Tooting ALFA's Horn

[Veilan]

So, we are currently doing rather well. Some lazy LA has not yet compiled and publicised our latest player numbers, but the overall trend is encouraging.

That means... we certainly wouldn't be selling a cheap product if we tooted ALFA's horn overall a bit now. Advertising, however, works best if there are people helping who already have an "in" with where we want to be visible and present, or who have connections and can thus add credibility to the recommendations. There is also the more tedious aspect of maintaining various website listings, which is not sexy, but just might draw one or the other person here. We have gotten Admissions to track "How did you hear about ALFA?", so I'm fairly confident that we will manage to identify the most effective measures in due course and can focus our attention accordingly (so far, the trend seems to be "recommendation by a current member":D).

Sooo... - you guys obviously are current members . And perhaps you feel you might like to help out a little? Perhaps you still have friends from other projects, not necessarily NWN 2 ones? Any- and everyone you ask that might be interested in roleplaying, NWN 2 or DnD gaming is a possible new player to adventure / die to a goblin with!

If you're also interested in a more systematic approach, the PR team is definetely hiring - and you don't need much to qualify apart from a willingness to bring new people here.

Drop me a line if you wish to help out, it is certainly appreciated, and might just help increase your playing experience in the long run!

Cheers,

[Castano]

try searching eveonline for members.

The game is fairly complex, and there is an RP community there also.

[CloudDancing]

It's all about the Facebook baby! Post Alfa on your FB page and voila, reach a thousand people. If they post it on their pages..bam..ten thousand people reached.

Also Wizard of the Coast while promoting the MMO is going to try to push NWN2 under the rug because it is NOT making them any big money. But it represents a HUGE revival of interest in the brand name and the product. If you are in the beta forums, wizards forums, whatever forums, tag Alfa in your signature!

Put it on card! Make a presentation for 20 minutes and go and present it at a Con. The idea of a creative gaming commons which people can play D&D cooperatively with a very small investment is infectious. It also appeals to young and old gamers who do not have the belief that they want everything homogenized and presented to them.

Doing things yourself is a NOVEL concept these days VS the throw-away/buy a new one mentality.

In fact Popular Mechanics is a good forum to rage as well as Mensa (Mensan's love EVE.)

And I know i've said it before. What I lack is the ability to be everything for Alfa. I am learning the trade of a professional social networker right now myself. So far I get freebies for doing it but they are FINE freebies. I also DM, build, play two servers, and I go to the doctor a lot AND search for a mainstream online job that pays money.

So I want to help but I am just one woman! I need compensation or a bankroll.

[lakhena]

I think there needs to be some consideration given as to how to engage and retain your new players. I think ALFA is great for all the veterans, but I've been having a tough time getting my recruits to stay. Until something is done to better integrate the new folks, I have to hold off on recruiting more...

[Veilan]

I think there needs to be some consideration given as to how to engage and retain your new players. I think ALFA is great for all the veterans, but I've been having a tough time getting my recruits to stay. Until something is done to better integrate the new folks, I have to hold off on recruiting more...

This is a valid concern. I actually used to have a Staff Head of Retention - who used to meet and greet the people who joined up, and followed them up with questions how to help their experience here. His name was Rotku, and he since moved on to become PA - but I was under the assumption they were still taking care of retention? From my experience most people in game, be they player or DM, are really helpful for questions and with advice if you send them a tell, and the same goes for the boards - don't be shy to ask.

What exactly is it that keeps you and your friends from staying, lakhena? If you can give us some good advice, I'll see it gets implemented.

Cheers,

[Rotku]

Just had a big discussion with Regas about that very thing yesterday. Things are in the works on that front - I just had some less... fun things to tackle first.

[Veilan]

I just had some less... fun things to tackle first.

Tell me about it...

[oldgrayrogue]

I think there needs to be some consideration given as to how to engage and retain your new players. I think ALFA is great for all the veterans, but I've been having a tough time getting my recruits to stay. Until something is done to better integrate the new folks, I have to hold off on recruiting more...

What Voric was not enough for ya?

Seriously though, this does raise a very valid point. I have often thought that ALFA should work things a bit opposite to the way it works presently -- with early levels being easier and with more interesting things to do that do not present too difficult a challenge (to give new players a better and more rewarding initial experience) and then the challenge getting progressively harder, with more involved campaigns and quests, as you advance, with a real risk of death no matter what level you are. (which will result in more PC turnover and hence lead to new concepts getting started regularly). The slow and measured progression that is ALFA certainly promotes immersive roleplay, but it can also make you want to hold on to that PC that "makes it" to higher levels for dear life because you dread starting over (blech!). If there is no reason to dread starting over with a new concept, more people might be open to it and/or not get bummed if their veteran PC meets a tragic or heroic end.

From my very unscientific observations, some of this way of thinking seems to be making its way into ALFA recently, and I think it will be very good for player retention.

[Blindhamsterman]

we've actually had a few high levels die in recent times, so the risk for high levels is there... however about 90% of DMs actually opt to DM lower level groups so involved campaigns happen at low levels with high levels being dominated by... well, not a lot usually. Until you strike gold and manage to nab a DM for a month or two.

Low levels are actually pretty easy these days, there are a good number of statics on all servers now, DMs regularly run small to large sessions aimed at low to mid level PCs... tbh I'm not really sure what would make players more likely to stay... other than more players now.

[Burt]

Oh no...last time you talked me into tooting ALFAs horn I remembered what happened Veilan. Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on the national socialist party.

[lakhena]

What Voric was not enough for ya?

Seriously though, this does raise a very valid point. I have often thought that ALFA should work things a bit opposite to the way it works presently -- with early levels being easier and with more interesting things to do that do not present too difficult a challenge (to give new players a better and more rewarding initial experience) and then the challenge getting progressively harder, with more involved campaigns and quests, as you advance, with a real risk of death no matter what level you are. (which will result in more PC turnover and hence lead to new concepts getting started regularly). The slow and measured progression that is ALFA certainly promotes immersive roleplay, but it can also make you want to hold on to that PC that "makes it" to higher levels for dear life because you dread starting over (blech!). If there is no reason to dread starting over with a new concept, more people might be open to it and/or not get bummed if their veteran PC meets a tragic or heroic end.

From my very unscientific observations, some of this way of thinking seems to be making its way into ALFA recently, and I think it will be very good for player retention.

+1

Voric is the only consistent rp I get, which is sad, since he's visiting from BG! My pc is super squishy at level 2, so she's not walking out onto bandit and ogre infested roads alone. There's not much incentive for a low level to go do stuff alone unless he/she wants to have a very short career, which is okay, as I play this game for the social interaction. My main problem is finding people to play with and/or things to do when no one is around. Unfortunately, the people I recruited had the same problem, and they aren't as patient as I am...

Edit: Also, according to ith, I have a knack for missing all the DMs.

[ElCadaver]

Why doesn't someone (like I-PK for example) do an awesome ALFA poster, or a series of posters, so that people can DL them and print them out, and put them up in places where gaming nerds gather, such as gaming dens, laser sport lobbies and local megagamarama-cons?

EDIT [In english and whatever the rest of you all speak]

[Veilan]

Why doesn't someone (like I-PK for example) do an awesome ALFA poster, or a series of posters, so that people can DL them and print them out, and put them up in places where gaming nerds gather, such as gaming dens, laser sport lobbies and local megagamarama-cons?

EDIT [In english and whatever the rest of you all speak]

Love the idea, it's certainly ninja .

[paazin]

Indeed there's quite a good amount of low level content. And I'm surprised at the opinion of the opposite; if the server where you are is dull and uninteresting because of the lack of people, try one with more for a few days; you'll undoubtedly find people to tackle the content there.

[Ithildur]

I'm genuinely befuddled at Lakhena's current experience on TSM; I know last year there was a huge DM drought but that's not the case currently. There also are several players/PC's on TSM that I figured would be highly compatible with her toon (although mine's currently unavailable), but things just don't seem to have clicked.

I'm serious about the bad timing. Just last week I think there were DMs and players on tsm four, five nights and you weren't around for any of those nights.

Part of the problem is expectations; TSM currently isn't the server to log into expecting social interaction RP with lots of new and varied faces. It's a great place currently to log into and interact regularly with a small group of PCs plus a DM, more like a tabletop game.

In the end, checking out BG may be the best option; my guess is that currently it might suit you better one way or another. I know for me in ALFA1, I started out on BG which was a fine server, but things didn't really take off for me until I moved to SD.

Now, having said all that, I still think there are valid points raised by Lakhena, OGR, and others. What's the point of tooting a horn if new players come, check things out, and leave after a month or so? I've looked at the long list of people signing in (both new and old) in the introduction threads, and find myself wondering how many of them are still active or here at all. Surely they weren't all PGers looking to hit lvl 20 in a month and find +6 vorpal weapons and left because they were disappointed that wasn't the case? Us 'veterans' may love, or mostly love things as they are, but a healthy community continues to stay open to fresh ideas and attracts - and retains - a steady trickle (not necessarily a flood, especially given the already aging game) of new participants.