[CotH-aluation] The Server

[Loxmardin]

Hello everyone.

As part of the CotH-aluation project, I've opened this topic for discussion. This is by far the broadest question, but it turns more to the mechanics of the server itself. Of CotH and everything it is, which includes forum-functions, rules and policies, all the related systems in place (Character Creation, Character Death, Character Warnings, the works). This is not about the people that moderate the server or the community that utilizes it, but the functions that make up the place we call "Conquest of the Horde". This is probably the most important question, so I hope and pray that the community will give their fair share of feedback here. It's important to me, the rest of the staff and the playerbase. Separating what we are, what we could be, what you want us to be, and what we're not is a very important part of setting a direction and pace for our growth.

So, for the purpose of this discussion, here are a few base inquiries:

• What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
  
• What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
  
• Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
  
• Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

Feel free to discuss thoughts, ideas and questions beyond the initial inquiries above. Any and all feedback is welcome and desired, and knowing how broad this topic is, there's bound to be more than just the noted inquiries.

The soapbox is yours.

Love,
Loxmardin

[Kirabo]

I've only recently returned from Real Life, and my opinions on the CotH-aluation may not be the most valuable, but I'll go ahead and do it anyways, since I think that I've been here for long enough to have some words to throw your way.

What is CotH to me? A safe haven. An escape from reality. A treatment for depression. -The- treatment for depression. The only place I genuinely feel safe. It's the greatest hivemind I'm part of, and a piece of the Universe which is always bookmarked under the "awesome" tag.

Why? Not sure, really. I have tried other RP servers, and other RP settings, but none quite match WoW or CotH. It's not even WoW, actually - I've RPed with the CotH community in Champions Online, and it was amazing, so that excludes the possibility that it's the RP setting that gives this place its charm. I think that the most important factor to this is the fact that CotH is an ELITE roleplaying platform. The (sometimes painfully) strict application system, and the heavily enforced rules are the thing that make this machine work like a Swiss watch. The community itself is somewhat molded into one large contraption of ample-minded, similarly-oriented people, which is a very comfy zone for everybody.

The only thing I would suggest as a bad one would be the lack of GM-run events. I know those are a drag to set up and handle, but I know for a fact that I've met many of my closest community pals while taking part in those events, especially those on large scales. They do happen, don't take me wrong, but I feel that they don't happen quite often enough.

[Paylonas]

What is CotH to you, what does it mean to you?

CotH is a place of freedom for me, I can come here and feel wanted/safe - I don't mean to jock Kirabo in anyway, but I do agree with him. CotH is a place for me to come and have fun with people who share the same interests that I do, to make friends and experience things I could never in the real world. I really do enjoy CotH, and that's why I've tried to be so active with it since I've joined.

What do you enjoy about CotH about other servers?

I'm going to be honest here, I can't really say I enjoy CotH more than other servers because I haven't given other servers a chance yet. So it'd be unfair to say that I prefer CotH, or that I like it better - But I can say that I enjoy what Kretol has set up here, I enjoy the staff, and I enjoy those who are also on the server with me.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

I can't say that there is anything that I don't like in particular, maybe rule breakers. But that's only because I'm a pretty corrupt person deep down, and I feel as if they should be tortured! Just kidding, nothing I can really complain about that's specific so far.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

Myself, myself is the biggest thing I'd like to have change while I'm on this server. I hope to grow as a person and express myself more freely and genuinely, I'd also like to pick up some mad writing skills on the side!

[ghaskan]

I'm running out of words so excuse me if I'm repeating myself.

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

CoTH is the best place I've found to quench the RP fire inside me. I will not lie, I'm not the best writer in the world, and English not being my first language doesn't help. However, the fact that I enjoy the Warcraft setting (slightly so because I'm very used to it) and that it's a graphical medium of RP helps a lot. However, what makes CoTH truly shine is the community - everyone is trying their best here, and you rarely find wince-worthy things, such as the lovechild of Thrall and Jaina, Mary Sues and the likes. People are also end up being more creative than in Retail, I find, even with certain limitations we face... though we also have some increased liberties, such as custom gear, extra buildings, spawnable stuff for events... I admit I love the custom stuff (not to be confounded with Lore-breaking/changing things), the inter-faction communication and the portals. Though that middle one is problematic and I sometimes run (OOCly) into enemy territory, forgetting my own faction and getting murdered. :|

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

Haven't tried other WoW RP servers, CoTH is my one-hit wonder.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

THE TIMEZONE OF MOST PEOPLE I WANT IT CHANGED TO MATCH MY OWN FFS (Just kidding!) I don't think there's anything I -really- dislike?

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

One thing I particularly enjoy about CoTH over retail is the custom content, so I wish we could have some more of that. You know, more liberty with CMCs (which is being worked on, woo!), more weapon and armour options (*cough*thosetotemweapons*cough*), stuff like that. We already have plenty of "custom locations" (kind of; y'know, those nifty buildings and such) which is cool, but I hope we get more in the future.

[Psychyn]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

CotH is.. hard to describe. I've loved it, I've hated it. I've left it, I've returned to it. It is special, but the word special still remains so vague in this context. It is a community I've been part of for a major part in my life, longest community I've been with online. It is a community that allowed me to contact so many other people, put me in touch with so many other people and lit up my fantasy world like a Christmas tree. All the RP sparkled like the lights, the presents underneath where amazing characters I ended up discovering over time.

I'd have quit roleplaying a long time ago if it wasn't for CotH, that's for sure. I'd have developed quite differently in life as well. I've met so many amazing people on here that the pure nostalgia of it brings a joyful tear to my eyes.

CotH has.. influenced me so much that I can't possibly describe it properly even though I'm trying really hard here. Its become something very special to me, which I carry deep within my heart as unhealthy as that may sound. No matter what happened, no matter how much I hated it at times.. I've always returned it, for it offers so many things I couldn't find anywhere else on the world. I still enjoy being social with the people here, I still enjoy the RP I get to do with people, I still enjoy browsing this forum even though I might reply a whole lot less.

I am grateful for finding CotH. Grateful I got to talk with so many of you, grateful for all the friendships it allowed me to forge over time.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

The people, that's the best answer I can give. With all the good and (sometimes) bad it brings.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

Some things feel unnecessary slow, be it PD profiles, CMC's or related. It takes the enthusiasm out of the idea and by the time acceptance is given (if it is given in the end), inspiration and the enthusiasm to put it in motion is often gone.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

Don't think there's much that can be done. Overseers starting to do CMC's is a step to quicken one of the delayed things. Some processes are just slow I suppose.

[Grakor456]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

CotH is a place I helped create, and so it's something that is a little dear to me even if my presence isn't as strong as it used to be. It's a place that, more than anything, encourages high-quality roleplay and writing. I'd like to think of it as a community to that effect, where RP and writing can not only be a source of entertainment, but also a place where such skills can be improved.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

The quality of the writing, particularly. And it's been a home of sorts for years now. My main circle of online friends exists here, after all.

The focus on encouraging quality while holding high standards has been one of CotH's strengths, but it's also good that the server's strict nature has been relaxing over the past couple of years. It's a place that tries to achieve that balance between freedom and quality, and while we may not be exactly there, we've been getting closer.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

It's hard to answer this without referring to my general burn-out from Warcraft in general. A combination of the whacky official lore and the general length of time I've been around has led to my interest in Warcraft as a setting waning.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

The idea has been kicked around, but...custom lore, at least providing additions that help smooth out the wrinkles in Blizz's writing, as well as strengthen what's there. There are a lot of plot holes and spots of bad writing that an be fixed, and I'd like to think that we've the skills to fix them.

[Ural]

• What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
  • I looked for a RP server when I had just touched upon a RP realm on retail. I was curious, but honestly more interested in just playing WoW for free. The more I read into CotH, the more interested I became. Sure I still ran around and did some OOC stuff in between RP. And just as always, I absorbed all the delicious quest text and lore.. as I have with any other game with depth. So for me, CotH has became a place to grow. I like to think I write a little better, interact with people better, and perhaps pay closer attention to detail no matter what I'm playing. I enjoy getting into any character I make just to satisfy my desire to see them act out to their environment, no matter what it is.
• What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
  • I've only been to one other working/active RP server. For me, the biggest let-down was rewarding the player-base for creating events. No one truly understands what sort of work someone else puts into an event. All they see is the end result. So in that small regard, I'm glad CotH gives us free reign and lets our own satisfaction be reward enough.
• Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
  • You know, I find the various despawned zones really depressing.
• Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?
  • I might see about spawning some NPCs to give those abandoned zones a facelift.

[Geoni]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

CotH is that place I go to RP, and to help out (helping out is one of those things that gives me purpose). It means a lot to me because it replaced my interest in writing short stories and novels, as I've preferred this as a more dynamic method of exploring the issues that are faced in life. And there's no place like this one where I feel comfortable breathing life into a large number of characters.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

I can't say much for this, since I haven't explored any other servers beyond this one. I've tried out Freedom, but that server had the quality of RP that could be found here...only a sadly low population that's worse than what we're facing.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

For one, I'm pretty sure that we're being a little oversensitive about a lot of things, and this is coming from both the playerbase and the staff team. I've seen so much drama on the server lately and it all seems to amount to people reaching their boiling point way too fast, and holding it all in until it turns into passive aggression. OOC anger towards each other turns IC more often than they think it does, and it really causes RP to become sour and uncomfortable.

Also, circles. They're damaging to both the older playerbase and the new players that are coming in when they keep themselves closed off. If you see somebody new who wants RP, give them a push by inviting the out of the blue if they seem in any way interested, try to give their characters something to invest in like you would a friend's.

Lastly, it doesn't feel like there's a lot of danger in a lot of the RP I've been in, and at the end of the day everything turns out to be alright. Loss and emotional turmoil makes RP more satisfying for me, and so I'd like to see it more in the RP I have. Only, this is a personal preference of mine, that others definitely wouldn't share. A lot of 'so what?' and not enough seeking out the answer to that question.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

When it comes to drama, there's a way that it can be dealt with. I do remember somebody making a guide about it, so I'll sniff it out and give it a bump once I find it.

I'm not going to say that there's anything wrong with RPing what you're happy RPing and comfortable with, but I think we should promote exploring things that we haven't before. For now, I'll brainstorm how I can promote this personally.

[Aisha]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

Why that is quite simple. It is a place of magical pink ponies and rainbows. Okay, not really, but I still think it has a certain magic to it. As distant and closed off I've been for about two years or so, hard to tell by now, but I never left. Even when all hope seemed lost and I was ready to call for a GG it held me in place. The downside of staying was me going totally underground till I felt it was safe, but I regret nothing. If anything I am happy I stayed.

CotH has always been there as my creative outlet of writing and that RP fix I need. When I came here I was not new to RP, but new to the setting of Warcraft. There it was, first suggestion on Google. Never looked back after that because as mediocre as I was to Warcraft RP I was welcome here. So this is sort of my online home from then on.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

Not many servers I can compare it to. Just one to be exact and I can describe it very simply to those that will understand: CotH is pure RP, while the unamed server is an RPG with RP elements. It's like democracy vs. anarchy.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

Right now that would be the drop in activity, but if looking in overall it's the gauntlet of unrelenting fire that one must take for special characters. I mean the safeguards do seem to have you in a chokehold, but it is good to prevent abuse, but the time it takes to get the ball rolling... It's just too much, too slow. I've been put off by it many times when I had ideas for RP.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

Nothing at the moment as I already see a good direction CotH is taking. This needs time, so I'll wait and see.

[Jonoth]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
CotH is my Cheers. Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
The quality of the role play. It is probably the most immersive RP environment I've been in, and some of the most talented writing I've seen anywhere.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
The inactivity recently, and the shift where players are only logging in for events.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?
There is a lot of talk about burnout over the setting. I think that it's mostly a result of tying characters so much to the setting, and characters seem to log on to simply participate rather than to control their own fates. Custom lore coul be an answer, but moreso I think players just need to make more characters that aren't dependent on how well or poorly written the new lore is.

[Holynexus]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?

CotH is a fun place to RP, but it's also a nice community I can fall back onto if needed. I've only been around 1...2 years? but it's still a place I do call one of the few communities I've been a part of, though staying on the fringes, but that's me

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?

Mature people, less idiots. RP is very immersive too, which of course is what this server is for, but that's definitely something other WoW servers or even other game communities don't have.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?

The general quietness of the place...Has silence fallen? People log for events or their own storylines and it's very hard to generate RP in these conditions, but not impossible. Dwarf power!

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?

More dwarves c:

[Psycho]

/Crack Knuckles

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
CoTH is a roleplaying server. I don't really play here anymore- but I was directed with some suggestions. I could really write something long and arty here, buuuut, I ain't here to do that. Just see if I can donate some suggestions.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
The character depth. Boy oh boy the character depth. The small community encourages interesting and deep characters with plenty of thought given to them. The required manners is also rather nice at time to time.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
The stagnation and the scale of things. CoTH seems to have this overt sensation of small lingering about her. Characters feel meaningless after a while, and most changes that players initiate feel very superficial. It feels like there's a mandatory requirement to have characters be small and 'reasonable' in a setting which is by all means, high fantasy. The server develops at paces which slowly but surely suffocates interest, at least in my eyes, and perhaps the slow-but-steady approach isn't always the right method.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?
As stated above- some leniency with player's 'scale' and freedom feels like it could spruce things up. The community is small- everyone knows everyone, and I doubt the staff is incapable of putting the right amount of trust into the playerbase. Giving players more freedom, letting them delve into more larger characters at scales- let people be heroes, rather than passing characters. Give them a bit more to aspire to- and actually allow a bit more aspiration.

As for the server's stagnation- maybe try changing the attitude of progress once in a while. Slow and steady is a good approach, but sometimes wild fast and bumpy makes for a funner ride. A touch more leniency and space- more color given to the RP, would surely make the experience different.

My points might be moot to some degree, as I no longer really participate in the server. But, y'know- two cents and all.

[Drust]

I admit I haven't been on the server in a while, decided to check the forums and saw this, couldn't resist.

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
CotH was a place I could sit down and let my imagination flow, to come up with something and watch it interact and progress with a whole community of creative concepts. It was an outlet for me where I could blow off steam by collaborating with a whole bunch of people who all wanted the same thing, a good story. I spent quite a lot of time on this server and enjoyed every minute of it.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
The community, way more mature then any other RP server I came by, also how CotH dealt with lore as well. With some servers there were such loose boundaries that some characters simply couldn't RP with others because they seemed to follow different rules. On CotH there was just the right amount of boundaries so that all ideas no matter how seemingly far fetched would fit into this world so that anyone could interact with and contribute to the character if they happen to run into each other.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IDLING IN THE OOC AREA!!! I kid, I kid.
Apparently the case is different now, there's barely anyone online and the only reason people log in now is for events. I think I would have preferred a whole bunch of people idling in the OOC zone in game then only logging in to do events.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?
Well I don't really RP here anymore (though I have had this urge to RP as of late.) I'd say the whole people only logging on for events. What ever happened to sitting around at a tavern meeting people or just starting an event on the fly with whomever is around or online?

A way to remedy this is to get on more and try make your own little change in the world, make a group that has a goal or an ideal, who knows maybe another group will hear about that who has completely different ideals to yours, boom, RP. Instead of waiting for an invitation on the forums go in game and make your own mini events, encourage people to RP with you and get something going, you don't always need a post to initiate RP. An old guild I was in a long time ago grew quite big and influential and if I recall they didn't even have a guild page, they were just doing things ingame, interacting, RPing. In the end it's up to the community, there's nothing anyone can implement to fix this problem.

Probably not that helpful, but I couldn't resist. Good to see ya CotH!

[c0rzilla]

What is CotH to you? What does it mean to you?
A creative outlet where I've met some of my best friends.

What do you enjoy about CotH over other servers?
The community isn't trying to ruin every other member. The ease with which the team works with players in regards to storylines and ideas. The Variant System is an awesome development, allowing exploration and creativity.

Is there anything that you don't particularly like at all? Why is that?
The Respect rule, to me, is a double-edged sword. There is definitely an underbelly that's existed all through CotH's history. It's been worse in the past, but I imagine it's still around. Back to the rule--while this keeps tones nice, people may have (had) a hard time putting forth their grievances, since doing such may not seem "respectful". From that, grievances simmer, gossip spreads, yada yada. Don't think that can ever be "fixed", as it's human nature.

The flat power level can get annoying. I know there were issues with the prestige system of old, and I won't bring up the trite Gnome vs Tauren "argument". But, a 10,000 year old druid (I'm into druids lately) repeatedly losing to a neophyte due to bad rolls is...annoying, silly, disappointing, frustrating, so many other words. I don't see it adding much to RP. I'm not sure if anything can be done about it, because "fairness" and I do get people complaining about "fairness" gets tiring.

Is there anything you would like to change and, if so, how?
Uh...see above, I guess? Consider those? Also, more custom lore. Not a lot, like, Sylvanas being the new Warlord. But small things that Blizzard messes up, doesn't make sense, so on and so forth.