Player Number

[Falankos]

I would prefer a smaller xp buff for a longer period of time, than a large xp buff for a short period but any xp buff is better than none  

A small long-term buff is indeed in order, seeing as, on the one hand, they can't decrease the costs of the legendary item upgrade materials without a major outcry but on the other, the amount of gold around right now (i.e. the one that might actually get traded away) seems to be far too low.  

But I do think a short-term increase (double XP) might be crucial to revitalizing the already stale economy for now.

Most players left the mod because the mod repeats itself(Spawn, place barricades, let shielders shield while the others kill nords) You just sit in the base and try to survive untill the last wave, after some time it gets boring and that "boredness" stacks with the "not getting anything/not rewarding enough" ideas and you just stop playing when you feel not getting rewarded enough after you dedicate hours into it.

Players leaving is a common occurrence and while it certainly always hurts the mod, this time I doubt it is the main problem, especially considering many of them are expected to be back this fall.

I think devs should be focusing on making the current ones playing to have a more enjoyable time and maybe bring some of those back who have left out of frustration rather than boredom. 

Increasing the drop rates (most notably) of hardened metal was a step in the right direction but I think a very short-sighted one at that. The rate should have been lowered if not entirely reverted a while ago, considering, many are already neck deep in hm as it is and it will probably take a few upgrades to revert the "supply" back to normal. (At least, in my opinion, HM has always been in a stable and preferential state.)

screenshot taken 5 mins ago

This just shows the main issue is not exclusively the player count but the current state of trading as well. It feels like there are a lot fewer players around if you solely consider the state of the economy.