Uber mega suggestions thread!

[bubbles]

Hi, After playing alot on LVP the last few months I want to offer some suggestions I think will aid the server in a few ways.  This will be a long one so bear with me. And if you're going to read it at least take the time to read it all before complaining

And these are my opinions, you's obviously have run a good sucessfull server for years but I can't help feel part of that is due to you being on the Master list and with a few simple changes it would improve things overall, but again, these are MY opinions.  Have worked on a sucessful server in the past so have a fairly good idea on map/script limitations so hopfully I won't make an ass of myself

And lets face facts, SA:MP is a old game at this stage, and the number of overall players who install, especially new players is far less than it was 2 years ago, so I think a few changes that would encourage new players to get more involved in playing, especially on LVP, which is a good thing.




Gameplay

I can't help notice theres a BIG BIG gap between regular players and 'newbies'  I think theres a few simple changes that could be made to the gameplay that would encourage more new people to register, make it easier for them to get involved and therefore hopfully become regulars.

Just common sence to me, be nice to newbies and they'll stick around. What you give them is pretty much fuck all compared to what regulars earn/get, but for newbies its a big difference than getting $2500 everytime they spawn

I can join the server, and in 30 mins I can be making over $5 million a minute.  You's worry about people having too much money... the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.  Level the playing field a bit.  It takes money to make money afterall.


1) Registration

I think people who join the server who are not registered should get a message every 2 or 3 minutes in the chatbox encouraging them to register and list some of the features they get if/when they do.

The majority of people who join never register, change that, lure them with certain small things that make it easier for them to get into the game and therefore they will more likley be repeat players.

2) New Registrations

As soon as someone registers I think they should be able to open a bank account straight away with a limit of 10 million without having to wait 10 hours for a pluspoint.  I think this will make it easier for them to get involved in the game like buying properties and being able to buy spawn weapons when they join and therefore not being bait for regulars. This would increase competion for properties as well which I think was the goal in the original gamemode idea.

3) Newbie donations

For the first 10 hours, after someone has registered, maybe give them a "newbie" donation of $100,000 every 5 minutes. The amount/ time period is up for discussion I guess, but give them something to buy a gun and get them thristy for money.  the whole /borrow command is a bit much for newbies, so for their first plus point, give them a hand!  Social welfare

Least they'll be able to use some of the fun commands like /dive and /tp straight away.

Another idea is make all the people with under 10 hours of playing time get a percentage of the taxed money from rich players.


4) /world  /dive  /tune  /taxi  /map  abuse

Age old problem.. impossible to police.. I mean how can you, yes people get into a fight then use these commands to escape

Other players are running along, not interested in getting into a fight, someone shoots at them, they do a /dive to get a property and all of a suddent the person who attacked them is shounting teleport abuse.  Can't tell you how often I've been punished unfairly for this.

Yet the solution is so so simple... it baffles me why it hasn't been 'fixed'

Already you have to wait 10 seconds I think to use /taxi or /dive etc after you shoot a gun before you can use the commands.  Simply increase that delay to 30 seconds!  Yes, its that simple.

That way if you're in a fight and try to use the commands, you can't for a good while, chances are you'll be killed.  If you're just running along minding you own business and shot at you can use them straight away because you can't fire.

Problem solved!

5) Properties

Some of them are boring, they could me made more fun.  Like suggested before, if someone owns hospital, everytime someone dies you get $5000.  If you own Matthias place for cheaters, (the jail) everytime someone is jailed you get $1000.  Anytime someone owns the secret cheater detection properity, anytime someone is banned you get $10,000.    If you own a radio tower property and someone uses a /showmessage you get $50,000

Theres loads of properties that can be used like that, adds a bit of fun and imagination and I think the current script you use for teleporting/taxis etc could be used, so not much effort involved there?  Also makes certain properties more attractive therefore increasing competion for them.

6) Carbombs

Heeeeheeeee   Theres been talk about problems with the carbomb issue, especially people who are victims. They want the ability to teleport with a carbomb disabled etc.  Bullshit.  if you teleport with a carbomb and detionate straight away and they are driving or sprinting fast you will miss and just kill yourself.

Its only if you're standing still that you get blown up.  Don't take my word, before you change it sit on the server and bomb people for a bit. Make your own mind up.  I would estimate that a teleport with a carbomb is only 20% sucessfull.  So don't mess with a good fun thing

[me=bubbles]presses mouse 3[/me]

7) CAPS

Isn't there a simple script out there that if someone types in the chatbox with caps with 6 letters in a row for example(can be changed) it automaticly formats the whole line to lowercase?  I used it years ago, forget the name of it tho.


Crusies

Is it possible to have a big checkpoint in the airport where they begin so when people park in it waiting for it to begin they type /join to offically join it?  If 10 more more people join, each player gets one /vr or /fix(see below) token which can be used.  Obviously won't work for people who join it late but at least people will be able to get out of the gate without crashing and taking a pile of people with them.

9) /show

Some more /show TS to plug the teamspeak server would be nice,  maybe some automated /show radio when the radio is on air.  Few nice services the LVP server has, advertise them more.



VIPS

I can assume the management like VIPS, as they provide some money and a small reward for the people who spend time out of their lives providing and running the server for many people.  Here is a few suggestions I hope would increase the number of VIPS and therefore the money coming in which can only help everyone involved.

In all of my suggestions I assume, as should you that someone whos willing to pay money to become VIP would be a die hard player or a player that will play enough not to be a complete idiot or 'noob'

1) The donation system.

PayPal... all well and good, and the easiest option, but lets face facts. The majority of players are children, who don't have credit cards and therefore are unable to donate via PayPal.  In the 6 weeks or so I have been a VIP I've been asked by a few players how to donate, only to be told they are kids, often from latin countries so they don't have access to credit cards because of personal family finance conditions or simply being underaged.

Sander, why not go to your bank, and open up a bank account and provide the details on the donate page of the bank account.  Sure there are people out there who would leech your account, like Nigerian Princesses but its a simple matter of checking the account every day and transfering all the money out of it - the wonders of Internet Banking.  This will allow any child, or indeed person in the world to walk into their bank with a few bucks and be able to give it to you.

2) What you get is not what you're 'promised' - http://sa-mp.nl/donate.html

There are certain things indicated you get if you are a VIP which you don't actually get, and you are given some bullshit excuse that it will come in 3.0.  This needs to be fixed.  Personally it doesn't bother me as I donate to help the server, but it isn't really fair.  Maybe remove these items and replace them with the suggestions that will follow, or even just the truth.


Some examples are, and I quote -

A free Tec-9 Uzi with 500 round as a spawnweapon.
A 10% discount on other spawnweapons - who cares, see previous comment about VIPS being more of a die hard/regular player
You'll have to pay 25% less taxes then other players. ( I havn't noticed this myself, even if its true, meh big deal)
The ability to create your own house, including custom objects . (50 objects if you donate alot)
Save your vehicle at your home.
Your own vehicle license plate!


So they are the problems, now for some suggestions:

1) Money on the ship,
Yeah yeah, great, you get double the money you get as a regular player from standing on the ship. Its still completly pointless - maybe $500 a second for VIPS to make it worthwhile

2) Taxes.
I posted before about a warning for VIPS on when the taxman is due.  This got slapped down because Jay said the tax is so high to limit the amount of money people can get.  Read my previous comment about the divide between new people and regulars.  I like the tax system as its high and its always a pain in the ass to get a load of money only for the taxman to take nearly 50% of it. And I don't suggest you change that, but I think a warning in the chatbox letting VIPs know a minute in advance that you're about to be taxed would help encourage people to sign up. Least that way you have a minute to get to a bank and ATM and will make getting more involved and therefore having more money for properities a little bit easier for VIPS.

Alot of players complain about that, and it is a kick in the balls, might help get more people to donate if they get a warning.

3) VIP pickups/vehicles

Outside the Emerald Isle there is a selction of RC cars for excuslive VIP use.  To me, these are purley a novelity item which appeals to newbies to SA:MP.  I doubt there has been one donation from someone just for the ability to use these vehicles. 
Lets face it, they are shit and slow.  Maybe keep the plane and the tank(tiger) if you can script the tiger to shoot. I know admins can make the Tiger act like a normal tank, but I think a script that would make the tiger shoot BB pelets, i.e a Deagle would be fun.  Don't know if thats possible tho.  I think the vehicle slots could be used better.  An example would be to have a NRG 500 there that can only be used by VIPS, pain in the ass spending ages trying to find the best bike on the server.
Also, why not have a pickup RPG, that VIPs can pick up.  Just limit the ammo to 3 rockets, but when players see they can get a RPG when they donate it might encourage them more


4) As i said before, instead of promising people things you don't provide for VIP, let them know of the things you do provide, like the speedometer, the ability to disable people teleporting to you. For regular players and the more die hard players thats a damn good feature, yet sadly, and I kid you not theres certain admins who don't know VIPS can disable TP.  If they don't know how are players going to know of this nice feature?

5) Advertising
A simple /show VIP that displays every 30 mins letting people know or asking to donate is a good thing, and point them to the webpage, which, I hope would be re-written with the facts of what you get, not the fantasy.  Obviously you don't want to spam people or show the message too much but there is a real lack of communication on the server VIP wise.  I've lost count of all the times people asked VIPS  how you do that and how they can be VIP and what you get.
C'mon, common sence, you want people to donate then at least plug and advertise it a little or does money scare you?
6) Special pickups
Like my previous comment about a RPG pickup, this is open for suggestion, but I never seen a cheater on the server with a jetpack personally..So why not let VIPs get a jetpack?  The pickup would look damn nice outside the VIP lounge.  I'm not saying let VIPS have it for free,  maybe make a VIP pay 250million for the privledge of getting it, point is, would be nice to have the option   Even so, I'm sure you can sit down and think of a few nice things VIPS can get for money that will encourage people to part with their money for some fun things.

Having an array of nice fun things outside the emerald isle for all the players to see what they can get if they donate can only help get more donations.

7) Spawnmoney
When you die, you get $2500. Thats fine, maybe increase that to $25,000 for VIPs so if they die/killed they have the ability to teleport to someone straight away.  A nice simple little perk.

Free /ramping
Again, another nice feature that would look nice on the donation page

9) /vr
I wasn't sure to include this in the above section or VIP. but sometimes you're driving around and you fuck up your car.  Maybe making a /fix command that repairs your car for $2,000,000 would be a nice feature.  I understand LVP is a DM server and it wouldn't be fair if used in a fight so maybe if it could be limited to use only outside the Las Venturas city limits - just an idea. Would make it a better 'freeroam' server.


LVP Store

I had a good look at the LVP store, and I was disappointed to be honest. I'm willing to bet that not many people have bought marchantdice considering its just stuff with the LVP logo.  You might get more people willing to buy stuff if you could include certain pics of sa:mp, like posed screenshots.  I understand there may be copyright issues using pics/skins from the game with rockstar, but still you could have some shirts with a bit of humour like "I played on LVP and all I got was a ban from TEF and this cheap T-shirt."  Again only an idea to get the ball rolling, I'm sure you can get people to sit down and come up with ideas, maybe make a thread to get some ideas for better slogans for shirts and hopfully a few more sales. 



Webpage
I'm sure you're aware of this, but theres a few things on the webpage that don't work.. Like the Map link.  Do up a map ffs.  Jebus, I would do up one for ya if you's can't be arsed doing one yourselves.  There used to be one, it was nice knowing where the properties where.  And again, this ties in with my previous comment about there being hardly no competition for key properities, which is because most people don't know where the good ones are.  Would be more fun with a bit of competition for key properties
The screenshots page could also do with some updating, would take 5 minutes. Could be made fun with a thread getting players to submit their screenshots.
The command list under LVP features needs to be updated, theres a few commands that have changed since that page was made. No need to bore you with the details, a simple scan through them and any admin/managment member would know which ones are out of date.
Having a statisitcs page that works would also be nice   Espcially if you can look up players stats. You use a SQL database? Wouldn't take long to do.



Of course it takes time and effort for all of these to be looked into and implimented if they are considered to be a good idea and if they are indeed even possible its easy for me to sit here suggesting stuff, as its not my time or effort. But sharing is caring,  thanks for reading I guess

I'm sure theres loads of speeeeling and typos, enjoy them

Love,
bubbles (female)