just out of curiousity...

[Zolrieg]

just out of curiousity... what do you look for as a PLAYER, in a server? there are a lot of different factors that contribute to a good server, but what do you like to see personally?

as for myself, I like good quest with non-linear storylines and side-quests to present yourself with something else besides the usual. the most important thing on any server though, that would have to be the community that is built upon by the players.

[iniquitus]

Server owners who act like a host instead of a dictator.

Well done quests that dont entail the normal "kill 2000 badies". They should be creative, and have a *small story line to them (overly complex storylines most often ruin gameplay) the quest should have some sort of order, e.g. you need item from quest a to do quest b, etc.. and there should be lots of HINTS, I hate seeing servers that hide quests away in stupid places with no way to know they exsist unless you search every level one by one. :grrr:

Places to hang out with other players.

Attractive, but not overly busy levels... I like seeing a normal pre-defined style house now and then-- they actualy look good because the tileset was designed to make them and I also like levels to go easy on grass tiles and such, sometimes levels get too distracting.

Friendly staff who enjoy helping people out

Players can get invloved and submit graphics and playerhouses made by themselfs (as long as they are not horrible)

Democratic server-- players vote on changes.

Origional Music (that sounds good)

Go easy on NPC's, I hate being lagged.

Oh, and one thing that makes or breaks any server, If i walk out of a door and I don't end up dirrectly outside that door (e.g. if i end up 10 tiles away, or off to the left or right) I give the server no second chance It's not that hard to pay attention to the details. *listens to bush -- little things (that kill)*

Be creative, have fun things to do. The real secret to a good server isn't the server at all-- it's the people there.

Urizen

[konidias]

Server owners aren't always "dictators" but you can't do everything by letting players vote. It would be anarchy. Everyone would vote for stupid stuff like "free hats and items!" or "our guild wants a 32 level guildhouse!!@#$"

As much as it looks like a dictatorship, you have to have someone RUN the server, and keep things in order.

[Jinx]

The Owner shouldn't be a dictator, but the server shouldn't be a complete democracy.

The owner should have the last and final decision on everything, but s/he should be completley open to other people's feelings and thoughts.

When I owned sanstrata(And I'll admit, I wasn't very good), when there was a large decision, I would ask the players what they thought. The poll results wouldn't decide what would happen, but it would play a role in my final decision.

-Jinx

[Zolrieg]

Originally posted by iniquitus

Oh, and one thing that makes or breaks any server, If i walk out of a door and I don't end up dirrectly outside that door (e.g. if i end up 10 tiles away, or off to the left or right) I give the server no second chance It's not that hard to pay attention to the details. *listens to bush -- little things (that kill)*

amen to that, brother.

on a side note, any and every players' ideals and interaction with staff and other players is very important to any server administer. it should really be any "dictator" or Project Leader's personal agenda to keep track of his player's wishes or submissions, I'd hate to neglect the players I had worked so hard to impress.