Dynamic Cantina Rotation & Time-Based Reward System for Entertainers

Dynamic Cantina Rotation & Time-Based Reward System for Entertainers
  • Thread starter Thread starter Teje9338
  • Start date Start date
  • Open Other Community Programs Social New Player Experience 
This idea/suggestion is Open. You can respond to ask questions or discuss the idea and either vote it up or down if you believe it should or should not be implemented, respectively. Popular suggestions and ideas will be considered by the development team to become reality in-game.
Proposal
I propose the introduction of a Dynamic Cantina Rotation and Time-Based Reward System for entertainers.
Each day (or week), a featured cantina would be selected — rotating between both major NPC city cantinas (Theed, Coronet, Mos Eisley, Bestine, etc.) and player-owned cantinas in active cities.
Entertainers who perform in the featured cantina earn a credit reward based on active time spent performing (e.g., every hour of active dancing, music, or buffing).
This reward encourages travel, revitalizes smaller or lesser-used cantinas, and acknowledges entertainers who contribute to the social and economic heartbeat of the game.
Anti-AFK measures and time caps can prevent exploitation.
Justification
This system promotes galactic exploration, community diversity, and balanced economic incentives.
Currently, entertainers and players congregate mostly in Mos Eisley, creating overcrowding in that hub while leaving other cities underused.
A rotating featured cantina would distribute player activity more evenly, giving visibility to player-run cities, helping new players explore the galaxy, and increasing in-game travel and economy.
The time-based reward ensures fairness by rewarding only active entertainers who are genuinely engaging with others, aligning with SWG’s original social and community-driven philosophy.
Motivation
Right now, many entertainers remain confined to a few high-traffic cantinas because those are the only places that consistently attract customers. This causes stagnation in social spaces and limits player discovery of other locations.
By introducing a system that gently incentivizes travel and activity, we can make the galaxy feel more dynamic and alive.
Player-city cantinas would gain recognition and visitors, new players would have reasons to explore different worlds, and entertainers would receive modest but meaningful rewards for keeping the social experience thriving — a win for both immersion and community health.
In Star Wars Galaxies Restoration, entertainers are the beating heart of the social experience. They bring music, laughter, and atmosphere to every corner of the galaxy. Whether it’s a casual dancer in the Theed cantina or a master musician drawing a crowd in Coronet, entertainers are what transform Restoration from just another MMO into a living, breathing world that feels connected and alive.

However, as the game community has grown, one thing has become increasingly noticeable: entertainers tend to cluster in just a few familiar hubs — most notably Mos Eisley. This location is a classic, and it absolutely deserves it's popularity, but this concentration unintentionally limits exploration, social variety, and player engagement across the galaxy’s many beautifully designed cantinas.

This is why I’m proposing the introduction of a Dynamic Cantina Rotation and Time-Based Reward System — an idea designed to encourage entertainers (and the players who enjoy their company) to branch out, explore, and rediscover the many cities and communities that SWGR has to offer.


Core Concept

Each day (or perhaps each week for the entire week or 2 weeks ect.), the server would designate a “Featured Cantina” — a location where entertainers are encouraged to gather and perform. These featured cantinas would rotate regularly among both major NPC city cantinas (like Theed, Coronet, Mos Eisley, Bestine, and Vreni Island) and player-owned city cantinas, which could be selected either randomly, by nomination, or through a curated rotation that gives recognition to different community hubs.

The key idea isn’t just to reward players for showing up — but rather, to reward them for actively performing and being present in these cantinas. Instead of a flat daily bonus, entertainers would earn a time-based credit reward that scales with how long they spend performing in the designated cantina. For example:
  • Every hour of active performance (while buffing, dancing, or playing music) in the featured location could grant a modest credit bonus, scaled to prevent exploitation but still worthwhile.
  • Alternatively, there could be a milestone system, where staying for one or two hours consecutively grants a one-time daily reward.
This approach keeps the system fair, encourages participation without turning it into a grind, and ensures rewards go to active entertainers contributing to the social scene — not idle characters left AFK.



Benefits to the Game and Community

1.​

By rotating the featured cantina daily or weekly, entertainers (and the players who visit them) will be naturally encouraged to travel and experience other planets. Many new players rarely leave Tatooine, but this system would give everyone a fun reason to explore the galaxy again — visiting scenic and lesser-known locations that deserve attention.

2.​

Including player-owned cantinas in the rotation gives recognition to the many mayors, decorators, and community organizers who’ve worked hard to create beautiful social hubs. Being featured for a day or week could bring a rush of visitors, helping smaller towns thrive and promoting a sense of galactic community beyond the core NPC cities.

3.​

When entertainers gather in one place, the energy of the community follows. This system would encourage nights where people gather, chat, roleplay, and simply enjoy the social aspects of the game. With each rotation, players could experience new atmospheres — from the refined halls of Theed to the wild bustle of Mos Eisley or the cozy charm of a hidden Endor village.

4.​

Entertainers often dedicate hours to enhancing the experiences of other players — from buffing adventurers returning from the field to providing mood, music, and social interaction. A time-based credit reward acknowledges their commitment while keeping it balanced and purposeful. It’s not meant to be a huge income source, but a small gesture of appreciation from the galaxy for their ongoing contribution.

5.​

More frequent travel between planets means increased shuttle and bazaar activity. Adventurers visiting entertainers will spend credits on buffs, food, and drinks. Crafters can capitalize by stocking up cantinas in rotation cities with decorative items, instruments, and attire. It’s a subtle but effective way to breathe more life into the in-game economy.



Player-City Rotation Suggestions


For the player-city component, there could be a few different ways to manage rotation fairly:
  • Weekly Nominations: Mayors or citizens could nominate their cantina once per cycle. Staff or the community could vote on featured locations.
  • Randomized Selection: A random system that ensures no city repeats within a set time frame.
  • Staff Curated: Developers or event coordinators could highlight cities known for active communities or recent events.
This not only celebrates player creativity but also spreads awareness of thriving player-run towns that might otherwise go unnoticed.



Balancing & Anti-Exploitation Measures

To ensure fairness, the system could:
  • Only count active entertainers (performing actions like /dance, /play, /flourish, or giving buffs).
  • Cap rewards to a maximum of a few hours per day.
  • Include an AFK check or movement requirement every so often to ensure participation.
That way, it rewards genuine involvement without encouraging idle farming.



Closing Thoughts

Star Wars Galaxies has always been more than just combat and crafting — it’s about community, creativity, and the unexpected stories that happen in the middle of a crowded cantina. The Dynamic Cantina Rotation and Time-Based Reward System would not only celebrate that spirit but expand it.

By giving entertainers meaningful incentives to travel, perform, and bring life to different parts of the galaxy — both NPC and player-run — this proposal helps reestablish the social balance and community connection that make SWGR truly special. It encourages exploration, supports player towns, promotes economy and engagement, and honors the entertainers who keep the galaxy’s heart beating every single day.

In short, it’s not just a system — it’s a way to make the galaxy feel more alive, one cantina at a time.
 
This is a well-thought, creative, and interesting idea. I fully agree with you regarding the uniqueness of swg. These aspects should be cultivated and protected, otherwise its just another wow clone.

I think a lot of what youre proposing can be fostered via player-run events.

Currently the team behind this build has explained their current intentions to make mos eisley the entertainer hub of the game. As new players all funnel there, they want to give the impression of a vibrant, bustling server.

I disagree with this direction but it is what it is. I am hopeful the gcw changes, hoth, and future updates will increase the player population enough that the team would be willing to incorporate ideas like yours and other which would allow the uniqe aspects of this game to shine.
 
But that is one of the problems. Small server size. (FYI SWG came out over a year before WoW was launched). But you are right in that player events can accomplish this for now. For me I would not like to run around chasing all the different locations after a certain point because it would just be time wasting having to shuttle in and shuttle out of player cities etc. Right now it is nice because you just go to ME. But that is just me and does not mean it is not a decent idea.
 
Please dont take offense, but something along these lines (though with less detail) gets suggested once a month at least and the devs always say the same thing: Mos Eisley is purposely the center and they want it to stay that way. You can search Ornj's numerous comments on this.

I do too. I do not go to any cantina other than Mos Eisley and do not want to have to search for an ent.