like Prism Shards (YES I know thats 1.8 but it was another example of Region defined resources) OR if they built in a swamp or Mushroom island. The point is EVERYONE can do EVERYTHING > EVERYONE must INTERACT with that They are yes forced to really interact with each other if they need the resources those people have ether throught conflict or negotiation. Think of it like a Survival World based upon the Idea of VOC where each place is unique in all elements. Thats what I Purpose. YES all points made thus far about Really redifining the tutorial, Advertisement, is NEEDED But If we dont do something about Keeping them involved keeping them constantly doing something Like This smaller map would do Then its all for not as they will still have the same problem of having nothing to do besides mesasure their Time spent on here through resources and construction. At least this way with the smaller map Though MANY MANY people will lose months and months of work hard work this will bring what the server needs conflict, desire, interaction, and stratagy. I purpose Knowing 100% that Fel'Bthalft, an untold number of smaller towns wil lbe hence forth gone. WE could later allow new towns within each empire to grow as the server grows if it becomes an issue. I know That 90% even more may simply dismiss this idea as to drastic or simply inconcievable to do. I ask that you Think of it Fully to each degree and see that I do have a great point though it is Radicalistic thinking...PLUS

I am Very thankfull and suprised you read ALL THAT ^^^^ above if you did Leave a like so I know.

 

[MasterAegon]

I wanna start by saying I doubt there will be a map wipe any time soon but if it becomes a necessity then by all means, we should explore it. However, I like some of the things you've gone to great lengths to propose.

Objective based play is the best thing we could ever implement, but this is my opinion as I have not discussed it with anyone in particular. Players have to see a quantitative progress for their play and they need to feel like they're accomplishing something. Most people won't have the patience to do what so many of us have in the past:

• Wander for weeks and build yourself up
• Join a town and really learn about the server
• [join a second town and continue learning and developing]
• Eventually build your own town and use what you've learned to be relevant

Until a player does these things, they remain highly irrelevant as far as the central conflict is concerned. New players look at what it would take to catch up to leading alliances or towns and it's just overwhelming. For this reason, I think some kind of individual incentive would be highly valuable. I'm not sure to what extent this would be (individual levels, in-game tracking of achievements, more things like prowess, etc...).

I still believe PvE will add a huge element which plays in turn with what you've said, Dwemer. The active towns and alliances will have a reason to either work together or work against one another to achieve the objectives put before them.

I also think we need more diverse forms of competition. Most people aren't keen on PvP and one loss could be demoralizing. I know it used to be for me. Some things could be spleef, parkour, building, resource (inb4 Opyc/Hip are unbeatable), etc...

Basically my point is we need more elements that new players can feel relevant in a short period. It's hard to create things that aren't highly weighted based on your play time, but coming up with something along these lines could be critical.

 

[mopb3]

RP events on a regular rota would do good I reckon. And of course Reddit things.

 

[EastBowmen]

Some of my best experiences while playing on Loka include the following;
- The Nethermancer Fight
- All territory generator fights
- All server wide events
- Battlegrounds
- Competition while playing ranked pvp matches
- Raids/world pvp

As you can see above, all of these things involve interaction from player to player. Unfortunately, I spend most of my time on Loka doing the opposite. I'm not encouraging Lokans to go raid the heck out of everyone, I'm just pointing out there needs to be more player interaction (IMO).

 

[Ronshaud]

Honestly, I want to do a Brewmaster quest. That's one thing I really haven't experienced yet. Huge RP events is what a lot of people want (IMO). If we have even more RP events, maybe people would stay? The nethermancer fight wasn't really much. It was fun and all but wasn't really much.

I know planning RP events is a lot to do, but if we grab some people from the community that are interested, maybe they could help. I'm always ready to help; I could help you guys plan stuff.

 

[Cryptite]

The PvE update is wholly meant to hopefully help with self-running RP-type things. I agree that RP events are fun, but we've proven time and again that they are the most work for the least return. Everybody enjoys them, but they also finish weeks of work by the team that makes it in sometimes minutes.

The PvE update is meant to help that with systems that allow dynamic RP events to happen in a way that requires minimal effort on our side and helps keep things fresh. Everybody loves exploration and Minecraft endgame provides zero of that for most players.

 

[MrAlchemy]

- Weekly building competitions on plots that reset every week (The best builds get added to an area that displays the building prowess of winner's creations)
- PVE Quests/Raids (As stated ad nauseam by many of the community) but perhaps these could also take place on the old worlds through temporary portals?
- Add politics to the server by allowing users to vote on current issues and possibly elect persons to certain positions.
- New players -NEED- starter towns that will accept all that come to them so they can learn the ins and outs of being a part of/starting a town. (this seems to be the one thing that has people coming and leaving quickly from Loka)
- A personal ranking/level system for characters (just like towns level up but with nothing close the the benefits of lvling a town gives)
- Classes? Skills? New Ores? New Mobs? Unknown crafting recipes that need to be discovered through following ques in new lore?
- Continued expansion of industries?
- Weekly game show that tests players knowledge of Loka's lore?
- Release the dragon upon the lands, with great rewards for he/she who kills it?
- A plague that destroys most villagers, deflating them to the point of an amazing commodity that would have to be guarded well. (half or quarter their reproduction rates) Something about the search for a cure to said plague and a great reward for the one who solves the problem?
- Something about the nether intruding on the overworld with players questing to stop it's expansion?
- RP events, planned or not?
- Weekly writing competitions?
- Redstone engineering competitions?
- Silly/derpy things like jokes and riddles that the community can enjoy? (like tooltips and how they pop up)
- A gigantic maze with rewards for those who can conquer it? (complete with netherpigs as the role of Minotaurs and... you're unarmed!)
- Clubs (like alliances) that allow like minded people to enjoy an even stronger sense of community?
- Sparkly new spawn... *pokes Crypt with a look in his eye* You know... you know...

That's all I've got for the moment, will certainly revisit this with more ideas

 

[Grubul]

All of panem was entertained by yearly hunger games... we could have some mass pvp event without teams, cause people just dont come online.

 

[Ronshaud]

A huge race! In the Nether.. That could be interesting. Very adventurous, with PvP

 

[Cryptite]

FatPoulet once tried to setup a survival race. Nobody cared.

I'm always happy to help add structure (worldguarded regions, etc) for player-run events. You guys just have to set them up and get them going.