Server population - Phoenix Freeshard

Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:37 AM by Chuba

On the Warhammer RoR Freeshard they used to have X2 events (XP & RPs) when population gets lower and this was very rare.
Maybe avoid the x2 RPs to further give high RR a RP boost but at least a X2 XP day/week end could bring a few back.
For the RPs maybe just a 0.5x bonus which is already a big buff...

Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:37 AM by grated

AI bots.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 12:11 PM by Sepplord

has there actually been a playerbase decline or have people just returned to "normal" gaming scedules after playing addict-style for the first weeks
i know the latter is true for me an all my friends

ofcourse a few have stopped, but there are also constantly new people coming (which is really great and i didn't expect to meat so many people that had never played daoc before)

I don't think x2 XP/RP days/Events are the right thing, as IF there really is a problem regarding population decline it surely has other reasons than "too few rewards"

Wed 3 Apr 2019 12:22 PM by Yokahu

1) Remove charges and buff pots
2) Add NPC that provides buffs (same as the barrel buffs) for free or small fee

Managing short duration charges/pots is a hassle; also having to farm to keep ur RvR going is a let down and pretty close to a part time job. In my opinion this discourages people from login in.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:25 PM by Sepplord

Yokahu wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 12:22 PM
1) Remove charges and buff pots
2) Add NPC that provides buffs (same as the barrel buffs) for free or small fee

Managing short duration charges/pots is a hassle; also having to farm to keep ur RvR going is a let down and pretty close to a part time job. In my opinion this discourages people from login in.

i prefer having buffs-in-a-bottle instead of having to visit explicit places to get them

LD in the middle of nowwhere? pots > buffnpc
get rezzed? pots > buffnpc
log out for the night and back in the next day? pots > buffnpc

I don't like to juggle charges, but the combined forces pot is very convenient

Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:30 PM by florin

dirtyblade wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:21 AM
Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

Everything is fine.

- Blue

Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:44 PM by florin

But being serious. The game feels completely different depending on the time you play. Naturally.

For example, if I work from home and log in at 1pm eastern. There are raids and zergs and hustle and bustle. People selling feathers.

Log in at 10pm eastern and its half the population and half of that is farming. People begging for feathers.

Yes, people have left as well for sure.

Interested to hear what the phoenix team thinks and their goal as well as their ideas for retention.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:02 PM by Amp_Phetamine

florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:44 PM
But being serious. The game feels completely different depending on the time you play. Naturally.

For example, if I work from home and log in at 1pm eastern. There are raids and zergs and hustle and bustle. People selling feathers.

Log in at 10pm eastern and its half the population and half of that is farming. People begging for feathers.

Yes, people have left as well for sure.

Interested to hear what the phoenix team thinks and their goal as well as their ideas for retention.

In my opinion it's multi-factorial. The initial binge-grind that ensued once the server was released has steadily fallen off. Some players have left due to personal dislikes/issues with the server, RL responsibilities, work, school, etc., which is normal. Others have reverted to a more balanced playing schedule after mass-farming/leveling/templating their toons. The Dev's have done an incredible job policing their server and banning exploiters/cheaters.

I think primarily this is the population mean that will be seen most of the time. I've noticed that generally throughout the work week the population ranges between 1000-1500+. On the weekends it's generally 2000-2500+ and Sunday usually sees the most population with close to 3000.

However, coming from Live in which you may find 100-300 players max at the height of prime time - I'll take the 1500-2500+ every single day with a smile on my face

Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:13 PM by florin

Amp_Phetamine wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:02 PM
florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:44 PM
But being serious. The game feels completely different depending on the time you play. Naturally.

For example, if I work from home and log in at 1pm eastern. There are raids and zergs and hustle and bustle. People selling feathers.

Log in at 10pm eastern and its half the population and half of that is farming. People begging for feathers.

Yes, people have left as well for sure.

Interested to hear what the phoenix team thinks and their goal as well as their ideas for retention.

In my opinion it's multi-factorial. The initial binge-grind that ensued once the server was released has steadily fallen off. Some players have left due to personal dislikes/issues with the server, RL responsibilities, work, school, etc., which is normal. Others have reverted to a more balanced playing schedule after mass-farming/leveling/templating their toons. The Dev's have done an incredible job policing their server and banning exploiters/cheaters.

I think primarily this is the population mean that will be seen most of the time. I've noticed that generally throughout the work week the population ranges between 1000-1500+. On the weekends it's generally 2000-2500+ and Sunday usually sees the most population with close to 3000.

However, coming from Live in which you may find 100-300 players max at the height of prime time - I'll take the 1500-2500+ every single day with a smile on my face

All good points - speaking for alb, what that means is that the in game economies will change. Already feathers are being hoarded, people are asking 4.5p when 3p was the established rate. Fewer people, fewer large raids, less supply and fewer people with kill credit on some mobs (think Summoner)

Rogs that were selling for 1p (50util) have asking prices for 2-3p, we see the inflation that is hurting new players since they are late comers and missed the initial euphoria binge.

Fewer and more expensive crafters as well - which for alb means more necros being rolled to farm through salvage (perfect economy breaking class)

Im hopeful darkspire will alleviate some of these challenges.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:18 PM by relvinian

Population seems ok to me.

No server ever maintains the population it has at start.

And warmer and nicer weather, we hope, encourages people to get their butts outside.

I think with the task system focusing people in areas, a stable population of 1-2k would be fine.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:24 PM by florin

relvinian wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:18 PM
Population seems ok to me.

No server ever maintains the population it has at start.

And warmer and nicer weather, we hope, encourages people to get their butts outside.

I think with the task system focusing people in areas, a stable population of 1-2k would be fine.

Yes - I've played when you are on (most of the day btw!) and it's great. Once you get into NA prime time - it's a huge drop off.

I have heard the summer weather reason for uthgards demise, unfortunately it never recovered.

Im liking the game, the staff and even some of the custom stuff and I sincerely want this to succeed and be around for more than 2 years since so many of us are investing/wasting so much time into it.

Wed 3 Apr 2019 4:48 PM by Yokahu

Sepplord wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:25 PM
Yokahu wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 12:22 PM
1) Remove charges and buff pots
2) Add NPC that provides buffs (same as the barrel buffs) for free or small fee

Managing short duration charges/pots is a hassle; also having to farm to keep ur RvR going is a let down and pretty close to a part time job. In my opinion this discourages people from login in.

i prefer having buffs-in-a-bottle instead of having to visit explicit places to get them

LD in the middle of nowwhere? pots > buffnpc
get rezzed? pots > buffnpc
log out for the night and back in the next day? pots > buffnpc

I don't like to juggle charges, but the combined forces pot is very convenient

I see your point, so maybe have both: buff barrel plus buffing NPC.

Players like you can just use the barrel if you LD or get rezzed, players like me will gladly release or suicide to visit the NPC again. Everyone’s happy!

Wed 3 Apr 2019 10:15 PM by Sepplord

Whats the benefit though? Or are you proposing the NPC buffs would last forever, like conce buffs?

Thu 4 Apr 2019 3:23 AM by Yokahu

Sepplord wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 10:15 PM
Whats the benefit though? Or are you proposing the NPC buffs would last forever, like conce buffs?

Last until you die or log

Thu 4 Apr 2019 3:35 AM by Leandrys

florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:13 PM
Already feathers are being hoarded, people are asking 4.5p when 3p was the established rate.

4.5 p for what ? 20 or 10 k ?

Tell me 20K feathers please, i'll laugh, wanna enjoy these 8/9P on hib side for 20K ?

Fri 5 Apr 2019 11:31 AM by florin

Leandrys wrote: ↑
Thu 4 Apr 2019 3:35 AM
florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:13 PM
Already feathers are being hoarded, people are asking 4.5p when 3p was the established rate.

4.5 p for what ? 20 or 10 k ?

Tell me 20K feathers please, i'll laugh, wanna enjoy these 8/9P on hib side for 20K ?

Ah your animists are necroing up the economy too!

Fri 5 Apr 2019 12:43 PM by Bradekes

Sepplord wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 1:25 PM
i prefer having buffs-in-a-bottle instead of having to visit explicit places to get them

There's a simple way to just add inifinte buff charges to the hearth stone with a level requirement and cooldown I'd be okay with

Fri 5 Apr 2019 2:41 PM by chryso

I would prefer no buff pots or charges.
These are an indirect nerf to friars, thanes, champions, hunters and rangers as well as any other self buffing classes that I missed.

Fri 5 Apr 2019 2:51 PM by relvinian

florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:24 PM
relvinian wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:18 PM
Population seems ok to me.

No server ever maintains the population it has at start.

And warmer and nicer weather, we hope, encourages people to get their butts outside.

I think with the task system focusing people in areas, a stable population of 1-2k would be fine.

Yes - I've played when you are on (most of the day btw!) and it's great. Once you get into NA prime time - it's a huge drop off.

I have heard the summer weather reason for uthgards demise, unfortunately it never recovered.

Im liking the game, the staff and even some of the custom stuff and I sincerely want this to succeed and be around for more than 2 years since so many of us are investing/wasting so much time into it.

I do play way too much. A lot of my time i run out and dump ras and then sit somewhere afk .

So i may be on all day but i don't play all day, all day.

Fri 5 Apr 2019 7:12 PM by dbeattie71

Leandrys wrote: ↑
Thu 4 Apr 2019 3:35 AM
florin wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 2:13 PM
Already feathers are being hoarded, people are asking 4.5p when 3p was the established rate.

4.5 p for what ? 20 or 10 k ?

Tell me 20K feathers please, i'll laugh, wanna enjoy these 8/9P on hib side for 20K ?

I paid 8P for 20 Leigon.

Sat 6 Apr 2019 4:29 AM by worldknown

dirtyblade wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:21 AM
Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

they nerfed damage shield , thats going to fix it...

jk the nerf is real but that will only hurt it.

why slow down leveling on phoenix

Sat 6 Apr 2019 8:12 PM by jhaerik

worldknown wrote: ↑
Sat 6 Apr 2019 4:29 AM
dirtyblade wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:21 AM
Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

they nerfed damage shield , thats going to fix it...

jk the nerf is real but that will only hurt it.

why slow down leveling on phoenix

They don't want people being able to finish their Live-Like Dragon Campaign dungeon with anything but a boring tank group.

Why? Who knows. To me it seems like another case of dev/player-base disconnect. Where the devs want to keep making things that the players hate simple because they want to see if they can do it. Pretty much what happened with ToA. The worst part is there isn't even something to rein them in like lowering sub numbers because it's a free server. So anytime you disagree the white knight squad shows up to exclaim "it's free just enjoy it."

The server was fine when it launched. Stop fixing it to death.

Sun 7 Apr 2019 1:36 AM by worldknown

1500 people on Saturday prime time.

And someone wants to argue the damage shield nerf was insignificant....lol. This is half what it was two weeks ago.

Sun 7 Apr 2019 3:55 AM by AngelRose

I came to play an archer, but it is so gimped compared to the sins, I doubt I will be playing much longer. It is just too unbalanced. Kind of sticking around in hopes there will be a change. But...enthusiasm is def waning

Sun 7 Apr 2019 5:32 AM by Dariussdars

dirtyblade wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:21 AM
Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

One suggestion is you and your stealth zerg buddies stop jumping solos 24/7 in the frontier?

Sun 7 Apr 2019 11:33 AM by Amorphium

oh man, apart from stealthers crying in every thread now there's the focus group people as well? Focus group pulling and strong stealthers are some of the worst thing for the game, prove me wrong

Sun 7 Apr 2019 2:34 PM by dbeattie71

AngelRose wrote: ↑
Sun 7 Apr 2019 3:55 AM
I came to play an archer, but it is so gimped compared to the sins, I doubt I will be playing much longer. It is just too unbalanced. Kind of sticking around in hopes there will be a change. But...enthusiasm is def waning

Must be a Scout or Hunter because Ranger is a sin killer.

Sun 7 Apr 2019 3:43 PM by Bradekes

Amorphium wrote: ↑
Sun 7 Apr 2019 11:33 AM
oh man, apart from stealthers crying in every thread now there's the focus group people as well? Focus group pulling and strong stealthers are some of the worst thing for the game, prove me wrong

I'm not sure how focus pullers are bad for the game... People are already accustomed to leveling in that manner so changing it now is a really bad move for server population... If they wanted to make their new dungeons or PvE better for the rest of the populace they should of done something to increase the other classes effectiveness in PvE not start tearing apart the classes that are actually built for PvE

Sun 7 Apr 2019 4:02 PM by dirtyblade

Dariussdars wrote: ↑
Sun 7 Apr 2019 5:32 AM
dirtyblade wrote: ↑
Wed 3 Apr 2019 11:21 AM
Server still seems quite busy.

However, there has been a decline on player base.

Whats the plans to stop further plyer base decline?

One suggestion is you and your stealth zerg buddies stop jumping solos 24/7 in the frontier?

Yep because you seen me in stealth groups... phixion can vouch for me...

Also no other realm has stealth groups? Solo scene was back and nobody cares. I use to solo and had over 7k solo kills so i know how it works very well.

Yep i run mostly on my own and constantly up against 2+ with fgs running from clip range to get the holy realm point. I add on everything now i dont care. You should try playing the other realms so you can ser what its like the other way round.

Mon 8 Apr 2019 2:49 AM by dansari

The late afternoon/early evening east coast time is always going to be better in a game like this... EU has it the best, west coast NA the worst, in regard to numbers playing.