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« on: July 02, 2021, 04:55:27 pm »
The issues I see atm are:
1) Accessibility: People lack the time to come home from work and play FH due to chores etc. but they are able to use Discord more due to there being a mobile version
Fix: Make a mobile version of FH.
2) Lack of Ideas: Not everyone is the creative type of person. Those sort of people get bored easily when the creative people are unable to play because they get on FH expecting to see other players roleplaying etc. Them they either lay around bored or just leave (not necessarily permanently ofc).
Fix: Add features to FH (could be optional per player) that would keep the non-creative types entertained.
3) Missing the Past or Friends: People loose motivation to play when there is too much change. Loosing too many game features or friends all at once unexpectedly is a sure way to loose players.
Fix: Change of features should be gradual, however loss of friends is a social issue that is out of our control. Also, existing game features should not be removed unless absolutely necessary (like things that pose a safety or security or performance issue). And notice should be given before removing something. We cannot fix the past, but we can at least build a brighter future. It is time to move on and let go of past negative experiences. No more grudges. A fresh start.
4) Lack of Community Trust: Many people still do not trust the current staff due to incidents that arose from the actions of past staff.
Fix: Time. Even though only one of the old staff remains, new staff always inherit the good or bad reputation of past staff and it takes time for the opinion of the community to "catch up" with the change in staff.
5) Conflicting Ideals and Lack of Compromise: There are many conflicting ideals in the community. If person A wants a map with just red roses and person B wants a map with just white roses, it is impossible to please them both unless both people are willing to compromise (perhaps a map that is half red roses and half white roses?). This situation makes it very difficult for any positive change if both people refuse to be happy unless things are perfectly their way.
Fix: Focus on concepts that the majority of players are interested in and attempt to come to a compromise when ideals conflict. If certain individuals cannot be satisfied, that isn't something anyone else can fix because it would be a personal issue.
6) Bullying and Drama: I know several people who have been bullied and all too often said bullying occurs via private chats or in FH related Discord servers. Also, many bullying victims are too afraid to report said incidents, which just feeds the bully because they feel they are getting away with it. Also, some people are quick to start violent protests over issues they feel strongly about.
Fix: Teach people to not be afraid of reporting bullies. Perhaps anti-bullying workshops of some kind would help. Make sure there are stiff penalties for those caught bullying (I would have a minimum 24 hour suspension for offenders). There is no excuse for bullying anyone and can result in great mental and emotional trauma. If you feel strongly about something, don't start a big scene over it. That sort of thing helps nobody. In fact, it makes people stop listening to you and even drives people away.
7) Misplaced Blame: Ultimately, it isn't just the staff who determine the rise or fall of any game, it is both staff and community who determine whether a game succeeds or fails. No one person or group of people is to blame. Everyone contributes to the success or failure of a game.
Fix: Stop looking for scapegoats to pin things on when things go wrong.
Summary: To be fair, I have based this summary on the not only the state of the game, but also the opinions and behavior of both staff and community and their interactions. I also included info from a survey I conducted while MOTS.