1

How to Become an Unsuccessful, Burned-Out Server Owner

Snowyfox's Avatar Snowyfox11/22/14 1:09 am
11/22/2014 6:43 am
Mythledgic's Avatar Mythledgic
http://www.textfiles.com/100/howtobbs.txt

So, I was reading this document entitled "How to Become an Unsuccessful, Burned-Out SysOp". In case you don't know what it's referring to, a SysOp is the operator for a BBS (bulletin board system); hence SystemOperator.

It might seem completely unrelated, but I found the second half quite interesting. I believe you can kinda see the relation between a SysOp and a Minecraft server owner here...take a look at these tips; they apply well for Minecraft servers as well, subtitution applied.

*EDIT* I've added some comments to help you guys figure out what I mean.

-----

IT PAYS TO BUY QUALITY - Ever wondered why that free software is
free? Could it be because it is so bad the author couldn't get
anyone to pay for it? How about that generic, "bargain" modem.
Why is it so cheap? Old technology? Inferior parts? Poor
workmanship? Want to bet on how long it will last? Good soft-
ware can make the difference between a dream and a nightmare when
it comes to being a SysOp. Same thing for reliable hardware.
You DID spend thousands for the computer...so spend a hundred or
so for decent, reliable software and protect that investment. It
won't do much for the reputation of a new BBS if it is constantly
off-line for various malfunctions.

Instead of modems and software, think about plugins and staff.

CHANGE IS OK, BUT IT MUST BE FOR A REASON - Callers like change,
but they also like the familiar. Make changes slowly and delib-
erately. If radical changes are unavoidable, warn your callers
ahead of time. Make sure you are truly ready before you open
your system to the world. Callers get discouraged when they have
to log in as new users 4 times in 4 weeks because you keep exper-
imenting with new programs. Most of them won't complain,
they'll just quit calling.

KEEP IT SIMPLE - Incredibly complex BBSs appeal mostly to the
"hacker" types. Are these the people you want on your computer?
Most folks want a BBS that is simple and logical, with commands
that make sense and are easily remembered. That still leaves
plenty of room for creativity and originality.

Don't try to mash everything you can think of into one server.
Just don't. We already have enough servers with over 6 different
gamemodes and worlds. And get an appropriate spawn, not a gigantic
castle with literally 99% unused space.


BE ORIGINAL - OK, you have your brand new BBS up. It's plain,
vanilla RBBS software, right out of the distribution files. They
even had those neat screens and menus in there all ready to go.
Now you sit back and wait for the callers to ooh and aah over
your lovely system. Don't hold your breath. Everyone got tired
of those screens long ago. Come up with something fresh. Call
distant BBSs and get ideas. Don't steal whole screens intact
unless the SysOp has packaged them for distribution. Even then,
make a few changes to make them your very own. This is one of
the best ways to demonstrate to callers that there really is
something special about your BBS.


SHOULD YOUR BBS HAVE A "THEME?" - Maybe. That's the best answer
I can give. Some theme and special purpose BBSs are very suc-
cessful, but the world probably doesn't need another BBS based on
Dungeons & Dragons. If you are going to give your system a
theme, make sure it is one that will be interesting to most
callers.


GIVE THE CALLERS WHAT THEY WANT - within reason. Listen to what
your users have to say about the system. ASK them what they like
and don't like. If the majority of them hate a particular fea-
ture, get rid of it. If most of them want something you don't
have, try to get it. Remember, they have choices. There are
plenty of other modems out there waiting to answer the phone.

Massive emphasis on "There are plenty of other modems
out there waiting to answer the phone". If you don't get it, in our
context, just remember that there are plenty of other servers willing
to accept refugees from your server if you're not going to satisfy their
demands.


MAKE IT AVAILABLE AS ADVERTISED - part time boards rarely suc-
ceed. Some stay around through sheer inertia...just because it's
too much trouble to take them down. Hardly anyone calls these
boards for long...especially if the operating hours are bizarre
and irregular. If it must be part time, make it regular. 24
hours is always best. Frankly, if you can't make the commitment
to a separate phone line, you really aren't ready to run a BBS.
The same goes for using the computer yourself...you promised it
would be available at certain hours. Unless there is a real
emergency, you aren't living up to a commitment unless you have
it on-line for the promised hours.

It's important to have a life, but devote yourself to your
server if you want to pull it off. Fulfill your promises, compensate
for shortcomings. Don't leave your community feeling like the server
owner doesn't care about them.


TREAT YOUR CALLERS LIKE FRIENDS AND WELCOME GUESTS - After all,
YOU invited these people into your home! It's true, some callers
are brainless twits. There have always been people like that and
there always will be. But remember, for every jerk that calls,
there are 9 or 10 really nice, interesting people. Concentrate
on the good folks and ignore the clowns...sooner or later they
will get tired and go away.


THINK ABOUT THE KIND OF BBS YOU LIKE TO CALL - Your callers
probably like the same things. Analyze the other BBSs you call.
What do you like about each? What do you dislike? Do you feel
welcome on some and like an intruder on others? Why? How will
someone else feel after calling your board? Will they want to
call again?


HAVE PATIENCE - Be patient while your BBS builds a following with
the callers. It may take months before the traffic is at the
level you anticipated. Be patient too with inexperienced users.
Help them learn instead of harassing them. Did you appreciate
sarcasm and wisecracks when you asked "dumb" questions as a
beginner? Everyone is a beginner sometime.

^^^^^ Please. Any project of any kind requires patience
(except those that explicitly request for haste). Don't make a server
and expect tons of players flooding in. And don't try to advertise
and design your server to get as many players as fast as possible either. The fast route is not the way.


Keep these tips in mind and you will find that your BBS grows and
succeeds while countless others come and go. Why? Because you
treat callers with respect and consideration! Because you make
them feel welcome. Because you really care about what they like
and dislike. Because you put yourself in their place and look at
the situation as they do.

Does all of this sound like a lot of work? You're right. It
takes a lot of effort to run a popular and successful BBS. But
the rewards of meeting new people, making new friends, seeing
other points of view, make it all worthwhile.
For aspiring server owners; stop what you're doing if
you're not willing to dish in some form of effort. A lot of people
are being tired of server owners who just try to set things up
real quick, steal a lot of stuff from other servers and then die
out within a week or two out of boredom or failure. It's a lot of work.
Posted by Snowyfox's Avatar
Snowyfox
Level 26 : Expert Princess
111

Create an account or sign in to comment.

6

1
11/22/2014 6:43 am
Level 2 : Apprentice Miner
Mythledgic
Mythledgic's Avatar
Thats pretty good
1
11/22/2014 4:01 am
Level 52 : Grandmaster Dragonborn
luigi_vampa
luigi_vampa's Avatar
Nice work Snowy, an interesting read for sure.

"Ever wondered why that free software is free?"
Sometimes it's just free because the dev just wants you to get some use out of it and because we're not all money grabbing ****ers!
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store ... 61cf6a2953
If you don't like my half-finished attempt think of something like Filezilla, Notepad++ I've had to talk a young lad from donating to my server three times now (he's already donated once). Run the server because you enjoy it and the risk of becoming burnt out diminishes greatly. Run it because you've got deadlines to meet and well, you'll be having to meet deadlines!

"Be Original"
Careful with this one! If popular is what you're after then it needs to bland and generic. To appeal to the widest audience you need to aim for the lowest common denominator. Put the time and effort into what you like and make it the best that you can and you'll rule out all the people that have different tastes straight away. Please do this though! That way when you do get like minded people in the door they'll see the effort you put into the server and you'll score yourself a regular visitor for sure.

"Have Patience"
Not much to say on the final note but Amen!
1
11/22/2014 3:47 am
Level 48 : Master Modder
touchportyl
touchportyl's Avatar
It pays off in the long run, but sometimes it take a really long time to even get a tiny community that can really help you out being admins / devs / builders.
Most that join usually just quit because of the lack of players
1
11/22/2014 3:42 am
Level 23 : Expert Toast
zute6
zute6's Avatar
It pays off though.
I stopped since it takes alot of time but it is fun. If it isn't then don't do it
1
11/22/2014 2:22 am
Level 48 : Master Modder
touchportyl
touchportyl's Avatar
It sucks how some servers has established plugins and a good host, but don't get many players / don't get any players at all.
1
11/22/2014 1:16 am
Level 8 : Apprentice Network
Karbru
Karbru's Avatar
I agree. Being a server owner is hard work.
Planet Minecraft

Website

© 2010 - 2024
www.planetminecraft.com

Welcome