Most Important Server Aspects?

[Draenin]

So I just realized... I haven't made a poll for anything in a looooong time. I figure now's a good time to fix that.

What I want to know is, what are the most important aspects of a server to you?

I ask simply because I'm curious, and it might be useful for server developers to see what matters most to general players. Since a lot of us tend to disagree on what should be focused on more when creating a server, I figured it would be a good idea to get some concrete demographics laid out on the subject.

[papajchris]

I voted for events. Think about it, why else play UN, npulse, babylon,etc? I guesss guild life is important too, but that isnt simething that will keep players on

[WanDaMan]

They're all equally as important as each other (fp4 lol), however; I like interaction between players so I decided on PvP content.

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by WanDaMan

They're all equally as important as each other

I completely agree. But voting for all of them doesn't really give us a good picture of what the community as a whole cares about more.

[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by WanDaMan

They're all equally as important as each other (fp4 lol), however; I like interaction between players so I decided on PvP content.

They all can be important, but I wouldn't say they're all equally important, especially depending on what type of server it is. On a server like Era, it's hard to argue that roleplaying is as important as PvP.

[FaLLChiLD]

Take note that you can vote for multiple aspects in this poll. Though all are important to the creation of a server, the key to this poll is voting for aspects that particularly draw you into a server.

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

They all can be important, but I wouldn't say they're all equally important, especially depending on what type of server it is. On a server like Era, it's hard to argue that roleplaying is as important as PvP.

For this poll, you kind of have to imagine we're not dealing with any server in particular. Servers that have been previously established already have their own priorities. This is just to get an idea of what developers might want to focus on if they're starting out fresh.

Originally Posted by FaLLChiLD

Though all are important to the creation of a server, the key to this poll is voting for aspects that particularly draw you into a server.

Exactly.

[Stephen]

In my experience there are two main elements within which everything else functions; Indirect & Direct player competition. So long as a server has direct competition (PvP) and indirect competition (Influence) it has a recipe for success.

As an example, content is a means to level and acquire wealth so that you may effectively perform in player skirmishes. Roleplaying and leadership serve to influence other players towards your cause.

[Crono]

PvP is by far the most important for me, but WoW proves that you can get away with PvE and suckers will still flock to it because they get some sense of accomplishment fighting an NPC rather than using real skill vs another player.

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by Crono

PvP is by far the most important for me, but WoW proves that you can get away with PvE and suckers will still flock to it because they get some sense of accomplishment fighting an NPC rather than using real skill vs another player.

I've been through a fair number of fights on there that actually require some degree of skill. But yeah, I know what you mean. A lot of PvE content on Graal is just hard to make challenging. The best AI I've seen is the bots on Zone, and even those have some level of weakness.

[Emera]

Quite surprised to see players versus player to be a higher ranked option. Not surprised however by the choice for content updates.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Emera

Quite surprised to see players versus player to be a higher ranked option. Not surprised however by the choice for content updates.

As a player-based poll it's very important to recognize that players do not necessarily understand what they want, especially in younger audiences.

[ffcmike]

I don't think you can really highlight one aspect over another in this way as they are serving different purposes, which will effect newer and older players differently or have benefits that range between short term and long term etc.
When designing a server it is important to do so around a main hook which will set the server apart, but eventually you need to look at the cumulative effect of all it's different aspects and decide whether there's enough balance, in order to satisfy as many different types of player as possible.

[FaLLChiLD]

As far as "character customization" goes...it's a shallow pond. Unless you're using custom bodies, it should generally be universal to setbody, sethead, etc. including color optimization. (Discerning hats possibly due to the fact they're used often as items to be acquired.)

[Draenin]

Originally Posted by Stephen

As a player-based poll it's very important to recognize that players do not necessarily understand what they want, especially in younger audiences.

Big difference between what players want and what developers think is best, brah. That's the whole point of even putting the poll up to begin with. You and I know very well that players don't always know what's best, and developers don't always give players what they want.

Originally Posted by FaLLChiLD

As far as "character customization" goes...it's a shallow pond. Unless you're using custom bodies, it should generally be universal to setbody, sethead, etc. including color optimization. (Discerning hats possibly due to the fact they're used often as items to be acquired.)

Character customization relates to more than just what your character looks like. It's stuff like being able to make your character faster, stronger, more resilient, and so on.

Originally Posted by ffcmike

I don't think you can really highlight one aspect over another in this way

I do.

Everyone is in agreement that all of these things are important. But there's nothing wrong with preferring a few main things over others.