one change that would make you feel good

[Hiro]

hypothetical scenario: graal will make any one single change that you decide is worth while, and will implement it exactly the way you want. leaving out how long it would take them to actually make this change happen or whether or not it's physically possible to make the change; what would you decide is a worth while change, one that'd make you feel good that you actually play graal?

personally, i would like to see trial accounts be treated the way they used to be handled back in like, 01, where they were actual accounts and could play as long as they liked, but none of their data would save

[Crono]

that wasnt 2001

[kia345]

New forum administration. Idling on UN has taught me that Graal is doing nothing wrong, iPhone kids come in by the dozen. I've never had aspirations for the actual game, especially considering I grew up on servers like Delteria and GK that are rock bottom now.

But these forums, they're terrible. Every one of my grievances with Graal are based around the terrible ways these forums are managed.

edit; or global PRs that actually have some input in the directions graal goes in

[Demisis_P2P]

Originally Posted by Hiro

personally, i would like to see trial accounts be treated the way they used to be handled back in like, 01, where they were actual accounts and could play as long as they liked, but none of their data would save

You probably don't realize that 2/3 of the current PC playerbase are trial accounts.
If you took away their ability to save they would probably just stop playing and play one of the other hundreds of free MMOs. Most of them are people that can't or won't pay for the game, no matter what.

[cbk1994]

Adding the older trial restrictions is useless without lowering prices.

My number one: lowering prices. Even marketing it different would help ($5/month instead of $60/year).

Regarding trials:

Originally Posted by Era Server Stats

Server statistics for Era (era) :
Client access: Desktop Graal
Subscription-Status: Gold or Classic
Version: Graal 5.1-5.2
Players: 61
Classic players: 27
Trial players: 12
Trial players on guest account: 1
Observers: 4

Not really sure what to make of that.

[Sp_lit]

Personally, I'd like to see Graal go back to being free to play. I know this is not going to happen, ever. Although, that is probably what I'd appreciate the most!

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by Crono

that wasnt 2001

when was it then?

Originally Posted by Demisis_P2P

You probably don't realize that 2/3 of the current PC playerbase are trial accounts.
If you took away their ability to save they would probably just stop playing and play one of the other hundreds of free MMOs. Most of them are people that can't or won't pay for the game, no matter what.

i think they might like the fact that they can actually keep playing instead of having scattered bits and pieces of gameplay.

[DustyPorViva]

One change I'd love to see is the abolition of the observer mode and trial systems all together. Ghost mode wasn't that much better either, and littered with bugs that really didn't give ghosts the ability to actually preview the world... when scripts don't function, what can they really do? Most of the time important links didn't work because they were scripted, and tiledefs never loaded. I don't think I need to explain my hatred of observer mode.

In-game limitations like Zodiac and GK are doing are way better, and I'd love to see this globalized by v6.

[Dnegel]

Originally Posted by Sp_lit

Personally, I'd like to see Graal go back to being free to play.

Yah, me too.

What about making Graal F2P this summer?

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Hiro

when was it then?

I believe it was mid 2002 up until v5 was released. At most, 2003 and onwards. 2001 it was still not full p2p, although there were those silly ghost waiting times. :P

i would feel good if v2's interface was implemented to it's full extent while keeping the functionality of v5+ minus the internal playerlist/pm windows

[Sp_lit]

I don't know if this would be able to be put into practice, although maybe trials could be able play limitless during the weekends. No observer mode or anything like that, simple enjoy the game on the same terms as a P2P account.

I actually think it could be quite nice, hopefully resulting in a higher playercount. However, pherhaps the P2P accounts should get a benefit as well, so they do not feel excluded. Pherhaps a decrease in the monthly cost of Gelats? (lowering prices, which already has been suggested)

Maybe someone has suggested this before?

However, it just came to my mind that this would probably not have a very big impact on servers like Zodiac..still, it is worth a thought!

[SlikRick]

Bring back the Classic Subscription

[Dnegel]

Originally Posted by SlikRick

Bring back the Classic Subscription

This is probably the best idea in my opinion.

[Geno]

hire professionals to develop content

[papajchris]

The graal website. It needs to be totally redone

[Deas_Voice]

Originally Posted by papajchris

The graal website. It needs to be totally redone

so true.

where did that thread go about it? i remember some Web developer was gonna try to make a website for gaal and see if CJ accepted it~

[papajchris]

Originally Posted by Deas_Voice

so true.

where did that thread go about it? i remember some Web developer was gonna try to make a website for gaal and see if CJ accepted it~

This thread by Tig maybe? That's the only one i can recall at the moment

[TSAdmin]

One change that would make me feel good? Be rid of Classic/Gold staff entirely. Those things change hands more often than anyone cares to know about and half the time they end up in the hands of the occasional "awesome" manager, but there are more idiots than anything. In my personal opinion, UC is where a server is kept for development. Classic/Gold is where a server is kept because it's pristine, playable content. With every new manager comes new views of what is "A good idea" and a lot of people hate change. If a server makes it to Classic after it's development, then it should be left alone unless there are bugs being reported, or something is just plain ugly by popular opinion and needs re-drawing.

Of course, there needs to be occasional exciting events rather than just a "Global Event Bot" that is stuck on each Classic or Gold server and that's where a dedicated global team extends it's purposes and interaction with the playerbody.

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by TSAdmin

In my personal opinion, UC is where a server is kept for development. Classic/Gold is where a server is kept because it's pristine, playable content. With every new manager comes new views of what is "A good idea" and a lot of people hate change. If a server makes it to Classic after it's development, then it should be left alone unless there are bugs being reported, or something is just plain ugly by popular opinion and needs re-drawing.

Servers need to constantly develop and move forward in order to keep their content exciting so..

[papajchris]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Servers need to constantly develop and move forward in order to keep their content exciting so..

I agree with you, staff is needed especially gp's, faq's, and your right there needs to be constant updates. I also see what TSAdmin is getting at though. Maybe having global gp's who just go from server to server instead of staying on one server? Maybe lat's who focus on one server for an update and then move to another server to work on that one's updates? I guess that would basically make them global staff or part of the GDT? Might be interesting. It's more or less they work for Graal not a server then

[fowlplay4]

Lower prices.

[LoneAngelIbesu]

Originally Posted by TSAdmin

... In my personal opinion, UC is where a server is kept for development. ... If a server makes it to Classic after it's development, then it should be left alone unless there are bugs being reported, or something is just plain ugly by popular opinion and needs re-drawing.

Sounds like a proposal for free Classic dev servers. I think the worst possible thing for a Classic server is having to develop major systems in a live environment (like we're doing on Valikorlia), because the staff of the server can't afford to pay for Developer Gold.

(Although, maybe this European financial crisis will finally bring the cost of Developer Gold down for us Staters. Unixmad would probably just switch to USD, then...)

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by papajchris

I agree with you, staff is needed especially gp's, faq's, and your right there needs to be constant updates. I also see what TSAdmin is getting at though. Maybe having global gp's who just go from server to server instead of staying on one server? Maybe lat's who focus on one server for an update and then move to another server to work on that one's updates? I guess that would basically make them global staff or part of the GDT? Might be interesting. It's more or less they work for Graal not a server then

Every server has its own individual issues, its own trouble makers, and its own histories; player-relations staff really need to be in-touch with their respective playerbases in order to do their jobs efficiently. Switching people around from server to server just wouldn't work out. This could also be said for level designers, where each server has its own style. A designer that might be able to create beautiful levels for an Unholy Nation project won't necessarily know how to create something at the same standard for Era, etc etc.

I think what TSAdmin was referring to has more to do with servers not maintaining their original identities (such as N-Pulse developing a brand new RPG server hiding behind its original name) and their managers having too much creative freedom. I agree with that notion, but fresh content is always going to be needed. Servers can't just sit with the same content because it 'worked' at one time.

[TSAdmin]

Originally Posted by Rufus

I think what TSAdmin was referring to has more to do with servers not maintaining their original identities (such as N-Pulse developing a brand new RPG server hiding behind its original name) and their managers having too much creative freedom. I agree with that notion, but fresh content is always going to be needed. Servers can't just sit with the same content because it 'worked' at one time.

That is exactly what I'm referring to. Perhaps I should clarify Sorry, it's easy to type it and think "I know what I mean" because it's in my head hehe.

I wouldn't say having staff is a bad idea. In fact, having a few who do as they're told is quite essential. To clarify, I would be rid of the management staff on each server entirely. N-Pulse was a perfect example, Rufus. Not picking them out alone, but it is an example. Conflicting ideas from management to management doesn't add up to anything good after 11 years.

But yeah, times change. Fresh graphics are made (Just have to take Era for example there. Remember the old choppy graphics? Now there's a ton of "Smooth" graphics), enhanced scripts are offered (GS1 to GS2 enhancements), etc etc. But you don't need an explosion of staff members to achieve that.

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by Crono

I believe it was mid 2002 up until v5 was released. At most, 2003 and onwards. 2001 it was still not full p2p, although there were those silly ghost waiting times. :P

i would feel good if v2's interface was implemented to it's full extent while keeping the functionality of v5+ minus the internal playerlist/pm windows

well whatever dates; v2 definitely had the best looking feel to it

Originally Posted by TSAdmin

That is exactly what I'm referring to. Perhaps I should clarify Sorry, it's easy to type it and think "I know what I mean" because it's in my head hehe.

I wouldn't say having staff is a bad idea. In fact, having a few who do as they're told is quite essential. To clarify, I would be rid of the management staff on each server entirely. N-Pulse was a perfect example, Rufus. Not picking them out alone, but it is an example. Conflicting ideas from management to management doesn't add up to anything good after 11 years.

But yeah, times change. Fresh graphics are made (Just have to take Era for example there. Remember the old choppy graphics? Now there's a ton of "Smooth" graphics), enhanced scripts are offered (GS1 to GS2 enhancements), etc etc. But you don't need an explosion of staff members to achieve that.

so basically, global staff (PWA) would be the "manager" of every server, with the below staff precedents staying the same?

[cbk1994]

v4 had the best interfaces; v2 etc are only good for nostalgia and would grow old quickly.

[TSAdmin]

Originally Posted by Hiro

so basically, global staff (PWA) would be the "manager" of every server, with the below staff precedents staying the same?

Yes, excluding UC (Just to clarify "Every" server). How often have you gone to your favourite server to find that yet another thing has changed that nobody wanted because the management simply changed hands? Not begrudging change, change is good. But change can be achieved beyond redesigning something or removing something. Adding something new and exciting that contributes to its own aspect of the server rather than drastically alter existing aspects for example.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

v4 had the best interfaces; v2 etc are only good for nostalgia and would grow old quickly.

you probably prefer v4 because v2 is more alien to you. v2 looked much more attractive than v4, although the v4 wasn't that bad at all and much nicer than v5.

[MajinDragon]

Originally Posted by Geno

hire professionals to develop content

This.

[elite_master]

As for me when I log into the Graal Online page, and go a different page on the site, I have to refresh the site to view the information. This could be a major deterent for people thinking about downloading. Also I might be wrong, but isn't Graal the same price as your basic WoW account or Xbox Live etc? I feel if people are going to invest money into a game, they would put it towards a game thats 3D and has 10x the players Graal does? I remember when it was $19 for a lifetime account and a little extra for gold.. Another thing I don't get is why developers have to PAY to develop a server that profits Graal? That makes no sense whatsoever.

All I know is that alot of stuff needs to change in content wise, and development wise or Graal is going to slowly dwindle down to 0 players. It's already dropped drastically and we all have seen nothing done. I don't think our complaints are doing anything anymore..It seems to me Stefan is just going to leave us in the dust and move on to the bigger and better things to profit him.

[salesman]

Originally Posted by elite_master

has 10x the players Graal does?

1000000x at least.

[elite_master]

Originally Posted by salesman

1000000x at least.

This is very true actually, now that I think about it.

[SlikRick]

XBox Live is only about $50 a year.

[Geno]

copy any other game company and pay people to make your game good.

[Dumdumdidi]

every other mmorpg u see out there has better content, playercount than graal.
i still have no clue why i still play graal even though i can play other games that are more deserving of my time.

[Imperialistic]

one change that would make me feel better would be for the idiots on the forums that continue to create threads like this one after another believing if they spam the idea of what everyone thinks should change, that Graal will be better.

[nullify]

'Twas a hypothetical thread. [Treated] Just like most other suggestion threads on this forum.

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by Imperialistic

one change that would make me feel better would be for the idiots on the forums that continue to create threads like this one after another believing if they spam the idea of what everyone thinks should change, that Graal will be better.

your english sucks

[xAndrewx]

A public mass of peoples birthdays would be wicked cool

[Brad]

i wish g2k1 was new to me again.