When making a server, don't forget what got you into Tibia

[zbizu]

not the 1:1 copy of the rl map
not the game version
not the advanced systems
not the much rpg low rates thing
not the microtransactions for the best set in game
not the pvp or the dominando
not the grind
not the botted level 500
not even the balanced gameplay

It was the fun. Look at yurots engine and tell me how complex scripts you can write with it. Almost nothing - most of them are actions, most of methods didn't exist at all.

What did the server owners do to attract the players? They made the content. They made training monks, they made custom monsters, spells, items, vocations, places that could force you to fight your way out. They were adjusting the attackspeed, removing the exhausts, ammo/potion costs. They used pvp arena coded to load from xml. A npc that could walk was some next level coding. Most of things could be obtained from fighting your way to reach a chest or exploring some secret area in a custom map that included somewhat familiar city. A raid that could give some unique loot (or not unique) was also fun too. A guild could be created through speaking with a npc, no one needed a website.

What do we have now? Struggle to be the strongest guild on the server, often reinforced with the power of microtransactions, preys, charms, imbuing, market, addons, mounts, tons of events and systems that took weeks to code in order to give 5 minutes of entertainment. Same quests repeated every few months because every server is the exact copy of another.

You may play a retro server, but if it's ran in a modern server style, it won't feel the same either. The old version servers are still being hosted, but the spirit died because no one is trying to have fun anymore.

 

[Svetrey]

Thousand likes

 

[Fresh]

 

[dedos]

 

[Evil Puncker]

I remember having fun like I never had after that

simOne map editor
windows notepad to edit the few scripts
xml player and account files
being hacked every time because old AAC had lots of exploits
wasting lots of time to edit the map and it still ugly as fuck but funny as hell
no tp rooms shit
no donation at all, NONE
having lag issues because playing server in same pc as host
just pure and simple gameplay, no advanced shit
etc etc

 

[Silba]

Exactly! Client version meant almost nothing back then, a 7.6 server was just 7.4 with new sprites and wands that don't work. Everything was fun because every server was different. Active 'intrusive' GMs, a GOD who always accidentally killed you but compensated you. Helping the owner with some scripts and maybe sneaking in some exploits... all good fun.

Now, almost every server is the same style and feels the same regardless of client, exp stages etc. GMs have been reverse banned from playing their own ots too which is just pathetic. If a server advertises as 7.x then they must have the exact CIP CLONE HAX 69420 features or it's a low quality ot bla bla bla.

I hope my Bygone projects fulfil this fun feeling starting with Bygone Illusion 7.6. I used to be quite pessimistic about the community but after hosting the original bugged to fuck Illusion 7.6 files (14-16 years old) I saw a spark in the community and it has inspired me.

 

[Erick Etchebeur]

Great Thread! But what about develop games using the OT/TFS framework and not just servers?

 

[SorketROrk]

It's hard work to make a good server alone, people should learn to teamwork and stick with it to release good quality.

Also I dont think it's a good idea to take the easy way and copy majority of content from others.. make something unique!

 

[teka123]

Everything has a cause and an effect. It was us who led to what the servers look like now and what the OTSERV scene looks like. Back in the day, servers were made out of passion, you could see how people survive and are proud to own such a server. Back in the day, the main idea was to entertain the players as well as themselves, and no one thought too much about getting fortune from the servers. There were also known "large servers" that had a fixed number of players and it was a large active community that required more involvement and experience in running this type of servers, you could buy something there, but mainly it was Pacc, maybe a few items, though mostly it was Pacc. RL Map servers were rare because the maps did not contain many areas of the game, often the map areas were cut off, and it really would take a long time to fix it all (I'm talking about the map), not to mention the scripts. It used to be fun for us, because a lot of things were new, otserv was just in its infancy, hardly anyone knew about any major modifications to the game engine, and all the successful changes were something special. Today it is very rare to meet enthusiasts who want to bring joy to someone else. There are times right, those who create their own unique servers, but mostly these servers do not resemble Tibia anymore. RPG servers? Not only are they created for a very long time, the map is too large and most do not want to look or go to a place that they have seen somewhere, because mainly RPG servers have individual places copied from some other servers in places where the player will only see after some time he will let go because he has achieved too much. RL Map? A pair of 7.4 servers, which almost everyone has their own modification by changing the climate. Newer versions? Season tickets, with a rich game store, where from time to time (for those overwhelmed servers) they update with RL. People play there because there are just more people playing there than in rl, exp grows a little faster (rl also grows fast), and pacc is free. You don't even know how much I would like an old server that once meant something to come back, but now would we be able to look at it the same way we used to? I doubt ...

 

[Silba]

Everything has a cause and an effect. It was us who led to what the servers look like now and what the OTSERV scene looks like.

We definitely guided it however it's very ignorant to think that there's not a bunch of assholes strong arming and trying to control things for profit.

It is the way it is because they want it this way, end of story really. Not much different to the real world.

 

[Printer]

I remember having fun like I never had after that

simOne map editor
windows notepad to edit the few scripts
xml player and account files
being hacked every time because old AAC had lots of exploits
wasting lots of time to edit the map and it still ugly as fuck but funny as hell
no tp rooms shit
no donation at all, NONE
having lag issues because playing server in same pc as host
just pure and simple gameplay, no advanced shit
etc etc

FYI i still use Notepad to create/edit scripts

 

[oen432]

Shitty PC and download speed got me into this game, nothing else.

 

[Marko999x]

I kinda miss the old good simple evolution ots.

 

[Rexxar]

To be honest, I think this is partially CIPSoft/Tibia's fault.

Tibia itself used to be about adventure and community, basically D&D in 2D.
Sure it was hardcore, but it had heart, and the community made up for it.

Modern Tibia is all about revenue. It no longer has a heart, and it shows in the game.
They don't add content with the intent of awe and exploration, they add it to give people another reason to grind.

And the grind? You grind so that you can grind, and get offered band-aids to make the grind less grindy.

Want to grind offline? Sure you can, if you pay for it.
Want to grind faster than others? Of course, the limit is your wallet.
Want a fancy looking house without any effort? Sure, pay us.
Want to avoid blessings entirely? Sure, pay us.
Want to travel faster? Sure, pay us.
Want to look different? Pay us.
Want potions? Pay us.
Want runes? Pay us.


That toxic attitude has leaked into the OTS community;
People setting up servers not to make a great experience, but to make money.

It's the "Mobile Games" syndrome. And I hate it.

 

[HalfAway]

Damn, I remember the times when playing a Yurots waaaaayback, was mad fun.

 

[Landera]

And yet when u have a server like that its still empty

 

[Marko999x]

And yet when u have a server like that its still empty

1+

 

[Damon]

I remember having fun like I never had after that

simOne map editor
windows notepad to edit the few scripts
xml player and account files
being hacked every time because old AAC had lots of exploits
wasting lots of time to edit the map and it still ugly as fuck but funny as hell
no tp rooms shit
no donation at all, NONE
having lag issues because playing server in same pc as host
just pure and simple gameplay, no advanced shit
etc etc

XML player and account files... memories Q.Q


My first OTS was probably Agoina by @Merrok . Great times back then... Oh, the memories.

@HalfAway YurOTS. Those were the days... Maybe I will set one up on local host raspberry pi, or a cheap cloud vm to play alone/with friends.

 

[Landera]

XML player and account files... memories Q.Q


My first OTS was probably Agoina by @Merrok . Great times back then... Oh, the memories.

@HalfAway YurOTS. Those were the days... Maybe I will set one up on local host raspberry pi, or a cheap cloud vm to play alone/with friends.

Can I be your friend then

 

[Damon]

Can I be your friend then

Probably not gonna happen before I finish my semester abroad in Spain and come back to Germany in early September. Maybe then ping me again Will really be for only a few ppl if I make it "public-facing" though. Even a small VM can amount to some 30-40$/year. Also gonna add accounts for the players manually via xml/account manager (no AAC) or smth like that to reduce vulnerability to attacks to a minimum.