I'd like to see more usage of global announcements. It's a way to make the players sit up and pay attention to what's going on around them. An example of how this was used effectively can be remembered by those who took part in things like the Satyr event, where destroying a machine on one of the satyr isles sent out a global message.

Here's just one possible idea of how to use global announcements in a fun way [:)] Have an NPC that appears in a random location anywhere in Istaria (possibly a Vielo, so they can get a bit of good favour with the players for a change [:P]). When someone finds this NPC they greet it, and are given a small dialogue about how the NPC has been exploring and found various items. The NPC offers the player a random item, most of the time it will be something fairly worthless like a chunk of ore or other resource, but sometimes it might be a technique component, and on very rare occasions something rather valuable like a technique or crimson jewelry. Upon receipt of the item, a global announcement declares "PlayerName found the wandering Vielo, and was given [item name]". The NPC then vanishes, and reappears at another random location in Istaria until someone else comes across it.

With something like this, players will have a few things presented to them. A source of interesting items. A feeling of satisfaction if they find the NPC. A topic to talk about, ie what the best item someone got from the wandering vielo is. Through the use of the global announcement each time the NPC is found, the rest of the playerbase have something to chat about and take part in [:)]

What other ideas do folks have for making use of global announcements in a good way ?