I'll come back to the convo in a few months and post up the numbers, that way you can see how things went. I'll expand from 2014 Pre-IFL to the end date in a few months just before the Madness tournament. That should give light to some dueling trends.. Though it's obvious that numbers during this slow-down period would have been down a good bit if not for the Terra-Master tournament. That was the only shot in the arm that boosted regulation during this very long lull.Luna Eva wrote:Last year, I could be counted among those who wondered whether IFL was negatively effecting regulation long after it was over. But the period I'm most interested in seeing the effects of IFL's absence is the period we're in right now---after the holidays and into Madness, which is the post-IFL period I was most concerned about last year. Since that's still on-going, I'm comfortable holding my judgment until the next few months are through.
Edit: it just proves that any event can help boost regulation if there's some sort of draw. I held a FireStar-themed event last year without any approval from the Outback or Administration staff. All that was offered was Silver Nobles from my own profile accounts, along with icons over on the Red Dragon Inn side, along with roleplay prompting weapons to be forged for the winner. That event gained a good bit of regulation duels, around 43 duels in a 2 week period of time, and that's only counting DOF regulation duels from those who signed up and not all-sports all together.
What we as a community can do to help boost activity is a simple one, as Harris pointed out. Just run events if you've the interest in it. Ragnarok and Madness are the only two events that actually were fully backed by RoH Coordination staff. Players can do as they wish with the tools they are given outside of that. I know I'd join a tournament if it had a cool RP prize and icons. Eden's own upcoming pet adoption event is going to pull me in on a Saturday where I had planned to spend my time elsewhere. Icons, roleplay prizes, your imagination can make a good draw for any tournament. That's all anyone is truly limited by.
And if you'd like to maybe pass out elemental gems or some sort of other Coordinator backed prize? They listen. Just send a PM and pitch them an idea. Just keep an eye out for past/future events that might have happened a short while before or after your own, since these may sway decision making against an idea if "official" dueling prizes have been passed out/plan to be.
Regulation is first and foremost my primary concern. I'm looking forward to seeing IFL's return, but I also hope that with its return comes the usage of the IFL-room as regulation duel room during fight nights as well. So those who come out and watch the IFL can pick and choose if they'd like to take part in regulation fight night without having to be split between chats.