I don't understand making more items subject to pp (especially forge stones). If the intent is "really" to use pp as a trigger to initiate "rp", why does anything other than gold need to be picked??? If you walk down the street and someone steals your wallet with $20 in it or your $2000 rolex watch, do you act any different? No, you would chase the guy down, demand return and expect some type of punishment on the thief. So, why do items of high value need to be added to the pp's coffers? This is just a griefers heaven! The server will have drive-by type griefers that log in just to ruin the gameplay of others(including longtime regulars that will then get pissed and move on). When you detect a pp attempt - you get the message regardless of item value, so why allow more than a few gold to be taken? And then, there's no need to limit the number of attempts either because the loss isn't going to disable a character.
If the goal is really to initiate rp- make only gold subject to pp but make pp work everywhere. That way anyone who wants to rp over their loss can at any time, but noone loses something that takes forever to obtain and nothing so valuable that the griefers accomplish their intention of ruining someone's rl time.
The overall pvp thing puzzles me. The intent was for voluntary participation. There is an arena and a complete zone set aside for pvp. Those who consent to pvp go there - but those that don't want any pvp don't. Why does it have to be forced upon those that don't want it now?
I have only been around a few months. The server still interests me and I have alot of fun playing here. If it has become old or stale to the old timers then I'd suggest new areas with a more open ruleset, but I would not change the core rules.
There are alot of ways to stir up interest: run more small events - and maybe run the exact same event 2 or 3 times-to include all timezones into it rather than just those present when it occurs, have an "rper" of the month voted on here each month by the players/staff, start an arena pvp ladder, have a "faction day" on the server every once in a while where players are at war with the other faction as soon as they log on. Basically a server wide capture the flag type event.
Use the ingame bboards to post about upcoming server events. Have a bboard just for server notices. Direct those that are interested to come here and sign up so DM's know the interest in advance. I meet more players online that don't even know about or read this forum than the numbers that do visit the forum. This audience might not be representative of the real player base on this issue.
There are alot of things that can be done and players could be involved in planning and assisting in running these things too. I'm just not a big fan of forced permanent pvp to stir up excitement. Pvp can always be forced upon others, but rp can never be forced--so the rpers lose out.
I am sure some of you could barely wait long enough to finish this post before flaming...so go ahead
go all crazy there....
), the magistrate will deduce whether the accused is guilty or not. The guilty character will be sentenced to work in the salt mines. Here he will work in the mines until he has repaid his debt to society, then he will be set free. 
