While I don't think that Spiral Knights needs quite the type of world that Puzzle Pirates has, I do agree that it needs something if it's going to have lasting appeal.

Bang Howdy was a very fun game, but unfortunately that wasn't enough to keep it alive. Spiral Knights already has it off better than Bang Howdy in that you can at least see other players when in a town, but unlike Puzzle Pirates, once in the town, the only thing you can do is chat or play another round.

Exploring outward could be a lot of fun. Maybe the rewards on the surface aren't so great, but since you don't need to use any lifts, you don't need to use any energy either. Perhaps these sort of explorable areas could use some kind of semi-persistent world. It is still instantiated as normal, but players always enter the areas from the start (or end if they're coming from that direction), and enemies spawn in a different way to give players entering the area something to kill. Maybe the group size could even be increased just for these areas. You wouldn't exactly be playing on a team like usual, but you'd still be encountering and playing alongside other players.

Maybe along the way, lifts could be found (these would require energy as usual) that have simple dungeons with one or two floors. Maybe these could be similar to the Firefly Gate, but more difficult, depending on their distance from Haven.

Perhaps guild halls could be integrated with this. Out in the world, there are locations that can be captured, but must be maintained, for what would probably be a crown and energy cost. Once captured, they could function as subtowns, but certain aspects are controlled by the guild. Maybe each of these could have an arcade-style gate, customizable with minerals. Maybe only the guild can deposit minerals into it, or maybe anyone can. Maybe the guild can decide who can deposit minerals. Whatever the case, anyone would be allowed to play.

There are a lot of ways to keep players in the game, and I think having some kind of explorable world is a great way to do this. The most important thing, I think, is making sure players can encounter each other without making any special arrangements, in one way or another.

>This is why we need quests, and special events to keep us active. AND ACHIEVEMENTS!!!!

I don't think quests are a good idea unless they're more like quick, short-term objectives for showing new players what they can do like in Puzzle Pirates. I've previously put a lot of thought into the quest systems in MMORPG's and the effects they have on players, and I've concluded that quests (WoW-style) actually hurt the community and separate players. This would have a very negative impact on the game, not a positive one. People tend to focus only on their current quest. If quests are easy to solo, players won't bother grouping. If they require a group, they will only be frustrating when groups aren't available.

Hmm ...

What if "player towns", or settlements, can be built -- at a huge cost in game coin, with a large ongoing coin expense -- with, in return, the ability to set up player-run shops, and/or control who else sets up shops? And control the taxation locally?

Let me fill in the gaps before you complain. Yes, a large coin sink -- just like blockades -- so you have a demand for coin to drive the exchange.

And yes, players are in charge of the economy. Yes, at first glance, you have to "toady up" to the governor to run a shop.

But there's no limit to the number of towns -- anyone else can run a town. Maybe towns closer to the spawning areas cost more to maintain and build -- areas that are too expensive will have to shut down. Maybe there's a way to travel to outlier towns.

With the towns competing for players, there's other options. Maybe the better places (cheaper? More established people?) spawn more.

But yes, there needs to be chat everywhere (B!H failed on that). There needs to be socializing everywhere (from the original Bartlett, you want socializers and explorers to drive the rest of the game world types).

So, exploring the surface? Finding other dungeons? Finding GOOD dungeons? Setting up towns at the good ones? Letting people know so you get some revenue, and people spawn there? Maybe a giant, titan-ic creature attacks on the surface and your towns don't last, and you know it from day one?