usually i dont get into conversations like this but this time i just might. something like this if modified correctly may be a nice little change as long as it isnt too out of hand. something else that would possibly help as well would be adding /ps setting for server wide chat. for example new players even if in the wild can talk to players in town (lets face it even for those of us that have been around for a while still have issues with getting the different chats down) then in place of that chat function supporters have the capability to chat to others on the other smps. so it would be win win new players wouldnt have to hassle with scrambling to /msg someone or go into group chat (right away at least until they learn them fully) they can ask for help just by typing regularly like we would in town and they wouldnt feel so alone. ive even seen it a few times where everyone on a server was not in town they were out mining or at their outpost so then there was noone to chat to which would force someone to have to /msg a player just to get some information and if they were afk it would have to be repeated or they would just up and quit due to how much work was required just to ask how to get back. ik this really isnt a suggestion thread but these are just a few ideas that i think would be a great start relating to the thread. and as far as the ps setting it would be toggleable for those that dont want to see chat that is in town while they are out in the wild.
I fully agree with this post. Maybe also make different tree/flower types (and maybe vines and ferns) across the res at different densities, according to the biome. If it was desert, mesa, beach, or ocean, it would have scattered oak trees and tall grass, poppies, and dandelions. Another good idea would be a 2x2 water pond with a stream leading to lava, for a cobble gen and infinite water source. I also agree that this should only apply to a player's first res, and not extra, new, or force-claimed reses.
It appears that EMC isn't the only one to fall foul of player retention rates. http://www.planetminecraft.com/forums/ressurect-minecraft-t578405.html There are a number of things that happened in the last 2 years. 1.8 and 1.9 took a very long time to come out and it was during that period that Minecraft dived. We saw it here on EMC and thought it was EMC, its more likely it was just Minecraft. A lot of pvpers and a few survivalists really weren't happy with the combat update. Sure some good new stuff has been added but it's starting to feel like the beta test is nearly done. PocketMC and Windows 10 Minecraft seem to be the focus and Java Minecraft is dying from malnutrition. In the other thread someone mentioned it was all new and exciting early on and they kept adding things, which is great! Someone mentioned they kept adding things and messed it up, which isn't great So some people like the constant change and others don't. But more might have liked the changes if they had been the right changes. Early on, when it was all new, there were only creative or survival players. Now there are pvpers, minigamers, tntwars engineers, redstoners, hungergamers, towny-builders, economists, vanilla survivalists, ultrahardcore nuts, megamodders and pixelfreaks plus who knows what else. The minecraft community (not just emc community) has changed and diversified. Really new players may only continue playing minecraft if they find the server that matches their needs whereas earlier on there wasn't as much choice. So the question is, how do we get enough types wanting to come to EMC and stay? The survivalists hate seeing what we give them now. But then we have a lot of builders who have no interest in survival and would prefer a safe res to mine than dealing with mobs. But then most of those would prefer creative. The question is, what are those people looking for and why after reading the description are they not hanging around? I don't think "give them more" is a solution unless we truly know what the problem is. So can we ask them in the tutorial what server they want? Can we take the easter eggs and starter gear away when they say they want pure survival? TP them 5 million blocks into the distance and let them be? Stick them in a town with creative and remove the economy when they want to build-only? For me what this comes down to is simple. People join a server to be with other people. Otherwise they would stay in singleplayer. If no one talks to them then they won't stay long. I left the first 2 servers I tried because I didn't speak to or hear one person. So what is it we really need to fix if the advertising gets them in the door?
I think this is a great analysis and agree. But the perspective I'm considering it from and think we need to consider it from is the large amount of new players that spend the time to go through the tutorial for whatever reason and within minutes of being dropped on their res disconnect to never be seen again. Obviously they were interested in joining a server or they wouldn't have come to EMC. Obviously they were interested in what EMC has or they wouldn't have gone all the way through the tutorial. What happens within just a few minutes after being dropped on their res to make them want to leave and what can we do at that specific point to make them want to give EMC more of a chance. I have played a lot of servers and think the way EMC is setup makes it the best. I understand not everyone is going to agree but I do think a lot of the players that disconnect at that res point would end up enjoying it if they could just get over that hump.
Yep, that's my point. We don't know what is sending them away. I didn't say it outright but the welcome from other people (or lack thereof) might be all it is. Sure it could be they want more freebies to start but where does that stop? It would be nice to ask them in the tutorial and maybe set it up completely differently. 1st Question: Do you prefer survival, building or minigames? 3 tp's to step through with the mingames one sending them to a deep pit of despair, errr, /games! Maybe we should be scoring them on how long they are in the tutorial, how they respond to questions like "do you want to be a part of the economy" and then if the score is low we tell them "Thanks for visiting EMC but we're not sure you'll like our server. If you really want to try us out then come on in and talk to our friendly locals but maybe you should look elsewhere?" Now that would take ... courage.
I have helped countless players, new, veterans, and in between! I see this issue a lot. You know what so what if it is considered helping a 'begger'. We are all human beings behind the screen. I agree God_of_Gods we need to do something and quick. If we don't well there is no need for further explanation. As far as, making it to easy? How is having a few ores, some trees, and grass making it to easy? I think it's a fabulous idea! I built a public tree farm to help newer players. But nobody ever tells anyone where to go for public utilities. Instead I see shop referrals right of the bat. They are new they aren't going to have many rupees to spend. So why not say, this is here and that is there and this is how you get there? I think there are a lot of contributing factors as to why they do not stay. I believe in support from your community. And you can suggest to them what to do to get the materials. I don't mind helping them out at first, but after that I say well hey I am going to the wastelands anyways why don't you come along? That also encourages them to gather their own materials. But also and I saw it not to long ago, can't remember which server, but someone was out exploring town, and they happened upon another player, and seriously were told GET OFF MY RES NOW! Why? They can't bother your stuff nor grief it. I was literally at a loss for words......We need to be kind, and understanding. Most people play on a server why? Because they want the interaction with other players. Also, especially on my server, it will be packed full AND NOT ONE PERSON WILL OFFER HELP. And I am talking with simple things, like whats the command for changing your res biome? Nobody peeps. But then a few minutes later, oh look at this you guys or this and this. I have seen it so many times I want to rip my hair out lol. I always try to help and explain things when I can and you can bet, if I don't know I will find out and let you know ASAP. I think this would help a lot too. But I know we all have to WORK together in order to make not only our server but our COMMUNITY better. Peace, <3, & Kindness, Skitz SMP6
This leads us back to the ability to chat in town regardless of supportership. I'm often in the wild and I'm sure many times someone might have been trying to talk to me and I can't hear it. Same goes for new people. They head out to the wild, not familiar with it yet, get lost and now what? You can't ask for help because you can't talk in town.
I really don't think the ability to gather some resources on your initial 60 x 60 res in the exact same way you would in the waste is giving them freebies. They would still have to bring down trees and mine. Someone made reference that they wouldn't be attacked by mobs so that was making it too easy for them. Well, if they went out to the waste during the day mobs won't spawn either. I really don't feel this is giving away the game to new players. Just something to get them involved and performing a game task at least for a little while.
TheBoracle But then we have a lot of builders who have no interest in survival and would prefer a safe res to mine than dealing with mobs. But then most of those would prefer creative. not aiming as an arguement but as a fellow builder myself i prefer to go out gather materials/lvl land/light everything up and then build rather than creative. whole reason behind that and being of my own personal opinion is because there is more work put into it yes but it takes more time which is what id rather do and doesnt get boring fast like creative building does (then once halfway done survival building something else pops into mind then you switch direction for a while till it is realized that something else was being worked on first) . Sgt_Pepper4 I love the smp chat for supporters idea. If it's possible. I have no idea. it is completely doable (watch me be wrong XD) but it is something that would end up being done (if it were to be done of course) later on or in between things as a minor update.
Do you mean SMP chat for all players or supporters being able to chat to different SMPs? If you mean an SMP chat for supporters only, there already is one - /chat supporter (or /c s for short). EDIT: To clarify, by SMP chat I meant on just one SMP.
just chatting across smps. if you look at a previous post i made on this thread i went into a little more detail as well to explain better.
I see three important points here: EMC has to adapt to changes and has to serve both the existing community and new players better. This most probably means taking some compromises. We, old members, also have to adapt, to change how we play and interact. We need to welcome and accept new challenges where we won't have that much advantage over new players. Like new games within the old game. It is important to analyze what kind of new players come to EMC and to understand their needs. Perhaps each of several kinds of potential new members who would stay needs a bit different approach. It gets more complicated, but so is life, that's natural. While we can't (and won't) change the game of Minecraft itself a lot, we need to improve and develop what we do around the game. You see the boost that the game gets from the shop system, auctions, economy, forum, events. That needs serious development. A living and developing community connected through the game and services around the game is more and more the interesting part. Allow people to play many new different roles in the community. That would make EMC really interesting and more independent. The easiest way to achieve that, I think, is if EMC as business improves and develops its symbiosis with the community for mutual benefit. That means encouraging and supporting the development of the community instead of restricting it as it was the case in the past. What is needed is explicit commitment to go this way. If EMC just continues the business as usual, what I see for it is a more and more shrinking market niche.
