The future of the Varlyndria server.

[Drakiyth]

There are things I am not proud of lately or things in my life that have been very hard on me mentally. I want everyone to know that when I feel better I want to get this server in shape and that's starting with squashing that huge list of bugs as well as fixing the alt currency vanishing, some path fixes and giving players the freedom to get their merits back when they change paths so they can at least get their epic back they earned.

I want to remove any of the annoying parts of the server and get everything back on track.

Just an FYI: The varlyndria website was down because of a possible copyright infringement with some of the art I was using for the paths. I have removed all of that art in compliance with the owner's request and just made the path info text based so players can still see what the sub-classes do.

I appreciate all of your support. Thank you again. I'm going to get things straightened out in my life so I can function correctly with this server and treat you all the way you should be treated.

[Maze_EQ]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand............


burn out isn't just a pet spell.

[HeyJudd]

This really needed a new topic?

srsly~

[wolfwalkereci]

Originally Posted by HeyJudd

This really needed a new topic?

srsly~

Lol yeah no shit.

[Drakiyth]

BACK TO THE ROOTS...

VARLYNDRIA SERVER RECOVERY STEP 1: IMPORTANT DONATION SYSTEM CONVERSATION - CLICK HERE

This conversation is about the possible removal of all donator items/options and the
tier system while still leaving the option to donate because you actually like the server and want to see
it prosper. Overall, eliminating any bad reputation players think of Varlyndria being pay to win. Though, I
have tried for the longest time to balance things out by giving players the option to get donator items
with in-game platinum, heroic points and even treasure chests. But even after all that, I still got players
crying pay to win on a constant basis. I've been extremely and utterly fair with my system, but I understand
that many players don't believe it's good practices and I am coming to the point of agreeing with them.
I've added many different scenarios to this forum post so please by all means speak how you feel about it.
Also, if you're a current donator and feel it's fine as it is, speak your mind. This is a serious topic. Infact,
the most serious topic on emulator for how players perceive a server.

[Jahar_LoA]

On a serious note here Drak, you are blowing this way out of proportion. How long have you had your donation tier's up and running, since your previous Varlyndria project right? You have given them every several other ways to obtain the gear and yet they still say Pay to Win. I never heard P2W on your last project. I played on your server. I know. What's that tell you.

On a personal note, I have money to spend, and I have donated to many, many servers on EQEmu. I don't donate for the gear, I consider it a perk, however there are some who do not want to do the work it would take to get the gear without donating, even though the option is there.

If I were you, I wouldn't change a thing. I had even planned on have donations opened up on my project, where in any item you could donate for could also be obtained without donating. That in itself creates balance, no one person can be more overpowered than the next. Player A might have to spend a little longer achieving that item, whereas Player B might have it in seconds, however, if I were Player A, I would consider it an accomplishment. One where you could laugh at the players who pay for all the items when they could get them for free.

People have money, they will spend it however they want. You gave them a reward for donating, and they did, and will continue too.

I feel what is pushing people away is your drastic changes all the time. You went from having raid content to solo content and now group content. People don't know what to expect from you.

I truly feel that the problem is not with how you handle donations, but with how you are handling your project.

Best of luck bud.
Jahar


P.S.
On another note, I'm not too sure if this will make sense, I will give it another read when I wake up, been DEV'ing for about 15 hours straight now.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by Jahar_LoA

On a serious note here Drak, you are blowing this way out of proportion. How long have you had your donation tier's up and running, since your previous Varlyndria project right? You have given them every several other ways to obtain the gear and yet they still say Pay to Win. I never heard P2W on your last project. I played on your server. I know. What's that tell you.

On a personal note, I have money to spend, and I have donated to many, many servers on EQEmu. I don't donate for the gear, I consider it a perk, however there are some who do not want to do the work it would take to get the gear without donating, even though the option is there.

If I were you, I wouldn't change a thing. I had even planned on have donations opened up on my project, where in any item you could donate for could also be obtained without donating. That in itself creates balance, no one person can be more overpowered than the next. Player A might have to spend a little longer achieving that item, whereas Player B might have it in seconds, however, if I were Player A, I would consider it an accomplishment. One where you could laugh at the players who pay for all the items when they could get them for free.

People have money, they will spend it however they want. You gave them a reward for donating, and they did, and will continue too.

I feel what is pushing people away is your drastic changes all the time. You went from having raid content to solo content and now group content. People don't know what to expect from you.

I truly feel that the problem is not with how you handle donations, but with how you are handling your project.

Best of luck bud.
Jahar


P.S.
On another note, I'm not too sure if this will make sense, I will give it another read when I wake up, been DEV'ing for about 15 hours straight now.

Makes perfect sense what you're saying. Those are my other steps when I get into the game play topic. I'm going to go over a lot of things with the players and see how they feel on many subjects. I am tired of just making poor choices without feedback first to at least give me an idea on how it will be taken from the player base. One thing I feel should probably be looked at is the grind of the last zone or the gear score system in general to give players more freedom of exploration instead of keep them pigeon holed. I mainly did the gear score thing because as you know everything is level 70 on ascension so there needed to be some separation rules to a point so a player didn't just take their alt into the last place and gear them up like nothing. I was considering the flag system (eliminate certain boss, get certain item to enter zone etc). That could be an option instead of the Gear Score one.

Also the vanishing alt currency is rather disappointing and honestly I could just remove this stuff all together and make it into plat dumps. More things to spend your in-game money on is always good.

[Thorkinal]

I Think Jahar put it best, but in the end its your server, Maybe look at the people who are criticizing your server and ask whether they would be playing on your server with or without donation changes.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by Thorkinal

I Think Jahar put it best, but in the end its your server, Maybe look at the people who are criticizing your server and ask whether they would be playing on your server with or without donation changes.

I agree completely. Aye, going to be doing what I can to get as much feedback as possible from everybody and put the server back together piece by piece instead of all this sporadic and crazy change.

[Maze_EQ]

Moozilla
• Is having the bad publicity lifted and server balance fixed worth it?
This is a loaded question, I've seen far less complaints about this than other Problems, just ignore maze and secrets, their trolls anyway.

We are not!

[Secrets]

I may be a troll at times, Moozilla, but at least I contribute to EQEmulator.

[Drakiyth]

THE CORE MUST BE REPAIRED...

VARLYNDRIA SERVER RECOVERY STEP 2: What is making players leave? CLICK HERE

The only way to fix things is to talk about it. Tell me what you dislike about
Varlyndria and I will do my best to hear you out fully. The Fall of the Gods expansion has been
canceled as well. I want to focus 100% on fixing the core of the server before adding new content.
Each and everyone of your opinions matters to me. This server is not just about me but it's about
the players too and how you all feel about things. Get any friends who left the server to read this
message as well. I need you all to tell me everything that's on your mind and what you think could
make you enjoy Varlyndria more.

[HeyJudd]

While there are mixed opinions on donations, I think we can all agree that if people care about your server, they will go to your website.

You average 20 people online with a max 100, a very small minority of the active player base has tried your server yet you bring all of your drama here. I guess you don't see how unattractive that makes your server(with or without donations) because you keep doing it.

Valyndria should be removed from the preferred list.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by HeyJudd

While there are mixed opinions on donations, I think we can all agree that if people care about your server, they will go to your website.

You average 20 people online with a max 100, a very small minority of the active player base has tried your server yet you bring all of your drama here. I guess you don't see how unattractive that makes your server(with or without donations) because you keep doing it.

Valyndria should be removed from the preferred list.

Each of the 8 posts you have made is nothing but bashes to me personally. You have ZERO constructive feedback. You do nothing but wreak of spite and hatred. You're the epitome of what is referred to as a "Troll" and I will not listen to your rabble any longer. I am actually willing to bet your in-game name was Armageddon and Bardcore. The guy who bribed my GMs to pay you platinum so you wouldn't make lies up about the server. Also the guy who was warned over 4 times before I ended up banning him and his brother from Varlyndria for extreme rude behavior. Let's just say I've had enough of you and you're never getting under my skin again.

[Kingly_Krab]

Originally Posted by Drakiyth

Each of the 8 posts you have made is nothing but bashes to me personally. You have ZERO constructive feedback. You do nothing but wreak of spite and hatred. You're the epitome of what is referred to as a "Troll" and I will not listen to your rabble any longer. I am actually willing to bet your in-game name was Armageddon and Bardcore. The guy who bribed my GMs to pay you platinum so you wouldn't make lies up about the server. Also the guy who was warned over 4 times before I ended up banning him and his brother from Varlyndria for extreme rude behavior. Let's just say I've had enough of you and you're never getting under my skin again..

Hey man, it's constructive criticism in a rather brutal manner albeit, but constructive criticism, nevertheless. He's not a troll, he has posted on my executable, basically showing me I forgot to safeguard my program from de-compilation. He is helping in a rather honest manner, but, what he says is true, posting server drama on a forum is rather unattractive if that's the only time the person has ever heard of the server is through drama.