I see that discussion splits into two different topics, PW and sandbox features. As the latter one is off-topic, I focus on the former.
As I see it, there are three possibilities. Either PW is a side project, being worked on by one or two members of developing team. OK. Or developers are aware of the problems existing in game, but they can't do much about them, so they move to the things they actually can do. Like they can't revamp Outposts or work on PvP shop, so they work on PW instead. Understood and fine by me. The third possibility is that they are aware of problems, but they still working on other features, because they want so or they have a certain vision and discard things that don't fit into this vision, considering them minor and unimportant. IMO, the third possibility is dangerous.
Player-created dungeons is the kind of content that is uncommon for MMO games. City of Heroes, Star Trek Online, Neverwinter Online, and EQ 2 have it. Add Ryzom too, it's five games out of gazillion. It's experimental. Experiments are good, when you have a) established player base that is large enough to sustain game maintenance and development and b) main content and mechanics in your game are finished, balanced, and working as intended.
What do we have in Ryzom? From what I heard, player base is somewhere between low and average. How many of those players are subscribers remains unknown. Steam tide will go down in several months, its effect will not last forever. Player retention rate is low. There is unfinished content in game, such as PvP shops, marauder OP drill and occupations, Kitin's Lair, Encyclopedia. I'm aware about three new rites in development, been like that for years. There is ruined content, such as Outposts. There is the content that begs to be rebalanced, such as certain stanzas and Encyclopedia rewards. There are essential features completely missing from game, such as working economy, or untapped potential of Outposts, or content for guilds.
If all these things are discarded because of PW development, I can't help, but point it out as a bad move under current circumstances.
As I see it, there are three possibilities. Either PW is a side project, being worked on by one or two members of developing team. OK. Or developers are aware of the problems existing in game, but they can't do much about them, so they move to the things they actually can do. Like they can't revamp Outposts or work on PvP shop, so they work on PW instead. Understood and fine by me. The third possibility is that they are aware of problems, but they still working on other features, because they want so or they have a certain vision and discard things that don't fit into this vision, considering them minor and unimportant. IMO, the third possibility is dangerous.
Player-created dungeons is the kind of content that is uncommon for MMO games. City of Heroes, Star Trek Online, Neverwinter Online, and EQ 2 have it. Add Ryzom too, it's five games out of gazillion. It's experimental. Experiments are good, when you have a) established player base that is large enough to sustain game maintenance and development and b) main content and mechanics in your game are finished, balanced, and working as intended.
What do we have in Ryzom? From what I heard, player base is somewhere between low and average. How many of those players are subscribers remains unknown. Steam tide will go down in several months, its effect will not last forever. Player retention rate is low. There is unfinished content in game, such as PvP shops, marauder OP drill and occupations, Kitin's Lair, Encyclopedia. I'm aware about three new rites in development, been like that for years. There is ruined content, such as Outposts. There is the content that begs to be rebalanced, such as certain stanzas and Encyclopedia rewards. There are essential features completely missing from game, such as working economy, or untapped potential of Outposts, or content for guilds.
If all these things are discarded because of PW development, I can't help, but point it out as a bad move under current circumstances.