Would you download HAKs in a....

[GoblinSapper]

Do you know how many people play Ravenloft? I've seen 50 people online at once, and that's on a dull day. It requires a lot of haks, but people download them.
 
EfU is a marvelous server! The best I've ever played! I would -pay- for the Haks, then download them, no matter how long it took! And I'm sure plenty of others could agree! :D

Ravenloft runs 30+ generally at all times of the day and requires extensive hakpaks, yes.
 
Also, what "New Players" Are we finding? This game is over a decade old now.

[derfo]

exceptions and rules

how does a game being a decade old stop new people from playing

[derfo]

exceptions and rules

how does a game being a decade old stop new people from playing

when i want to play a new game/server i don't want to download a bunch  of inane shit for slightly modified numbers and supposedly prettier  placables. i don't think i would have played efu in the first place if  there was hak packs, and i really doubt said hak packs are a good reason  to further isolate the server from new players

[SkillFocuspwn]

I don't think this question is really the best one! I would, but that doesn't mean I think haks would be a good idea for the server.

Yes there is proof that some servers work with them but I thin a massive selling point for EfU is how easy it is to just hop in and play! And I think changing that would be a terrible idea

[Vlaid]

I would definitely download haks for EFU. However when I first started on the server, I probably wouldn't have logged on the server if I had to download haks to play.

If haks can be down in a way that they are optional to play on the server, but mandatory for optional things, I would be all for haks. Stuff like prestige classes and spell powers for special items (DM loot) and app races ect.

[Barehander]

You can't compare the situation when you started to this day. Almost everyone playing is a veteran, and established servers are competing for established players. Players move from one server to another at friends' recommendations; those who randomly click servers and decide to stick around in one are probably a small minority at this point.

Truthfully, I think EfU, Arelith and CoA should make the collective decision to go HAK, leaving no viable options. If all the big servers require HAKs, you're going to download a HAK. And if you're too lazy to do even that, then you're probably too lazy to be a good new player in the first place.

It's also quite possible that the prospect of shiny new HAK content would lure in more players than the HAK-free policy does. Old players want to see something new. Not to mention that catering to the current playerbase and keeping them excited is more important than fishing for new players, though both are obviously important.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's certainly worth considering if there's some HAK material the builders want to use. Experience shows it won't kill a server even if the doomsayers try to claim so, but it will probably decrease player immigration somewhat. It's a trade-off for sure, but not as dramatic as some make it out to be.

[petey512]

I'd rather not have a HAK because everything I try to download becomes useless garbage. It's because I'm too ignorant to know how to download things correctly.

[Damien]

If we are trying to get new players we are just as likely to get them with or without haks. Back in the days yes the appeal was that it required no haks while most others had CEP or some such but that time is over. Now you have players coming from one server to another to find something different that will make them stay and tbh with you most of the servers were people nowadays are ones that involve haks.

I don't understand why some people hate haks so much anyway, its not like it stops you from playing other servers and most haks are are quite small.

[Echigo]

All I'm saying is that I willingly downloaded haks for various servers, just to -try- them. Some people will, others won't. In fact, some people would be more inclined to try it if it had required haks, whilst others wouldn't.

Regardless, this server will always be numbuh 1.

[VanillaPudding]

I would say that a huge portion of the new players we get come here because a friend or acquaintance informed them of EFU, not because they were randomly looking for a new server. I would also guess that the amount of players that had quit and would return for something fresh, new, and more exciting would far outweigh any loss of 'new' players.

I think Barehander argues most of the points very well.

[Garem]

Now that I know what kind of quality I'm dealing with, sure. If I was new to the server, hell no.

Can't emphasize this enough.

EfU deserves (even more awesomeness to compliment the awesome) what it cannot have (pushing away potential new players from a relatively ancient game).

[Badcompany]

Hak? Whats a HAK, i had enough trouble trying to find where i put the 2da thingamajig from the downloads on the forum.

[JMuzz]

You can't compare the situation when you started to this day. Almost everyone playing is a veteran, and established servers are competing for established players. Players move from one server to another at friends' recommendations; those who randomly click servers and decide to stick around in one are probably a small minority at this point.

Truthfully, I think EfU, Arelith and CoA should make the collective decision to go HAK, leaving no viable options. If all the big servers require HAKs, you're going to download a HAK. And if you're too lazy to do even that, then you're probably too lazy to be a good new player in the first place.

It's also quite possible that the prospect of shiny new HAK content would lure in more players than the HAK-free policy does. Old players want to see something new. Not to mention that catering to the current playerbase and keeping them excited is more important than fishing for new players, though both are obviously important.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's certainly worth considering if there's some HAK material the builders want to use. Experience shows it won't kill a server even if the doomsayers try to claim so, but it will probably decrease player immigration somewhat. It's a trade-off for sure, but not as dramatic as some make it out to be.

This is my opinion in a nutshell.  Good post, Bare.

[Barehander]

Hak? Whats a HAK, i had enough trouble trying to find where i put the 2da thingamajig from the downloads on the forum.

It's a single file you put into the directory labelled "hak". It doesn't get much easier than that.

All this is moot if the designers don't want to use HAK content, of course. If there ever is to be a HAK on EfU, it should be high quality stuff hand-picked for the builders' purposes. No CEP crap.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

I don't think any established player here would not download a hak to play efu.

Conversely, anyone who is new to NwN will have bought it at the suggestion of a friend who will show them the ropes.

EFU has tons of content that I thought only a hak could achieve, I was proven thoroughly wrong each and everytime. From custom cleric domains, to unique monsters such as assassin vines, electro-elementals, Shambling Mounds, and hornet swarms. All done without a hak.

I feel EFU can benefit in far larger ways from selectively picking and choosing their haks carefully than from remaining staunchly hak free.