Back from hiatus after 6 years

[Glaistig]

You might see me pop in once in  a while, but I don't plan on doing much more than that. I'm quite busy these days!

After six years, I'm mostly curious to see where the game has gone, where it is now, and what its fate is.. not necessarily to be an active player.

I never really thought I would, but I'm pursuing software development now. As I told someone, one of the things I liked about MD aside from the community was how it demonstrated the creative magic (world-building) that can be made through code. So maybe thinking of software development reminded me of this game.

 

So, I have a couple questions for you, current players.

• I heard this game is stagnating. What would you do to revitalize it?
• Say I'm a player who hasn't played for six years. I have no creatures, and little idea of how the game is played now. What are your suggestions for getting back into the game and learning more about the current MD world?
• What are the things I should pay attention to in this game world? This can be based on your gameplay style.

This is what I see myself doing, the few times I may be around:

• reading dst's blog
• catching up with chewett
• reading the occasional MD forum post
• building up my creatures again
• following people's suggestions to observe current events
• ideally, gathering opinions, thoughts and impressions about where the game is going
• maybe doing a quest or two
• maybe make informal observations here

In the past I was a heated player because I was so wrapped up and invested in the game. Now it's mostly curiosity that drives me, and I have the necessary aesthetic distance and detachment to enjoy myself on MD casually. So, I look forward to poking around MD to kill my boredom once in a rare while.

 

Well, so now you know. If you see me, say hello :) edit: it's probably more like 5 years but the # doesn't really matter, does it? :shrug:

Edited November 23, 2015 by Glaistig

[Glaistig]

informal observations so far:

• are politics mostly the bulk of this game? (from reading thread about power balances)
• players seem to mostly engage in the world by thinking philosophically about its philosphy
• I can see why I preferred a game world based more on the cut and dry mechanics (puzzles, combat system, game story) than such an involved roleplay/political system. too much to think about, a little abstract or too involving for an outsider to feel like delving into.
• so MD is more a simulation than a game for simple entertainment. mechanics are tailored towards simulation of political power, roleplaying than providing incentives to reach game goals/benchmarks (exp points for lvling up, accomplishments, etc.)
• "a true roleplaying game".. blergh. :P

keywords to investigate:

• depletion
• killing

[spoiler]Glai derails in a thought exercise:

• how would I change it? I don't know yet
• if you removed the roleplaying from MD, what would you have left?
• a little bit of controlled roleplaying would be fine, to add an element of gameplay above game mechanics. but, how do you control roleplaying? it spirals out of your hands and develops its own life, doesn't it?
• what is the ultimate ambition in MD?
  (of course, in this version it's to play another life, create your own character, so there is no definite endgoal. playing the character is the endgoal. but in a ver. of MD with the roleplaying element reduced, what would be the ambition in MD? forming bonds while testing combat play (card game) while exploring the story while having limited roles? a community based on a love for puzzles and innovation and exploring, while they.. while they what? build a mini-realm? protectors/adepts. hmmm not sure yet. are quests good? what if quests were more moderated, built by select few (rather than all) for the players to have objectives?)
• roleplaying developed naturally, wars would develop naturally, having heros/public interest figures would naturally draw interest
• size is a limitation; in the end, I don't know if MD could go beyond being a small realm, or even if it got bigger, it would require a lot of intensive attention
• having guilds would be interesting. creating characters (npcs) for players to interact with and build a world story would be interesting. but how would you avoid the development of active roleplaying and the consequent politicking?
• maybe some players love and cherish the politicking, the dynamism built into it, the building and interaction of their own world
• the magic of code / interaction with the game itself  :)
• what is the goal in normal mmos? you fight monsters, you level up, you build alliances and guilds to fight boss monsters (potentially shaping the world?) and you do party quests to achieve an objective. sometimes some pvp for competition. classes draw some interest with specific skills assigned to each class (MD's principles underexploited here? what are creative skills mdfolk could have? gathering, spells--what spells? creating dungeons, changing maps for new areas to explore, new abilities (creating monsters/eggs, events, changing relationships)...)
• would require constant innovation. too exhausting

I can always rely on MD to pull me into a mind trip, get me thinking  :) even if the tracks my mind takes wouldn't be agreeable to most players/others.[/spoiler]

Edited November 23, 2015 by Glaistig

[Aethon]

Firstly, welcome you back! I'm sure much will have changed around the place, though you are sure to see faces you recognise, so make sure you say hello! (That would be my first "to-do" to a newb)
 
Now, how to start...perhaps point by point? Yes, that seems suitable.

I heard this game is stagnating. What would you do to revitalize it?

 
I would not say the game itself is stagnating, more the activity within in. Whilst the game still progresses and has it's loyal followers -- and a few new ones here and there -- the activity of those followers within MD dwindles. Most now stay rooted at the GoE, fighting and grinding. There are still a few occasions where activity picks up, but this is usual due to either chaos (death, slander, ill will, etc) or pre-organised events/happenings (MD Birthday, " Story Makers' " quests, etc).
 
Working out how to battle this is hard as we would need to determine why people's activity is becoming stagnant. Is it due to laziness? Because the game is turning more towards fighting than RP? Because people simply don't want to RP? Because there aren't enough quests that make others run around like headless chickens? The list is endless.
 
I (emphasise on I as it's my opinion) believe that the appearance of stagnation is due to less players. There is no longer hundreds of players all playing at the same time, instead there is 30-40. Out of those 30-40 only a handful are "active" enough to run around, do things, make noise...make the place seem alive.
 
So yes, in short, I believe that there is little we can do at the moment until we start getting more people engrossed in MD. :)
 

[Say I'm a player who hasn't played for six years. I have no creatures, and little idea of how the game is played now. What are your suggestions for getting back into the game and learning more about the current MD world?[/background]

 
I would suggest (in order):

• 
  
• Speak to everyone - Get to know players, new and old. A lot will have changed in 6 years and you can't expect to know it all yourself. Besides, it's always nice to make new friends!
• Get involved - Take part in events and quests, perhaps even make your own. Don't shy away or just choose to read about it later. Some of the best ways (i've found) of making friends and learning new things is by getting involved with everything and anything. 
• Read, read, read - Read everything. Old forum posts, new forum posts, blogs, adventure logs, creature details, personal papers, announcements...there is a lot of knowledge and help to be found if only people were to read a little more than what's right in front of them.

And finally

Say I'm a player who hasn't played for six years. I have no creatures, and little idea of how the game is played now. What are your suggestions for getting back into the game and learning more about the current MD world?

 
Much of what I wrote above applies to this, I feel. Read, read, read, speak to everyone and get involved. From doing that you are likely to learn everything you need. I know that it worked well enough for me, and I was starting off as a brand new player, with no experience.
 
Though, some of it will come down to your own personality and perseverance, of course. :)

[Lintara]

Welcome back Glaistig! I've only read about you in the forums but you seemed to be quite the character back in the day. :D

You may also want to read Aethon's articles as he is a very active new player that has breathed some new life into MDA.  :)

As for your questions:
1) Small daily free style RP or just social gatherings, as they can help newcomers get a grip on the realm (or at least the combat system, depends on what they ask and talk about) so long as they are in easily accessible places and the people taking part remain open. Big RP events and quests are good for shaking off the stagnation for the older players for a little while and gives something to talk about during the gatherings. However, interesting big RP events or quests need time to come up with.
2) Go to the Gazebo of Equilibrium and greet everybody. It's the center of many things currently and there is most likely to be someone awake and sparring there who could tell you about the latest events or give you some advice on combat, so long as you ask.
3) Pay attention to as many details (announcements, new forum threads, talking with people) as possible and make sure to have at least one run around the whole realm whenever you log in.

[Glaistig]

Welcome back Glaistig! I've only read about you in the forums but you seemed to be quite the character back in the day. :D

You may also want to read Aethon's articles as he is a very active new player that has breathed some new life into MDA.  :)

I'm surprised anyone reads about me in the forums, since whenever I played was at least a couple years ago.

 

@Aethon -- how new of a player are you? Since when did you join? Did you roleplay before MD?

 

Thanks both for your insight; it's interesting to think of how a new player would approach and engage with MD these days.

[Jubaris]

I heard this game is stagnating. What would you do to revitalize it?

Lack of long-term stuff to compete in with your peers is missing. Hopefully torch will help with that, and maybe statless tourneys, but there needs to be competitive stuff outside combat too.

I don't think big number of quests are a solution because that's only for the moment pleasure, some continuity needs to exist like it used to be with Adventure Log (or it seemed to be that way, maybe it wasn't in truth)

 

Say I'm a player who hasn't played for six years. I have no creatures, and little idea of how the game is played now. What are your suggestions for getting back into the game and learning more about the current MD world?

and

Say I'm a player who hasn't played for six years. I have no creatures, and little idea of how the game is played now. What are your suggestions for getting back into the game and learning more about the current MD world?

The lack of competitive long-term stuff goes in your favor :D There is no race, you won't miss out on anything if you don't collect resources you never heard about... If you're into combat raise some creatures, talk with people, check forums for new interesting stuff and do what you feel like doing, you will pick up new stuff on your own soon enough.

 

A solution? It's hard to generalize, can you please tell what are you interested in doing in MD? In AL you were a Necro spy, there's still room for that kind of gameplay :))

You mentioned you liked creative aspect of MD - there is still much room for that, albeit less fulfilling with less amount of people around?

Anything else, writing, art, maltreating newbies, etc.? :)

[Glaistig]

I heard this game is stagnating. What would you do to revitalize it?

Lack of long-term stuff to compete in with your peers is missing. Hopefully torch will help with that, and maybe statless tourneys, but there needs to be competitive stuff outside combat too.

I don't think big number of quests are a solution because that's only for the moment pleasure, some continuity needs to exist like it used to be with Adventure Log (or it seemed to be that way, maybe it wasn't in truth)

 

Cool, good to know..

 

 

A solution? It's hard to generalize, can you please tell what are you interested in doing in MD? In AL you were a Necro spy, there's still room for that kind of gameplay  :))

You mentioned you liked creative aspect of MD - there is still much room for that, albeit less fulfilling with less amount of people around?

Anything else, writing, art, maltreating newbies, etc.?  :)

 

I'm not too interested in roleplaying these days, except to observe how other people roleplay if it's a core game mechanic (which obviously it is).

To be honest I'm not really looking to get drawn into MD, more visiting/'playing' just to find out what MD and its gameplay is these days. (Maybe it hasn't really changed all that much, aside from the superfluous aspects). More than anything else, I see myself as an observer. :P

I'm going to head to bed now, but cool to see the responses so far!

Edited November 23, 2015 by Glaistig

[Aeoshattr]

In the past I was a heated player because I was so wrapped up and invested in the game. Now it's mostly curiosity that drives me, and I have the necessary aesthetic distance and detachment to enjoy myself on MD casually. So, I look forward to poking around MD to kill my boredom once in a rare while.

 

Run, you fool.

[Aethon]

I have around 160 Active days in MD. I joined around January/February time though had to take a month or two out of playing.

No, I had never played an RPG like this (where you actively role play) though, if you have a grasp of language, it's rather easy to learn and adapt to, I feel. :)

[Chewett]

Hey Glai. Come write some stories for me.

[Glaistig]

 

Run, you fool.

 

:))

Most likely I won't even log on for another month or so.. but we'll see, won't we?

It would be pretty cool to get to play MD without getting sucked in and addicted like everyone else. Right? I'd get to look at you all like little peons enslaved to the game while I'm just out here, having a good time observing and chilling. (Wow, Glai.. that was harsh. :P)

 

Hey Glai. Come write some stories for me.

 

What kind of stories? -.-;;

[Chewett]

Secret

But not tonight as I'm ill

[Glaistig]

Secret

But not tonight as I'm ill

Good. Not that you're ill, but I wasn't planning on writing any stories tonight.  :P

Hope you feel better.

[Syrian]

welcome home  : D