Cormyr, has lost it's reason to transfer to. 50% of new players leave, why?

[Lagin]

I do not like polls, but this topic needs to be addressed.
With 64 to 64 bit transfers on the horizon and the servers status being changed 3 times in 2025, I agree with posts in other threads Cormyr's future looks bleak.
What can be done to keep Cormyr becoming a 64 bit Wayfinder?

What it DOES have... the smoothest running server, 95% less lag than any other server. Default server status.

We all know there never be a separate Hardcore server, and 64 bit tech allows them to have HC-like events, so I'm leaving that option out of the poll.

The downside to being the default server, retention. I've seen thousands, yes thousands of players come to Cormyr, only to get blind invites from guilds that do NOT teach them, help establish friendships and bonds that help with retention.
What a few guilds have done with blind invites to new players on Korthos or the Keep makes it even worse. What good does recruiting a new player with no support do to the servers long-term health?

 

[saekee]

Perhaps there might be Hardcore servers in which essentially the season rotates between the 64bit ones. That would create a surge in each. I would start with Cormyr

 

[KirThalos Ravencrest]

Cormyr has less lag due to a smaller pop. If people flood to it, so too does the lag.

 

[Coffey]

The player base is not responsible for new player retention. I gave up a long time ago. It is exhausting helping people learn this game only to have them leave after a short period of time.

This game is stupidly time consuming to learn compared to most games. It does everything backwards to bring in and retain new players. It also has a track record of pissing off long time players with nerfs who were comfortable with their longtime favorite builds.

Cormyr has a light on the problems with new player retention. The game has always failed out of a form of population control (IMO) and now they have made headway in combating lag so i would expect there will be some attention given to retaining new and returning players for any chance of long term continuance.

They need to have a lot of things automated (as an opt in) for character builds while new players level (level up pathing, feats, spell choices, stat choices, skill choices, auto-toggles, enhancements, new active enhancements or feats need to be auto-placed on Hotbars, Hotbars should be also have a predetermined number and placement as well, quest pathing to entrance, tutorials etc).

This should be done for a major Update.

Edit: Keep GATHERYOURPARTY2025 ongoing.

 

[KirThalos Ravencrest]

The best way to open this game up for new players is a proper tutorial system that TEACHES you how things work. Not just a text box dump of words.

Make all adventure packs free forever. (Refund those that bought them there DDO points back, just so that group doesn't get offended for "wasting money".)
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Remove the cash shop incentive that's pushed, the game even has quests that REQUIRE cash shop items, not a good look to new people.
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Incentivize vet players to help new players with a mentor system ala FFXIV has. Reward vets that take the time to help new players learn the ropes, either in bonus DDO points, a cosmetic item, or even a tier based system, so the more you help, the more you earn reward wise.
====================================================================================
Lessen the grind. let's be honest, to get every past life earned, takes years for a casual player, if they even want to go for it. It's a slog. Reduce the grind needed for it, yes, this does make those who did the full grind "Seem like they wasted their time". Oh well, I'm apart of that group, and I do not care. Let the new generation of players have a catch up mechanic/system implemented.
====================================================================================
Give new players incentives to play. Similar to a veteran reward system, give new players a little reward system for playing. Yes, the free favor DDO points are nice, but not much of an incentive imo. No I don't know what, obviously, and no I don't also mean BiS raid gear with filigrees filled out fully. But maybe a mount, something, anything to give them a reason to want to play, and have a goal to aim for.

 

[Owlbear]

Just keep things how they are. The 3 US servers will never all have the same player amount. One will always be the least popular.

 

[Epicsoul]

What it DOES have... the smoothest running server, 95% less lag than any other server. Default server status.

I've seen thousands, yes thousands of players come to Cormyr

....

press x to doubt

EDIT to actually contribute to the topic: It's not even a year since the transfers. I understand concerns when 64 bit to 64 bit opens up, but I think longer term Cormyr will be fine. I think the player base numbers will stay closely the same as now, and future population can be addressed with default server status.

 

[Dude]

Keeping the open status is the only real option from this list.

How would you even revert to a fresh start server? Unless you're talking about a complete server wipe, that ship has sailed.

What would removing the default status even do? That just means the default would be some other server.

 

[Kimbere]

 

[FaceDancer]

Hmm.... well unfortunately Cormyr seems to have the VIP taint to it. I'm not sure what that is, but it has it.

I would agree that it runs pretty well (except when it doesn't). This is typical of most of the servers though! There's also the caveat that it does not have the numbers that the other Merican servers have, so that should be considered as well.

My Magic 8-Ball said it's too soon to get overly apprehensive about this and to un-bunch your knickers. Transfers will tell the tale.

I'm with Epicsoul though. Everything will be fine.

 

[Sagastar]

There's a lot of new players on Cormyr where I am based, you can tell because they have quests at the wrong level range to keep their elite streak and they post questions. Idm answering, was a new player once myself. The game is complex and designed to make players rely on each other, evidenced by the quests and the different roles required for a full quest experience i.e. secret doors, traps, runes. stat dependant levers ect. Many long time players don't want to help others. I used to see it in lfm's all the time: will not babysit. These are the players that leave imo. I think they have lost the spirit of the game, which is comradery.

 

[rabidfox]

you can tell because they have quests at the wrong level range to keep their elite streak

Elite streak hasn't been a thing for years. Base + 2 for bravery bonus exists, but for next players going base + 3 is often worthwhile if it helps them up the difficulty.

 

[Lagin]

My point of this thread is to bring attention to how Cormyr has been kicked around by SSG. (even with good intentions) There are quite a few people that have built toons there with intent to migrate to another server. Right now with all things being considered Cormyr will indeed lose IMHO 25% of its veteran population.
So much for our "flagship status"

 

[Qrvar]

Every server heck every MMO has guilds throwing blind invites and I'm not really sure if and why anyone joins those. I also kind of fail to see whether and how that ultimately affects server populations. The 'default' server status does, meaning you get more new players but also more leavers.

If you feel like the players are leaving because they are not getting enough guidance, maybe set up your own guild for new players to offer that guidance, or maybe even a custom channel for new player advice, if a guild is too much commitment.

 

[kmoustakas]

Cormyr is the worst server and the only reason people went there was for the event. After that it serves no purpose.

As soon as they open 64-64 transfers, Cormyr will be more empty than wayfinder ever was

 

[Sylvado]

The best way to open this game up for new players is a proper tutorial system that TEACHES you how things work. Not just a text box dump of words.

Make all adventure packs free forever. (Refund those that bought them there DDO points back, just so that group doesn't get offended for "wasting money".)
====================================================================================
Remove the cash shop incentive that's pushed, the game even has quests that REQUIRE cash shop items, not a good look to new people.
====================================================================================
Incentivize vet players to help new players with a mentor system ala FFXIV has. Reward vets that take the time to help new players learn the ropes, either in bonus DDO points, a cosmetic item, or even a tier based system, so the more you help, the more you earn reward wise.
====================================================================================
Lessen the grind. let's be honest, to get every past life earned, takes years for a casual player, if they even want to go for it. It's a slog. Reduce the grind needed for it, yes, this does make those who did the full grind "Seem like they wasted their time". Oh well, I'm apart of that group, and I do not care. Let the new generation of players have a catch up mechanic/system implemented.
====================================================================================
Give new players incentives to play. Similar to a veteran reward system, give new players a little reward system for playing. Yes, the free favor DDO points are nice, but not much of an incentive imo. No I don't know what, obviously, and no I don't also mean BiS raid gear with filigrees filled out fully. But maybe a mount, something, anything to give them a reason to want to play, and have a goal to aim for.

Make all quests free is the business model you are proposing?

 

[Sagastar]

Elite streak hasn't been a thing for years. Base + 2 for bravery bonus exists, but for next players going base + 3 is often worthwhile if it helps them up the difficulty.

 

[Vox]

Here's my vote for 'other'

Free transfers off & take a page out of PoE's book, turn it it into a seasonal HC league server wiping to fresh start every few months.

As it would be a persistent server, include an additional 'all time' leader board which gets updated with each season

 

[Qrvar]

Make all quests free is the business model you are proposing?

Most modern games offer all content but the latest big expansion for free or at least as part of a reasonably priced package, not nickle'n'dime players charging 100s of USD for 10+ year old content. Nobody is gonna stick around once they find out that 95% of the game is behind and paywall, that is if they even decide to stick around because the low-level free quests are some of the oldest and least enticing in the game.

In the past, this is where the VIP sub would come in, offering essentially "trial" access to all content for a reasonable fee. But for years now, VIP can no longer fill that role because it doesn't give access to some of the most relevant content that most current players have gotten years ago, for free or at a heavy discount.

 

[kmoustakas]

Here's my vote for 'other'

Free transfers off & take a page out of PoE's book, turn it it into a seasonal HC league server wiping to fresh start every few months.

As it would be a persistent server, include an additional 'all time' leader board which gets updated with each season

That's actually a great idea