Advertising text for PlaneShift

[gonger]

Dear all,

Finally I took the time to finish a list of propositions of what should be in an advertising text for PlaneShift. I was also waiting because I was hoping for more feedback from the community before going public. Thanks for input go to Durante, and to the rest of the active Bounty Hunters (Arane, Carahaij and Gaheris).
Please leave your comments on what should be added / removed / changed. I will then try to formulate it out properly, and present a draft here.
The goal is not to have a text that everybody will agree with 100% (hardly realistic!), but if we can come up with something that most people mostly agree with, that would be something. I also believe that the text we will write together should not be considered "writ in stone", because for some places of advertising it might be important to emphasize certain points more than others.

Finally, if you know places where the text should be published, please mention them, and also mention whether you would be willing to undertake this task.

Looking forward to reading your ideas...

Gonger Xaraha

PlaneShift is and probably always will be under constant development.
PlaneShift has a strong (RP) community.
Elaborated background. Study the Wiki, or read the numerous books from the in-game libraries.
Lots of newbie help: Helpful players, Tutorial, Help channel, Forum.

PS offers a huge variety - succeed as warrior, mage, bard, cook, crafter,... Or be a failure, and RP it properly!
Lots of RP
Many events, hundreds of quests
Pacifist play is possible
PVP only in specific areas, or when both participants agree
Accessible, open-minded Dev team, GMs. Regular meetings with them.
The Dev team is hiring - help building this world!
Runs on all major platforms - Windows, Mac, Linux

PlaneShift is totally free, not just partly free as so many other games. Nobody can spend "real" money to gain in-game advantages.

In general, when talking about PS to the outside world, please consider the following points (also open to discussion):

Be honest. Do not claim knowledge you do not have, but invite people to come and see for themselves.
Talk about the strengths of PlaneShift, without denying its weaknesses. Accept justified criticism, and react to it in a polite way.
Show some sense of humour.

[Jilerel]

We shouldn't encourage Pacifist play.
You can play a pacifist char, but it's entirely possible for it to get attacked by an evil char for example.

[Sirial]

Well Jilerel pacifist doesn't mean unattackable, if someone is a complete pacifist (curious imho in a medieval/fantasy/dangerous setting) he/she/it will just have to not respond back to stay IC, he could always run to the guards.

To Gonger: seems fantastic, perhaps it would need to be more explained the RP as many people could don't know what it truly means.

[Eonwind]

Just the other week we were having fun between me Talad and Zunna joking about in invented RP role: the "Pacific Master"

I like your idea Gonger, my side I think we could also add:
A world alive (tribe of monsters, NPCs and monsters doing their daily lives etc.),
Not sure what you think about it.

[Bonifarzia]

I think you could also mention PlaneShift's history... before planeshift.it was redesigned, there was a lot of background information about the origins of the game. That was at the very bottom of the news sections, now i cannot find it anymore. I guess you could say that PS was one of the earliest free and open source multiplayer RPG projects.

One point you could emphasize: You are free to develop your character however you want, without the restriction of classes or archetypes. Okay, you already list different professions, but I think the do-whatever-you-want approach is still something special.

For the "team is hiring" part, you could mention past (and upcoming?) GSoCs and the long term goal of UE4.

Finally, if you know places where the text should be published, please mention them

Maybe a new trailer or fan-made video? And no, I don't have any talent for doing that.

[Roled]

Good luck you all.

This is just FYI...

General Discussion: Re: Facebook Page and PR

[gonger]

Dear all,

One week since the last comment, so it seems unlikely more will come. I was expecting more discussion, but apparently my preparation work was so good that there is not much left to discuss. 

@Jilerel / Sirial:
I will formulate this more precisely in my draft - it is possible to play a pacifist character, but of course you can still be attacked by creatures, or challenged to PvP.
What concerns explanation of RP, I think I will add a link to the RP section of the PS website, hopefully luring people there...

@Eonwind:
Very good point, I will add this.

@Bonifarzia:
I will definitely mention the free character development, "free" as in "unrestrained by pre-defined classes". Thank you!
I will probably not talk too much about the history of PS. What if somebody asks, "So old, and so few people around? What's wrong with this place?"
But the move to UE4 will be mentioned.

@Roled:
I would like to do more PR work for PS, within my life and time constraints.
The advertising text should be a time saver: Seek intersting site, connect, copy & paste. Repeat. 

Thanks to all who commented, and to those who silently agree. 
I will start working on the draft, and publish it here as soon as possible.

Have a nice weekend!

Gonger

[gonger]

Dear all,

Below please find my Easter present to the PlaneShift community.
As mentioned before, all kind of constructive criticism is welcome.

Happy reading,

Gonger


The best things in life are free.
PlaneShift is free. Totally free. Not mostly free like so many other games, but totally free.
Nobody can spend "real" money for in-game advantages. The only thing that matters is how you play the game.
Or, rather, how you play your character in the game.
PlaneShift players love to role-play (RP). If you are new to RP, check this out: http://www.planeshift.it/Roleplay%20Guide
So even if you are new to the game, you can quickly establish yourself by playing your character well.
Since PlaneShift does not have fixed classes, only what you do will determine what you are. Succeed with magic, fighting, or crafting - or be a failure, and RP it properly. If you do not wish to fight and kill, no problem, you can still be a big hit (if you pardon the pun). Become a great crafter, for example, and trade for what you need. The weekly market is waiting for you - a great occasion to trade, or to meet with others. To socialize further, you can also join one of the many Guilds. PvP also exists, but only upon mutual agreement, or in special areas.
There are numerous quests, special events, and a multitude of different creatures. Remember, you do not have to kill them. Whether it is a good idea to caress a Maulbernaut is a different question, though. But do not fear, even if desaster strikes, death does no permanent damage. A short trip through the Death Realm, some short recovery time, and you are as good as new. And who knows what you might discover in the Death Realm... Some people seem to die on purpose just to get there...
The strong (RP) community of PlaneShift will help newbies: We have a tutorial, a Wiki, an in-game Help channel, forums, and - most important! - helpful players, who did not forget about the help they once received. The PlaneShift background is elaborated and detailed. Read the books available in the in-game libraries. If you can find them all... and if you do not manage to find a certain NPC, maybe he left for the pub, or simply went to sleep. Our world is alive, and moving.
Talking about help - we will also help you with purely technical problems, for example during installation. This is especially interesting since PlaneShift runs on all major platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux. Talk to us on IRC, post in our forums, use the in-game Help channel.
A further technical feature is the constant evolution: The next Big Thing is the move towards the Unreal Engine - soon^TM.
PlaneShift is and probably always will be under development, and therefore the Dev team is hiring - help building this world! Programmers, artists, background specialists, whatever, you are most welcome.

Just remember: The best things in life are free.
And waiting for you.

[Volki]

Good luck getting any potential players to read that wall of text.

[Eonwind]

I think the text is good  thanks for the gift Gonger.
It's true a typical teenager won't read it but to be honest I don't think PS share the same "marketplace" that appeals teenagers and the typical WoW gamers (or alike). So I think an advertising text targeted toward a gamer that could be interested in PS can be longer than usual.

[steuben]

found this in my post history
http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/index.php?topic=20954
don't know if they'll help you any.

frelling 'eck... wrote those over ten years ago.

[Candy]

My two cents: When I see and ad that emphasizes the fact that it's f2p, I immediately suspect the game of being a little bit shady. PS is probably one of the few free games that isn't, but at the same time, "we're not shady" sounds an awful lot like "this is NOT multi-level marketing!" or "NOT A SCAM! WE'RE LEGIT!"

[gonger]

Thanks for those first (?) reactions. I am still hoping for more...

@Volki: Thank you for your encouraging words. Why don't you tell us about your ideas and initiatives?

@Eonwind: Right on target. And someone who is not willing to read a few lines of text will never do well in PlaneShift.

@Steuben: Interesting, fun, but really hard to make.

@Candy: You have a good point there. I will elaborate on the "free" aspect by explaining that everything is community-based, like MUDs used to be.

Greetings,

Gonger

[Volki]

@Volki: Thank you for your encouraging words. Why don't you tell us about your ideas and initiatives?

All you need is a good graphic with the right message. I've done this before. Ups traffic by 10x. But would I do it for PS? Not in the state it's in right now. I don't think the game is in a good condition to retain players.

[Rigwyn]

tl;dr

So where's the easter present? You are giving us a forum post for easter? Are you drunk? Lol