how about you unlock your servers to the general public. You are locking a game that is dying slowly. Neverwinter nights is almost 5 years old, and yes the population is still amazing concidering how long its been around but your servers will never be fully populated if you continue to lock out the public. I realize that theres been alot of work in making your servers. 700 some odd mbs of haks is very impressive. But locking out the general public is not a way to promote an impressive server. it keeps people from being able to experience what you've all done with it.
I've been talking to several of my friends, some of which are members of this server. the major complains i hear are that most people are scared away before they ever get accepted.
Also i've seen many times theres more people on the application server then all of the live servers combined. i've heard you have 70 ish dms in Alfa but 70 dms with no population is rediculas. Use your DM staff to police the servers, with 70 dms you seriously don't need locks.
I've been a DM for over 3 years now, and in that time i've learned several things. One of these things are simple, its easier to use the boot then to use a lock. Locking it keeps out the people you don't want yes, but it also keeps the people you do want out. theres tons of excelent Rpers out there and of course theres lots of idiots as well. but lets face it Alfa Admin your servers are dying a slow and painful death. I've never once seen more then 15 people an any of your servers. now that is a shame considering many pathethc servers are thriveing.
UNLOCK YOUR DOORS ALFA STAFF! Or is all this work you put into your servers going to go to waste.
An elite rp server without rpers, now does that make any sence to anyone?
Its bad enough you have to download 50 tons of haks which will take forever anyways. And what of the people that don't have a lightning fast connection. are they not worthy of your servers..? It would take days to download all of the haks required to play, especially if they have dial up!
That alone will keep most people away. You don't need locks, trust me!
Akragon a.k.a Thorak Moorgar
proposal <<
"There is nothing new under the sun."
And your request is a mirror image of many many predicessors before you.
In the end ALFA doesn't care about member count as much as how much each member counts. Quality over quantity has ever been ALFA's way and those like myself wouldn't have it any other way.
So in short: It's not gonna happen.
And your request is a mirror image of many many predicessors before you.
In the end ALFA doesn't care about member count as much as how much each member counts. Quality over quantity has ever been ALFA's way and those like myself wouldn't have it any other way.
So in short: It's not gonna happen.
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Stormseeker
- Orc Champion
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I one am in favor of unlocking them before nwn2 is released. That way it does give the rest of the community a chance to taste alfa.
On the other hand i am a minority here in this view...some of these people have such a built up idea that all these others servers out there are just full of griefers,lewt speakers,etc...that they imagine a flood of these coming to alfa.
lol some have been here so long that they beleave they are the best rpers in the nwn community and that quality over quanity mentality is the only way to go.(even if quality is 1 person on the server)
Oh for people on dial up we have a network of people that will send you the haks.
On the other hand i am a minority here in this view...some of these people have such a built up idea that all these others servers out there are just full of griefers,lewt speakers,etc...that they imagine a flood of these coming to alfa.
lol some have been here so long that they beleave they are the best rpers in the nwn community and that quality over quanity mentality is the only way to go.(even if quality is 1 person on the server)
Oh for people on dial up we have a network of people that will send you the haks.
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Stormseeker
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just lucky about the quality over quanity. 
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Overfilled Cup
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I would recommend reading the NwN2 forums on density. We have come to a concensus regarding density which can be found there.
Luckily we do have an unlocked server. It is called the OAS and please invite your friends to come check what we are doing there. We would be glad to have them.
((hows that Amar?))
Luckily we do have an unlocked server. It is called the OAS and please invite your friends to come check what we are doing there. We would be glad to have them.
((hows that Amar?))
Hehe I know Im not the best RPer. I know many good RPers exist outside of ALFA. But as a retired OAS DM I also know that there are far more crappy grieving, metagaming, RP wannabes than credible players out there.
Really the OAS is not a hastle to go through. Any RPer worth their salt should get in within one or two DM sessions.
Really the OAS is not a hastle to go through. Any RPer worth their salt should get in within one or two DM sessions.
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Stormseeker
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Burnside7676
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I think that the OAS DMs actually do a pretty good job of getting the 'good' players in quickly and easily. I think it took about a day to get my password and a short three or four more for the haks to be mailed to me.
Granted, not everyone is up to the lofty standards that ALFA as a collective has established for itself, but there are plenty of opportunities for self improvement.
Granted, not everyone is up to the lofty standards that ALFA as a collective has established for itself, but there are plenty of opportunities for self improvement.
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Grand Fromage
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I can confirm, that even with big size hakpacks, that a load of PGers, Metagamers and Griefers tend to try and play your servers if you'd unlock them. I would agee with Grand Fromage in saying NO.
Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible cunt... me.
~The ALFAn Hazite.
~The ALFAn Hazite.
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dergon darkhelm
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Even if you did catch some excellent gamers and bring them into the ALFA community as longterm players, which you likely would, the downside is way too strong to ignore.
I've watched one griefer turn the OAS into total chaos for 12 players, requiring Aetherin to run into IRC, find two more DMs and pull them into the ruckus just to put out the fire.
On the other hand, I think we can use Akragon's request as a chance to look at a means to improve ALFA.
We could facilitate the application process better without lowering standards for the community.
The most obvious, just from reading the OAS new players forum, would be improved communication within the application. A forum (or at least a dedicated thread) to "application status" would. A prompt PM or post at the time of receipt of the application and a reasonable estimate of the amount of time for application review would help. ( I think 4 days is a not too overambitious target for application review.)
A means of applicants checking their status online without having to post to ask would also help. (I as a new player was quite conscious about being perceived as a PITA by repeatedly asking about my application).
The OAS DMing side of things I think has already been addressed, but it would still be nice to have a more formal record of such for the applicant.
I have had two RL friends abandon ALFA in the OAS phase. One said essentially " I played a few times with some DMs but I then I never heard anything". The other gave up after never hearing about his application.
Anyway, I know this turned a bit "rant-ish", but I just wanted to note while I disagree with the solution proposed by Akragon, it's theme does highlight a significant and real barrier to entry to ALFA . We as a community would be better served by addressing both the reality of his words and the perceptions of the outside gaming world.
edit: I would be happy to do something to help the applications team if needed btw.
I've watched one griefer turn the OAS into total chaos for 12 players, requiring Aetherin to run into IRC, find two more DMs and pull them into the ruckus just to put out the fire.
On the other hand, I think we can use Akragon's request as a chance to look at a means to improve ALFA.
We could facilitate the application process better without lowering standards for the community.
The most obvious, just from reading the OAS new players forum, would be improved communication within the application. A forum (or at least a dedicated thread) to "application status" would. A prompt PM or post at the time of receipt of the application and a reasonable estimate of the amount of time for application review would help. ( I think 4 days is a not too overambitious target for application review.)
A means of applicants checking their status online without having to post to ask would also help. (I as a new player was quite conscious about being perceived as a PITA by repeatedly asking about my application).
The OAS DMing side of things I think has already been addressed, but it would still be nice to have a more formal record of such for the applicant.
I have had two RL friends abandon ALFA in the OAS phase. One said essentially " I played a few times with some DMs but I then I never heard anything". The other gave up after never hearing about his application.
Anyway, I know this turned a bit "rant-ish", but I just wanted to note while I disagree with the solution proposed by Akragon, it's theme does highlight a significant and real barrier to entry to ALFA . We as a community would be better served by addressing both the reality of his words and the perceptions of the outside gaming world.
edit: I would be happy to do something to help the applications team if needed btw.
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NWN2: ??
gsid: merado_1
NWN2: ??
gsid: merado_1
FIrst off...im not a kid thank you. Obviously many one you are quick to judge without reading the title of the post. it said Proposal
second: dm client is very useful, not sure if that particulardm knows how to use it but if he/she can't handle a situation with 12 players, he/she would not be on my dm crew but this isn't my server.
third i didn't make this post for insults and "sniggering" whatever that might me is hardly necessary! I could post a bunch of insults but its not necessary either. some of you make it obvious why people run from your live servers but thats not for me to judge.
its great that Alfa members seem to think they are the best rpers in the community im all for eliteism but unfortunatly you are sorely mistaken.
i won't lower myself to the level of the mob or advertise for other servers because taking the very few people away from your servers would be just cruel.
i've spent some time in the oas server...and i have to admit it is fun for a bit. I was very impressed at how much DMs here possess the Npcs. One thing i Do love more then any server i've seen is the subdual widgit. who ever thought up that idea is brilliant and i will be recomending it to my comunity.
Also i do understand the quality not quantity ideal, and most times i'd definitly say it is the right way to go about things. But like i originally posted. Neverwinter nights is a dying game! The sequal is going to be comming out this year sometime, and if it is as good as the original this game will be obsolete and all the years of work thats been put into these servers will be....well im sure most of you can figure it out.
But you have NO PLAYERS! quality not quantity makes little sence when the dms for most of your servers are DMing Npcs. Perhaps on the life servers that might be a kick but i personally think i'd rather play the 1 player game then DM a playerless server, and i've never even got passed the first chapter in the bloody game. Obviously the online game is where its at!
now a server like arabel is full constantly and that server ( not the one found here ) is terrible. Once again im not here to pass judgements or insult this or any other server but it is truely a horrible server. But your servers with all 700mb of haks are empty. Maybe their empty because of a lack of people? Think its possible?
Rping is one of my personal favorite past times. And i have seen some talent on your Oas server i have to admit. But rping with one or no people is not fun. I've seen many times where theres only one or two people on a few of your servers and it stays like that almost all night. Those people are truely die hard and they are to be commended.
UNLOCK YOUR SERVERS ADMIN. Dms, use the power you've been given to keep the grievers/pgers/ metagamers/ etc etc etc out..!you can hand out timed bans, send them to RP limbo where another dm can teach people how to rp. I mean theres 70 of you.
i've said my piece. Please don't repost to insult me its not necessary. Im only tryng to help your servers. Its just sad that so much work has been put into servers with no population. i've seen the screen shots from some of them and they are amazing, why should such beauty sit at the bottem of the list 0/60 with all the servers with no chance to be great.
finally i do have one quick tip. When the rp comes down to dice rolls. DMs you must tell the player what the npc's roll is so the player knows how to react. asking a player to roll with no opposing number is not fair. If i rolled a 19 str and the npc overpowers me i need proof for the opposing roll. You can't just overpower someone without showing your Npc's roll.
love the NO NO NO NO NO thing Btw Grand fromage. subtle
second: dm client is very useful, not sure if that particulardm knows how to use it but if he/she can't handle a situation with 12 players, he/she would not be on my dm crew but this isn't my server.
third i didn't make this post for insults and "sniggering" whatever that might me is hardly necessary! I could post a bunch of insults but its not necessary either. some of you make it obvious why people run from your live servers but thats not for me to judge.
its great that Alfa members seem to think they are the best rpers in the community im all for eliteism but unfortunatly you are sorely mistaken.
i won't lower myself to the level of the mob or advertise for other servers because taking the very few people away from your servers would be just cruel.
i've spent some time in the oas server...and i have to admit it is fun for a bit. I was very impressed at how much DMs here possess the Npcs. One thing i Do love more then any server i've seen is the subdual widgit. who ever thought up that idea is brilliant and i will be recomending it to my comunity.
Also i do understand the quality not quantity ideal, and most times i'd definitly say it is the right way to go about things. But like i originally posted. Neverwinter nights is a dying game! The sequal is going to be comming out this year sometime, and if it is as good as the original this game will be obsolete and all the years of work thats been put into these servers will be....well im sure most of you can figure it out.
But you have NO PLAYERS! quality not quantity makes little sence when the dms for most of your servers are DMing Npcs. Perhaps on the life servers that might be a kick but i personally think i'd rather play the 1 player game then DM a playerless server, and i've never even got passed the first chapter in the bloody game. Obviously the online game is where its at!
now a server like arabel is full constantly and that server ( not the one found here ) is terrible. Once again im not here to pass judgements or insult this or any other server but it is truely a horrible server. But your servers with all 700mb of haks are empty. Maybe their empty because of a lack of people? Think its possible?
Rping is one of my personal favorite past times. And i have seen some talent on your Oas server i have to admit. But rping with one or no people is not fun. I've seen many times where theres only one or two people on a few of your servers and it stays like that almost all night. Those people are truely die hard and they are to be commended.
UNLOCK YOUR SERVERS ADMIN. Dms, use the power you've been given to keep the grievers/pgers/ metagamers/ etc etc etc out..!you can hand out timed bans, send them to RP limbo where another dm can teach people how to rp. I mean theres 70 of you.
i've said my piece. Please don't repost to insult me its not necessary. Im only tryng to help your servers. Its just sad that so much work has been put into servers with no population. i've seen the screen shots from some of them and they are amazing, why should such beauty sit at the bottem of the list 0/60 with all the servers with no chance to be great.
finally i do have one quick tip. When the rp comes down to dice rolls. DMs you must tell the player what the npc's roll is so the player knows how to react. asking a player to roll with no opposing number is not fair. If i rolled a 19 str and the npc overpowers me i need proof for the opposing roll. You can't just overpower someone without showing your Npc's roll.
love the NO NO NO NO NO thing Btw Grand fromage. subtle
RE: 'Kid' - Most of us are far too close to 40 - now we don't trust anyone under 30 ;)
RE: 'DM client' - it can handle 12 players, but if you've got one serious griefer with multiple GS IDs (and stolen keys), it's rather hard to figure it out before the griefer acts. Even then, you've got to wait until you understand he's a serious griefer before killing every new tank that logs in... which could also be an issue.
RE: 'proof of opposed rolls' - I usually take the DMs word for what happens in his world.
We've (most of not all of us) played on open servers. Some are rather decent, some - as you mention - are suboptimal. All of them, IMO, have a video game feel. It's not just the people that don't want to RP, but the aggregate effect of so many that don't know how. YMMV.
RE: 'DM client' - it can handle 12 players, but if you've got one serious griefer with multiple GS IDs (and stolen keys), it's rather hard to figure it out before the griefer acts. Even then, you've got to wait until you understand he's a serious griefer before killing every new tank that logs in... which could also be an issue.
RE: 'proof of opposed rolls' - I usually take the DMs word for what happens in his world.
We've (most of not all of us) played on open servers. Some are rather decent, some - as you mention - are suboptimal. All of them, IMO, have a video game feel. It's not just the people that don't want to RP, but the aggregate effect of so many that don't know how. YMMV.
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