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In my opinion these are the qualities that make an ideal playerworld:
Levels showing style, new things, not just random garbage from the tileset thrown everywhere. Try to evenly spread what is in the level, do not fill it up with things, leave some normal grass tiles but not too many, fill up as much as you can with other tiles so it looks presentable. Do NOT make it look like someone went a bit over the top with the Miracle-Gro.
NPCs and NPCWs showing originality, we've all seen the new creatures (i.e. Bomies) and they are nice to have but try to be original in making them, make them do new things. Systems work well with PW (e.g. Chat System) but make sure they are actually needed before you implement them. Other NPCs, make sure they are scripted properly and fully tested for bugs before releasing them to the public, no one wants to see something that is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread then to find out that it doesn't work
Quests! Originality is important here. Don't make the overdone slash the baddies in three rooms to get a useless prize (Think Maloria's Element Demons). Instead make interesting (e.g You must go through several areas, collecting things, doing other things before you actually get your prize, that may also lead onto another quest). There must be good levels in the quests too, otherwise people will think they are too ugly to see and not do them. Make sure the rewards at the end are worth what they went through. No one in their right mind would go through a long and gruelling quest, just so that they could get a bow and vice-versa. Also if you wish make them challenging with lots of puzzles.
Graphics must be above par if you are to suceed with your playerworld. Make new tiles, if you are feeling rather adventurous, make a whole new tileset, however, if you do this. Make it so that it doesn't look like someone butchered the normal tileset then dragged it through a bush backwards. Hire good and well known graphic artists in Graal. Graphics for NPCs must be exceptional, especially if you are making them for new races and baddies.
Storyline, this is optional but it is preferrable. If you want a storyline make it original, don't try to copy off classic or anything else for that matter, plaguerism is looked down upon by most. Plan out the storyline, build it up over time, there are several ways you can go about this but one thing is. Make it interesing.
Staff. Absolutly no backdoor hiring. Hire proven people if they will join your crusade. Make sure the person that you are giving an NPC Admin tag to can work with NPCs. This goes for everything Levels, GFX, ET, Police, etc. Make sure they can and will do their jobs, no use hiring a lazy person.
There always must be something to do. Be it Events, quests, jobs etc. If there is nothing to do a player will leave, if there is something new and exciting to do, they will stay, simple logic isn't it?
Roleplaying, this bit depends if you want it to be an RP playerworld, but a good server would mix RPing and Non-RPing together so it lived in Harmony (2k1 is a good example but it has gone slightly downhill as of late). Make sure there are places for the RPing guilds/Kingdoms that are properly built, preferribly overground, on many playerworlds there are underground castles, one or two is okay but not too many.
Rules, be strict but fair, if you catch a rule-breaker, get both sides of the story, examine the evidence at hand, if they are found guilty, throw them in the slammer or ban them.
If they are innocent, let them go.
Overall the playerworld must have a catch to it! That makes it so that people want to play it. The hook could be anything from brilliant levels to good NPCs or exceptional graphics. It could even be the friendly staff. There must always be something new and exciting waiting round the next corner.
-Kiirar (has a cramp in wrist) |