Snarfy wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:50 pm
...this will not turn into people bashing each other ...
*gets Snarfman in sights....*
Yo Snarf, I mean, if you run around advertising yourself as an RP elitist, then surely many Players—and maybe DMs as well(!)—will go out-of-their-way to avoid you, thus your experience of an lulled Server?!?!
I would like to offer you a suggestion, on this: just promote "deep" or "engaging" or "invested" Role-play and Character development, as your goals, and within a group of like-minded Players. Entice people
to you, Snarf. People are here on BGTSCC to have fun and gain a sense of community, not to have to "work for it" to satisfy Snarf or Steve or whomever...you feel me matey?!
That said—and since we've shared this Server for far too many years I think you can handle a little criticism Snarf Old Boy—in general, you are absolutely correct in observing that the Server has lulled. Definitely. No doubt about it. There are many obvious factors, which have been alluded to or simply hit directly on the damn nail head, by others posting before me.
There are many aspects to how the Server is setup/run/maintained, that are easy roads to "burn out," both for Players and DMs alike. And considering this is just a Game, when you edge onto one or more of those roads, it is easy to ask yourself "(do-me)?" and leave. Most times, unfortunately, it is asked too late, and by then the person has left some of their burn out on others, or the Server, which has a cascading effect of burn out, often bringing others along in the burn out, which isn't what the Server needs, this wildfire burn out catastrophe.
Okay, maybe a bit exaggerated. But not too far off.
First, ask yourself truly if this game, this platform, is the "right" one for what you are looking for. Meaning, if you are looking for a community table-top D&D adventure group, you are going to be hard pressed to a) find it on BGTSCC or b) deal with it on a slow, difficult platform tool (emoting and everything related to RP on this game is kinda big drag, if you ask me. Soooo much easier in person, around a table!).
Second, it's a game and you cannot ascribe too much meaning to what is experienced here. The more meaning you ascribeor place one's actions on a pedestal AND have expectations, the sooner you will find disappointment and disillusion. We all see or have seen the potential in our own RP and the stories we wish to tell/share, but often those stories are far more meaningful to ourselves and do not hold the same weight with others, and when we tug on others to "pay attention to me!" we feel hurt when someone looks at us trying and goes "Meh."
Additionally, it has been proven time and time and time again that Players can invest HOURS and ENERGY and CREATIVITY into their Role-play to any extreme, and still, that will have near zero effect on the game world, zero response from others, and zero tangible result for the individual. If that doesn't burn you out or make you quick in a seconds realization, than....
Third, you see it also happen time and again, Players make the investment in Server Campaigns, and then the Campaigns implode or are written off with very simple solutions, then either cannot regain speed or simple are archived or wiped under the rug, and it has very little effect going forward. Thus, it would appear that EVEN TRYING can get you hardly anywhere, in terms of IG motion or result. And this too can cause Players—who are also DMs...—to slide away into ANYTHING better than a wasting of time.
Should I go on? I probably could, but....
What do you do, then, right? Well, there are some really simple steps that can keep the game interesting, and keep you enjoying it enough that whether there truly exists a lull or not, you have reason to log on
and make it fun for others as well as yourself!
1. Stick to 1 or 1 + 1 Alt Characters, and keep them "living" so that the Server is more living because you are active in the World with regularity. If you yourself cannot carry on with storybuilding in a way that you and others can have regular contact, then why expect anything from anyone else, especially DMs?
2. Don't rely on DMs for assistance. Maybe for clarification and technical help, but otherwise, RP in the world that is without NPCs reacting and Devils dropping into the FAI for lunch. Even if that seems unchanging and static (to a majority of an extent) to you, it is the reality of the situation on BGTSCC. Then, if you are lucky, you'll actually get involved from time to time in something DM Event related, but simple take it in calm stride and remember it will soon end and you need to get back to your own reasons for RP and your Character.
3. Join or create a regular Group of Players during a consistently regular schedule, and pursue the Role-play there. This never fails to pay off, but you have to show some commitment yourself. Remember: you are doing it for your own enjoyment
AND that of others, so try not to disappoint them!
If ones habit is to just log on randomly and seek something meaningful within an hour before you need to RL sleep, 99% of the time you'll fail, and too much failure—though a judgement—will lead to burn out, and thus...what we may call a lull in the Server. Right?!?
Lastly, just to add this for perspective, some of the Big Dogs of the Server have pointed out that NWN2 is aging faster and faster, and also, so is it's community of Players. Real life, growing up, finding other pleasures, finding other games (traitors!!!
) contribute to the lower and lower population. And this is just a fact.
NWN2 and thus BGTSCC is barely functional as it is, because of design and technical aspects of the Engine. Especially as it is now 10+ years old! So where BGTSCC specifically shines in terms of a game experience, is what the Role-play and the Story Building possibilities are. If these 2 things are not fed and maintained and focused on from top to bottom, players and DMs, then there is no value in the game, really. It's then just an old game with a ton of nostalgia.
Players need to believe
and feel that they can manifest their Characters on BGTSCC, have an effect and make a difference/change in with their Characters existence. That keeps them going. If they do not get to this place, they don't come back. Well, except for those Players who just love the mechanics and want to play out every single build combination known to nerd.
DMs need to believe
and feel that what they are supporting is appreciated and welcome. That what story lines they craft have interest and acceptance, and that they aren't just online to fix build issues, give out rewards, and argue about what should or shouldn't be possible to RP. That keeps them going, to be enjoying their "work." If they do not get to this place, they don't come back. Unfortunately, and I do have to take a slight dig here, many DMs get themselves too deep into things that they cannot live up to, even with the best intentions, and a DMs burn out has far bigger consequences than as Players. Which is another way of my saying that the DM Team should "open up" more and work with Players more, so that a helpful trickle-down effect can take place, and the shared responsibility and enjoyment of making efforts to have a D&D RP experience, can more easily manifest (and be as stress free as possible!). Sounds good, right?!?
So, be the experience you want to have, yourself, on BGTSCC. Make for others what you need yourself, and you'll find your satisfaction in the doing not the reward (and your won't care a damn about a lull). However...you might care about the People who are absent and why and miss them, which just makes you actually a human being and not some troll! EDIT: I'm NOT specifically calling Snarfy a Troll, you trolls.
XD
