State of custom servers over the years

[AnOldGuy]

Hi,

In recent years, there seems to be a stronger shift in server development from focusing on being a Real Map to basing on the Real Map but adding more custom changes. This trend deepens with new mechanics, maps, and quests. This trend also applies to servers not typically identified as "custom servers."

Examples of such servers include:

• Realera
• Realesta
• Tibiascape
• Darkrest
• Soe
• Miracle
• And many more.

Is it the right time to build a server that relies less (or not at all) on the Real Map?
We lack many examples of fully custom, slow-paced, low-rate servers that were popular (assuming above 200 players).

What do you think?
I’ve always enjoyed playing on totally custom servers, but for some reason, they never seemed to stand out (or maybe I just missed those moments).



--
[Excluding evo servers, as my interests are closer to slow development than this type of server]

 

[Erexo]

We lack many examples of fully custom, slow-paced, low-rate servers that were popular

anime servers are as good as ever sometimes with 400+ players online and for some reason those types of servers are completely omitted here on otland

 

[Stanos]

anime servers are as good as ever sometimes with 400+ players online and for some reason those types of servers are completely omitted here on otland

Spitting facts

 

[AnOldGuy]

anime servers are as good as ever sometimes with 400+ players online and for some reason those types of servers are completely omitted here on otland

Spitting facts

You're right. I wasn't precise enough.
I'm talking more about a Tibia-like server than Naruto/Dragon Ball/Other anime servers; these are just not my thing.

 

[ecounlimited]

Personally, I migrated my project from a 100% custom map to the RL map (with custom changes as you said) for 2 reasons:

1. I felt like it would be much harder to convince players to give my project a try if it looks way too custom
2. Creating an entire map from scratch by myself will take a very long time when I can instead focus on enhancing the map that already exists

I see lots of successful servers like you mentioned with these "semi-custom" maps, so yeah, I think it's a safe path while giving you the freedom to try new stuff. I might be projecting in my decision because I always felt like a totally custom OT was a risk to start playing because it's either really good (e.g. Pokemon OTS) or really bad (some whacky teleporter 999x non-serious server). I'm also a fan of slow-paced servers though.