Community Participation Incentive

I feel as though the forum/cBox should be just as important as each players in-game experience. Obviously not a requirement, but there's a lot to gain from implying the importance of the forums and cBox. Not just for activity on the forums but to bring the community closer to gather. Better to start now than later in my opinion.

Since I joined the server, I have the cBox up 95% of the time. I have met more people through the cBox than I have in-game. While obviously this is because I am an islander, there are always though shy-guys out there who don't go out and search grind parties and such, or even find it hard to get one. My thought here: bring them out of their comfort zone, therefore helping them out. Bring incentive to the forums or even just the cBox.

Specific threads or sub-forums for searching for long-term grinding parties, bossing parties, group calls (ts3, skype, raid call, ventrillo, etc), or member-hosted events like scavenger hunts or guild wars. Incentives on forum like trophies (as @NSFW has suggested), avatar size, a forum currency that can be battled for (to buy forum material like the avatars or temporary font/username perks), suggesting a custom emote, or a forum arcade plug-in for top-scores.

While, obviously, the in-game server is important. I feel the forum provides more communication between members here and therefor lead to more interaction in-game. The whole "add me up", "sure I'm up for grinding", "500k sounds good, pm me" thing. Not everyone hangs out in the FM. Not everyone grinds constantly, not every mercs. I feel like having more participation in the forum would branch all of those together.

Okay here's where I can't find a solution. How to make this incentive seem like enough for someone who just simply doesn't like forums, because there are a LOT of people who don't. Just as you have the donor only cs tab, could there be a in-game cash shop currency from community participation? Items like quote rings, friend shirts, and friend rings or anything to do with person to person interaction? Or even just random equip items, maybe newer ones not introduced in v62?

Let me know what you think. I might be over thinking this. I tend to do that. I'm not fantastic at coding, but I'd be willing to help with whatever I can if this is a go-go. I'm also willing to put forth the graphics for banners and emotes and such :3

 

I tried connecting to the ts3 server and it said NO :C I was unable to connect.

 

NSFW, Chaotic, and I started a Skype group, but I believe we were going to wait for mod approval. They should create it or something imo. But it is made if anyone wants to join until an official one is made. Just add my Skype: MsStuka
I'll add you to the group if you msg me with your MapleLegends username.

 

I suppose it would spread it thin a bit, but I am thinking for more affectiveness long term. The server has only been open for a bit. More people will be joining, and when that happens the community won't be so spread-thin as it will be cluttered. Yes, right now it would spread thin. But in the future I feel it would be beneficial. Even if it's just a thread for Looking to join, post your usernname/level and stuff for everyone. Basically a roster for active looking. And perhaps an activity check to clear it every so often for those who have found their niche.

 

Bumping this cause I feel it's important.

Also adding new suggestion here. Please add a 24 hour bump button to forums to reduce bump spam :3. Spanks Juber.

 

It'd be awesome if you could set that up, Crafty ^^. Some people prefer skype over ts3 or vice versa, so perhaps it would be beneficial to take a vote? I prefer TS3, for example, but I know people who won't TOUCH it. The only reason I believe TS3 would be more beneficial is because of the channels that can be separated appropriately and keep the problem of having 40 people in a single Skype chat. Shy people (myself included) wouldn't get a word out for fear of interrupting.

Separated channels for party quest queues, bossing parties, or even guild chats.

I think the community participation thing could also tie into this for allowing custom channels to be earned for VIP odonors

Secondly with TS3, the mods would have more power over who stays and who leaves, or how LONG they leave.

Secondly on why I believe hosting skype is a lesser option is because of the personal ties that come with it. Some people only add family/friends to skype, have their name or profile pics attached and such. Might stray the younger players. There is also a way to back-trace IPs and stuff through skype through calls, which I find uncomfortable.

If someone WANTS you to have their skype, that's one thing, though.

@NSFW I also agree. A few things came up that I thought up after-the-fact. It was also made with poor timing and advertisement.

The con to TEAMSPEAK is that the stability of the server is less controllable. It can crash, be crashed, etc.

 

How do you mean? :O

 

They wouldn't be used for IM'ing. It's more for voice chat. The reason our skype idea at the time was unsuccessful was because there were 3 people, all of which seemed unwilling to push the call forward.

I can see having one in the future deterring chat in the cBox by a bit, but there will always be new members coming to ask questions and such. That would be more of an experimental issue. I am hoping it wouldn't deter attention from the cBox too much though.

 

I also agree on TS3. I saw the previous one you mentioned, Crafty, but it wouldn't connect. I feel a mod should set it up, preferably an admin/dev. =/.

TS3 can also allow for more community participation rewards :3 there are custom icons you can have by your name in TS3. There can be some for donors, devs, mods, etc, and even some that can be "purchased" with points or whatever to get put by your name. Silly ones like "Legend Addict" or something. Would be fun :3

 

Still looking for a forum bump button and more staff opinions ;-;