Why Minecraft SMPs Succeed....

Summary

The video script delves into the factors influencing the success and failure of Minecraft SMPs. It highlights the importance of character development and storytelling to maintain interest beyond the game's progression arc. The script also discusses the need for moderation in rules to prevent chaos or a stifling environment, emphasizing the value of originality and genuine enjoyment over mimicking successful SMPs. Successful SMPs like Hermitcraft and Dream SMP are mentioned as examples, showcasing the significance of a diverse player base and community engagement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The success of a Minecraft SMP (Survival Multiplayer) is not solely dependent on the server's activity but also on the storytelling and character development within the game.
• 📈 Minecraft's lack of a clear progression arc can lead to players losing interest after reaching the peak of the game, which is why SMPs need to find ways to keep the gameplay engaging beyond the standard goals.
• 🚫 Some SMPs attempt to prolong gameplay by banning certain items or mechanics, like netherite armor or the end dimension, but this doesn't fully address the issue of maintaining player interest.
• 🔄 It's important for all server members to be aligned in terms of progression and storytelling to prevent disruptive behavior once a player reaches the game's peak.
• 🎉 Holding events can keep an SMP interesting, but it's not feasible to hold a new event every week, thus requiring other methods to maintain engagement.
• 👥 Having a large number of members on a server can alleviate the need for constant event creation, as new interactions and shared experiences naturally occur among the players.
• 🌟 The success of SMPs like Dream SMP and Hermitcraft lies in their ability to create unique stories and dynamics that keep viewers and players engaged over time.
• 🚫 Relying too heavily on gimmicks or mods can detract from the core experience of an SMP, which should focus on player interactions and story development.
• 📚 Hermitcraft's longevity and success are attributed to its diverse player base, each contributing their own story, ensuring the server remains dynamic and engaging.
• 👫 Inviting players who are known and trusted can prevent disruptive behavior and maintain the integrity of the server's story and gameplay.
• 📝 Finding a balance between too many rules and too few is crucial for an SMP's success; too many can stifle creativity and enjoyment, while too few can lead to chaos.
• 🎭 Lastly, while it's important to create engaging content, it's also vital to allow for some level of chaos and rule-breaking to keep the gameplay fun and spontaneous.

Q & A

What is the main issue that many Minecraft SMPs face in terms of progression?

Minecraft has a practically non-existent progression arc, which can lead to players quickly reaching the game's peak and then experiencing a loss of novelty and interest.

How did successful SMPs like Dream SMP address the issue of game progression?

Successful SMPs used the game's progression as a means to build characters and tell a story, and they didn't progress too quickly, even banning certain elements like the end dimension to maintain interest.

Why do some SMP servers try banning netherite armor or automatic farms?

They attempt to fix the problem of players quickly maxing out and losing interest, but this approach doesn't fully address the underlying issue of game progression and storytelling.

What is the importance of having all server members on the same page regarding game progression?

It ensures that no one grinds out the game too quickly, which could lead to disruptive behavior like killing other players or griefing the server.

How can server organizers keep an SMP interesting after the initial excitement wears off?

By setting new goals, creating events, and fostering an environment where players can share new experiences with different people, thus creating new dynamics, friendships, and stories.

What is an example of how a content creator can raise the stakes in an SMP to keep it interesting?

By progressively increasing the difficulty or scale of challenges, such as killing more ender dragons or wardens, to maintain viewer and player interest.

Why is having a variety of players important in a successful SMP like Hermitcraft?

A variety of players allows for a diversity of stories and experiences, ensuring that the server remains active and interesting even when some players are absent.

What is the role of the 'gimmick' in a successful SMP?

The gimmick should add to the story in a creative way, inciting more conflict and interaction between players, but it should not be the main focus of the server's narrative.

Why is originality important in creating a successful Minecraft SMP?

Originality helps prevent the SMP from becoming repetitive and stale, offering a unique experience that can't be found in other servers.

What is the significance of Hermitcraft's approach to inviting new members?

Hermitcraft carefully selects new members based on compatibility and shared interests, which helps maintain a positive and engaging server environment.

How can having too many or too few rules negatively impact an SMP?

Too many rules can make the server feel restrictive and stifling, while too few rules can lead to chaos and a lack of structure, both of which can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Success and Challenges of Minecraft SMPs

The paragraph discusses the factors contributing to the success of Minecraft SMPs (Survival Multiplayer Servers) such as Hermitcraft, Dream SMP, and Lifestyle SMP. It emphasizes the importance of character development and storytelling to maintain player interest beyond the game's standard progression. The author also points out common issues like the lack of a clear progression arc and the tendency for servers to allow players to quickly reach the game's peak, leading to a loss of interest. To address this, the author suggests that server members should be aligned in their approach to progression and storytelling, and that events and goals should be introduced to keep the server engaging and dynamic.

05:01

📚 Originality and Community in Minecraft SMPs

This paragraph explores the importance of originality and community in the success of Minecraft SMPs. It criticizes the lack of creativity in many SMPs that simply mimic successful servers like Dream SMP. The author argues that having a unique personality and story is crucial for a server's success and warns against trying to replicate the success of others. Hermitcraft is highlighted as an example of a successful SMP due to its diverse player base and the individual stories they bring to the server. The paragraph also touches on the importance of inviting the right people to the server to maintain a positive and engaging environment, and the pitfalls of having too many or too few rules.

10:03

🎮 Balancing Creativity and Fun in Minecraft SMPs

The final paragraph focuses on the balance between creativity and enjoyment in Minecraft SMPs. It stresses the importance of having fun and not taking the game too seriously, suggesting that a bit of chaos and rule-breaking can be beneficial for the server's dynamics. The author encourages viewers to make their own type of content and to create an environment where everyone is having a good time. The paragraph concludes by inviting viewers to check out some of the author's best works related to SMPs, highlighting the beauty and enjoyment that can be found in these shared gaming experiences.

Keywords

💡Minecraft SMPs

Minecraft SMPs, or Survival Multiplayer servers, are a type of game mode in Minecraft where players interact and build together in a shared world. They are central to the video's theme, which discusses the factors contributing to the success or failure of these servers. The script mentions that many SMPs fail due to a lack of progression and storytelling, highlighting the importance of these elements in maintaining player engagement.

💡Progression

In the context of the video, 'progression' refers to the development and advancement of a player's character or storyline within an SMP. The script points out that Minecraft's inherent progression arc is limited, which can lead to a loss of interest once players reach the peak of their abilities. Successful SMPs, like Dream SMP, are noted for using progression to build character and narrative, which keeps the server engaging over time.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is a key element in the success of SMPs, as it provides a narrative framework for player actions and interactions. The video emphasizes that servers that use progression to tell a story, like Dream SMP, tend to be more successful. Storytelling helps to maintain interest and provides a reason for players to continue participating in the server's activities.

💡Netherite

Netherite is a material in Minecraft that is used to craft the strongest type of armor and tools. The script mentions that some SMPs try to control the pace of progression by banning certain items like Netherite to prevent players from reaching the game's peak too quickly, which can lead to a loss of interest.

💡Gimmicks

Gimmicks in the video refer to unique features or twists added to an SMP to make it more interesting. However, the script warns against relying too heavily on gimmicks, as they should enhance the story rather than replace it. An example given is the 'Lifesteal' plugin, which adds conflict and betrayal to the gameplay but is not the central focus of the server's narrative.

💡Hermitcraft

Hermitcraft is a long-standing and successful Minecraft SMP, mentioned in the script as an example of a server that has maintained player interest over time. It is known for its diverse player base, each with their own story, which contributes to the server's longevity and appeal. Hermitcraft's success is attributed to its variety and the ongoing addition of new experiences by its players.

💡Repetitivity

Repetitivity in the video refers to the lack of originality and the tendency of some SMPs to mimic the successful elements of other servers, leading to a stale experience. The script advises against this, suggesting that servers should strive for uniqueness and authenticity in their storytelling and gameplay to avoid becoming monotonous.

💡Rules

Rules are mentioned in the context of server governance and how they can impact the player experience. The script suggests that too many rules can stifle creativity and enjoyment, while too few can lead to chaos. A balance is needed to ensure that the server remains structured yet allows for spontaneous and enjoyable gameplay.

💡Content SMP

A Content SMP is a server specifically designed for content creation, often by YouTubers or streamers. The video discusses the unique challenges of these servers, such as the need for constant novelty and the balance between scripted content and organic gameplay. The script uses the example of killing the Ender Dragon and escalating challenges to illustrate the need for continuous engagement.

💡Personality

Personality is highlighted in the script as an essential aspect of a successful SMP. Each player's unique personality contributes to the server's dynamic and helps to create a diverse and engaging experience. The video encourages players to be authentic and to create content that reflects their individuality, rather than trying to emulate others.

💡Chaos

Chaos in the video is presented as a double-edged sword. On one hand, too much chaos without rules can lead to an unenjoyable experience. On the other hand, a bit of chaos and rule-breaking can add excitement and unpredictability to the server, making it more fun. The script suggests that a good SMP should allow for some level of chaos to keep the gameplay fresh and enjoyable.

Highlights

Success of an SMP is more complicated than just server activity, involving character development and storytelling.

Minecraft's lack of a clear progression arc can lead to a loss of interest after reaching certain milestones.

Servers like Dream SMP maintain interest by using progression to build characters and tell stories, even banning certain elements to slow down progression.

Many SMPs fail to tell a story with the game's progression, leading to a lack of engagement.

Banning items like netherite armor or automatic farms doesn't fully address the issue of progression and engagement.

Ensuring all server members are aligned with the approach to progression and storytelling is crucial.

The novelty of a new SMP can wear off, and finding ways to keep it interesting is a challenge.

Events can help maintain interest, but finding new ways to raise the stakes is necessary for long-term engagement.

Having a large number of members can alleviate the need for constant event creation due to the variety of interactions.

Creating new dynamics, friendships, and stories by interacting with different people can make even simple tasks interesting.

Setting new goals and events for the server can keep the experience fresh and engaging.

Gimmicks should enhance the story, not be the main focus of the SMP.

Originality is key to the success of an SMP, with too much repetition leading to boredom and failure.

Hermitcraft's success is attributed to its diverse player base and the individual stories they bring to the server.

Inviting the right people to an SMP is crucial to prevent griefing and maintain a positive experience.

Too many rules can stifle the enjoyment of an SMP, while too few can lead to chaos.

Content creators should not treat their SMP like a film set, as it's ultimately a game meant for enjoyment.

Chaos and rule-breaking can be part of what makes a good SMP, as long as it's enjoyable for all involved.

Having fun and being genuine is more important than trying to mimic successful SMPs.

Transcripts

Minecraft smps a lot of them fell and

some succeed but why most people will

probably say that the success of an SMP

boils down to how interesting or active

the server was however as it turns out

it's a little more complicated than that

but in order to find out what makes smps

like hermitcraft lifestyle and even the

dream SMP so successful we first got a

look at a few things that caused smps to

fail a couple months ago I set out to

join 1 000 Minecraft servers and

something I noticed from doing so was

that about 200 Minecraft smps all

experience the same problem progression

Minecraft has a practically non-existent

progression Arc you load in break a tree

mine some Stone gear up and go when

you're mining netherite or killing the

ender dragon you've basically hit the

game's Peak then but as soon as you're

all maxed out and finished with your

goals that novelty wears off the reason

servers like dream SMP lasted a while

well was because they were using this

progression as a means to build their

characters and tell a story and even

then they didn't progress too quickly I

mean they literally banned the entire

end Dimension to prevent people from

getting elytra and shulker boxes but the

thing is most smps don't ever do this

they just kind of let people grind out

the game and don't even try to tell a

story with it and some servers will try

Banning netherite armor or Automatic

Farms as an attempt to fix this problem

but it still doesn't stop the issue as a

whole so how do you fix this well first

I'd make sure that every member on the

server is on the same page about this

because you definitely don't want

someone grinding out the game and

getting full netherite and just start

killing people or hell even grieving the

server part of the reason why I don't

invite people I don't already know and

trust to my servers but even if you've

implemented a way to make progressing

the game fun easy and interesting it

still won't stop you from hitting a dead

end you see when that feeling of

excitement you get the first couple of

weeks of starting the s p wears off most

people don't know how to advance their

server in a new way to always keep it

interesting once again most people would

think holding some sort of event will

fix this and I mean yeah actually it

does but you won't be able to hold a new

event every single week mainly because

you'll always have to find some sort of

new way to raise the stakes for you and

your members and if you're making a

Content SMP for you and your viewers

here's an example you kill the ender

dragon and the game starts to get boring

again so next week you kill the weather

then later you choose to kill 10

Brothers next a hundred Brothers 50

Ender Dragons the warden 100 wardens

until eventually if you colonize the

entire world and forced everyone and

everything to bend to your will the

point is

might not always be possible to raise

the stakes in an interesting way but if

you have a lot of members on the server

you almost never need to do this because

even if your goal is something as silly

as collecting the DNA of every single

person on the S P to create some

amalgamation you'll always have new

people to share new experiences with so

even something like collecting wood can

be made interesting if it's done with a

different person than you'd normally

talk to this creates new Dynamics and

friendships new jokes and even new

stories on the SMP and because there are

millions of things to do in Minecraft

there is never going to be an experience

you've already seen before allow me to

give you an example from my friend I'm a

starfishes and my private SMP that we've

been playing on for over a year and a

half now you see whenever we run out of

something to do we'd set new goals for

ourselves like a new build project a new

way to progress the s p or even an

adventure of some kind we made it so

every 1 000 days spent on the server we

told some kind of event like a firework

show or even a war this minute so even

if we were off doing something else like

killing wardens or building a castle

there would always be something bigger

to look forward to and strive towards a

lot of smps failed to realize how this

could be done properly and instead just

add some mod or plug-in to add some sort

of new twist to the game but the problem

with these gimmick servers is that they

rely too heavily on the gimmick servers

like lifesteal are not actually all

about stealing parts from one another

but the server is really about is power

conflict war and betrayal the lifestyle

plugin just adds to this experience it

adds to the story in a creative way it

incites more conflict and problems

between the players the gimmick should

just be a creative way to add to the

story but not be the actual story and as

someone who was in a very successful s p

for me at the time I can personally

attest to this a couple years back some

friends and I made a server called the

homies and the story on this server was

mainly inspired by The Dream s p we had

Wars over an item called the good good

and we started Empire's Nations tortured

one another Beyond repair even blew up

everything in an 80 mile radius but one

thing that was different was our use in

Java and Bedrock Edition the idea being

the Minecraft Java Edition world was

separate Universe from the Bedrock

Edition one but because servers like

lifesteal and dream SMP have amazing

storytellers telling Amazing Stories it

makes it worth watching as well as

playing but that actually brings me to

my next point repetitivity you see

something I've noticed from being in

hundreds of unsuccessful smps is the

lack of originality a lot of smps try to

mimic the things that made servers like

dream SMP so successful to try making

the same lore the same story hell even

the same builds at some point starting a

Minecraft war and ending it with a giant

explosion or wither fight is going to

get old but I don't want you to get

misconstrued or discouraged by this if

you are doing something you love then

you are doing things right I am the last

person who you should let dictate your

Minecraft SMP experience so take the

things I say with a grain of salt but if

content smps or smps in general are

filled with a bunch of people who act

like their favorite YouTuber and have no

originality it's going to fail every

single time can't beat servers like

dream SMP at their own game they'll

likely do it better each time having a

server with three people who all have

their own personality and story will be

a hundred times better than having a 112

year olds who act like Tommy in it

running around our Minecraft skins are

completely different and have absolutely

no correlation so shut up you don't need

to be the most entertaining person and

you don't even need to have a good story

to have a good SMP if you have fun with

it and be your own it will succeed it's

impossible to be completely original but

it is possible to be different

now I'd like to take a look at another

Minecraft s p that has gathered millions

of views on YouTube it has been around

for nearly 11 years now hermitcraft

hermitcraft could very well be

considered the number one Minecraft SMP

but how has it been around for so long

and why is it so successful well

hermitcraft has a pretty wide variety of

players on it each person is their own

person telling their own story and with

lots of players playing on the same

server there's no way for it to get

boring but say a couple of people need

to take a break from the s p or can't

log on for whatever reason well there

will always be someone adding on to the

experience whether that be with a new

story a new build or a new event because

there are so many people playing on the

same server there will always be some

new experience and there never will not

be someone keeping the server active or

interesting because too many smps

there's even just one member and

everything falls apart but with

hermitcraft that is never case although

a lot of smps end up going wrong is that

who they choose to invite hermitcraft

only adds people to the server that they

all like this prevents any racists from

getting in and griefing the server or

ruining the experience the Hermits know

who they are inviting and know why they

are inviting them but a lot of smps will

just let anyone in some servers will

have an interviewing process or some

sort of form to fill out and this

worked because it'll be getting people

who have aligned views with you and are

close to what you want to add onto the

server but even then I still feel as if

interviews and applications are a bad

idea inviting close friends and close

friends of friends will save you so much

time and energy on who it is you can

trust and to be honest doing it this way

just seems far more effective because if

you aren't playing on a server with

people you're comfortable with every

situation will be awkward and weird

however I know a lot of times this is

actually better because you'll most

likely end up getting comfortable and

being friends with the other people in

the s p but still most times out of 10

you'll get someone on your SMP who

doesn't follow the rules or story rules

are structure without them everything

dissolves into chaos the bad kind of

chaos but with too many rules you've now

got a literal prison too many rules

cause too many problems but no rules

offers no Solutions being forced to

follow a script or set of rules at all

times will really cause any server to

fail if you can't even eat food or log

on without it being part of some sort of

script there will be nothing to enjoy

about the s p and for a lot of you this

probably seems

extremely obvious like don't be too

strict however I've probably noticed

this issue the most in smps and the

reason being is a lot of content

creators try to treat their server like

it's some award-winning film but at the

day it's just Minecraft I've said it

since the beginning of the video though

do whatever you like make the type of

content you want create

dream of but if you're going to have

other members on it make sure they're

just as serious as you are because to

most of us we don't want to take the

video game that seriously sometimes a

little bit of chaos and disobeying the

rules is what any good SMP needs it's

okay to go off script and just have a

good time because if you're having a

good time everyone's having a good time

whether you're making a Content SMP or

just an SMP for you and your friends I

hope this video was insightful to you in

some way if you're interested in some of

the S PS I'm in please check out the

videos on screen they are some of my

best works

five thousand days a month it's just so

beautiful thanks for watching