Whats good to get more players?

[darkmaster]

How would i get more players because ive had a server goin for about a week now and only like one visit how do some of u big time server owners do it?

[Lord_Greywolf]

I have been going now for over 18 months - and it took me this long to get a player base of 50-60 (20-25 average on)

the biggest thing is being custom - or no custom at all
either you have to be an osi clone, or be totaly customize
need to offer them a reason to check you out

also salesman ship
when you put your shard on connect uo or list it in the top 100 sites
you need to sell your shard on there - write great comentary on it, sothing that will draw the players to you

if you just have - new shard come play here - no one will want to come, because the saying is booring, so the shard probably is
write something interesting - need to promote yourself

being a shard owner is lots of hard work, dedacation, and sorrow also
when you are really dedacatated to it - you feel the loss when ever a player leaves, but you learn it is probably better - your shard was not ment for them,

need to learn scripting - or get a good scripting staff - because with out that - you are going to be plain jane shard

and need to be there as much as possible - it is like owning your own business - if not there for it - it will not last

but it does take a while to build up a player base - unless you are a "monty hall" type shard that gives players everything (then the players get bored and leave soon also - causing mase turn overs in players) - it will take a while for them to come around

[darkmaster]

Isnt an osi clone kind of boring though?

[zombiedepot]

What kind of shard do you run? If it's a roleplay oriented server, I know I've left RP shards from ridiculous "roleplayers".

[Lord_Greywolf]

osi clone to me is also boooooooring, but there are some people that want osi but do not want to pay for it
or they want "previous osi's" clones (UO:R, etc)
But i think there is enough of them to go around all ready - and it take serious scripting to get them correct also from what i have been reading

but the more customized (with out being rediculous - like swords of 2k damage, etc), the more the players seam to like it
also a general theme helps too of some type
like mine is based a lot on D&D style stuff and levels

but races, classes, custom deco, custom monsters, etc -- varies on each player what they like
some like classes, some like osi style of no classes and open ended
so line fancy looking stuff, where others just want the sword that will kill dragons, then they grab the ax of orc laughter for the next battle

different players like different things - that is why many many shard hop, until they find a home - a place that they like

so the best advice to attract places is really this:
build the place as you want it to be, be dedacated to it, keep it active as much as possible, and keep it interesting
evently they will stop by, and if they like it, they will stay, if they don't - they will move on
I deleted over 1k accounts a month of inactive player (45 days of no log in) from people that have just tried the place out
it happens - you can not please everyone, nore shoudl you try