The Forum

[quote="FOXO_STORE"]...I would write something really quite nice and even thought provoking. Over 6 years ago this server was released and you'll notice that on Somadev - there's lots of custom made maps, even skins and items and frankly they were ignored. This server was released as a wing-and-a-prair to be like the original, but improved and developed on. That's a serious decision, to throw your hat in the ring and say, I'm not competing with other servers, it needs to be for everyone, it needs to be like the original. That says a lot about the GM's and their intention, they wanted the game to hold people, to create a community and for people to enjoy it. It wasn't stupid speeds either, it was about longevity. Devil Soma, though having been neglected up until recently had some huge changes brought about by Finito and Ghostlord. Human Soma had various additions but it must have been sublime to those that played right from the start of this server. And I bet there wasn't half as much gutter-shouts and baiting. (Of course it existed though). Crafting in Devil Soma? Amazeballs! The chance to reconnect with players and guilds (Sabretooth, Shaka, Flesh, Ravensoul, Kalestone, Freddie_08, Lareska, Markiss and many many more - wonder if MadManta ever made it back here) from 2000-2005 ish back when MSN and ICQ ruled the web is great. They thoughtfully removed and disabled The Abyss that was already setup - had items, weapons and armors, monsters and said "This wasn't good enough" and "This is one of Somas mistakes" (It was). If you ask anyone who has seen a Soma server in action, nothing is "easy" to do. Yes alright once your familiar with SQL server and know the table structures you only then get an idea of how the game hangs together but you'll only see maybe 15% of the magic. Its then understanding "why" something "is this way" and not another way. Something mostly playing the game explains for you if you pay attention enough. iSylver and Finito were smart enough to leave a lot of that alone because it was very specifically setup on a mob per mob basis. They redesigned the mob spawn system entirely (notice that when a monster dies, its last couple frames of animation will replay after its respawned...). and removed rogue timer spawned mobs that guaranteed a drop - yes that was a thing, thanks eSoma GM's, no wonder i was so poor all the time. We've all been really quick to criticize Finito and iSylver in the past but we have much more to be thankful for. I've seen over the years people associate iSylver as "Hitler" but people also don't realise that to moderate a community and game fairly and widely, its no different to management and team leadership in a real job. It can be a real lonely place to do well and properly. This game needs that though - you have to have a wall that doesn't move and says "This isnt good enough guys, step it up please" so the community keeps acting like one. Otherwise world shout and abuse goes too far as we know. I'm sure iSylver will admit to not being right 100% of the time. In fact I'm sure hes lost patience countless times and we should give him a break on that. But until someone wants to step up to that plate and can be trusted to help him do it, that'll continue until he thinks it isn't worth it anymore. No one likes or appreciates referees in football and look at how much controversy they get involved in compared to 30 years ago but they do a really important job and do it well 99% of the time(unless its premier league ;p). Likewise, Finito, perhaps known for being somewhat invisible, and isn't a peoples person - we have seen so much passion there for a game that has long since died, he even fixed a bug for one of my community events (couldn't run into a spot you feathered from) amongst a whole raft of things. He keeps trying to develop the game all by himself and his builds keep going wrong because of how the game was built, so long ago versus newer versions of Visual Studio. This guy would have sunk thousands of hours into this game, same for iSylver. We're talking about literal game development before custom frameworks really existed and applications were "thrown together" that makes application development easier now days. This is hard stuff with functions being deprecated every so often. Neither are professional developers or game masters and do it mostly for free. Talking about editing the games maps and creating new ones, who would have thought making a map would take hundreds of hours to do a good one from scratch - in a tool that is buggy and broken - but you know, I'm doing it because I want to put something back into it and something I care deeply for, and I think most of you reading this are here because of that feeling too. (Lets face it, if you wanted wall to wall action, fast paced gaming, you could be on hundreds if not thousands of games, MMOs, FPSs, other Isometric Onine RPGs to get it). If there was any financial incentive for Finito or iSylver, I actually don't think i really care (and I've donated several times) as I feel i got the most of this game, time and time again. In fact looking at how the community reacts when its mentioned, they don't care either. In recent times I've come to the conclusion that sometimes Finito and iSylver are not doing anything because they get a lot of mixed reception and views to things and the VT group was there to try and harmonise that - to unparalyze things. Now onto the VT group, it was started by me and Chojine - it wasn't looked on in the positive way a lot of us, including me expected. We saw interactions with GM's slowing down and the UC drop and things stall - and felt as a group we wanted to help save our game from the inevitable, we also had things to offer, I suggested Chojine lead the group and nominate who he wanted. Though some people saw it as a power grab and lots of "fighting for position" and some controversy ensued for several months internally - its all done with now. I think the group would agree. This was always going to happen, no matter who formed it and nominated it though. In a positive way, it showed how much passion people had for the game, throughout the community. But it has left a 'lull'. A release came and several changes for Halloween and some big topics discussed but in the mean time people walked away, new faces came but most importantly its that group has settled now. That motivation and enthusiasm has dropped by these guys. They don't know if its worth it anymore, they've forgotten some of the creativity and fun it allows and most worryingly of all, don't think you care either. Lets take it back to basics guys, drop the rowing and infighting and just enjoy the game whilst we have it and remind iSylver, Finito and the VT group why they did this in the first place. Lets work on fixing this game and taking it up a notch for 2020. Happy Xmas and New Year. Best wishes. Foxeh [/quote]

[quote="ZUZU"]Good post and agree with it all, In my opinion we need to find a way to get players back, increase the UC Which may mean a content patch, doesn't need to be huge, but something that makes those players currently retired want to log in and give it a go. [/quote]

[quote="CYA"] Yo Foxey mate glad you are still around Always love reading what your opinion on the state of affairs is.[/quote]

[quote="CHOPTIMUS"]Double the drops and loads will come back... Simple[/quote]

[quote="GENTRY"][quote="CHOPTIMUS"]Double the drops and loads will come back... Simple[/quote] Idk but whenever double drops comes it doesn't feel like double, it feels like way more than double because after double drop absolutely nothing drops lol. I know it's RNG and over the double drop weekend I was blessed by BLG every hunt with at least a few herbs and eggs, but now I get nothing except barr and the occasional herb every 10k dura on my knuckss[/quote]

[quote="OPENTHEDOOR"]I’ve said many times if you want to get good players back, you need to make changes that people who have left want to see and will make them return. You need to get people who have left onto your team. You won’t get anyone back unless you do the basics above. [/quote]

[quote="CARNAGE"][quote="OPENTHEDOOR"]I’ve said many times if you want to get good players back, you need to make changes that people who have left want to see and will make them return. You need to get people who have left onto your team. You won’t get anyone back unless you do the basics above. [/quote] A fair amount wouldn't return anyway simply because they've just out grown the game regardless of how many updates get added. Not being negative but that's how it is. [/quote]

[quote="EVOLVE"][quote="CHOPTIMUS"]Double the drops and loads will come back... Simple[/quote] This ;p [/quote]

[quote="KAZOKU"]Its not even a double the drops tho imo, stuff drops, it just tends to be the items that aint usfull Since dsoma drop increase iv noticed a diff on drops, been getting somthing each hunt, but that somthing a visionless vial, untaged magic def access Stuff thats not realy usfull, or had any sort of value to be able to trade, the usfull drops could do with a slightly upping Or even throw stuff on mobs to promote trading, dsoma feral walkers for example have nothing melee class's want Due to elder mags theres quite afew new tabs about, but iv got nothing to trade for them[/quote]

[quote="BLIGHT"]Brilliant post, for me the only bad thing about this game is the change in pace from a marathon to a sprint, I dunno if everyone left is just super hardcore and are PvP obsessed but everything seems to revolve around pk, in the early days on my first char it was a journey, sure you had guys racing for cap and items but the majority of us enjoyed the hunting new mobs crafting tagged 50 skill weps and gathering bones I left for a few years came back and it was just pk obsessed and a 2 guild game.[/quote]

[quote="RAVENSOUL"][quote="BLIGHT"]Brilliant post, for me the only bad thing about this game is the change in pace from a marathon to a sprint, I dunno if everyone left is just super hardcore and are PvP obsessed but everything seems to revolve around pk, in the early days on my first char it was a journey, sure you had guys racing for cap and items but the majority of us enjoyed the hunting new mobs crafting tagged 50 skill weps and gathering bones I left for a few years came back and it was just pk obsessed and a 2 guild game.[/quote] The journey is what Soma is all about, some are under the impression it’s about the end but sadly these players are the ones that miss out on and have absolutely no idea what Soma is. The ability to hunt all mobs will help to show what the real Soma is. There will always be a 2 guild game or 2 sides however you wish to call it,until a guild steps up and shows it has a back bone and that it won’t be intimidated by any of the big 2 from having to pick a side or be hunted off the server. Until then enjoy the boring guild village wars of passing it to each other.[/quote]

[quote="CARNAGE"]It's about the journey but you're talking about a journey that's knocking on what 20 years old? After a certain point some people stop wanting to take the marathon approach because it's repetitive.[/quote]

[quote="SIVAX"]A light flickers brightly before it goes out. [/quote]

[quote="SOMCHAI"][quote="SIVAX"]A light flickers brightly before it goes out. [/quote] I'm sorry you feel like this about your own life.[/quote]

[quote="SIVAX"][quote="SOMCHAI"][quote="SIVAX"]A light flickers brightly before it goes out. [/quote] I'm sorry you feel like this about your own life.[/quote] My apologies, I just don't have many nice things to say about this game anymore after being suspended for botting when I don't actually bot. The GMs are ruining the game. [/quote]