I'd like to take a moment to give you some more insight as to why and how we are doing these GM events. The idea behind GM events is to have more interaction between the NCsoft staff and the players while at the same time creating a fun and rewarding experience. In the past, we have buffed players in town (that was our first approach) and ran a quiz games where you could win some vitality. We experimented a lot during the last PTS with some good results. Our first "real" GM event was Elpies from the Past, which had mixed results on the technical side of things, but overall was a positive and a very good learning experience for us.
This Halloween GM Event is a bit different from that last one, in that it is more of a personal experience. We have a few moments to talk with participants, maybe spare a few jokes and a dance, and participants are given a fun event with really good rewards. But the trick (no pun intended) is that not everyone will get to participate because we have limited resources and can only cater to a certain number of players at the same time. Out of this event, maybe a few hundred players will get to participate in total (also keep in mind we wouldn't be able to offer such good rewards if more players participated). You should take this event as a bonus to your usual playing schedule, something that can come up unexpectedly. Trying to force your way into the event is not encouraged because of the reasons mentioned above and I understand your frustration but please consider this: Would you rather have a chance of participating into something really cool or none at all?
I think so far everyone that had a chance to participate really enjoyed their experience. I'm sorry for those who didn't, but don't despair-- there are still 2 more days to go and who knows maybe we'll do it again in the future. My point is it should be an improvement to your regular game play experience and not a hindrance. In the end, if what we have provided is a hindrance to players, we will stop these type of events. Our goal is to enhance your gaming experience, not hinder it.
As far as the event schedule goes, the truth is that only very few staff members have the clearance level that is required to run these events. These people already have a tight agenda so trying to fit a GM event schedule that would satisfy every Lineage II player in the game is unfortunately not realistic. This time we could only do 3 days but we thought it was still worth it. This is also why we are offering a special Halloween item (the Jack O'Lantern) to every player so that even if you don’t get to participate in the GM event you are still getting something for Halloween. No Revita-Pop this year but something even better is coming next week… ;)
Lastly, starting today we will be looking everywhere on the map, not just in open fields.
See, a simple post like this will save you a ton of complaint threads later. You can pacify most of the playerbase by just taking the time out of your day to give an explaination or two.
Thanks for the info and the teaser about next week.
(hopefully you didn't just inadvertently over-hype it like NBC did with "The Event")
we allready know all that,but as u know u ll never find a satisfy comunity,always som1 gona need more some1 less etc etc.
on the other hand the presentation of this event is much more than what we excpect,maybe thats why.all ppl think they can be full of revitas etc etc :)
ps)all map i hope u include fortress olso for those who farm KE or Fame :D
As far as the event schedule goes, the truth is that only very few staff members have the clearance level that is required to run these events. These people already have a tight agenda so trying to fit a GM event schedule that would satisfy every Lineage II player in the game is unfortunately not realistic. This time we could only do 3 days but we thought it was still worth it. This is also why we are offering a special Halloween item (the Jack O'Lantern) to every player so that even if you don’t get to participate in the GM event you are still getting something for Halloween. No Revita-Pop this year but something even better is coming next week… ;)
Lastly, starting today we will be looking everywhere on the map, not just in open fields.
Happy Halloween!
If you can't bring enough for everyone don't bring it all IMO
Now we are getting somewhere, and now im not so mad at GMs atleats they explained themselves :) but yes Cryo consider Christmas Events topic :) maybe we will see something like that in future too :P
but yeah if not enough can make time, then do instanced events lolz
not everyone will get to participate because we have limited resources and can only cater to a certain number of players at the same time.
As far as the event schedule goes, the truth is that only very few staff members have the clearance level that is required to run these events. These people already have a tight agenda
Translation:
"Since the merge, we had to fire 90% of the GMs in order to cut down operating costs, so, please don't expect too much from our remaining GMs (all two of them)."
"Since the merge, we had to fire 90% of the GMs in order to cut down operating costs, so, please don't expect too much from our remaining GMs (all two of them)."
No, translation would be: Not every one of the GMs have builder level high enough to summon the mobs needed to do the event. Enjoy the chance to have a shot at getting uber rewards, and quit QQing so much.
No Revita-Pop this year but something even better is coming next week
Jack Sage comes to Town?!??!!?
in regards to the Halloween event, speaking as one who managed to "trick or treat" a elpy, it was a fun player/GM interaction which i hadn't seen in game before (being someone whos played retail since beta).
the fact we are going through so many events these days shouldn't upset people that they didnt get a chance to participate in this event. please dont let a few negative comments deter additional gm events like this occurring in the future.
"Since the merge, we had to fire 90% of the GMs in order to cut down operating costs, so, please don't expect too much from our remaining GMs (all two of them)."
We have the same level of staff we had before the merge. Please do not try to spread false rumors.
i think the real thing to do is to make a poll and ask is it a hinderance or not to our game play?
annouce it in the game to vote on the poll. That will give u ur answer as to whether u should run these types of events or not.
I for 1 think its a HUGE hinderance.
Just like for the last GM event, there will be a feedback survey for this one as well. It won't be posted until a couple of days after the event ends. Commentary in threads and on forums is, of course, included in our overall assessment of player feedback, but the survey also provides statistics in a more direct manner.
We have the same level of staff we had before the merge. Please do not try to spread false rumors.
Ok I stand corrected. Congrats on managing to keep all the GMs. All two (or three) of them. :)
Also, thanks for refuting the roumor about NCNA being severely understaffed. Now, we can finally see nothing prevents you from updating the official site and doing other important things in time. ;)
Ok I stand corrected. Congrats on managing to keep all the GMs. All two (or three) of them. :)
Also, thanks for refuting the roumor about NCNA being severely understaffed. Now, we can finally see nothing prevents you from updating the official site and doing other important things in time. ;)
Don't see how it could be 90% considering 100% do nothing. But occasional break from Facebook to copy and paste a response or summon an elpy...just my opinion
If you can't bring enough for everyone don't bring it all IMO
At first I thought like you but then after reading carefully, I realized that its just like every other event, the difference is that this event is this or nothing. For example, last event there was a chance of getting a weapon.... I opened over 5000 tigers and got no weapon.... A clannie opened less than 100 and got a dynasty weapon....
There has been tons of events where epics are offered on a very very low chance and I haven't even heard of anyone getting them and yet no one complained because they were still participating on the event.....
As far as advice to the event, since the chance of participating is so low I would have done it during the previous event... May be look at groups opening tigers (full 9 mans) or stuff like that. I think that way it will be like any other event where apart from the regular event bonus, you get the extra from the gm......
I think that what ****** ppl off the most is that there is something going on and you cannot participate, but its not like this event came after 3 weeks of no event and its the only Halloween event... we just came off an event and this should be normal.....
The only real criticism that can't be made is that since its the only thing going on, all the attention is on this, and the ones that are able to change their schedule around have done so in order to be able to play during the hours where the event takes place. Since they made an effort to change their schedule to be able to at least get a chance to participate, its natural they will be ****** if they do not get to participate..... In other words, I understand that you guys follow a work schedule (9 to 5) but assigning set times already prevents a lot of ppl from even getting a chance to participate and causes others to change their scheudle around...... you say you don't want to interfere with the normal routines but by having such big of a window on a set time frame always on the same day you are "forcing" / "encouraging" players to log on / play during those times which they might not normally play.
TagHeuerAt first I thought like you but then after reading carefully, I realized that its just like every other event, the difference is that this event is this or nothing. For example, last event there was a chance of getting a weapon.... I opened over 5000 tigers and got no weapon.... A clannie opened less than 100 and got a dynasty weapon....
There has been tons of events where epics are offered on a very very low chance and I haven't even heard of anyone getting them and yet no one complained because they were still participating on the event.....
Yes but on the last event everyone had a chance 100% of the server had a chanc
if it's so rare and exclusive then why advertise it so much? event description hinted that it's just like regular event where everything is done automatically rather than by hand of a few GM with clearance.
sure the event title told it's a GM event, and that's why I personally never took it seriously, but some people who are frustrated apparently didn't get the GM part.
Yes but on the last event everyone had a chance 100% of the server had a chanc
well you have 100% chance if you play on those hours.... you have the same chance of going with the gm as the chance you got before of getting an epic or a weapon, the difference is that you are not opening chests or boxes in order to get your chance....
Well as u said u'rself , u'r resources are verry limited in u'r personal
So for now i would put off such event, people will feel left out or
stood up too much this way.
Just continue more normal events for now, and for future if u want to organize such gm based events best organize it on :
Friday - saturday and sunday and at the 2 ends of the day like 9 am and 9 pm.
So u can catch every player, as well the ones at work school as nightshifts.
But personally i'd prefer normal events so i can just play when i feel like it and not have to say
**** i'm missign it cuz of real life...
All those who complain about that they will get nothing from this event: if you think that you SHOULD get something, then it's a good way to give you NOTHING. After merge we are experiencing really improved GM communication with us, support is faster and problems are being resolved. For this moment you are still complaining, complaining, complaining... If it makes mad normal players, who don't bother with creating some fun for players, then I can imagine how irritiating it can be for GMs aka people working for you.
well you have 100% chance if you play on those hours.... you have the same chance of going with the gm as the chance you got before of getting an epic or a weapon, the difference is that you are not opening chests or boxes in order to get your chance....
Last event you hunt and got event items everyone did....this event only 100 or so poeple will get a chance.
organize such gm based events best organize it on :
Friday - saturday and sunday and at the 2 ends of the day like 9 am and 9 pm.
So u can catch every player, as well the ones at work school as nightshifts.
The problem with this is that these guys are employees. They are not the owners of the company or anything like that. They go to work in the morning and go back home in the afternoon. Doing it on those times implicates EXTRA TIME that needs to be approved by the company and needs that the GMs change their own personal schedule.
It might not be a super crazy idea but its something that if it happens it would probably happen once or twice a week at the most.
Last event you hunt and got event items everyone did....this event only 100 or so poeple will get a chance.
yeah but like I said, its not like you have not had an event in months... the event just finished..... I think the big mistake is to take this as a separate event, if you consider this part of the previous event it would not piss you off at all... the fact that is being marketed / portrayed as a separete event is what ****** most ppl off...
Cryo - the post you made needs to happen more often - if this was stated at the start of the event, especially since your team are the ones doing it, a lot of the QQ would not have happened.
yeah but like I said, its not like you have not had an event in months... the event just finished..... I think the big mistake is to take this as a separate event, if you consider this part of the previous event it would not piss you off at all... the fact that is being marketed / portrayed as a separete event is what ****** most ppl off...
True back to back event is great. all i am saying is don't make this event for just a hand few of people when we all pay the same amount
Well as u said u'rself , u'r resources are verry limited in u'r personal
So for now i would put off such event, people will feel left out or
stood up too much this way.
Just continue more normal events for now, and for future if u want to organize such gm based events best organize it on :
Friday - saturday and sunday and at the 2 ends of the day like 9 am and 9 pm.
So u can catch every player, as well the ones at work school as nightshifts.
But personally i'd prefer normal events so i can just play when i feel like it and not have to say
**** i'm missign it cuz of real life...
This is the first time ever that they have done and event like this. I do not blame them for the way they are doing it so that if something goes wrong they have all the staff on hand to take care of the problem.
Perhaps in the future, they will do them on a weekend or during other hours, but give them a break for the first time of doing an event they have never done before.
Good post, can I suggest a more clear announcement about the changing of where you are looking for players, rather than in the middle of a thread? Mainly as I want my field hunting spot back lmao
1. its my opinion its a hinderance. Sry but i get to have that. 2. cryo said that they would not run these events if enough ppl FELT it was a hinderance to game play. So if enuff ppl feel like me yes gm events would be stopped. Whats wrong with that? dont like being on the mirioty side? i can FEEL it is a hinderance to me for any reason i want. 3. and most important....
i already ate crow on saying i didnt read it properly.....
so shush already lol we just having fun and its just a game :)
actually I don't care any more for your low rate events .poising my time in game . The only thing that I care atm and killing me every day is : Give me back my 1000+ badges ........ feel.
cryo said that they would not run these events if enough ppl FELT it was a hinderance to game play. So if enuff ppl feel like me yes gm events would be stopped.
Allright you got me. GM interaction sucks! oh wait........
actually I don't care any more for your low rate events .poising my time in game . The only thing that I care atm and killing me every day is : Give me back my 1000+ badges ........ feel.
actually I don't care any more for your low rate events .poising my time in game . The only thing that I care atm and killing me every day is : Give me back my 1000+ badges ........ feel.
It sounds as if the L2 Staff are trying to understand the L2 players like we're from outter space.
haha, in an effort to understand the L2 staff I request to be beamed up to the mother ship during the 'Next Event'. This event though, not so much . . . my schedule is too tight for Scotty to beam me up.
First of all, thank you Cryo for this explanation. It clears a lot of things.
Today, unknowing this post, i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky.
With your explanation I see it was your intention also.
However i see two flaws here:
1. If GMs want to get involved with the community, i know a much better way: Come in the fields (dungeons, etc) come at sieges, come at TW openly, not invisible, ask why ppl do what they do, join their parties and talk to them for a while, observe gameplay (no need to do anything, I am sure nobody will be ****** you steal their exp for a few minutes), at end, eventually, leave a little gift such as buffs or something, thank them for playing L2, etc. Moreover, a GM or a producer should make a regular char, join a random clan and observe from inside how things are going, make a newbie and shout for clan, go in parties and RBs with regular armor/weapon/skills, see how things go.
2. If the event is going to be that way, we would have liked these explanations beforehand, so wont change schedule we had for a week+ before because of it. I can absolutely understand the need to communicate with players, I feel there is a major gap between you and us and that cant help the game in any way.
If you do 1, you can do it in 3 ways:
1. Undercover, dont announce anywhere, just go to meet the grasroot players.
2. Openly in general but hidden in particular, i.e. say you will do it, but dont tell how and when, nor disclose it to the clan that you joined.
3. Full open, come as Cryo, Sace, Cabel, whoever and discuss with ppl while joining them in party, clan, command channel, etc.
This will reduce a lot the cheating levels, you will know which clans play by the rules and in which proportion, etc. Knowing this you can decide which problem to tackle first, i.e. first stop AFK botters, second PvP programs (btw, try those 3rd party programs too), third RMT or whatever your priorities will be.
It is really easy to do that, in a couple of weeks a capable GM can have an overall idea abotut how things go, a first hand impression which cannot be replaced by any amount of unbiased feed-back if there is such a thing in the first place.
M
First of all, thank you Cryo for this explanation. It clears a lot of things.
Today, unknowing this post, i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky.
With your explanation I see it was your intention also.
However i see two flaws here:
1. If GMs want to get involved with the community, i know a much better way: Come in the fields (dungeons, etc) come at sieges, come at TW openly, not invisible, ask why ppl do what they do, join their parties and talk to them for a while, observe gameplay (no need to do anything, I am sure nobody will be ****** you steal their exp for a few minutes), at end, eventually, leave a little gift such as buffs or something, thank them for playing L2, etc. Moreover, a GM or a producer should make a regular char, join a random clan and observe from inside how things are going, make a newbie and shout for clan, go in parties and RBs with regular armor/weapon/skills, see how things go.
2. If the event is going to be that way, we would have liked these explanations beforehand, so wont change schedule we had for a week+ before because of it. I can absolutely understand the need to communicate with players, I feel there is a major gap between you and us and that cant help the game in any way.
If you do 1, you can do it in 2 ways:
1. Undercover, dont announce anywhere, just go to meet the grasroot players.
2. Openly in general but hidden in particular, i.e. say you will do it, but dont tell how and when, nor disclose it to the clan that you joined.
This will reduce a lot the cheating levels, you will know which clans play by the rules and in which proportion, etc. Knowing this you can decide which problem to tackle first, i.e. first stop AFK botters, second PvP programs (btw, try those 3rd party programs too), third RMT or whatever your priorities will be.
It is really easy to do that, in a couple of weeks a capable GM can have an overall idea abotut how things go, a first hand impression which cannot be replaced by any amount of unbiased feed-back if there is such a thing in the first place.
M Nice dream I like that one. But imo dreams are dying with the game. I am waiting the END of the game.
Nice dream I like that one. But imo dreams are dying with the game. I am waiting the END of the game.
I do believe the current team saw that the way it was handled till now is unsustainable and they are decided to do something. So far there were some efforts, as someone involved with gamers for more than 20 years and online games about 15 years I can say those efforts are timid at best and the reaction of the community in general has not been encouraging, but they are on something at least. They started from granting every bot wish and now are beginning to listen to us too.
The progress is evident, but the starting point is way too low, I almost think it is too little to late, but I dont want to let that thought take hold, I really think that learning Korean is not an option right now. I want to hope.
M
I mean my hopes for this event was to get stuff, we read what drops from event and everyone gets their hopes up and thinking about oh maybe ill come to the gm room 10 times and get lots of loot. Then the event starts and nothing, this makes players dissapointed. They have their dreams allready set up before it starts.
I can say i was really dissapointed after the first night and after this too, but after reading this post i have more understanding.
Next time be sure to post something like this, that gms will attend and only a few of the servers population will get the benefit of revita pops and loot. Then players wont get their hopes up for stuff they probably will not get.
I can atleast say i was close today, grinded for 5.5h in crypt of disgrace, got tired and changed toon to check something in the same place, and WHO was there when i came if not GM Moxie (hi Moxie) TALK about bad luck!!!! If we would have stayed for 10 mins we would have gotten it. Its easy to say after, that if IF exists i would be a billionaire.
But Moxie was really nice and talked to us abit and gave us buffs :D
Well next time an event like this happens be sure to let everyone know before that only a few will have the pleasure from it.
And i cant wait until next week to see whats better than revita pops? MAYBE full VITALITY lvl 4 the WHOLE week???? That would be a good one...OR acctually full armor/weapon drops? Guess we need to wait and see.
The event is great when you read the OP and you understand where NC are coming from.. I think it was advertised incorrectly.
The way it was hyped on the event page made people think they could get alot of items and could possible enter this room a few times.
I for one living in Australia thought this and woke up at 3am in the morning to get some play time before going to work.
I was indeed disappointed after the first day when not seeing anything. Now that I understand how it really works its not that bad but it would of been nice to have been told the way the event would of been carried out or made the event a secret altogether to not get players hopes up.
I agree that if GM interaction is what you are aiming for you should come visit players while xping or summon minibosses or transform yourself into raids and if players kill you they will receive items.
There are so many options that could be done to help game play and server populations.
Even to just see a GM from time to time would be something that people are not used to.
Due to my time zone and irl commitments I won't be able to participate the event. Nevertheless, I am very glad to see there are events that have GMs interacting with players. Good job NC :)
Can you put this in the server message tomorrow? Today I xp'd in fields where I get terrible xp all day long just because I do not check the forums every day. I asume I am not alone in this.
And since Sace specifically told me in the previous thread that you had to xp in open fields I did not expect it to change either!
for the rest keep up the good work! Thanks!
That would be because you are not at your computer then your toons xp'ing.... just saying...
Just want to say I appreciate the CM/GM efforts and I think the event is very creative and the prizes are nice. I am happy for the people who have been lucky :) I realized from day 1 this Elpy event would be won by a very few people and to me that's fine, Gratz to the lucky ones :D Better than no events like it has been in the past for long periods.
Tiger event was great too, sure it had some annoyances but the prizes were very nice, and this time I saw quite a few people get the top prizes. Don't like it? Then don't participate :p
So ty CM's/GM's for your time and for caring. Don't let the QQr's get ya down :o
First of all, thank you Cryo for this explanation. It clears a lot of things.
Today, unknowing this post, i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky.
With your explanation I see it was your intention also.
However i see two flaws here:
1. If GMs want to get involved with the community, i know a much better way: Come in the fields (dungeons, etc) come at sieges, come at TW openly, not invisible, ask why ppl do what they do, join their parties and talk to them for a while, observe gameplay (no need to do anything, I am sure nobody will be ****** you steal their exp for a few minutes), at end, eventually, leave a little gift such as buffs or something, thank them for playing L2, etc. Moreover, a GM or a producer should make a regular char, join a random clan and observe from inside how things are going, make a newbie and shout for clan, go in parties and RBs with regular armor/weapon/skills, see how things go.
2. If the event is going to be that way, we would have liked these explanations beforehand, so wont change schedule we had for a week+ before because of it. I can absolutely understand the need to communicate with players, I feel there is a major gap between you and us and that cant help the game in any way.
If you do 1, you can do it in 3 ways:
1. Undercover, dont announce anywhere, just go to meet the grasroot players.
2. Openly in general but hidden in particular, i.e. say you will do it, but dont tell how and when, nor disclose it to the clan that you joined.
3. Full open, come as Cryo, Sace, Cabel, whoever and discuss with ppl while joining them in party, clan, command channel, etc.
This will reduce a lot the cheating levels, you will know which clans play by the rules and in which proportion, etc. Knowing this you can decide which problem to tackle first, i.e. first stop AFK botters, second PvP programs (btw, try those 3rd party programs too), third RMT or whatever your priorities will be.
It is really easy to do that, in a couple of weeks a capable GM can have an overall idea abotut how things go, a first hand impression which cannot be replaced by any amount of unbiased feed-back if there is such a thing in the first place.
M
That would indeed be nice. You have a charmingly optimistic outlook on things. However, despite this effort, most players can not accept anything from NC Soft these days without a snarl. It's a shame but they have good reason for it.
You can not make up for the colossal amount of time in which the game has been underwhelming when it had the potential to easily be anything but with any kind of activity now. There's just been to much unaccountability.
All the same, it's a nice gesture however, and something similar to what MaoMao suggested would actually be a very nice swan-song. GM's interacting with players really needn't be a 'special' event...
largest event is a mockery.What is considered an event when only a few players can enjoy it?Why announce only forum areas where GM is walking?I agree that winter is approaching so do not get to announce that the catacomb (echipamentu wet?).Low lvl players to understand that home were excluded from this event.Actually said is improper, and other players actually have the same chance, namely 0%, except for those who are agreed by GM.I believe that there had announced this event.Players selected by GM would have to find their inventory crammed with items, and the other players would not be made vain illusions
Who do you call alt clan, mister? Clans BlackShadows completely independent,and enough active for middle war clan.Yes we lost 2 party just before clan hall distribution event (they decided to join in Right clan),but it is normal, because all "middle war" clans are just incubator for BigWar (as I remember Dareon you also started with this), almost all nowdays " pro gamers" from top clans,was nonfactors in the past. So why do you think that we not deserve to be ClanHalls owners?We regularly participate for TW and Castle siege, regularly we were Castle holders on Teon and we will on Naia.So what is a problem?And who are this mysterious " Players "?
P.S. MaoMao I didn't forget about you.
Ofc u may write anything you want here to protect your investments into your CH reselling business. But facts are still facts.
didnt read all the topic yet, so I don't know if any1 already asked this...
if you really want some more interaction between players and GMs, I have a few ideas for events...
1) PvP events... make mini tournaments at arenas, 5v5 for example, with simples rules like korean style or king of the hill, at random times of the day
2) for those who are not pvp'ers make some hide'n'seek or simon says...
3) kill the red GM... a PK GM full of goodies on its inventory keep running outside town and whenever he dies he drops few of those... the problem is that GM is pretty hard to kill and require a lot of ppl... also, it'd be funny see wartags undecided between atacking enemies or the red GM
anyway, the secret to those type of events is not to be schedulled (not pre announced), to happen at different time zones and on a constant base (by constant base I mean at least once/twice a week)... it encourage ppl to stay online on game, and if a few ppl lose an event, they wont complain cause they always will have a chance to participate in the next time...
Let's keep this thread about GM events in general. This post will be referred to in the future when we host other GM events.
I have moved any posts talking specifically about the Halloween event to the Trick or Treat GM Event (http://boards.lineage2.com/showthread.php?t=211716) thread. Also, I copied the Halloween bits of Cryo's post into that thread as well. :)
I heard you said - next week something better than revita pops... Please do something but in the end of november ffs, there was too much event stuff last weeks...
This type if event s are **** that s what i think couse it s totaly unfair in what way are other s better than me to get pick t up?? i prefer a script that generate s smth or not and u banning bot s than this non sense
How is this event a improvment to my general gaming experience??? when u make me lvl up in a place where i loose adena insted of making any...
You state: "Let's keep this thread about GM events in general"
Background: ppl in game complained about lack of gms dealing with programs / bots etc...so GMs aren't really getting around in the public eyes....
Solution for a GM Event: create an event where only a few will get something, but publicize that you are out there....
Rational is ? = few petitions get responses and few ppl get prizes....the improvement here is what again?? (except maybe you seem to publicize your thinned resources and limited coverage and mask it with a token treat for the lottery winners)
Further Background on Forums:
Your comment:
"...not everyone will get to participate because we have limited resources" + "also keep in mind we wouldn't be able to offer such good rewards if more players participated"
VS.
Previous posters' comments:
"...imagine if everyone got a prize....deflationary for the game...wow that would be too bad...." - sarcastic response but valid point = you are worried about what..protecting wealth....creating a need for customers to go elsewhere other than drops to get cash? Would really love to hear the rational behind your thought process on this one!
"actually I don't care any more for your low rate events"
"...i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky..."
"...imo dreams are dying with the game.."
"...I mean my hopes for this event was to get stuff, we read what drops from event and everyone gets their hopes up ....Then the event starts and nothing, this makes players dissapointed. They have their dreams allready set up before it starts...."
"...I am happy for the people who have been lucky ...." (i particularly like this one...sounds like a union guy whose union just got a settlement reflecting higher pay per hour but lost 10 percent of the workforce which he was one....go go everyone else - way too=> lmFao)
"...beta player gets first item full drop and only took 70 levels..." = sets zero expectations for game
"...spending 64 buff rounds (20 min ea btw, do the math) on IoP when stones first came out trying to get a stone..." = sets zero expectations for game
Why is it you continue to stick with the old philosophy of: "...why is your game running like it has to be a lottery to win anything.....ppl give up..." = when obviously the majority of your customers disagree with it.
Hint: The majority of your customers have already left the game for these reasons; incredible you want to lose the junkies who still stick around to get their fix and hope things change!
Feel free to address at any time Sace. Regards.....
PS. check out a game called ashen empires someday if you want to see an underlying game philosophy that works....hard on eyes graphics ruins the allure of the game; HOWEVER, if it had l2 graphics, you would be out of business. Ppl in ashen get drops...they see shiny things on the ground sometimes.....odds are you'll get a weap/armor drop at least once a day.....
Combine this approach with your graphics and you have a winning game that gets ppls' attention back.....unless you are protecting the economy / infrastructure for some alternative (undisclosed) reason!? Ppl log on to kill mobs...to kill ppl and to chat (socialize) / battle opponents !!!!! Why is it you think ppl log in to non-stop grind.....fail crafts...receive 1 leather for an 85 mob.....fail 10 stones in a row?
i agree with you , 1,5 years with 2 acc and no normal drops at all.
Also i had a lot of TW badges to buy mastery books nad sell it for 30m each ...so let me tell you 1000+ tw badges sounds like 12 mastery = 360m more or less... atm i dont have adena to buy also cry S to hunt.... gz :(
You state: "Let's keep this thread about GM events in general"
Background: ppl in game complained about lack of gms dealing with programs / bots etc...so GMs aren't really getting around in the public eyes....
Solution for a GM Event: create an event where only a few will get something, but publicize that you are out there....
Rational is ? = few petitions get responses and few ppl get prizes....the improvement here is what again?? (except maybe you seem to publicize your thinned resources and limited coverage and mask it with a token treat for the lottery winners)
Further Background on Forums:
Your comment:
"...not everyone will get to participate because we have limited resources" + "also keep in mind we wouldn't be able to offer such good rewards if more players participated"
VS.
Previous posters' comments:
"...imagine if everyone got a prize....deflationary for the game...wow that would be too bad...." - sarcastic response but valid point = you are worried about what..protecting wealth....creating a need for customers to go elsewhere other than drops to get cash? Would really love to hear the rational behind your thought process on this one!
"actually I don't care any more for your low rate events"
"...i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky..."
"...imo dreams are dying with the game.."
"...I mean my hopes for this event was to get stuff, we read what drops from event and everyone gets their hopes up ....Then the event starts and nothing, this makes players dissapointed. They have their dreams allready set up before it starts...."
"...I am happy for the people who have been lucky ...." (i particularly like this one...sounds like a union guy whose union just got a settlement reflecting higher pay per hour but lost 10 percent of the workforce which he was one....go go everyone else - way too=> lmFao)
"...beta player gets first item full drop and only took 70 levels..." = sets zero expectations for game
"...spending 64 buff rounds (20 min ea btw, do the math) on IoP when stones first came out trying to get a stone..." = sets zero expectations for game
Why is it you continue to stick with the old philosophy of: "...why is your game running like it has to be a lottery to win anything.....ppl give up..." = when obviously the majority of your customers disagree with it.
Hint: The majority of your customers have already left the game for these reasons; incredible you want to lose the junkies who still stick around to get their fix and hope things change!
Feel free to address at any time Sace. Regards.....
PS. check out a game called ashen empires someday if you want to see an underlying game philosophy that works....hard on eyes graphics ruins the allure of the game; HOWEVER, if it had l2 graphics, you would be out of business. Ppl in ashen get drops...they see shiny things on the ground sometimes.....odds are you'll get a weap/armor drop at least once a day.....
Combine this approach with your graphics and you have a winning game that gets ppls' attention back.....unless you are protecting the economy / infrastructure for some alternative (undisclosed) reason!? Ppl log on to kill mobs...to kill ppl and to chat (socialize) / battle opponents !!!!! Why is it you think ppl log in to non-stop grind.....fail crafts...receive 1 leather for an 85 mob.....fail 10 stones in a row?
+100
GMs should listen to public :) and get a team to work on bots, drop %, communication with public
+1 for GM events. I think that running them at random like the first instance of elpy event happened (that event was the first sign of hope) will be a good thing. Like:
Annoucement: There has been a fugitive
Annoucement: spotted near Dion
Annoucement: A big prize has been put
Annoucement: on his head
Annoucement: Wanted DEAD !
Or, just run in some place at random where are some ppl releasing elpies here and there. The regular kind that drop revita pops and mats. Then stay with them (the players not elpies !) for a while and have a chat.
Publicising events where only 100 ppl would get something is not a good idea IMO.
M
the nature of the game since Prelude (release) was "the most hardcore pvp MMO in existence"
at that time you dropped items on death even if you were white and no karma, to pve death. you lost 4% even in pvp, and there were no clan halls or skills to recoup that loss. people pvpd in C gear that cost upwards of 40m adena to craft (gasp).
it was hardcore. very difficult to level with sparse shot crafters, and less adena in the mix to be thrown around.
as gear got better and new systems were adapted to high end content eventually the low level stuff was removed and replaced with higher level stuff - a la Giants cave, mithril mines, field of whispers, etc.... the low level game got easier. less need for good drops and great low level gear. stuff didnt happen at that level anymore, so they shifted the difficulty of the game.
(doesnt change the fact that B gear is still the hardest thing in the game to get)
its nice to want the good drops to come, but the players who have the money to buy whatever they need are the ones who have been around long enough to have profited from the 40m adena C weapon days. the plated leather sets worth 30m. the brig helmets selling for 2m... those guys are the rich people now. they have come through the game and have amassed profit where there was difficulty to obtain X item. with the difficulty taken away the profit is removed - a la C gear sold in stores.
wanting the icarus drops from every event is nice to hope for, but remember there is still a market for that.
NC has kept their hands out of the pockets of the markets until the time as those markets were cooled off, and players regarded it as inconsequential items. you will one day obtain icarus from the NPC's. it will be in the day that everyone is level 2000, and the gear of choice is 70x better than vesper is now.
anyone who was here since beta knows not to expect free top gear. if it happens it was pure luck. not something to happen to everyone.
not everyone disagrees with the philosophy of lotteries running the drop system. everyone QQ's about wow having a gear tier where you dont actually have to WIN pvp in order to get pvp gear.
to a certain degree L2 also has that, with one catch. you actually have to get the gear before you can apply a pvp bonus to your item - making it a pvp item. so you kinda do have to win at the lottery before you are competition for king of the hill.
all that having been said however, your points are no less valid. some folks are tired of the dedicated grind fest to get levels - hard to do with 2 jobs. specially in a bad economy.
but changing the way L2 competes for gear fundamentally hurts high levels who have fought through hell on the very first day of x (tiat raids, first IOP run, opening hellbound, etc) to get those ultra rare items. if you can buy it from the casual player npc's for pennies then it isnt worth fighting for. the NCCoin merchants in that circumstance would vend an item that would become inconsequential. thats never good news.
many of the "other" servers out there have the 80% enchant rate, +100 enchant max and you seldom see people in less than top-grade gear going out to pvp. because the items on that server arent worth money. you dont fight for drops, you fight just to fight. everyone has a boss jewel set, theyre sold in stores. and theyre +100.
L2 MUST have a lottery style item system. without it there is no reason to fight for an area, or to go kill the mega raids. you have to fight for something in L2; the area with good drops is usually swarming with pvp - iop used to be really big on that. as did Hellbound, as did most non instanced world bosses. the things found in those places are worth money. big money. and theyre worth hoarding.
"...imagine if everyone got a prize....deflationary for the game...wow that would be too bad...." - sarcastic response but valid point = you are worried about what..protecting wealth....creating a need for customers to go elsewhere other than drops to get cash? Would really love to hear the rational behind your thought process on this one!
"actually I don't care any more for your low rate events"
"...i decided to ignore the event on my own as the chance is too low and i was never lucky..."
"...imo dreams are dying with the game.."
"...I mean my hopes for this event was to get stuff, we read what drops from event and everyone gets their hopes up ....Then the event starts and nothing, this makes players dissapointed. They have their dreams allready set up before it starts...."
is it you think ppl log in to non-stop grind.....fail crafts...receive 1 leather for an 85 mob.....fail 10 stones in a row?
They should never post in officiel site about this event mentioning the rewards and make all people to expect it with so much joy.They should post it like a ''random event where 10-20 players of each server will get visit from gm while hunting''.At least this would discourage the bots!
They should never post in officiel site about this event mentioning the rewards and make all people to expect it with so much joy.They should post it like a ''random event where 10-20 players of each server will get visit from gm while hunting''.At least this would discourage the bots!
Is it me or does is seem like people are creating new forum accounts just to make it seem like there are more people complaining. Alot of new people on here complaining about how unfair everything is. Where were they the last 5 years or so.
Thank god everything in life is fair!! /sarcasm off
/gmlist
nothing...LOL and I was standing right next to one.
Is there any guaruntee that the GMs are not favoring their friends? I've heard that some GMs were doing things that were helping some ppl specific, or is this just rumor?
I heard you said - next week something better than revita pops... Please do something but in the end of november ffs, there was too much event stuff last weeks...
Out of this event, maybe a few hundred players will get to participate in total (also keep in mind we wouldn't be able to offer such good rewards if more players participated). You should take this event as a bonus to your usual playing schedule, something that can come up unexpectedly. Trying to force your way into the event is not encouraged because of the reasons mentioned above and I understand your frustration but please consider this: Would you rather have a chance of participating into something really cool or none at all?
Happy Halloween!
thanks for the event, i'm sure the people who could participate were happy to receive rewards for doing nothing special other than their normal thing... meanwhile, me, someone who uses event periods to grind my face off for 9 hours straight will get nothing, because i don't normally grind like that.
that's the thing though.
i always grind hard in event periods.
this is my normal thing. this is the norm for a lot of people.
i had tuesday and thursday off this week, not my choice, i was scheduled that way by a third party knowing not of this event. i used my days off to grind. i'm glad for the % gained, and all the element stones dropped from mobs... but it would have been nice to know that i was considered for reward...
but thanks for the event... and i'm assuming events to come.
and for the record...
"Would you rather have a chance of participating into something really cool or none at all?"
NO, because my paranoid delusions suggest if you don't pick me(very likely outcome), you dislike me...
do you dislike me?
i don't care what you say, because i know the answer is yes.
/endrant
/gmlist
nothing...LOL and I was standing right next to one.
Is there any guaruntee that the GMs are not favoring their friends? I've heard that some GMs were doing things that were helping some ppl specific, or is this just rumor?
/gmlist has not worked in a long time, so please get with the times.
This was an improved event compared with the last elpy one a few months ago in some aspects and worse in others.
Gms did listen about last time's:
1. PKs so they held it in a separate place;
2. Different class advantages and disadvantages so they made a transformation especially for this disqualifying ppl that were dispelling it;
3. Rewards which were better;
4. Bots which didnt dare do use radar and stuff under GMs nose as well as being hard to script the elpy spotting.
However, other aspects were poorer, such as the very low rate of ppl participating.
In my view it would have been much better to give lower rewards and give everyone a chance. Like vita pops and gems or mats. For instance 1 k animal bone or 500 leather.
If that is really to be called an event. Regular interactions with players like the kind I mentioned should happen daily, should not be an event when GMs meet the players. That should be every day business for a GM and an encounter to remeber for players, either for some small gift, such a special GMIsYourFriendNotEnemy hat, a couple of vita pops or fantasy island coins, whatever.
I did enjoy imensly last elpy event, this one didnt bother after first day so even tho they listened and did something after last one feedback, it was overall worse for the average Joe, but I do appreciate the efforts.
M
My main criticism about the event is.....it was not what anyone expected.
If this event is done in the future I can offer two suggestions:
1. The post Cryo made should have been part of the event announcement! I think most players expected this event to be somewhat similar to past elpy events, and I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. We didn't expect to kill elpies for 9 hours, but we did expect to be able a few times each day. If we knew that maybe ?50 players per day per server would get to participate, we wouldn't have altered our gaming plans for the event and then been disappointed.
2. Maybe not call this an "event" but instead anytime a GM logs into a server for whatever reason, they can reward players at random by porting them to the elpy area and letting them have 5-10 minutes of fun. Maybe you go to check a player who might be botting, you determine he is a live, legit player, so go ahead and offer that player some elpy fun. I am sure your team can find many opportunities to offer these random acts of kindness.
I would save the word "event" for something that 100% of those who wish to participate in, can do such. If only ?10% of the player population can participate, and it's at random, that's not an event. That's just GMs offering random minor (but helpful) acts of kindness.
No matter how hard the staff works on these events they will spend hours reading complaints. I tend to be happy with any extra activity outside the grind (and yes frequenting this forum is included) our beloved game is well known for. I also complained about the repackaging of old events and thinking we wouldn’t notice it was just a skin change.
I have not directly benefited from this event but I feel it was a great change of pace and I am happy for those that did reap the rewards of the slain elpys. Thanks for thinking outside the box and PLEASE keep your imagination working and providing the grateful and ungrateful many new events.
My main criticism about the event is.....it was not what anyone expected.
If this event is done in the future I can offer two suggestions:
1. The post Cryo made should have been part of the event announcement! I think most players expected this event to be somewhat similar to past elpy events, and I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. We didn't expect to kill elpies for 9 hours, but we did expect to be able a few times each day. If we knew that maybe ?50 players per day per server would get to participate, we wouldn't have altered our gaming plans for the event and then been disappointed.
2. Maybe not call this an "event" but instead anytime a GM logs into a server for whatever reason, they can reward players at random by porting them to the elpy area and letting them have 5-10 minutes of fun. Maybe you go to check a player who might be botting, you determine he is a live, legit player, so go ahead and offer that player some elpy fun. I am sure your team can find many opportunities to offer these random acts of kindness.
I would save the word "event" for something that 100% of those who wish to participate in, can do such. If only ?10% of the player population can participate, and it's at random, that's not an event. That's just GMs offering random minor (but helpful) acts of kindness.
+1
I totally agree with this post, i tried to say about the same thing in my post earlier but have sometimes a hard time explaining in english.
But the idea of KEEP doin this as a regular thing for us legit players is a really good idea, then at some points many of us players that did not meet the elpy will.
My main criticism about the event is.....it was not what anyone expected.
If this event is done in the future I can offer two suggestions:
1. The post Cryo made should have been part of the event announcement! I think most players expected this event to be somewhat similar to past elpy events, and I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. We didn't expect to kill elpies for 9 hours, but we did expect to be able a few times each day. If we knew that maybe ?50 players per day per server would get to participate, we wouldn't have altered our gaming plans for the event and then been disappointed.
2. Maybe not call this an "event" but instead anytime a GM logs into a server for whatever reason, they can reward players at random by porting them to the elpy area and letting them have 5-10 minutes of fun. Maybe you go to check a player who might be botting, you determine he is a live, legit player, so go ahead and offer that player some elpy fun. I am sure your team can find many opportunities to offer these random acts of kindness.
I would save the word "event" for something that 100% of those who wish to participate in, can do such. If only ?10% of the player population can participate, and it's at random, that's not an event. That's just GMs offering random minor (but helpful) acts of kindness.
+10000000001% I kind of mentioned the same thing in another thread. I wouldn't classify this as an event, like you said the last three days have been more like random acts of kindness by the GM staff.
The only down side to your sugestion is the time frames, GM's with the access to do this kind of thing would be prohibitive for most players. If they had staff that could do this during server peak times and on weekends it could work.
Something else I wouldn't mind seeing would be some gm monitoring of TW and sieges. Then there might be less use of the unauthorized programs during these times.
o do it using head.most events in the past give chance for bots,cheaters,spamers,adena traders. as everyone can reading anoncemrnts on game chat with "do not buy adena across the servers..making more bots,spamers etc...so events generating this procider.
last event give as chance to say(look thread about "trick or treat")
i think stuff should talk with players before they start something becouse this game is for players not for staff.ncsoft staff can find many wise players who can help them create really good events.
Mom talks to her daughter:
- I am about going to shop now, will bring you a big and sweet chocolate cake <3
- Just one cake?
- What do you mean my dear? It's sweet and tasty, you always have been liking it.
- But I don't need that cake. It is just one cake. Buy me three, no... four of them!
- Sorry my sweetheart, I cannot afford to buy more than one.
- Then I don't need any of it!!!!!11 Put your cake in your ***** I don't care how good it is I need more or nothing!!!!
- ...
- And you are calling yourself a mother?! Get lost already I don't wanna see you!!!
o do it using head.most events in the past give chance for bots,cheaters,spamers,adena traders. as everyone can reading anoncemrnts on game chat with "do not buy adena across the servers..making more bots,spamers etc...so events generating this procider.
last event give as chance to say(look thread about "trick or treat")
i think stuff should talk with players before they start something becouse this game is for players not for staff.ncsoft staff can find many wise players who can help them create really good events.
i ont know what is "bubble fish"im not educated to good.its mean "£"$$^^%$&%^*^ also is hard to me for understanding is probably slung but i dont get it.so its "bubble fish"whatever means:)
Thank you to the GMs that popped in last night for a quick buff. Amazing what a full rack of buffs can do. My little 47th level dwarf became a death machine for those mobs. Lots of fun.
I'd like to take a moment to give you some more insight as to why and how we are doing these GM events. The idea behind GM events is to have more interaction between the NCsoft staff and the players while at the same time creating a fun and rewarding experience.
But the trick (no pun intended) is that not everyone will get to participate because we have limited resources and can only cater to a certain number of players at the same time.
No Revita-Pop this year but something even better is coming next week… ;)
Happy Halloween!
What interaction??
It was more a kind of "Hand out stuff to VIP's".
And doublexp is NOT really better. It is Augenwischerei
My main criticism about the event is.....it was not what anyone expected.
If this event is done in the future I can offer two suggestions:
1. The post Cryo made should have been part of the event announcement! I think most players expected this event to be somewhat similar to past elpy events, and I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. We didn't expect to kill elpies for 9 hours, but we did expect to be able a few times each day. If we knew that maybe ?50 players per day per server would get to participate, we wouldn't have altered our gaming plans for the event and then been disappointed.
2. Maybe not call this an "event" but instead anytime a GM logs into a server for whatever reason, they can reward players at random by porting them to the elpy area and letting them have 5-10 minutes of fun. Maybe you go to check a player who might be botting, you determine he is a live, legit player, so go ahead and offer that player some elpy fun. I am sure your team can find many opportunities to offer these random acts of kindness.
I would save the word "event" for something that 100% of those who wish to participate in, can do such. If only ?10% of the player population can participate, and it's at random, that's not an event. That's just GMs offering random minor (but helpful) acts of kindness.
The problem with this is that these guys are employees. They are not the owners of the company or anything like that. They go to work in the morning and go back home in the afternoon. Doing it on those times implicates EXTRA TIME that needs to be approved by the company and needs that the GMs change their own personal schedule.
It might not be a super crazy idea but its something that if it happens it would probably happen once or twice a week at the most.
Usually helpdesks have opening hours arround the clock
so will gm's , they need to be present arround the clock...
If not they give free play to the players to do whatever they want when they "sleep"...
And if they need to organize it whitin the work hours more
take most ends lie 9 -10 am and 4-6 pm,that would work too.
If they collaborate better with their european collegeus they can really organize
an all arround the clock thing tho.
I think NCWest doesnt pay enough attention to the European server.
Guess because they are Americans they favorise the America server. If I see the numbers of banned bots on the america and european server then I know whats going on. On European servers with less players are more banned bots. The european server was and still is totaly bot-infested because noone did and does care. I doubt that NCwest have any european collegeans. To have NCamerica and NCeuropa that would be a good thing. I wouldnt have to travell to New York for a meet and greet. It would happen in Paris, London or Berlin or any other city.
Nice dream hmm?
I can see why everyone is mad. Some people actually took time out of their lives thinking this was an event, and not just a meet and greet.
I think getting a chance to meet a GM in game sounds pretty sweet though.
Shoot the s$%^, chew the fat, press the flesh. I always wonder if they are different ingame, since the game is work for them and not play.
Even if you dont like them you finally have a chance to smack them full on the face with a rusty sword. "hey Moxxie" Bam!! right on the face. Sure you would die but the satisfaction is still there.
win win
I am a newb, so I dont really know the past history with NCsoft and the community.
Well, i can say that this event was almost "ghost event" because most of people heard how was in that room but i think 99% of players didn't met at least a GM and less than 1% was 1 time in that room that staff said that a lot of people will get a lot of goodies. The idea that NCSOFT staff to interact with players is very good but should be more better organised.
First, i think that should be more GM's to organise this kind of events and more than that should be created another section of staff like "event helpers" that should know rules of the event and who should run on any kind of fields to bring more people to GM's that should explain to players rules and teleport them in that room. In this time "game helpers" can report to GM the people that they suppose that are bots that they meet while walking on the map and 1 or to GM's to check them and so you are doing more things in the same time.
Second, yes, some GM's should be from Europe and make some meetings like Sace did in US. I'd love to interact to NCSOFT staff drinking a beer and joke. :D
If i'll feel i forgot something.."I'LL BE BACK!" :)))
so, i've put a lot of thought into it...
instead of giving away free stuff, have you considered just being present, and talking to people... fill vitality(apparently this happened) and buffing people?
no, not in town.
i mean out in the fields.
pop in, adjust spawn rate for a short time, give gm buffs...
also, can you include Salvation in those GM buffs?
that would be more than satisfying for most live players.
nobody can complain about free buffs, well some people might, but they can cancel the buffs they don't want.
i appreciate the attempt with this last event, and i'm sorry for being so bitter, i've looked through the eye of hindsight, and i think i could have gone about it better...
Summery.
No free stuff.
Roaming Free buffs, hunting grounds.
Salvation, and Vitality.
Well, they DID listen !
Yesterday we had 20 min GMs buffing and vita restoring in Fantasy Island.
That is great, it was a mass event.
However, i suggested something a bit different, I mean, in such events you cant really get to know players and the game. It was nice and fun, but I think GMs need to do more detailed jobs, like visiting players in the fields, talking to them, giving buffs, asking what they are looking for there, what problems are they facing and how would they like the game to be (disregard opinions about being too hard and such, dont make the game a mockery, but other suggestions should be listened to and the best put to polls here).
Also some buffs and vita will be appreciated, but what we need right now, I think both players and GMs is mutual understanding and respect.
The game has been neglected for too long, it will be hard to regain trust, but with a lot of effort it can be done. Who met a GM and talked to them, who hears that they are interested in our opinions, how we see the future and gets a small little gift, will be a much happier customer for a long time.
Win hearts and minds and make cheaters fear them enough to stop cheating, this is the key to success. They will see that even tho frustrations are still high and will be for some time, in 6 months or so the tone will change.
Good luck all, we will need it.
M
i ont know what is "bubble fish"im not educated to good.its mean "£"$$^^%$&%^*^ also is hard to me for understanding is probably slung but i dont get it.so its "bubble fish"whatever means:)
His suggestion was that you used a web translator to convert from whatever your native language is into english...
Ignore him Izi0, I am a native English speaker (from England), and *I* understand what you were saying.
That's the beauty of MMO games, people from all walks of life and different countries...
I'd imagine that he would do worse if trying to communicate in YOUR language..
*** This is NOT to say I agree with what you said, just that I can understand what you said ***
Keep up writing people in forum,they listen to us!
I think it is no coincidence so many ppl join now the forums. It is true many come to vent frustrations that accumulated in years, but the mere fact that they come, this is a good sign, the first step has been made, ppl start to realize there is someone listening here and taking into consideration their opinions.
I think THIS is the GM event we have been looking for so many long years...
M
Cyro asked for player input into GM events. I have no real problem with this one. A few lucky people got a lot of stuff. I didn't see an elpy, but still managed to get some good drops and exp on a number of my toons. Leveled a couple as well. What more can I ask for!!! I don't know anyone who got lucky here either, but that's been the case with the Big Prizes in Events for as long as I've been playing.
Compare that with the other Event we had since the merger. The Tiger Event was made in Korea (by their huge staff) this being the Korean year of the Tiger. There, it was the 'New Years' Event. It was a good event here too. I got a lot of Elemental Stones and S Gems, both of which I need. I didn't get any of the 'big' items, but a couple of friends did. I appreciate the Milk, the Vit (10 minutes more Vit 4 each day is just fine thanks). And I've kept all the beauty products in the Clan Warehouse, just in case someone want to change their look, or change back if in the future, as new stuff comes available.
So what could be done to make the GM Event better??
Suggestion #1. Most events offer something for everyone, if the player wants to bother at all. I realize, you here have not got the resources to do a whole lot. But maybe ask Korea for some sort of flexible overlay event. Something where you can put in the details, and let it do the work.
For Example, in this case, an automatic (not GM initiated) system which spawned 'Fake Elpy' (use fox or wolf instead) throughout the map, or possibly only in areas where players are. These need not be that frequent. 1 (or 1 to 4) an hour in any 1 hunting area (room etc.). Do it on the same basis as your GM Elpy. Spawn for 2 minutes, then it's gone. Lots of time for the observant player to see and kill it.
These would give small prizes, to those players watching (for GM Elpy), as well as something to make the looking of some value. Suggestions for prizes: 5 to 10 materials which are in demand (not Metal Hardener or Metallic Fiber thanks); 1 in 50 maybe (or 25 or 100) might drop nothing, but would fully restore the player's, or player's party's Vit to max.; maybe drop some of the recipes which have become scarce. B and A grade armor recipes come to mind and Top B weapon recipes too! At least until they are made available again (or Luxury shop starts selling MasterCraft gear), these items would be prized by some.
Suggestion #2. Post the 'rules' of the event in a better place than the Forum. Do this in advance. Or make links from Official Website to NC posts in Forums. Not every L2 player speaks/reads English. And spending 4 or 5 hours during an event looking on Forums for the current information is not fun. I only just today saw the last line in Cyro's post which says that GM's would be looking (putting Elpy) in all Game locations.
During the GM event I spent a couple of hours partying with a Brazilian player. I think he was using Google to translate my words. I certainly know no Brazilian/Portuguese and I suspect he knows little English. There are a lot of people like him playing on Chronos, and even more I would suspect on Naia. If I have trouble finding information on Events in the Forums, it must be hopeless for those who don't read English, unless Google translate works much better than I've been lead to believe.
Posting the 'rules in advance' give those who don't read English, but play on our servers, time to get the information translated. I certainly don't suggest that NC can do that for all the languages spoken/written in the area you serve. While I play on Chronos, most of the people I'm playing with are not living in North America. Communications requires time and patience.
Suggestion #3. Don't give up on GM events. If nothing else, they are a change from the normal pattern of the game. I don't expect them to be perfect. Maybe that makes me the minority of 1. Every time you do one, you learn and we learn. Over time we both will do better.
Good Elpy Hunting!! :)