How to fix the game (brainstorming) - IDEAS FOR RYZOM

Ahem.

Mjollren

At some point, you will have to suck it up and understand your player base needs a fun (or addictive) activity to perform constantly, without a lot of time investment on the player's part.

OK, here I lose you completely. If "your player" needs that, then they should be playing solitaire, sudoku or Bubble Monkey Pop Juice Candy Farm. I have not met an MMO that does not involve a lot of time investment on the player's part and a significant amount of grind. As for the staying power of new players, churn is also a feature of all games.

Mjollren

Digging is not fun. Leveling is not fun and can't be done in large groups. Roleplay requires Event Team intervention or a lot of scripting and make-believe. There is nothing I can think of that will keep me *entertained* for 3 continuous hours in Ryzom, without getting bloody repetitive. Recipe-making for a select few, perhaps.

Digging is not fun for YOU, it's fun for me. Leveling CAN be done in large groups (e.g. Shalah and Plod teams, and use of multiple teams in the same area). You say that there should be a fun or addictive activity and then you criticise repetitiveness. The two are inversely related (see any dungeon crawler).

As for Roleplay, it's inherently make-believe! How can it not be?

If you have ideas for things that will improve the game, make them explicit and work them out (in detail). As Irfidel pointed out, some things do get implemented, some things don't. However, if an idea is not well worked out, it is guaranteed not to get implemented!
-- Just my thoughts.