Player Referral System: PRIZES INSIDE WOOHOO

Status
Not open for further replies.
zodium

zodium

Dalayan Elder
Okay. We would very much like some new players because fresh blood is awesome and I'm running out of babies to eat. We've actually been talking about this for ages, but we couldn't ever work out a complete, working system, although we didn't spend a lot of time trying.

This is where you can in. In this thread, you post a FULL, BASIC IDEA YOU THINK WILL WORK WITH PROS AND CONS. Go nuts if you want, but if your idea isn't technically feasible it'll obviously be discarded.

LET ME REMIND YOU AGAIN: IF YOU POST SHITTY REPLIES IN THIS THREAD I WILL VIOLATE YOUR RECTAL CAVITY WITH LARGE OBJECTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. POST IDEAS OR RESPONSES TO IDEAS HERE, BUT DO NOT TURN IT INTO A DEBATE.

However, in turn, if your idea is chosen for the base model we'll use, even if we modify it, you will be awarded either 10000pp, 15AAs (or levels up to and including 50, so you can boost yourself to 51 from 35) or items that are yet to be decided.

That said, we're not necessarily going to use anything from this thread, and if it turns into a debate I'll just close it and we'll do the thinking ourselves.
 
A possible place to start

I don't know exactly how the specifics would work, as far as tracking the people who do recruitment, but the irc room for MMO radio has lots of people in it all the time. That may be worth going into and talking to people who already play EQ, but may be a little bored of Live. I've talked to a few people in there already, and gotten some interest. Just a thought.
 
Mostly we're interested in an automated referral system. Things like a command to "refer someone" (i.e. #referrer Melwin) and prizes/awards for people who get an exceptional amount of people into WR. Obviously though, that system is open to exploitation, so the question is how do we combat this, and this is where we're taking your suggestions.
 
well, it seems to me.. you could help to stop the exploitation by making a flag (or something?) on an account, and give a reward based on the amount the account has played.. that way, people won't create characters just to get rewards for their friends, they'd actually have to start a new account, build characters and etc.. I think the reward for referring someone should be GM points, personally.. maybe not a *LOT* of them, but that way people can pick what they like, and it's something that people can get regularly in the game as well. of course, like the monthly gambling system works, you could have a checker to make sure people aren't dual clienting for extra rewards, which i'm sure is something you've already figured for yourself :D
 
You don't want more casual players, so it may be useful to base the referrer reward on the newcomer's playing time... Something like: after 1 day playing (/played) you get 5 AA's, from 1'001 to 5 you get 10 AA's, etc. Maybe attuning the time spent to the time it would take to get those AA's.

PROS: Those that just create another account would need to work to get the reward, and if the time needed to make it is the same that it would take you, they would really get nothing in exchange.
Players who don't play too much would find cheating not worthy.

CONS: It may discourage people the fact that you need the newcomers to spend time playing, as the rewards would take time to come.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A variant of this would be to base reward on newcomer's level.

PROS: The newcomer's playing time is rewarded, as well as its activity.

CONS: You could just play in another account and get two rewards, one for leveling a toon, and second some extra benefits for your main.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just checked and found out that you can create different eqemu accounts using the same e-mail address. I think that the longer it takes to exploit this system, the fewer exploiters there will be. So a good advice would be sending a validation e-mail once the #referration has been done which needs to be answered for the process to be finished.
For this to work, I would add a field to the profile (the wr boards profile) where you put in your account log in name and the name of a char from your account (to prevent introducing random account names), since WR boards don't let you create two usernames with the same e-mail address.

I just thought of a different way to do this, though it's not compatible with my first suggestion. This would be to add arguments to the #referrer command, one for the referrer, and one for your WR board login (this would prevent a person from using the same e-mail address twice).

PROS: More work needed to exploit (you need a valid e-mail address per exploit).

CONS: If you are bored you can still exploit it.
Also, I don't know how this works, and this may be too much work to be done.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the referring method. From what I've read it seems it'll be an in-game command. I don't know if this let's you distinguish between 3 accounts linked to the same eqemu forum account.
I've tried to create another account and I've seen that they also ask for a referrer when creating the account. Maybe you could use that info and get rid of the #referrer command. (I may have missunderstood your post and this was already the way it was working)

PROS: Saves work to the newcomer, he doesn't have to remember #referring after he has started playing.
Treats the accounts linked the an eqemu forum account as one (I don't know if you can see this info already).

CONS: I guess people will just have to create diferent eqemu forum accounts instead of eqemu login ones.
Also, once you've created a forum account, I think this info can't be edited.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I'm just brainstorming the thread, they teach us this is a good way of finding solutions. So, I hope you find any of this ideas suitable :).
 
You guys are all brilliant enough to come up with a basic referal system I am sure, and the way i thought of doing it would be based around the person you recruit. You couldn't just go somewhere and say "JOIN WR AND REFER YALADWEN!!!! YAY!!! ITS L33T!!!!!!!"

What I envision is some sort of comand allong the lines of #refer <name>

What you would have to do would be to first get someone to join and this is where, with my limited or well very very little knowledge of coding, things get foggy. You could:

A.) make is so that the person would have to have played the charactor to , lets say, level 30 before they can #refer...

B.) or possibly make it so that it does an automatic check of the play time of the charactor and returns data to you based on the play time.

I would work allong the Lines of plan A.) personally. Mostly because it would be simple IMO(prolly not, but it sounds good) and basically as long as the person could only #refer someone one time, then there is no expoitation system. If you want to get rewards for refering someone, and you make 50 new accounts and PL them to level 30 just for the #referal....then you are stupid.

I think people would be more willing to have friends and other gamers try WR, and then to befriend them for the #referal this way. My plan makes it necessary for individuals seeking a few #referal's to befriend and actually seek out new members. Well, Thats a simple overview of something that flew into my mind. Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck, however it comes out I cant wait to try it and get more people into Winters roar!!! :p
 
it seems like you guys are stuck on the problem of players just creating another account to boost their own. why not have it check for the players IP of the accounts in question? also check the characters on their account so they dont just make a new toon (as said above) and give themselves referals. also, i wouldnt give rewards as often as right when it happens, how about after a week of average play time (ie 1 or 2 hours) and the player possibly being lvl 15+ before the rewards start to happen.

Next, many of us are also members of other forums of different games. reciently on my clans counterstrike forum, someone made a post about Anarcy Onlines 1 year free program and it got a lot of attention because it was free. we could post just simply post in other forums (respectfully) giving advertisment to the server and how to start up. we could make a post and help with it ourselfs (troubleshoot peoples problems so the WR admins here dont have to), and send the link to an admin, and depending on how well the thread does, could distribute rewards.
 
First of all I wanted to suggest that the command for #referral information be requested when the command to unstun is given - otherwise people will be constantly harrassing and bribing new, unrefered players to #refer them so they can get the benefit.

Secondly I think a good way to do this would be to simply make a #referplayer [email address] in game that sends an email to the person being referred, and when the referral link is clicked and that person is brought back to the wr website their ip address is checked against the ip address used to send the referral. Combine this with an automated IP check at a few random levels for each account during gameplay and I think you can make 99% sure that its not the same person on both accounts. I think it also gets around people that use IP spoofers by just requiring that some of the checks be done when both accounts are active and online at the same time.

Davan
65 Wizzy
Nightfall
 
neaon has a very stable idea IMO, but at the same time, it seems very complicated, especially the repeated checks of the IP. The best way, and maybe the easiest seems like the #refer comand would have to give a point based prize, and that the prizes wouldn't be all that amazing. The other solution to prevent people from being harrased into a #refer would be a PP amount. Perhape 100pp per #refer in your name. That way you get a nice benefit for converting people into WR, but its nothing game changing or anything :D
 
Its going to be basically impossible to stop people from exploiting a referral program unless its done manually.

A lot of people play from 2 computers at once and make it easy to spoof IPs...What about the person who is on a huge backbone with multiple IPs under his power? Plus if the reward only happens if the referred person plays so many hours, so many levels, then they will have to wait a while for their benefits it might discourage people from using the referral program.

In all honesty the best way to keep this system clean is make the only reward a title of something like that. Say on who they are noted according to how many players they refer ie: 1-5 refer "Appreciated" 5-10 "Honored" 10-20 "VIP" etc.

If there is a real cash/exp reward there will be exploiting.
 
For now, I think we'll base some of our system off neaon's idea.

Feel free to come up with further suggestions. And yes, we're aware that any system will eventually be exploited, but we'll be monitoring everything heavily.

Rewards will most likely be GM points initially, and if you really refer a lot of people and get them playing, there'll be unique items you can't obtain elsewhere.
 
referral

I like davan idea somewhat,I however think adding a link to the WR forum app with an area to put the name of the person that refered them to wr would be a little more simple....just me 2 cents
Evanwood 62 ranger
Ruin
 
Neaon's got the right idea: checking referrals at the time of account approval is the way to go. More specifically, the referral request should be given after the approval but before the stun wears off, plus a "none" answer should also be accepted in the event that the player found WR all by herself/himself.

I do see two problems, though:

1) If the new player is real life friends with a Winter's Roar player, they might first establish their characters at their friend's house. I know I've personally introduced a few real life friends to the server by allowing them to create accounts at my house and on my computer. They bought the software and then began playing on their own computers, though their starting IP would obviously match my own. This could disrupt the rewards system for anyone introducing the game to others in this manner.

2) If the player doesn't know the name (or perhaps just the proper spelling of it) of their friend's main character, this could cause problems. Perhaps a "later" answer could be accepted so that a GM could ask them later on so the player can remember.

~Kiyuri, Guildmistress of Beyond
 
Or perhaps the player would quit at level three, providing no benefit to the server whatsoever. We want more long term players, not come-and-go gimps. There's plenty of those, but you don't notice them for obvious reasons.
 
If I could, I'd play for a period fo no less than 60 days :D
But I can't play at all >_<

And that sucks.
 
Currently I'm trying to get a Community Internet Radio Station working to help promote WR, while at the same time have the experience of setting up and working with such an environment for career experience benefit (I'm a Broadcast Major and something like this on a resume says lots). My over all plan for the Radio Station is to appeal to just about anyone who just likes music. On the station there will be ads for Winter's Roar and events put on by WR players for WR players. I think lots would be interested in WR knowing that they could go buy Ever Quest in stores and load it up and play EQ; kind of; for no monthly charges. Once the and if this station gets enough attention by the local community I can then use the radio station as a lure to others as a way to get a taste of the community before they even commit to playing the game. In any MMOG I think that 75% of what keeps people interested is the community and not the game. This what kept me in EQ for 4+ years cause it sure wasn't the game after about the first two.
 
Dunno, if this is still active.. But here's my idea..

I think the whole system should involve in-game, as well as the website. Because, if they are actually a new player, then they better be reading the website first. And, the person referring them, should be offering this 'friend' their help and support in-game (especially if they are getting awarded for the referral).

What we dont need is people advertising like idiots and harrassing people to join just so they can get phat lewtz. What we need is a system that gets people to join, and ensures that they will get hooked on WR.



So, here we go.. The new player must sign up for a forum account on WR first. Perhaps, it can be implemented that when a new person signs up, they get a random generated number (much like the 'CD key' eq emu forums do). This number/phrase/word doesn't exactly have to be random, it can be a rather large list already predetermined...

The newbie must write this code down...

The website will be an easy way to track IP's. I doubt anyone is stupid enough to create a ton of accounts under the same IP.

In Game: There could be an NPC in every major city, which handles referring. This NPC has 2 quest triggers.. One for the current player, one for the newbie. The current player goes to this NPC, hails him, gets an item like "Referral Ticket" or something. The newbie comes along. Hails NPC, and the follows the other directions.. NPC then asks for approval code. Newbie types the code they recieved.. This triggers the NPC to give the newbie another item to verify referral. The current player gives the newbie HIS referral ticket. Newbie turns in referral ticket, and his proof of approval item for a good newbie item that will help him level (weapon/range item/bp/whatever).

Next part might require some working with.. The newbie could also recieve a 2nd item like "Signed Referral Ticket" that he gives back to the current player.. The current player could save these tickets, and turn them into a GM. Of course this entire step wouldn't be needed if you could track the referrals directly through the NPC handouts. Also, better yet, another NPC could be located somewhere that accepts the Signed Referral Ticket for items/exp from the current player. Of course that would be exploitable, but easily punishable.


PROS: This method, though long and tedious ensures that the newbie is at least visiting the website, and at least checking out the message board before he tries to play.

It provides interaction in-game for the newbie. The newbie starts his life on WR with the feeling of a friend or big brother type - newbies are lonely too :*( .. (and they have lots and lots of questions). The newbie also recieves an item right off the bat, and maybe even some exp.

This prevents the random recruiting of newbies with the "sign up now punk I need my short sword of the ykesha" attitude. And it will increase the survival rate of the new players.

Newbie gets a proper start, and is emerged into the World of Dalaya...

Current Player gets his referrral...

And gnomes save the day.. Everyone wins.



CONS: Obviously exploitable, but easily trackable.. If anyone is dumb enough to try to exploit it, they deserve to be booted anyways.

The quest/NPC might need some working around with, but the idea should remain the same. Might take some extra work in setting up the NPC, and generating a code issuer at sign up.

Post getting long, so I'll stop there.. The idea is clear enough.
 
A simple but hopefully effective system has been devised. Details to come.

We'll evaluate who, if anyone, will get rewards for helping out because I can't think straight right now

Thank you a lot for your input, everyone. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom