We need a community night!

[DM_Kev]

To help get things moving on the server again (last night was a good improvement in numbers already, by the way) im proposing as part of our revival plans, a community night.

A number of communities in Wireplay have used these community nights to great effect to get their games back on their feet.

A community night usually takes the form of a weekly event, held at the same date/time and can be used as a good opportunity to induct new players and bring old faces back. The question is, what kind of weekly event do we want?

Also, what day and time suits people best?

[Lorien]

The one thing I would ask about this - does it need to be the same event every week?

For example we have the same time every week but a rolling number of events. Then on week one we could have (and these are just examples) The Arena, on week two we have bar games and drinking games in the Anvil, on week 3 we have a social event for evils (the temple in Umbar for example) and on week four another event (I don't know what) in a neutral area.

[DM_Kev]

Can be whatever we want it to be :)

[DM_Yavanna]

If we want to include the entire community and in character, it should probably be an a neutral place like Tharbad. The arena is a possibility, though most elves would probably be repelled by the idea and would be unlikely to attend. Orc-kind could prboably not be visibly present either. A happy-hour type of thing in the Greyflood might work, though obvious evils like orcs would have to be segregated in some way (assuming the player doesn't have a more 'presentable' alt). Even for that, lore would have to be suspended somewhat if elven PCs were tol be present.

Alternatively, the event could be ooc, though that has problems of its own on an RP-oriented server.

[Dakota Strider]

Alternating weeks, for good and evil factions could be a solution. *Most* players have characters in each factions, and if its just for a social gathering, those that don't should have no problem creating a new character for that purpose. Alternately, and Arena event where Good and Evil heroes settle scores, with non-lethal combat could have a lot of attraction as well. Or Good versus Evil in other events, card games, scavenger hunts, or whatever the imagination of our community can come up with.

[Lorien]

I think having a four week rolling rota of events could work very well. Every other week could be a 'neutral' week so all could attend with the inbetween weeks being one for goods one for evil.

For one of the 'neutral' events we could have a fair/market. I (or someone else) could make an outdoor area with a fair and nomadic market in it. The fair could have 'mini-games' such as a brawling contest, an archery range etc. The market could have some unique merchants and some stores for PC's to hire to sell their own produce and ill-gotten (or not) loot.

[DM_Kev]

I have thought of a bi-weekly neutral located competition between a good and an evil party in some kind of ever-changing dungeon. I have a lot of past versions of this idea shelved so it shouldnt take too long to setup and make changes to every 2 weeks to keep people guessing :)

Can have find the flag competitions, "who can crack the puzzle fastest" games, who can clear the dungeon fastest, etc.

[the-small-print]

If you were to have an archery contest as part of anything, you should look at the Pretty Good Char Creator and use the target dummy (Bobo)'s scripts for accuracy. It counts up hits, misses and average damage

[Kyle Morgan]

I would like to see a village funfair with several different contest like the opening tutorial in the NWN2 campaign

[Lorien]

Funnily enough that's the kind of thing I had in mind. Maybe with a stage - who knows we may see the return of groups putting on productions for others to watch.

Anyone fancy a production of 'The Downfall of Numenor'?

[Uinen.]

We were talking about a fair on the Pellenor fields a little while ago and even pondered remaking several areas with and without a fair to represent it moving around. If people like this idea then maybe we could resurrect it and post the location of the fair on the forums, every now and again we'd update the module to allow it to move.

[Silverleaf]

I personally want the old arena back, where players can fight eachother for fun. These brought in the most people, and even allowed orcs to fight and play. The only draw back was some people began to take feats specifically for the arena, but so what? It was loads of fun, and everybody enjoyed it.

[Lorien]

I used to enjoy the arena but went off it after a while.

It certainly had its drawbacks - you could have fights that went on too long (one between Lolinus and Argon springs to mind, so little was happening that I started to have Lolinus swig a bottle of Aules after every third attack - it didn't speed the fight up at all but made me laugh), or the opposite- they could be over too quickly.

The main reason I went off the arena though was it didn't seem to fit thematically, and on the whole didn't promote RP, although I know on occasion it promoted some bad feelings with some players.

[DM_Kev]

I think activities involving and encouraging team play is the way to go.

[Silverleaf]

Team PvP? :)

Remember the first battle that Olorin and a few other DMs led soon after UTT2 was first launched? Excellent roleplay, steriotypical good vs evil, and brilliant action involved.

/me remembers the siege of Rivendell back in the ol' days of UTT1

[Cindi Angelheart]

I really do like a social event idea, I for one loved to rp being at the arena. It was Igraine's only chance to be a normal woman and often led to gossip and intrigue. I also agree that it had limitations as to who would and would not go to such a terrible event but there will not be a place that we can have orcs interacting with elves.
I wonder if a travelling fair might work with three stops, Umbar, Tharbad and Minas Tirith (Bree and Edoras could alternate with Minas Tirith and Tharbad to mix things up). This allows one week for each faction and one with some overlap, with a 3 week cycle.
If Umbar is to be used I would have to suggest against the Temple except on Religious holidays. Umbar, being the greatest city in all of Arda has much to offer, fine inns and brothels and a beautiful palace (did I mention I work for their tourist board ? Try the sea food, you'll love it :cheese: ).
What would be perfect would be if factions could be disabled for the time of the fair so it could visit every city in Arda and everyone could attend.
I must admit this still leaves Orcs and goblins a bit out of the loop, but they are not the most social of characters to start with and are few in number.
The fair could also include aspects of the arena and other events (Valen and Marlynna could prove once and for all who the best archer is:rocket: ) It might add nicely for character developement and reputations "Watch out for her/him , they won the x contest 5 times in a row.
I do see advantages to having something at a Neutral place all the time, but some variation would be nice just to show off the server.
I certainly would be happy with many of the other suggestions, but I like the fair best.

[Avalyn]

This looks like a job for the epic playwright.... VILLIAM SHAKESWORDE! :P

I did host a social event with him before, which had poetry reading, a fashion show (and contest for best design, judged by Mr Shakesworde and 2 neutral parties :P), and a production of Villiams Debut play 'Playing with Fire'

And on the subject, games of a competitive nature that allow for reputations have, in the past, been subject to players making powermongering builds just to be the best, and it encourages the 'Im better than you' approach to the game, which I have always personally found annoying (Unless I do it, and thats because its true :P).

And Cindi, there wouldnt happen to be a reason you want it in Umbar more than the other cities would there? :P

[Cindi Angelheart]

Are you implying I am biased ? Thats just crazy talk :talk: . Actually, I wouldnt want it used more than any other place or we arent showing of the server.

[Silverleaf]

*shrugs* Tharbad is always the best place to host.

This looks like a job for the epic playwright.... VILLIAM SHAKESWORDE!
I'd love to see the last login date for that one. :P