If you want to get lots of players at your server, follow these guidelines:
>Have an original idea (a new kind of DM or a whole new gamemode)
>Have a half-decent build (people don't want the build to look like crap or for it to be spammy(it also doesn't have to be amazingly detailed, Bushido makes great DMs with really simple builds that get the job done))
>Have a good server name (don't do something boring that doesn't pop out at people)
>Make the server actually fun (having fun is the main reason people join someone's server, so if it isn't fun, they will leave)
>Have a good set of rules for your server (without rules or with bad rules, your server will be unorganized and it will most likely go down-hill)
>Have good administration (either you are there for 95% of the time, or you have trust-worthy admins there frequently to monitor the server when you can't)
>Don't host something that is just like another server or the same game type as another server (for example: hosting a grapple knife TDM right now would be a bad idea because there are already 2 or 3 good ones running 24/7)
>Don't use a default build (people just get bored of it (there are very few instances in which servers with default builds get a good amount of players))
>Have good weapons/items/vehicles (nobody wants to see the default items when they join a server, have good items or weapon packs that fit in well with the server)
>Have a forum topic about your server (this helps gain a lot of attention for your server (if you do it right))
>Be nice to those who join your server (don't be a "badmin" or be really mean to those at your server, it will only make more people leave)
>Host it at a good time (starting a server at 8pm on a Tuesday is a bad idea because the total player count is low and decreasing, the best time to star a server is on the weekend around noon-4pm central)
>Don't have a laggy server (nobody has fun when your server is lagging a lot)
>Make friends with people who join your server (these people are more likely to return to your server and even give good reviews of your server to other people which attracts attention)
>Take suggestions from people who join your server to make it better (if they suggest something that they think would make the server more fun, you should definitely consider the suggestion because it could make it more fun for people)
>Have variety (make sure there is something in a server that changes fairly often such as having a "create a class" area, shuffling teams, or adding new things each day)
