The Spectrum of MCYT SMPs(sorry long post)
I'm just by tiktok earlier, doomscrolling as usual, and I saw them have a point of if Unstable SMP would be better as a full-blown roleplay smp, in the end they concluded that Unstable SMP is good as is, which I completely agree they are good as is. But let me present you a topic not wholly related to Unstable SMP, but more on what kind of factor defines an SMP. Are they a Survival-centric SMP or a Roleplay-centric SMP. And let me tell you, its a range a spectrum of sorts.
With the Survival-centric SMPs, in its most extreme would be 2b2t, The Oldest Anarchy Server, being that the nature of the server itself is making an emphasis on survival from Spawn to the edges of the edge of the End Dimension, you see chaos, havoc, but also traces of civilization scattered around and about the server.
In the other end, the Roleplay-centric SMPs, we have Whitepine, an absolute lovely series centered around Ivory as she enters a manor as a new hire attendant. It's scripted, it has specialized soundtracks woven into the episodes, it has a complete story behind every episode that is produced in IvoryTV's YouTube channel, and it is a story with Minecraft used as a medium.
Roleplay-centric SMPs can also have unpredictable endings varied by a player/character's action but there is an end planned already, if not then a path planned to it. Many times the survival becomes the plot point of the play, and that also depends if they are a combat-type of play or build-type of play. They can also be found with mods attached to their server, giving them a different tint with each perspectives, episodes, and actions.
There's also other SMPs we know that are roleplay-centric, but I will start listing what's in-between. Are they leaning to a roleplay-centric SMP or survival-centric SMP.
Here's a list: from Survival to Roleplay (not complete btw just an example of what the spectrum can look like)
2b2t
Life Series SMP ( this one🚦)
Hermitcraft SMP
Legacy SMP
Empires SMP
Afterlife SMP
Misadventures SMP
Vampires SMP
Ish's 1000 Player's Simulate Civilization
Dream SMP (especially when the Lmanburg era started they leaned more into roleplay)
Unstable SMP
Outsider's SMP
Stampy's Lovely World
Whitepine
Now, it is very unfair to only have one factor measured with mcyt content. But unfortunately we will also limit this to non-competitive servers, because that's another kind of mcyt content, so contents from MCC, Hypixel, Minecraft Mondays, and other realms will not be included in this very long rambling.
But factors that do affect the gauge between the roleplay-centric SMPs and survival-centric SMPS are: Build, Combat/Action, Mod, and Storytelling. This gauge especially affects the SMPs on what they may lean for roleplaying/survival, but even if they are leaning more into survival, and/or if they do have piece of lore being utilized in their respective SMPs, they will be still affected by these factors. After all, this is a spectrum not a separation of idea, a range, or a ratio of ingredients.
All SMPs can have all these factors in differing measures. But in here examples are laid based on what MIGHT affect them the most.
Build factored SMPs are SMPs who are well-known for using their buildings as a mode for storytelling. Automated farms and gigantic base builds are common within these types of servers. They are more likely to make lore after building or while they are building. SMPs like Hermitcraft, Misadventures, Empires, Stampy's Lovely World, and Legacy can be factored by their building.
Combat or Action factored SMPs are SMPs that bring their PvP prowess into the table. War themes are most common in these types of factored SMPs. They might give us story or action or both, they can also have massive monuments in their servers but they are not limited in their build. As to be remembered, this is just a factor not the spectrum itself, just the ratio. Examples of Combat/Action factored SMPs are Unstable, Dream, Ish's 1000 Players Simulate Civilization, Life Series, and 2b2t.
Mod factored SMPs are SMPs which rely on the function of their mods to boost their storytelling. The Mods in these SMPs are also most likely to affect the player/charater's gameplay, thus changing on how they might engage on the next chapters. But it is also up to the player/characters if they will also show their prowess and knowledge of the game to affect their lore. Mod factored SMPs are similar to Vampires, and Afterlife. But it is not limited to these SMPs these factors are just merely more affective of the SMPs mentioned.
Last but not the least will be the Storytelling factored SMPs. They are the most well-written types of SMPs, all with a thought out script, mods to boost each produced episode, and a complete scene played out by actors. These are like Whitepine, and Outsiders.
This essay is not going to be final. I would prefer if we could snowball this, add ideas on top of ideas. But this is just a chunk of understanding what might be the Spectrum of SMPs in MCYT. I don't have much credentials to show except being a college graduate and having a bit of understanding with the patterns within the content I consume and enjoy. This is not a report on flaws, or an insinuation of "this is better than that" some prefer tea over coffee, some prefer chocolate than the other two, some prefer a mix of all of the above, and some would rather order alcoholic beverages. It is not up to me how will you interpret this data, but I do hope my rambling can entertain you.
And so... Thank you so much for giving the time to read this very long rambling, I hope you may have sweet dreams and beautiful nightmares, and remember "You Need to Nerd Out".
