Honestly skyline, if It was me running the server, I would make changes that I knew were for the better. Changes that the majority were in favour of. Even if it seemed aparent that alot of people would quit. I would just do it personally. If they quit, they quit, but what you will most likely find is that most people will have a moan, claim they will quit, but end up staying anyway. Any change that is in favour of longevity, is a good change, regardless of the kids that piss and moan about them.
Other note worthy changes I would personally make, to improve the longevity of this server include:
Fresh wipe (because of the state the server is in atm, its the easiest solution)
I actually agree with this, a few of the high-end bosses that are able to be killed currently, is partly only possible because they're not working as intended, not to mention the ability for wizzies/taos to solo level mass killing bare mobs in a certain place using a method which doesn't exactly feel "legit" to me. And if the bosses etc are sorted now, it just leaves the players who didn't take advantage of broken mechanics at a disadvantage.
remove bound/greed stones.
Yeah why not, but I'd prefer it if they just removed greedstones completely, and made it so that boundstones break on every death (if they already don't? haven't used one in the 2 weeks I nolifed on the server) and don't take effect when you get PKed, only killed by mobs.
That way people would use them when the server feels laggy (bollocks to rewinding everytime someone loses their items due to lag, sorry carebears, shoulda stuck a boundstone on), or so they can have a go at EM without risking leaving their items in the KR if they die.
remove orbs/gems. slots should be the only form of upgrading items. (that plus refining.)
This doesn't bother me to be honest, no opinion here.
remove books from shops (except starting books)
Yeah why not, as long as the shops still work the way they do now, as in if I sell 1 of something to the shop, someone can then buy 1 of something at vendor price. I love that oldschool system.
reduce exp to 2x euromir
Definitely not.
I feel that the exp rate is something this server had spot on. It's not too slow, and not too fast. It's perfect as it appeals to both low-rate euro players, and also high-rate p.server players. Part of the reason people can level so fast past 42 is due to broken mechanics anyway in my opinion. If it was fixed up this wouldn't be possible. I like it as it now, where it kind of doesn't get as slow as "euro" speeds until the mid-40's. It's perfect IMO. The way the XP curves gives the more "casuals" a fighting chance against the hardcores and I really like it.
reduce drop rate of mid lvl items like dragonrings/greataxes/magestaffs/rubyrings etc. These were valuable in euromir, they should be valuable here.
Yeah, I completely agree this would definitely add more depth to the economy. Feels a little top-heavy atm.
reduce bene drop rate, so they only drop from main bosses.
Doesn't bother me, yeah they are a bit easy to come by and could be reduced, but not from main bosses only IMO as this means they're only accessible to those who can take down these bosses, bene's are currently a nice way for casuals who maybe aren't in guilds who camp bosses yet to get at some gold.
I also think SunPot drops should be heavily nerfed. We shouldn't be leaving them on the ****in' floor and having bags full of them and smashing through them all the time. SunPots should be harder to come by they're absolutely everywhere just left on the floor at the minute.
reduce success rate of benes back to how they were in euromir (no +7 luck bullshit)
Don't mind really, don't see a problem with the way it is now.
Bodyluck. If you're a pk'er, then you won't have much luck with bene's/refines etc. This is how I would have it.
I'd rather not have a secret little value effecting very important things in the game which I can't even see! If something is implemented where we can see our bodyluck as a value or something, then maybe. Otherwise, definitely not.
nerf Darkarmour. +200HP is op.
I don't really mind. Yeah it is a little OP but those who've earned the armor deserve it.
Those are just off the top of my head. There will be alot more that I would change.