Only 1 ALFA server be online until such time that participation demands that more than 1 server be up to handle the volume.
Yes, I appreciate the gravity of what I am suggesting. A lot of people have put a lot of work into building and maintaining their respective servers, and don’t want to see all the effort tossed aside. Players have a favorite server and don’t want to lose access to it. People want variety. All very good reasons for keeping all the servers. So let me propose a compromise: rotate which server is online on a monthly basis. Here’s how it might work:
- • Each server will take turns being the featured server of the month.
• While offline for a period of 3 months, the HDM and his builders work together to build and plan for their month long event. They dream up a plot which will have something for lower and higher level characters which should take about a month to unfold and conclude.
• As their time to come online comes closer, they make announcements about the event, giving PC’s an in-character reason to be drawn to move to that part of Faerun.
• For a few days there is an overlap period where two servers are up to let players travel.
• Some players convert to DM’s and vice-versa, but for a period of 30 days, the entire community games on that one server, making the server much fuller and offering a broader range of times, levels, and opportunities for all.
• The event progresses throughout the month, perhaps changing as the players shape the events.
• Towards the end of the month, a culmination events brings the plot to a conclusion.
• After the players leave for the next server, the server is taken offline. The DM’s consider lasting effects from the event and incorporate them into the module. The planning for the next event begins anew.
- • All the players and DMs are concentrating in one area, making gaming and adventure more likely, and increasing the drawing and staying power of ALFA.
• The servers have built in down time, allowing for building and testing, and of course planning for the next big event.
• Players with 2 P.C.’s never need to feel torn between which to use at any one point.
• Players that DM don’t have to pick which to do.
• The built in breaks help reduce the stress on builders to build, and give DM’s time to plan, reducing burn out.
• Less traveling needed means less time walking through blank space to get to the adventure
• People could take breaks without missing action on their favorite server, reduce burnout and frustration.
• People could even plan their vacation time to include a couple of heavy ALFA weeks when their favorite server is up in the rotation. Imagine a DM and a group of players all scheduling a week long ALFA week of fun.