[Trumpcard]

You asked for my input... So, here it is...

What do you need to support a stable, legit server?

1) Bandwidth - a cable modem/adsl line for a really good game world probably just isnt going to cut it.. You can probably handle 20 users at a time, but above that and Im guessing you'll start to swamp. Downstream on cable is fine, its the upstream thats the problem. Find someone with a T3.

2)Machines. - I can run 10-20 zones with minimal problems on a linux server with 1gig of RAM, so I dont think you need 1 zone per computer as I've heard people suggest. 1 computer per continenent more like, and you probably will want all those zones to be static, not dynamic, so you dont lose zone states (there is functionality to hold zone states, Im just not sure how functional it is) . Alternately, run a machine or a few machines with 30 zones set dynamiclly, forget about zone status (people would exploit this to get rare mobs and such to repop), and hope you never have more than 30 people in 30 seperate zones. As a player, accept the limititation. Sometimes you'll just have to wait to get to the zone you want to go to.

3)Content - You need people to create content. There are a million quests in EQ live, most have been collected, but there is no tool to convert them into a NPCID.qst file format thats usable by the emulator. Create a converter and/or start creating custom content.

4)Balancing - Can you start as a lvl 1 and level to 20 naturally from Qeynos, from LesserFey, from Nekulos, from Halas? If not, you need to tweak the mobs, or alter the attack code. You need to ensure you've balanced the game for someone wanting to play. You need testers to do this. Write down the issues you find and submit. Some of the things we'll be able to help you with from a code standpoint, some are going to just be problems with your database.

5)Support - You're going to need GM's, testers, admins,etc.


As a start, I would think about the game from a low end standpoint. Start out a new character at lvl 1 and think about what he needs to progress. See if they are supported (different classes to, special attacks that need to be implemented, skills, etc). If they're not supported yet, put in a request so one of us can look at it, or if you're code saavy, do it yourself and post it so we can add it into the code. Start playing as a newbie character. Take a day to flesh out 1 zone as a starter zone, put in newbie quests, ways for the characters to initially get skills (skill trainers need work, just hasnt been on the high priority list).

Above all, organize and communicate. Keep checklists, post things you think we need to work on, correct things that you can yourself. Make it a team effort. If you post a request to look at some piece of the code (say you want to see 'flying kick' activated and its not currently working), throw a post up, I'll be happy to look at it. Hopefully the development team will continue to expand and we'll have more people that can look at more code issues.

Getting the people together and organized is a big piece of the battle.
Make a plan, and work through it..

Thats my 2cp worth !