..the fact of the matter is CF's barrier to entry is far too high and it scares off many people who are new or "casual" players from actually spending any significant time on CF. It's really just a matter of creating an "easy" button and you could easily up the numbers.

I hear far too many apologists about the state which CF is in saying it's just a matter of the times and things are different now, etc. but there are just as many reasons why CF should have a giant playerbase as there are reasons why CF should have decreased in players. It's a 2 step process just like with any business.

1. Get New Players
- As I said before, it's gotten a bit too complicated and some people don't want to do redundant exploring in order to be on par with other players. Edges and Roles just boggle my mind. Just give everyone the same amount of points like Thieves get. Who cares if you explore or if you don't. Why does one person enjoying exploring or writing roles or not exploring or writing roles impact the game at all. Take out the monotony as much as possible. Obviously don't make it too easy, but try to reduce the unfun of the game and replace it with fun. We want a release within CF, not a second job.

I played CF in '94 and you did whatever you wanted because you knew regardless of how you appreciated CF; it was your decision to decide that. Some liked exploring, some didn't. Some liked PK'ing, some didn't. Some liked RP'ing, some didn't. Some liked MUDsex, some didn't. Even those who RP'd amazingly and were in the good graces of the immortals knew that when it came to a pk, they were on the exact same footing as everyone else. There were no Role contest advantages or I'm an Imm and I feel like giving you crap. You got a title and maybe a tattoo that did absolutely nothing and you were actually super happy about it. The sad part about it is it seems like the people who least need the additional powers/legacies/etc. are the ones getting it i.e. the people who would have already been crazy strong. If anyone ever had anything additional, it was insanely rare and a product of some super long mud wide quest.

Ask yourself this, would you rather play a game with 40 Nepenthes and Twists type high caliber players or 150 medium caliber players who are just there to have fun?

2. Keep existing Players
- While the playerbase was high, many Immortals went on power trips and certain long time players left. I'm shocked that this is still occurring, but I would assume at some point that Immortals would take the time to hear out what players have to say. Maybe ask for an old players email address and trade emails like in an exit interview, but I've never heard of that occurring.

Anyways, slight soap box, but I've literally grown up with this game and it pains me to see people not CF in its true glory which is a playerbase of 150+.

-thinnie