If some of the difficulties that plague lower levels (i.e. level 10 or below) in our reduced server population were lessened or eliminated, would you create a new character and not worry so much about how fast you have to get to Level X for whatever reason? Similarly, would you consider coordinating with other established members (and potentially new ones) and create new characters as a group, not necessarily all affiliated (but it helps) so that the complaint of not enough people online to game with isn't an issue?I'm curious about these things, because it won't matter how much we change if there's no buy-in from our players.
What can you, the players, do right now, without policy or module change, to start fostering the sort of connections everyone talks about as being among the best aspects of Layonara?Along different lines, I direct this one specifically at people with well-established characters:If some of the difficulties that plague lower levels (i.e. level 10 or below) in our reduced server population were lessened or eliminated, would you create a new character and not worry so much about how fast you have to get to Level X for whatever reason? Similarly, would you consider coordinating with other established members (and potentially new ones) and create new characters as a group, not necessarily all affiliated (but it helps) so that the complaint of not enough people online to game with isn't an issue?
Wanted to respond to Willhoff's #1 with respect to Dorg's post. Willhoff, this mentoring program could be your baby. You don't really need much DM support for it. All you'd need is a group of like-minded individuals and a forum thread or section (I recommend section).One thread would be for a list of the members and player requests, which could be cleared out over time. You could even have specialists if certain of your members wanted to focus more on explaining mechanics versus roleplay or non-mechanic progression.As far as DM support goes, you might not need more than a few references to your thread. Like add a line that says, "Now that you're approved, you could go get a mentor to be your Obi Wan in this land!" after character approval.
If the XP kill is adjusted that is... otherwise its just an RP thing between a high level and the lowbie. Don't get me wrong RP is awesome... but again RP only goes so far to "advancing" a character.
The whole ungrouped method to me at least wreaks of an exploit... a way to get around a system or rules. Ive had people offer to assist me in this manor already and I've declined. Maybe its just me who sees it this way.
Housing: a policy of only one per PLAYER and regular 3-6 month sweeps. I always cringe when an up and coming mid level can afford a house and can't have one because one player has more than 2 and I haven't seen them log in for years. Kudos on the recent sweep, we need more of them. I don't think a tax system is needed, but regular pusle-checking for activity would be key. And not just logging in to save the house either, perhaps a 20 hour requirement of the actual owner over 3-6 months to keep the house active. Only active players should be owning real estate. This makes room for those actually playing with desire in their bellies.
This is not wholly true. Veterans can escort lowbie players even if they aren't grouped--nothing in Layonara is instanced. In fact, the lowbie has to drop party any time he needs to accept/complete quests anyway. Clerics/Sorcs/Bards/Rangers/Paladins/Druids/Wizards--heck any caster class has some buff that can help a lowbie solo those pesky sewer rats. This can all be RPed as training. Then, at a preset level, you could ask if that player wants to go through the rites to become a member of the escorts. This will serve as a community-based tutorial on guilds and will also increase the number of escorts and such.