Saving Dasaria

[Arkalezth]

This is probably a silly and pointless thread, but I felt like someone had to say something, even if this gets no replies. I don't see anyone in game anymore except for a handful of players and a DM, and I'm told it's even worse at US times. The forums are in life support. The IRC is dead. And it's all been like that for months (don't give me the "it's a phase" excuse this time, please; it's been "a phase" for most of the year). There's still the occasional event and RP among the few players that log on regularly, but I miss everyone else.

There's real life, of course, but even then, I don't know if people are just bored of the game, or having issues with each other, or what, but I'd like to know if there's any interest anymore, if there's a hope of improving and getting people back on, or if the server is as good as dead.

Please don't take this as me suggesting to shut the server down or anything like that; that'd be the opposite of what I'd want, but I'm afraid it may happen anyway if things go on like this for too long, and to be honest, I don't know if people even care anymore.

[Karma]

I don't think its dead. It was like this last year at this time. I wouldn't call it a phase. The Summer is high time and Fall/Winteris slow

[Kell]

I don't recall it having been -this- slow before, no...

[Arkalezth]

Only that the supposedly high times were exactly the same as now. I happened to open this thread yesterday, but I could have done so a while ago.

And no, it wasn't like this a year ago. I was a new player back then, and if it had been like this, I don't think I would be here today.

[rohenna]

The politics made me too tired. I'd love to come back to a new, full server the way it was two and a half years ago when I found it, but sadly I have watched it in slow decline from all the internal squabblings and ego clashes that went on...it WAS once a place to relax and escape. I miss it, and the unique lore, and the wonderful stories we all wove together, and would come back if it looked as if things were going to be a little more about the game and a little less about who said what about who, or who was RPing in certain ways or who was being cliquey or who felt left out. Perhaps I wasnt as aware of it in the beginning, but i do know that my first few months of Das were incredible.

Its like I always said...if its not Das for me, its no gaming at all...I still love this place.

[Arkalezth]

Agreed. I want to believe it's not all because of that sort of crap, but if it is, do people seriously prefer to let the server die rather than try to work out their problems, or simply ignore whoever they have issues with and move on? I already went through high school once, thanks.

[MaoOn]

I'm thinking really the only way to start fixing anything would be to... well, log in. Otherwise the server is empty and no one meets anyone anyway.

Thus, I'll be in game today from 7PM GMT+0 until my eyes don't stay open! Or if no one logs in in 2 hours.

[Kell]

Agreed. I want to believe it's not all because of that sort of crap, but if it is, do people seriously prefer to let the server die rather than try to work out their problems, or simply ignore whoever they have issues with and move on?

That's why I've not been on IRC anymore; I seriously just am not interested in all the he-said she-said. I've been slap bang in the middle of it for far too long, and I just wanted it to stop. Talking solved nothing, so I stopped talking and moved on. And it really solved a great deal for me at least. I can recommend it.

I appreciated the last few months where it was quiet and people were just playing their game. There was no drama, only people trying to have or having fun. So I -know- it's possible, haha

I'm terribly busy with the Meraki Games - Exile Saga kickstarter at the moment, but when that quiets down again I'll surely be logging in more often again too. Provided I'm still alive after that. 27 days left to go.

[Skurge]

As my first post in a while I would like to say that this is not a phase, most people just quit. We all got tired for various reasons, the highest being how much MOST of us American players (the highest percentage of the player base) got tired of dealing with most of the Euro's (excluding a certain few very good and nice people) anti america/victim card/whining BS. PS this is an American server, piss off. Yeah I gave up trying to keep this from being an us versus them thing. As I said we all have our reasons, mine just happen to be that im tired of listening to people piss and moan while a certain DM calmly keeps his head lodged firmly in his rectum. To be short YES IT IS DEAD AND IT DID NOT DIE NATURALLY, CANCEROUS THINGS ROTTED IT FROM THE INSIDE.

[Ashalley]

Someone mentioned to me that this thread was a thing, so as someone who quit Das about a week after I logged in, I thought I would weigh in.

You appreciate the 'peace and quiet' right now, Kell, because you have no-one to argue with or play against each other. If I had a quarter for every single time I'd heard your name crop up in conversations outside of this server, I'd be a very rich gamer. I don't even PLAY here anymore, and haven't for months, but I know you by reputation. There are two DMs. Maybe. One of them doesn't even want to log in anymore because of the complaints, because of a distinct lack of respect, because of the bitching, pissing, moaning - 'you're not doing this', 'you're not doing that', 'this person got this', 'I never get any attention.'

Enough, already - if you want a server with active, happy DMs, the relationship is one of mutual respect.

You are slap bang in the middle of it because you have drawn that down with your actions. The eye of the storm is always calm, but leaves a destructive path in its wake.

Enjoy your dead server, poisonous harpy.

Stay the hell away from mine.

Now if you're honestly confused at why all of the above got said, here's a successful working model I've seen used to great effect on other servers.

• = Create a solid Terms of Service, with clear rules about the sort of thing I've listed above. Complainers don't get ****. Beggars don't get fed.
  = ACTUALLY ENFORCE THE TOS (I'm looking at you, Wired)
  = Treat your DM with some respect and understand they are playing this game to have fun, not to pander to your incessant mewling. Do you enjoy playing alone? Good. Go have fun. The DMs will naturally gravitate towards you having fun. Or at least the DMs that -I- have worked with.
  = Now for you DMs - you have to pay attention. Have to pay attention. This cancer that's killing the server could have easily been caught. People could have been banned. Could have been sat down and talked to about playing nice with others. They weren't. You failed. You've been too damn nice to them; the result is that they've walked all over you.
  = Respect your fellow players. This post is not very respectful right now, but understand respect is earned; you have not earned it.

So TL;DR =

- Put other people's fun ahead of your own.

[Kell]

+1 for honesty. Well done. Thanks for letting me know. I don't mind. Will not say anything in return though. That's behind.

[Kell]

I actually would like to mention one thing; that I'm aware that there's a lot of things that can be said about me. But they're all said in "the same circle". There are also a lot of people who do not say those things about me, who I hang out with a LOT more. Personally, I don't mind, or care, whether people like me or not. I know who I am. The last few months; nobody has had problems with me. Subsequentially when the first group of people disappeared. Strange? You do the math.

Ashalley, we've not spoken a word. Not as far as I remember. And I do not care for your opinion based on other opinions. So spit vitriol as much as you like. I do not -need- to earn anyone's respect. In case you thought I was in a need of doing that. I can totally live without.

Peace.

[DM Sabre]

Is Das dead?

To be blunt, I don't know. What I do know is that WE killed a community that I once loved. And yes, I say we.

In the past months...I have dealt with incessant complaints about everything. I have had a player declare another group of players toxic and said that they should be banned, because they were a group of friends who came in playing as a group and who simply enjoyed playing together. I have had a players start an ooc war because they could not get along...and have seen players take said ooc dislike and use it to try and ruin people ICly in game.

I have seen people's RP ridiculed, their IC stories blamed for ruining Das...while the same players saying this would defend their friends or themselves for engaging in the same RP they were ridiculing. I speak of the relationship dramas, or players choosing to have children, or get married. Things that really have no impact on anyone but the players involved...unless another player chooses to involve themselves in it.

I have watched and listened as certain players obsessively watch to see who plays with whom, who logs in for whom, who gets DM attention. I have listened as players complained about lack of DM activity....when for the six months I was on as a player before rejoining staff...we were lucky to get one event every two months. And yet...we had activity...in certain time frames...and whenever an event was run in an opposite time zone...there was crying and complaints.

I have seen players judged for attempts to run player sponsored faction events...then judged again when they stopped because they were scared of stepping on toes.

In short...negativity is a disease. It infects others...and it spreads. And yes...I included myself in the above statement.

To Pere/Phelan. I owe you an apology. In attempts to please complaining players, I effectively took the leadership position that you rightfully earned through the RP you did and gave it to an NPC...due to complaints that you were not ICly sharing the info...or that players felt that it was undeserved. When in fact...you were one of the few who were publicly sharing info....and the things you were accused of being mum about....were in fact something that should be kept quiet. You and the Ordo correctly assumed that the "name' you discovered...was indeed a trap.

To Dom/Cel. I owe you a sincere apology as well. Players complained incessantly about the all of the attention you received from staff. And, yes...there was a reason for some of it. But I will say here and now, that you may be one of the most pleasant and easy to work with players I ever DMed for...who was genuinely appreciative of ANY attention given to you and who was willing to roll with whatever was thrown your way.

My last apology goes to Skunky. Skunk, you are one of the sweetest players I know. And I know I made comments about the high drama style of RP you enjoy. I apologize because it is not my cup of tea and I did have to start avoiding it for my own sanity. But if that is what you enjoy...have at it with players who enjoy it with you. My heart broke the day in irc when you asked people to please stop teasing about your characters being in jail. It was my wake up.


In short, you guys want to save Das....it is simple. Stop judging your fellow players and just play. Log in...play. No one should be worrying about who plays with whom when...or why. If two players enjoy each other...so be it. At least they were logging in playing. Quit worrying about who is getting what attention. I drove myself crazy trying to insure that I was being fair to everyone....and guess what...I stopped being fair to myself. And now...logging in is no longer a pleasure....it is a chore.

[Ashalley]

I actually would like to mention one thing; that I'm aware that there's a lot of things that can be said about me. But they're all said in "the same circle". There are also a lot of people who do not say those things about me, who I hang out with a LOT more. Personally, I don't mind, or care, whether people like me or not. I know who I am. The last few months; nobody has had problems with me. Subsequentially when the first group of people disappeared. Strange? You do the math.

Ashalley, we've not spoken a word. Not as far as I remember. And I do not care for your opinion based on other opinions. So spit vitriol as much as you like. I do not -need- to earn anyone's respect. In case you thought I was in a need of doing that. I can totally live without.

Peace.

I can see your reputation is well deserved.

[Kell]

Let's make this a productive thread, why don't we? Hm?