Server Future

[Azz]

Hi GM's

Just wanted to make a post as a slightly worried player (and someone who donates for that fact).

This isnt a cry thread or whatever so please dont take it as that, just concerned.

I am wondering if you could outline your plans for the players as i know alot are worried that chronicles is heading for a fall. I feel the lack of server support and even updates on the forum recently has led to the fall in active players, i myself have messaged you twice on the facebook page and on both times just been ignored, it may be a small issue to you guys but as a donating player i feel it should be dealt with.

The server is in desperate need of new content, (of course i am fully aware you have implemented the monk) new maps, mobs etc. The monk was a nice addition but far from what the server actually needed, i mean you now have 6 classes 4 of which use DC?

you have competition from an upcoming server (alot of player from different guilds are talking about it) and imo you dont seem bothered? icing on the cake was this easter weekend, no event? i think LCD did comment saying it snuck up on you, Seriously?? anything would of been nice i mean dbl mob spawns,even a 2000 GG bonus for all players but nothing, i do think this has had a massive effect on the player count on a bank holiday weekend where normally chronicles would be packed.

i know this is a hobby/part time job but lets not forget you make a very nice amount of pocket money of this server so just a little bit of customer service isnt much to ask for.

please dont flame, would like a response from GM.

Thanks,

ssgohan

 

[Phade]

Hi GM's

The server is in desperate need of new content, (of course i am fully aware you have implemented the monk) new maps, mobs etc. The monk was a nice addition but far from what the server actually needed, i mean you now have 6 classes 4 of which use DC?

ssgohan

Exactly my thoughts - it would be great to have an expansive response from Sam on this. I'm sure everyone who plays the server would be grateful to know what direction you're are looking to take the next couple of months if not sooner...

 

[CantTouchThis]

Totally agree with this post as a fellow concerned player. It's clear that there's very little dedication to the server at the moment and an honest response from sam would be good - not just the usual 'we've been busy/we've got lives', or the usual empty promises of things being worked on that never materialise. I know this is a 'hobby' to you guys but whichever way you look at it this is a business, and one that will fail if it's not given the attention it needs. People have put a lot of time and in some cases money into this server and don't want to see it all go to waste.

 

[Tyga]

+1 the lack of communication is probably the most frustrating thing imo

 

[SeumusB]

+1
Would be such a shame seeing this server fall to ruin, especially since iv only just come back to game lol!
Some rethink on current mobs/maps and their exp levels would perhaps sprite things up a bit?

/Seumus

 

[Samuel]

I will be honest... I have been actively avoiding the forums, a large amount of the community who use the forums are using it to moan, argue, put down and/or troll the team and other players and it takes its toll regardless of how thick skinned you are .

When genuine questions/concerns like this come up though, I try my best not to ignore them.

So, should you have concerns about Chronicles?
No, I said from the beginning that the server will stay up as long as players are willing to play.

What are we doing to keep players interested?
Our current plans look a little like this at the moment (no dates given, but in order of planned release):
- Monk Release 1.9.9 - including a couple of reboots for fixes (this actually went a lot better than expected (well done to Lilcooldoode) so the amount of time spent "fixing" issues has been reduced and allows us to move on to our next release).
- Road to 2.0 - Finishing off what was promised in 2.0, our next update is going to be a vault full of spells including ThousandSwords, FrozenSword, Traps etc, etc... As well as some fixes to some of the existing skills (DarkBody, SlashingBurst, Meteor/Bliz), AND the introduction of some new spells HealingField, QuickLoad, MassEntrapment etc.
- SabukWall 2.1 - Finally introducing SabukWall, we had some background issues with it that needed to be fixed and have been put off, but the plan is to introduce the first Sabuk Game (Headquarters) in 2.1.
- Hunting grounds 2.2 - We currently have 2 High level hunting grounds planned and half complete... I suspect we will have more than 2 by the time we reach this point as I will mostly be working on SW allowing LCD to work on monster AI's.
- Item patch 2.3 - Introducing a new set of items, including a new class armour (for all 6 classes) and a bunch of level 55/60+ kit.
- Gauntlet 2.4 - Introducing a new style of competitive game where players can randomly group up to kill onslaught of monsters and rank up points (more details will be released closer to the time).

What about getting new players?
I have recently been trying to finish off the original fixes/changes I made to the website, getting the new player guides finished etc... I am then going to be looking at advertising on forums/blogs of similar styled games to Mir to see if we can't interest other players from other games in Mir (there are tons of top down isometric games out there with large communities)... We have Facebook advertising, and I am using some analytical softwares (google analytics) to try and adjust keywords on the site to bring us higher up on google.

Any suggestions on advertising are welcome, I am not a marketeer unfortunately, so I try my best, but maybe I am missing something vital.

Anyways that is what we are looking at for the near future... We have almost an unlimited supply of Monster skins, Skill Graphics and ideas from the team, so you can rest assured that the server will continue to be worked on/stay up, even if responses on the forums become less and less... However, we do respond to almost every facebook message... We are using Facebook as our main route of support.

Sam

 

[SeumusB]

I will be honest... I have been actively avoiding the forums, a large amount of the community who use the forums are using it to moan, argue, put down and/or troll the team and other players and it takes its toll regardless of how thick skinned you are .

When genuine questions/concerns like this come up though, I try my best not to ignore them.

So, should you have concerns about Chronicles?
No, I said from the beginning that the server will stay up as long as players are willing to play.

What are we doing to keep players interested?
Our current plans look a little like this at the moment (no dates given, but in order of planned release):
- Monk Release 1.9.9 - including a couple of reboots for fixes (this actually went a lot better than expected (well done to Lilcooldoode) so the amount of time spent "fixing" issues has been reduced and allows us to move on to our next release).
- Road to 2.0 - Finishing off what was promised in 2.0, our next update is going to be a vault full of spells including ThousandSwords, FrozenSword, Traps etc, etc... As well as some fixes to some of the existing skills (DarkBody, SlashingBurst, Meteor/Bliz), AND the introduction of some new spells HealingField, QuickLoad, MassEntrapment etc.
- SabukWall 2.1 - Finally introducing SabukWall, we had some background issues with it that needed to be fixed and have been put off, but the plan is to introduce the first Sabuk Game (Headquarters) in 2.1.
- Hunting grounds 2.2 - We currently have 2 High level hunting grounds planned and half complete... I suspect we will have more than 2 by the time we reach this point as I will mostly be working on SW allowing LCD to work on monster AI's.
- Item patch 2.3 - Introducing a new set of items, including a new class armour (for all 6 classes) and a bunch of level 55/60+ kit.
- Gauntlet 2.4 - Introducing a new style of competitive game where players can randomly group up to kill onslaught of monsters and rank up points (more details will be released closer to the time).

What about getting new players?
I have recently been trying to finish off the original fixes/changes I made to the website, getting the new player guides finished etc... I am then going to be looking at advertising on forums/blogs of similar styled games to Mir to see if we can't interest other players from other games in Mir (there are tons of top down isometric games out there with large communities)... We have Facebook advertising, and I am using some analytical softwares (google analytics) to try and adjust keywords on the site to bring us higher up on google.

Any suggestions on advertising are welcome, I am not a marketeer unfortunately, so I try my best, but maybe I am missing something vital.

Anyways that is what we are looking at for the near future... We have almost an unlimited supply of Monster skins, Skill Graphics and ideas from the team, so you can rest assured that the server will continue to be worked on/stay up, even if responses on the forums become less and less... However, we do respond to almost every facebook message... We are using Facebook as our main route of support.

Sam

All sounds awesome, thank you!

 

[Tyga]

Thanks for the response Sam. I'm on the phone so can't quote, but with regards to the support on facebook.. Have you thought about setting up a dedicated ticketing system for support? I assume it would be a lot easier to keep track of, and eliminate the feeling of people being ignored.

It's good to see your working on bits and what's coming up - if it wasn't for this post we'd all have no idea!

 

[NewHope]

I know it's hard to listen to so much negativity, so kudos for still have any ounce of humanity left.

This is all players need, reassurance its not all for nothing and other things are coming.
Everything listed sounds awesome and will hopefully bring a lot of excitement back into the game.

 

[Samuel]

Thanks for the response Sam. I'm on the phone so can't quote, but with regards to the support on facebook.. Have you thought about setting up a dedicated ticketing system for support? I assume it would be a lot easier to keep track of, and eliminate the feeling of people being ignored.

It's good to see your working on bits and what's coming up - if it wasn't for this post we'd all have no idea!

We did originally have a support ticketing system but found it very quickly become over run with duplicates and stagnant issues... Ie a player would raise an issue, we would respond asking for more information and would never receive the additional information. Facebook has been working for a flow of communication.

Sam

 

[Lilcooldoode]

Speaking for myself and not for the rest of the guys - and im probably gonna sound like a dick but a part of me is happy theres lots of new small servers coming up because they remind us how good people do actually have it on here

 

[Tyga]

Ah, fair enough!

 

[Azz]

Sam,

Thanks for your response, it is nice to know that you do have plans in the pipeline, please dont take too long putting them in .

Do you have anything in mind for the server balance? i,e the 4 classes using DC ( i know you thought about changing archer to MC) I think 2 classes using 1 stat would help the server economy. i am aware i may get flamed by wizzes for saying this.

in regards to you plan route, mostly 2.2 hunting grounds, this is just a suggestion but any chance this can be brought forward or some changes made to current hunting grounds? the server is in desperate need. how about giving JT a overhaul, it is hunted for the boss but nothing else that i know off. change it so it would be the new hell make the mobs alot harder and massively increase the exp, give JD a mass hp/dmg increase so to actually get there would take a full grp if not 2 (pot use/dmg etc). then it could be used as a hunting ground if done correctly and a new high boss for guilds to go for.

Thanks,

ssgohan

 

[Woodiex3]

im in agreement the lack of any sort of event left me with lack of wanting to login

i know its probably your holidays to but surely your making enough to pay someone to spend a few hours to look after things or run an event of any sort.

i saw sam do a shout yesterday in game and did a reboot Friday. so you are around.


how long would it take to...

generate new item stats no new skins required.
increase yellow item drop rate.
alter drop files to actually add say gems/benis/stones/marbles/semi good items to the trash drop file. (ok at a low rate) drop files are to flat. not what mir is about.
add some sub bosses to the caves that don't have them hell use same skins aka old super guardians in zt.

it frustrates me you have the user count and surely paying customers to give them some more content >< were in desperate need.

 

[MiloFoxburr]

Ah, fair enough!

I still think a Ticketing system is the way we need to go in order to ensure people get responses quickly but we just need to be a little bit more creative about it rather than just throwing something up and it never being used properly either by players or ourselves. I did raise the suggestion that we tie it into the in game mail system but we'll have to see how feasible that might be

-edit- We also need to make sure it doesn't take away from working on content in game because lets be honest content is king and that needs to be our focus for the next few months

 

[Corbu]

So u dont think a cap on ping is not needed here ?????



And tks 4 your good work.

 

[Slipmatt]

This new server aint gunna be small. Its gunna be just as big if not eventually bigger than chronicles. I AM one of those players that lost interest and got insanely pissed off with a whole bunch of different things, tired of trying with this server and being disappointed. Bring back Ace!! -_-

 

[CitRix]

Can you not give any kind of timeline for these updates? You must know roughly by how complete they are and how much you still need to do on them?

I don't mean to sound ungrateful but at that rate you're putting out updates we're not gonna see 2.4 until next year..

 

[Deano87]

This is the nail in the coffin.

ThousandSwords, FrozenSword etc, have all been coded and working since Ace, Lcd has proven this by showcasing the spells in game.

BH has already confirmed the new Sabuk Headquarters is already finished and merely needs a current Sabuk Wall Holder.

Speaking for myself and not for the rest of the guys - and im probably gonna sound like a dick but a part of me is happy theres lots of new small servers coming up because they remind us how good people do actually have it on here

This has got to be a joke right? The lack of updates & communication, botched updates, drop errors, corrupt Gms, broken promises, and you cant even re-stat a weapon without messing it up.


This server is a sinking ship.

 

[rngongo]

This servers' not worth the bother.

From a beginner's perspective

pros: number count, map function, feels less glitchy and quite a bit of works gone into some of the quests.

cons: 14 months old, lacks incentives for the new player to join, no caves or bosses that drop anything remotely good. economy sucks, bout 5% have the best kits the rest are running around with junk. so if you're not part of a strong guild(they wont recruit you) or weren't around at the beginning(when there was less competition and bosses werent camped by lvl 50's) then you're pretty much ****ed.
guess the straw that broke the camels back was the lack of easter event. only takes 2-3 hours to implement one...and if they cant even do that for a player base of 150+ well... what can you say?