First of all, I think this discussion might be getting a bit out of hand. I started reading with a bit of joy that so many people were behind the point that change is going to be needed. And then I reach page two where I actualy had to click
VIEW for the opinion of the
Director because it has gotten too many negative ratings.....
I'm gonna bring some good points that have been made out here and state an opinion about it. And please, dont skip it because it is a long wall of text.
Honestly, I'm tired of a new SMP every half year.
What happens in 6 months then, we get yet another SMP server? We should have a server that can run for a long time but has stability between a fair playerbase and a fun environment. Meaning, if this is not happening for JtE, it has to be worked with. i.e major updates.
Yes, we should have a server that can run for a long while. And that has a stability where the whole playerbase enjoys it. However, I don't think this will ever be possible. Ever. But what can happen is give the playerbase something new every 6 months or so to have them satisfied again for a while.
Elysium is something new. The name itself suggests peace and bliss, and the server represents this. For the past 2 or so years... we have had maps with more substantial elements of PVP. There are players that like to play a calm, relaxing survival server sometimes. Those people are attracted to the server, and those who like die-hard PVP aren't. It makes sense, if you don't compare last server to this server. Also, might I hasten to add that us staff have been working on ways to incorporate PVP. It may come soon, and in the coming days PVP should have more of an influence on the server.
I understand PVP is something that moves the server. It creates action, it creates a challenge, and raiding has more meaning when you take down your enemy. But Elysium is different, and there still is 10% of the world for those who want a hardcore survival experience with the option to gain resources with a lesser threat. Also remember, we have dungeons for people who want to engage in PVP and we have nice dungeon entrances begging for camping. Though the outlets for it are limited, they are there.
I don't mean to offend anyone but I think the "Seperated parts of the world for PvP and PvE" is a bad idea. There are some things I find wrong with it.
-It takes a very long while to walk from my home (CTY) to the PvP side of the world. Even if I use the NN it takes a bit. I want to be able to just PvP from my home. Being attacked at your home gives the thrill that made me play SMP 3 a long while. [Not sure if it was SMP 3 but it was the SMP 2 maps ago] Or teaming up with allies to attack a common enemy at their base.
-Its griefable. You can't make a base in the PvP zone. You can't make traps in the PvP zone as they will just be griefed. I love making traps but there is no point in it if they will just be griefed. And as nothing will get build, there is nothing to raid. And PvP mostly occured on raids!
If you are looking for a good balance between PvP and PvE, it has been said in this thread a couple of times and I think that it is about the
only way that will bring a good balance.
Only enable PvP at night. This was done some SMP's ago and I found it amazing because I could just build during the day and feel safe during it. While at night the clan goes out to defend their homes.
And with that I will bring a new/old point. I dont think that making the server full PvP like last map would work either. I stopped playing last map because every time I went outside I got ambushed by Prot IV people. There was a thread made about this to reduce enchantments. And it was obvious that that was not going to happen. And if that doesn't happen then I don't see a full PvP server turning out well. And therefor the balance to make PvP only at night seems like the only solution to me.
Anybody who does not realize there are plans, and anybody who does not understand the cycle of SMP servers and who can not accept change is going to want a new server. But let me tell you: There ARE plans, we are deciding to have the longest-running SMP server because we are trying something new, and we are giving towns, settlements and structures a very long time to expand. There is no fear of it being wiped, you have a sense of security. All your progress will not be wiped, you will have something that will stay forever.
To me the cycle of SMP servers is that a restart for it is needed every once in a while to keep the playerbase alive.
Map resets are temporary fixes for one of the major problems in this game, and in life: Change. People want new... everything. As M_B_H said, I do not want to reset the map because it is a temporary fix to an issue we can never solve. While other maps have had this brought up in ~4 months, we've lived almost 7 months and this is being brought up. Our very stable foundation and gameplay concept has propelled us up to this record-breaker and we're not stopping here. Why not rejoice in the fact we have a long SMP? You need to make it refreshing for yourself, and when it is the time for us to do so we will do it - and we will do it well.
I am going to use a methapor here that might seem foolish[And perhaps offensive, sorry!], but I think it has a point.
"Map resets are temporary fixes for one of the major problems in this game" And I am comparing map resets to medicine here. Some medicine[extremer cases] are temporary fixes to keep one from dying. They are needed for survival. And the map resets may be temporary fixes too, but they are needed to keep the playerbase alive.
This SMP lived for almost 7 months, and thats amazing. But everything has to end. We learned that when classic went down. Despite alot of people wanting classic to stay it had to end. And I see a similar case here. And even though if Elysium would be gone, a new server would rise from the ashes and be perhaps even be greater than the current one.
And that brings me to the next part of my post. Why I do see it is actualy necessary to start planning a new server now.
You now have the verdict of the one opinion that settles this, or at least, some of it. No poll, no sole opinion, no petition will change my mind, or the mindset of the Elysium staff team. Though you can change things within the server, you're not changing the consciousness of the server. That's in my hands, and I will be the one to rule over that. I'll let you complain, they will pass in one ear and out the other. If you want my attention, as many head-staff has said in many places, you can send me an organized PM outlining what you want changed and WHY. Though discussion like this is nice, it turns into an opinionated bandwagon when we want a factual, unbiased discussion.
Please do keep discussing this, I will quietly jot notes down and work to iron out flaws that many people seem to be pointing out.
Finally - might I end by saying...
Thanks for the suggestion.
I'll start off by expressing my opinion: No.
Even though it is your opinion. I disagree with your No.
Yes, it is yours and the staff's server. But a server is nothing without players. And even though there are still players. Most of the time it's only 4 or 5 people online.
And I've seen somewhere in this thread the point that TnT has even less players than JtE and why we shouldn't take down TnT while we're at it. TnT is a very different case than JtE. So that point should stay out of it.
Well, a bit of my point seems to have been missed. Creating a new server takes time. It takes man power, inspiration, and the know how to get it running. People seem to be wanting a new server. Some people seem to want to keep this server. Does it really matter at this point in time? A new server will come about, but in time...its not as if this will happen immediately. Just as Elysium was created, the server will be worked on, whilst the current server continues. There will be more time, maybe a good deal of time, for Elysium, and then a server will come about.
The new server needs 2-7 weeks to build and prepare so JtE will last 8-9 months then if we start planning a new server right now. So, basically majority of the players want PvP we add JtE features to it and this: The refresh give players a chance to start over and gives staff time to make important changes to the server. So, what is the reasoning for keep the server running this long?
I think you really underestimate how tough it is to create a new server. The servers JtE took over your estimate of "2-7 weeks" of building and preparation. As well the Primordia server took longer than your estimate. If you expect a proper server that is non-vanilla, then please have a more realistic view on how it works.
"we" start planning a new server, I think Superstein and his staff will plan a new server. Just consider that Superstein is just put on the job, he is figuring his way(s) out and eventually starts planning his own view of a good SMP server, like most of the SMP Directors before him did. Just because a majority wants it, doesn't mean that action can be taken immediately. Not to say that in my entire reign, I have only had 2 PMs about considering gameplay-change. Saying, that a thread where everyone one-up's the Director out of sudden instead of proper contacting seems a little cheap and disrespectful.
What is the reasoning to keep the server running this long? What is the reasoning for not. It takes a lots of preparation and the server itself is healthy considering players that join. Just because the core-playerbase of Blocktopia doesn't play it, doesn't mean no one plays it. Futhermore, as I said, let Superstein get comfortable with everything (if he isn't already) and give him the time to plan something new when the time comes.
Just take this as some friendly critism Hockeyfan, I only want to make you understand that everything is not as simple as it sounds. Even if Superstein is already making a plan for a new server, I hardly think that he will already announce about it. Patience is a virtue.
Finally that brings me to these two quotes. A server doesn't just pop out of nowhere. It takes time. As marnixxie says it, it takes ALOT of time. Super said in his post on page 2 that the Elysium server took 3 or more months of preperation. And if I'm not mistaken, that is ALOT.
If you keep Elysium going, I don't see much changing in the playerbase. And then in three months almost nothing will have happened and you might be like: "Hmmmm, it's time to make a new SMP server". And that new SMP server will have 3 months of planning and making too. Because as I said already, I don't see anything happening to the playerbase and when you finally decide it's ready to start thinking/making a new server it will take another few months. And in those months Elysium will still be as empty as it is now.
So I say:
why not start thinking/planning/making it right now? If it will take another 3 months than I say it is time to start pretty soon. Because Elysium will still go on during that 3 months. And in 3 months when people are really getting tired of Elysium you present them an awesome new server and make them happy again for a while.
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If you have read it all than I would like to thank you for reading my post. And I have a few last things to say about it.
I know that it is easy to say from my point because I'm not the admin/staff to do it all.
And in no way do I not appreciate what the staff have done to make JtE and the time they have put in it to make it better. I respect the staff, I just think its time to start thinking about something new. Again, thanks for reading my post and I hope the idea of starting to plan right now will be taken in consideration as I believe it is a good idea.
