Here is a practical, complete and already tested package of planning tools for admins and leaders in Eco by Strange Loop Games. It is meant to make your job easier when planning your world. Is there really a need for planning tools when setting up a server?
Like you read in other posts, I have had the habit of roaming the public servers of Eco since 2018. The most fun aspect of this game is perhaps the insane challenge of developing trust and collaboration strategies with strangers as quickly as possible to avoid a server meltdown. When you think about it, obstacles are overwhelming :
- online strangers
- most are used to a competitive approach of games
- most grew in a culture where the pinnacle of happiness is to have more money and more stuff than neighbors
- It's a game that spawns over days, but as soon as the fun meter drops, people leave forever
Also, I noticed there is a crucial period between day 1 and 3 in Eco worlds where players decide to stay or leave. Depending on the activity curve during these 3 days, one can even predict if the server will fail. And the trick is not to spawn money and laws from the start, but rather create a culture and habits that will convince the players to share the adventure and keep them onboard the next days.
My personal solution to face these challenges is two fold: first, make sure the admin team has a clear idea of the server's objective. Second, use efficient tools to plan key aspects of the world and communicate with the players.
This is why I propose to you this planning package. It is obviously not perfect, but it was created through partnership with seasoned and novice admins. It is meant to be used by the admin team and elected leaders, but you'll see many documents are useful for the general citizens as well.
To get the package, simply access
the public link to a google drive file. There should be an option to download a copy of every document. Please write to me if something is wrong and share if you made improved versions of them.
Planning tools description
Here are quick comments about the documents found in the package.
1. The vision
This is perhaps the most important document of the package and the very first to look with your partners. It contains several key questions regarding world planning and frequent points of divergence met by admins. Each member of your team can answer the questions individually and then compare or just use them as points of discussion. The most important thing, I believe, is to take notes about your decisions. You can also turn these questions into a survey and distribute it to players between cycles. Overall, the answers will help you define the server's objectives.
2. Community presentation and management
You discussed the vision ? Now it's time to quickly show it in this document. The idea is new players will consult this presentation and quickly grasp the general mood of the server and a few special things that they can expect. This is also a great location to mention the admins and moderators.
3. Server ads
Before you forget and while your minds are focused on the server's objectives, you might want to fill the ads for your server. I used the mandatory structure to post on the official Eco discord channel.
4. Rules
Every server has some rules. Some are basic (don't be a nuisance) and others are tailored to your vision (don't claim within x land claims of another player). Use this document to plan the rules in collaboration with your admin team.
5. Citizen record
This document is mainly for moderators and people with the ability/responsibility to ban players. In short, this is where you make a collective memory of the citizens by keeping traces of notable events and behaviors. This is especially useful for large communities where warnings are given before a ban and many admins are in charge.
6. Research calendar
Also, give some thought to a universal upgrade module distribution and ways to balance the price of basic resources to avoid exploitation and inequality.
7. Roads
When you stop to calculate their cost in resources and time to install, roads are very costly. You may want to settle close and invest some time in road planning early. Use this document to plan roads for different eras and make a clear guide for road builders.
8. Price
This one is useful for worlds with a cheated currency from the start, for small clans using the Lord's money trick or when you prepare your switch to a national currency. The prices listed in the document are not important: make your own. What is important is to keep a sort of balance or fairness between the price of basic resources. Next, this document allows you to quickly show the reference prices. Discuss these prices regularly.
9. Community projects
It's easy to say your server will have events, but it's easier said than done. Use this document to plan them in advance and to keep track of your players' suggestions. This document also contains examples of successful government or community contraptions, such as
fab labs and
module upgraders, that help welcome players and fight inequalities that easily ruin most servers.
There is an additional file in the package: 00_Community projects. You'll find there a complete description and budget for many of the community contraptions suggested.
10. Elected and appointed players
It was cute at the beginning to see players happy to "be in charge" only to realize they have no clue of what they are supposed to do. But as months and years passed, this became no longer fun... This document contains examples of popular responsibilities or tasks for admins and leaders. Even if you don't want a government, you can still sit with your friends and discuss what is expected from admins and moderators. You can also use this list to explain the role of a title before starting an election.
11. Law planning
So many players ruin servers when they suddenly discover a passion for making laws. I strongly encourage you to sit down before you make any law and think carefully about its effects. What is the problem and what are you trying to achieve? This is your intent or goal. Discuss it first and see if the other players agree with you. There is no point in spending time to make a law if there is no problem to solve or avoid.
Now from this point, there are often multiple ways to achieve the goal. This document also allows you to clearly indicate the trigger, conditions and effects of laws. You also have sections to note districts, roles, bank accounts and other aspects of the government.
Planning tools: conclusion
I sincerely hope this package will make it easier for admins and leaders in Eco's community. I also hope to see better and clearer objectives and overall increase in the quality of servers. Please write to me if you experienced a problem and thought about a change that can be made to the documents.
Happy planning !
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