So, now's the time: What do the players want?

Hello Friends and New Players,

I will be using this thread as a home base for ideas. I'm open to suggestions, ideas, plans, and desires for how you want the server to be. So, let's hear it. I'd like each of you to toss your ideas into this thread, and tell me what you'd like to be running on the server. Vanilla? SimpleServer? Bukkit? Certain mods/plugins? I've done a lot of backend testing, and am open to suggestions at this point. I'd like to make something that stays busy, and keeps you happy. So, let's hear it here!

-Wyte

UPDATE:

Then, it's settled. The general consensus (based on the availability of already modded servers) is that community is most important, followed by security, and finally playability. The best option for all of these appears to be the original setup of SimpleServer (allowing protections) and otherwise Vanilla.

To avoid stagnant feelings on the server, and incredibly massive maps, the new format will be a map rotation. The working idea will be a 6 month map refresh. This means long term projects may suffer, but maps will be smaller, and I will continue to make maps available for players after they have 'expired'. This should allow for us to build more efficiently with new features as they come out, and allow people to start fresh as desired. I realize this will not sit well with everyone, but I'm open to options. Seasonal maps? Quarterly updates? I'm even open to the idea of no whitelists, to encourage people to branch out to avoid griefing from visitors. And, yes, area protections will remain an option - I might even open it up as a player controlled command.

Some minor changes, however - warp points will be disabled, though the 'spawn' command will remain. This will spur the growth of transportation pathways. Also, the mini map is still allowed. I found it to be an invaluable tool for tracking player location. Think of it as your own personal PipBoy.

As it is winter for most of us (I believe we are all in the northern hemisphere) I will search for a snow covered map. As biomes are prominent, this might take some back-end work, but I think it will be fun. Imagine a summer map that's all sand. Dirt would be a valuable commodity!

Keep in mind, PvP will still be on, so play nice. If I see a lot of (unwillingly) warring factions and such going on, I'll be happy to remove those players until the next map cycle. So, what do you folks think?

6 month or 3 month map cycles? (I'm partial to 3 month for season change) Whitelist, or no?

Also, I'll bring the server live with the latest version SimpleServer supports as soon as we reach a consensus. :)