Challenge for all traders

[insane]

If you care as much as bout the shrinkage of this game as you say, then I have a proposition for you.

For one or two ages (preferably two) take a time out from striving for the top and spend that time in the Ghettos/lesser kingdoms teaching them the fundamentals.

I suggest this because you all claim it is easy enough anyway. If it is so easy to trade, then take a break from your skd's and help the current player base to learn the fundamentals.

At the very least help them learn the fundamentals, because I promise you that you will be surprised at their lack of knowledge of even the basics.

Help them develop into a kingdom. Be patient, don't force hyperactivity.

If you do this, and they learn from you...we will have gone a long way in the process of restoring Utopia.

And trust me, you will find developing a kingdom out of average players a very challenging experience.

Do you think you can handle the challenge?

[Catwalk]

Done that already. I defected mid-round into a kingdom with a handful of active players, everybody had just defected a week earlier due to internal turmoil. The round after that, we finished with an 8/7 war record at top 100-200 NW and honour or so, personal province finish at 100 NW and honour. Around 20 staying players, I think. I did trade in a player near the end of the second round (I was against trading at the time and felt horribly guilty about it, but he was a very good friend I'd met in-game that I really wanted to play with. Didn't regret it either, we're still friends and have met up) other than that it was clean.

As for teaching, I do quite a bit of that in #strategy. Mostly nubs hang out there, and it's usually about the fundamentals of the game. And lots of spamming, of course.

I suggest this because you all claim it is easy enough anyway. If it is so easy to trade, then take a break from your skd's and help the current player base to learn the fundamentals.

What is easy enough? Why should we take a break from kingdoms and friends who rely on us? I spend time each day helping nubs and am having a hard time managing my kingdom on top of that, now you want me to ditch them? Wouldn't that be a wee bit illoyal?

I fully agree that nubs matter for the future of the game. And I would like to see more kingdoms function well. Better communications is a big part of that, allowing nub kingdoms to stabilize by inviting friends is also a big part. #strategy has probably helped over 1000 nubs since it started 1.5 years ago, you're welcome to help out if you wish.

[Greeney]

Most people who trade have once upon a time started out in a role like that. I think I spent 2 years teaching new players the basics before getting incredibly bored of seeing people come and go and have to start all over. If you care as much about the shrinkage of the game, I suggest trying to be a little more open minded. ;)

[Phoenix]

Seeing as how this is strictly speaking not a suggestion, I'll move this one to UT.

[Hurlin]

Yeh like greeney said most pro traders have ran for awhile in a ghetto trying to help out.

They either get burn out from banging their heads against the wall or will never random again.

[Catwalk]

For me, it was frustration over players quitting once I'd managed to build up a good kingdom. That happens at all levels of the game, we had a good streak and then it was taken down by mostly outside circumstances. Maintaining some level of stability is enjoyable to most people in a team based game, having to fluctuate wildly all the time gets really frustrating. So in the end, I bailed out on them after 3 fierce rounds where we'd been racing upwards.

[insane]

Most people who trade have once upon a time started out in a role like that. I think I spent 2 years teaching new players the basics before getting incredibly bored of seeing people come and go and have to start all over. If you care as much about the shrinkage of the game, I suggest trying to be a little more open minded. ;)

I am open minded....just had a presumption proven wrong is all.
lol
well, I don't know what would curb the decline then. I know it needs a huge plaer base (around 30k at least) to have some of the original dynamics of the game.
All I can really suggest is have couple of different playing options available in attempt to bring membership back.

I.E., have one server set up like with legit limited trading, another as is, another like genesis (but without the testing out new functions bit. Perhaps increase it to like three ages before each reset.) And another will people can multi (with a reset every round), etc.

It's time we started messing around with those dynamics so we can stop all the "will kill the game/will bring it back" nonsense.

lol Phoenix, it was a suggestion...just not for developers. At least ot with original post (but what bout now?)

[Greeney]

I.E., have one server set up like with legit limited trading, another as is, another like genesis (but without the testing out new functions bit. Perhaps increase it to like three ages before each reset.) And another will people can multi (with a reset every round), etc.

It's time we started messing around with those dynamics so we can stop all the "will kill the game/will bring it back" nonsense.

Yes, ages ago I'd have liked to see the purpose of one of the servers used to either relax rules and/or ban alliances.

[Hurlin]

banning alliances is next to impossible.

The only way to restrict more then one Kingdom working together has been done to death within WoL.

First age of Genesis was supposed to be alliance free but a bunch of Myth, AR and KLA people ran around with the KLYT tag as a joke.

Nothing was done beyond Blake deleting banners, leaving messages in kingdom forums about mature content of the banners and a bunch of people complaining on utopia temples forums ...... and now look at genesis :P

It's human nature to band together with like minded people for self preservation.

[onlymad]

So true Hurlin

[Dolgil]

One thing that helped me a lot when I started this game was the fan sites that explained things. A lot of those are no longer updated. There is a Wiki for formulas, but not much for new player info. It would be nice for some of those things to come back.

[Toadi]

I made a random account in a ghetto at the start of the previous age.
That was about 48h after age had started.

I went straight to forums, and saw a thread posted by the monarch entitled "Kingdom orders". The current orders were to train only defensive specialists in protection to "protect our acres efficiently" and that afterwards noone was allowed to keep less than 50DPA at home. There was also a "Roll Call" thread in which I could notice the Kingdom had 3 T/M, 3 Super Thiefs and 2 Super Mages - including the Monarch itself - to a mere 12 attackers.

After spending 3 days trying to explain everyone why this was very wrong and nothing good could come off that horrible Kingdom setup, I simply deleted my account.

[Catwalk]

Well done, brave sir Toadi!

[Toadi]

Well you know I'm weak and can't resist to the calls of ex kdmates :(

[VT2]

The day someone figures out how to detect traded provinces and X-logging for real, the game will change dramatically.