Runlvlzero's tips to increasing server population.

[runlvlzero]

Don't expect everyone to solo.
Don't kill noobs soloing.
If you see someone soloing and they aren't pimped in 5 different clickies and 200mr. Give them a helping hand.
Run pug groups.
Accept non optimal duos, exp locations, and groups.
Defend them from PKs.

PvP with people who don't stand a chance against you. Don't PK them. Buff them up with sow, chloro, and thorns, to kill MrBigs.

No you don't have to PL people.

Or farm gear.

Or even interact with them.

But if you 80% of the population dedicates 90% of their play time to just getting the next YT and fucking over everyone or soloing with their 9th set of twink gear.

You alienate every new player that shows up.

The only reason this box gets a +1 to pop is someone rolls a solo class and sucks it up to 60 without interacting with the community (what the fuck kind of way to play an MMO is this? GO FUCKING PLAY WOW, or PROGRESS QUEST)

Or they get lucky and can partner with other newbs.

This server doesn't have enough new people joining to feed the ranks and keep people leveling/getting gear to even have a chance post 50.

Yeah I'm pissed off. There are a bunch of losers here that deserve a bullet straight between the eyes.

[Greegon]

build a crew man you can do it!

[Smedy]

top g ***** aka topdog has been saving smaller pixels and delivering them around the worlds to newbs, it ain't much but it's better then griefing them off the box u feelers me?

[Derubael]

I approve this message. Red needs much more than just +1 pop.

[Smedy]

http://i.imgur.com/7MajfK1.jpg
feelsgoodman.jpg

[Fawqueue]

Basically what you've described are the benefits of a teams server. Where you'll have some folks to group and interact with positively because they couldn't get YT from you if they wanted to.

So what this man is saying is bring out teams99 already.

[SamwiseRed]

when filthed still had integrity

http://i.imgur.com/urT8s3s.jpg

[Bazia]

Jeez like your 3rd thread today about being "griefed" (AKA pvp'd without /duel command)

Shut up or go to blue if you can't handle it.

If a noob cant make it now when you can solo to 50 in 2 weeks with insane exp bonus it really just wasn't meant to be.

[Rellapse35]

I approve this message. Red needs much more than just +1 pop.

[runlvlzero]

Thanks you guys rock and carry the entire box :D

[Agatha]

lot of new players coming over, help them out instead of being assholes.

[Hail]

lot of new players coming over, help them out instead of being assholes.

It's funny how many people claim on the forums that they'll give help to new players but how few actually come through on those offers in-game.

Shoutout to Freez though, he's a great person and been very kind to me ever since I started up on this server, his guild is lucky to have him imho. :cool:

[freez]

<3

[Cid]

There are always lots of new players on Red, but it is really rough on them starting out. A couple pieces of gear, some buffs and maybe some pp for spells will go a long way towards keeping a person interested.
A few hundred pp of gear is nothing to most of us but could give a newbie a fighting chance. It's less real than fucking Monopoly money and calling others a jew does not actually count as an act of charity.

Also, don't try to squeeze every last pp out of newbies for spell components. I do my best to help the necros and mages their spells and I do it for free. You don't have to give things away, I'm just weird like that, but please, the real newbies could use a hand.

The turnover rate is shitty, I know better than anyone. I've given out countless thousands of pp in gear, spells and coins and maybe 20% stick around if you are incredibly lucky and 10% or less on average. It can be downright depressing at times.
The few that do stick around, though, they will never forget you. (I suck with names, if I forget you I apologize.)

Helping people is extremely gratifying if done for the right reasons.

[pharmakos]

the Argent Defender that was given to my Pally by some Nihilum folks increased my immersion levels by like 20x

it doesn't take much

[Fame]

It's funny how many people claim on the forums that they'll give help to new players but how few actually come through on those offers in-game.

Shoutout to Freez though, he's a great person and been very kind to me ever since I started up on this server, his guild is lucky to have him imho. :cool:

Most of em just disappear a few days after you give them stuff for free (actually costs you money) I've never added up all the shit I gave out but it has to be around ~10k at least, I think maybe 10% have stuck with it, the others just quit and let my pixels rot.

I've started holding out till 30ish but by then most of you already have the gear you need.

[Hail]

I love this server so far and I can't wait to participate in pvp, but the post above me makes very good points.

A little bit of plat and a few items does go a LONG way. Everyone should remember what it was like starting out with zero money, a rusty weapon and some cloth armor. It's downright painful and discouraging. On a server that is already established and has been running for awhile now, there's no reason not to help new players out a bit. It promotes population growth which in turn gives you more people to group with, raid with and pvp with (or against).

It's obvious there is no real economy here on Red99. There is no open market such as EC tunnel and because of that it's very unlikely that new players find low end budget gear to buy. I know that people must have banks full of low to mid level gear. Got a Green Silken Drape in your bank that has been rotting away for 4 months now because you "might" start an alt within the next year? Take it out and hand it out to a newb. Getting something like that when you're still wearing rags definitely helps keep you optimistic and makes it more likely that you'll hang around.

Just something to keep in mind. I love the server and the players here! It would just be nice to see a bit of a higher population. :D

[runlvlzero]

I try to keep it to something simple like spell money, banded, or like yesterday I gave out a junk weapon from CoM (Wraightbone hammer?) stuff that will get someone into their 20's pretty much no matter what they have. When I have the time to do it. Honestly it seems to only get easier. But I still don't have an account with more than 1kpp on it. I'm still working on my own set of jboots.

It's tough. But its doable. And theres a ton of people here who could do it far more easily than us.

But whatever, your not bad for not helping people. But your not helping your server at the same time.

[Hail]

Most of em just disappear a few days after you give them stuff for free (actually costs you money) I've never added up all the shit I gave out but it has to be around ~10k at least, I think maybe 10% have stuck with it, the others just quit and let my pixels rot.

I've started holding out till 30ish but by then most of you already have the gear you need.

Yeah I understand, I don't doubt what you've said one bit. Thats the nature of the beast unfortunately. Some people just aren't cut out for classic EQ. Personally I try to give back everything that has been given to me if I end up upgrading the piece or end up quitting the toon. Or at the very least pass it on to other new players.

But of course not everyone is like that. :(

[Junkman]

did not read

[runlvlzero]

And yeah, Fame has given out at least 10k. None of this is directed at guys like you.

[SamwiseRed]

ye ive given away dozens robes (oracle or advisor), weapons, dwarven ring mail tunics, hp rings, so much shit. people either quit or reroll. its a viscious cycle. I have hundreds (no troll) of screenshots of me powerleveling people i would never see again. just the nature of emus or mmos i suppose.

[runlvlzero]

IMO thats why I say its better to just group and exp with them. Or help them pvp. Because they are more likely to stay around. Powerlevels + items are not optimal.

Social (vs asocial) interaction is.

[runlvlzero]

And for whatever reason you will still get a good number of people who quit, or in some way backstab you.

[SamwiseRed]

i agree, there has been a few times where instead of PLing a couple of lvl 30 melee ill offer to log in my 31 cleric and group with them. they usually log instead. its kinda why i dont help people who ask. almost everything ive ever given away was just a random encounter. all this server needs is 1 good leveling guild, not 5 or 6. need someone who is unemployed to lead the newbs to sebilis.

[Lionfish Roundup]

the playerbase is chasing them away, nothing else

if someone is going to level here, they going to do it with or without your gear or powerlevel / hand me downs

I just leveled a mage up to 50+ and im still wearing raw silk and don't give a fuck

[meatspin]

i'd saying bringing the server back up has a good chance to increase pop...

[Hail]

the playerbase is chasing them away, nothing else

if someone is going to level here, they going to do it with or without your gear or powerlevel / hand me downs

I just leveled a mage up to 50+ and im still wearing raw silk and don't give a fuck

Not all of us are interested in playing a solo caster class though :(

And it seems like there are a lack of groups for lower level players so hand me downs help a ton for people playing classes that can't easily solo to 60 in raw silk ;)

[Lionfish Roundup]

Not all of us are interested in playing a solo caster class though :(

And it seems like there are a lack of groups for lower level players so hand me downs help a ton for people playing classes that can't easily solo to 60 in raw silk ;)

without twinkage expect to fail

make a gnome and let the win begin!