Where is everyone?

[Empoweredfan]

TheKai speaks the truth. =)

[grymhild]

while it might make some people uncomfortable when others challenge the status quo by pointing out that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes,

I believe that the thoughts and opinions that some people view as 'negativity' are often valid expressions of frustration based on individual experiences.

Pressuring or shaming people to not talk about their experiences unless they support the status quo is bad.

and trying to paint an unrealistic pollyanna view of the server isn't going to help anyone either

it will lead to players being confused, disappointed, frustrated, and afraid to talk about their experiences...

at the same time, flame wars and trolling won't help either

we need to find a way to encourage everyone to feel safe to voice their experiences and concerns

[DM Bloodlust]

we need to find a way to encourage everyone to feel safe to voice their experiences and concerns

Everyone is more than welcome too, as long as it stays constructive.

[sir_blacksoutalot]

Have fun people. This server is a gift that if we let it, will keep on giving. Like any beautiful thing, it needs to be nourished.

I'm a pessimist at heart, but I have to embrace Kai's philosophy on this. Plus I respect all the hard work the devs have put into this server over the past many years, and I thank them for giving me a place I am always, always happy to plug into. Like I'm about to do right now!

[thids]

I could be wrong, but it would be nice to start a conversation about what we could do to make it better.

There's 2 key things missing:

1. Lack of people willing to put work and effort into creating RP for themselves as well as a larger group(s) of people. I'm not calling anyone out here, there is nothing wrong with not wanting to take initiative and enjoying the ride from the backseat... but SOMEONE has to take the driving wheel, and it can't be the DM's

2. Lack of proper player conflict on the server. And I don't mean petty vendettas where 2 people meet at FAI every Saturday morning and bash at each other, but deeper meaningful conflict between several groups of players. It has been weeded out over the last year or so and with a reason, there was a lot of bad experiences, but I think there needs to be a middle ground in regards to that. Player conflicts with something tangible on the line and at least an illusion of consequences is what draws people to log in regularly and be proactive instead of doing their weekly scheduled DM event and spending the rest of the week doing absolutely nothing. I was a firm supporter of lowering player conflicts to such a level where people wouldn't get upset, mostly because it can put a lot of pressure and negativity on certain groups of players. However it's obvious that without proper conflict there is little of substance worth logging on for. It is quite ironic that the effort to keep people from getting upset has driven more players away than actively pushing player conflicts did.

[TheKai]

and trying to paint an unrealistic pollyanna view of the server isn't going to help anyone either

I actually think more people should try to paint these "unrealistic Pollyanna views"...some people just have to get out of that Debbie downer rut they seem to be stuck in. Over a game.

Lack of people willing to put work and effort into creating RP for themselves as well as a larger group(s) of people. I'm not calling anyone out here, there is nothing wrong with not wanting to take initiative and enjoying the ride from the backseat... but SOMEONE has to take the driving wheel, and it can't be the DM's

I totally agree with this, Thids! The UD has had quite a few of these consecutively and it's been doing wonders. I myself have done one, and saw how much attention and fun it can be, and planning more soon!

[Ivan38Rus]

That's all fine and dandy but it's only fun when there is an audience willing or able to support your roleplay.

[TheKai]

That's all fine and dandy but it's only fun when there is an audience willing or able to support your roleplay.

Oh, it gets scarce in the UD. Sometimes I RP with a tumbleweed

[NegInfinity]

Promote RP, promote other player's RP and in time, it'll come back to you. If something doesn't go your way, brush it off and continue on.

In my experience (from the past year) getting any decent long-term plot (that relies on other people) moving is nearly impossible and requires amount of effort comparable to moving mountain everest alone. "Keep trying" is a nice attitude but if you kept trying for 2 months straight with no outcome, you'll just get fed up with that and abandon idea.

A year ago it was significantly easier to play character that logs on to fool around without specific goal than to play anyone that has some grand plan he/she tries to make happen. I doubt that this changed.

while it might make some people uncomfortable when others challenge the status quo by pointing out that the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes,

I believe that the thoughts and opinions that some people view as 'negativity' are often valid expressions of frustration based on individual experiences.

Pressuring or shaming people to not talk about their experiences unless they support the status quo is bad.

and trying to paint an unrealistic pollyanna view of the server isn't going to help anyone either

it will lead to players being confused, disappointed, frustrated, and afraid to talk about their experiences...

at the same time, flame wars and trolling won't help either

we need to find a way to encourage everyone to feel safe to voice their experiences and concerns

You might want to start another thread for that.

I'll be deeply amazed if that will work. Because I have never seen decent reaction to "negative feedback" on the internet. Normally people just perceive "critics" as their enemies, and then unite in the forum-wide shouting match to scream down whoever dared to "insult" their community, and either critic leaves or the moderators step in and shut down the thread.

You also already have plenty of feedback in suggestions thread.

[Nachti]

A year ago it was significantly easier to play character that logs on to fool around without specific goal than to play anyone that has some grand plan he/she tries to make happen.

I know someone who followed a personal grand plan over the last 3+ years and left because he could not change anything, sad thing.

[AlwaysSummer Day]

Get this game back on steam and the player base will come. After all we have probably only gained like 10 new players in the past 6 months and of those how many do you think stuck around? This is a niche game for a niche audience that requires a platform like Steam to be advertised to the 80% of the PC gaming market it has cornered.

[TheKai]

Get this game back on steam -snip-

Do you know if something like that can be done with a petition or anything?

Edit: I am really naive when it comes to these sort of things. NWN2 and specifically, BGTSCC server, is the only online game I've ever truly played.

[Ivan38Rus]

Yeah not really plausible, I've spoken privately to one of the upper management from WotC company. NWN2 distro is still on Steam (https://steamdb.info/app/2760/) but they have either no manpower or experience in directly handling digital products on that platform. Weird thing is: their parent company has people who have such experience but Hasbro won't take NWN2 under their wing for whatever reason.

Basically, NWN2 is a dormant asset for them and they have no intention of investing manpower to get it up and support it further.

[Snarfy]

... I just wish the server would get back to medium RPISH. I come to bg to relax, some times trying to get things going feels like... -snip- I personally feel its gotten to hardcore RP for the my tastes.

I'm not sure how long it's been since you logged on but the level of RP(on the surface at least) is hovering somewhere between non-existant and medium(at best) right now. If you're looking for something more low-key I'd say now is a good time to log on.

That's all fine and dandy but it's only fun when there is an audience willing or able to support your roleplay.

Oh, it gets scarce in the UD. Sometimes I RP with a tumbleweed

Really? Almost every time I've logged on in the past week or two at least half the players on the server seem to be playing UD toons.

[Jaden]

Personally i've been wanting to get back on, but, everytime I do I just have no real motivation. I get on see nobody I know, sit around the campfire for 15 minutes, only person who comes along will be some guy named "Bob Killalot" who walks up and says "Today we shall bathe in Lizard blood!" Then charge into the swamp. Maybe i'm not looking in the right venue, but, thus I haven't really found much interesting RP.