Survey of NPC town lot availabilities

Just sharing some research I did today just to satisfy my curiosity.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1enG3CQp7M8ja3c4CYlLeNWf8ff2oTLoydaENhRn7q0U/edit?usp=sharing

Based on 50 NPC and PRTs surveyed on 3/11/2023
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48% of the 4,306 Land Lots are occupied
25% of the 456 Water Lots are occupied
15 of 50 towns were 100% occupied

Among the top 24 most occupied NPC towns (at least 60% occupied)
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86% of the 1,774 Land Lots are occupied
56% of the 149 Water Lots are occupied


Top 24 most occupied NPC towns:

Location % Occupied
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Solania 100%
Ardoris 100%
Soltown 100%
Desolis 100%
Central Brittany 100%
Mud 100%
Aerie 100%
Etceter 100%
Jaanaford 100%
Resolute 100%
Vertas 100%
Kingsport 100%
Breamar 100%
Owl's Head 100%
Port Graff 95%
Brittany Wharfs 83%
Brittany Estates 81%
Brittany Alleys 79%
Celestis 69%
Xenos 66%
Yew 65%
Brittany Fields 64%
Spite 60%
Kiln 60%

 

I wonder how many of those people still actually play or just login every so often to refresh their lot.

 

I notice plenty of empty but claimed lots or lots with just an empty house on them. This is what they wanted.

 

I think there were a lot of people who had the idea that they would make money by claiming these lots and selling them to other players.

Just an anecdote, during the land rush I was top of the baron list and by the time they got to me, all the NPC lots were claimed.

 

I remember that time as well. I was in the first wave and made my single claim and watched some people claiming 4+ of the most prime lots. I railed hard on these forms calling them out back then. Maybe as a bit of karma, that part of the game really did not materialize in a meaningful way.

 

It just never works. If people can be greedy, they will.

 

indeed this is the case people still squat on land. I have been monitoring many npc towns and there are people holding them for something that dont really use them short of updating before they get booted. does seem like a waste of space for new people. mind you there are plenty of player towns to accommodate people.

 

According to the stats above seems plenty of space available for new players in those towns according to the stats from above:

48% of the 4,306 Land Lots are occupied
25% of the 456 Water Lots are occupied
15 of 50 towns were 100% occupied

Still a very firm believer that folks paid for their deeds and renew within the game mechanics and are able to play/deco within those same rules.

 

now do one excluding the npc towns using the default template town.

 

Why? What the F do I care.......you do it.

Sheesh.......


Oh and trust me I know quite a lot about the default POT template... I helped design it. I can make out every scene it's used in.

 

This isn't about space for newer players.
This is about dead, empty and abandoned NPC towns.

 

There are two kinds of npcs towns in this game right now. Actually empty, generic template npc towns or completely occupied by players who dont play npc towns.

 

Well times have changed as have many of us who bought the dream of what this game could be never realizing or imagining what it would become. Many at first did make money on items and land in this game. Many spent much for the dream or pixel investment they thought. Such is life. Is it relevant to our own enjoyment or entertainment? hmmm well that is unique to each. 10 years is a long time in the life of some. And Shroud of the Avatar is still here with land to spare for those who wish to be here whether they think they semi-own their pixels or not. It is a mind-set and a surprising outcome imo. Thanks for the statistics. I never planned or wished to fill up NPC towns. I had wished in early days and now for them to be full of lore, quests, and interesting things with lots of reasons to visit but for me not my in-game home.

 

I think it was a smart move to not create ep2 npc towns for players to live in. POTs really did bring big changes.

Anyways I was just sharing facts. I wasn't suggesting anything. If anything this shows that new and old players have plenty of options which is pretty cool.

 

I believe fundamentally it is an issue with lot type restrictions NPC towns have. As far as I am aware, the lots generally available are specifically isolated away from NPC towns. (POT only)

"For as long as our wonderful towns exist, let our king hear that our <50% Occupied towns request that consideration be made for the easement of settlers and citizens to the regions. "

A lot of nice rows inside a beautiful scene but who's got a NPC town row?