I've already played more than 20 cabal private servers. So if you as a developer, admin for cabal private server this is a good list on how you can make a good private server with a lot player will be intrested at first 5 min they played.
1. Start with HR20 and free BM3(its okay if you just give level 1 BM3 at least). Why ? Because all people that come to your private server is already played cabal before, they want something fast. Not wasting time grinding for stain clones(if you know what i mean).
2. Non-donators can achieve donated item in certain amount of time. Maybe 1 month or 2. You decide what best. As long as donators don't overpowered much as non donators do, you will gain alot players in short time and this will make donators to support your server for a very long time. Idk how to explain this but you see some of the server that were close because of pay to win concept.
3. Active staff in game. There were alot of hackers because of outdated EP8 cabal server files. I know some of developer have made a patch that can limit the amount of hackers. But they still active like crazy. You can't be active 24 hour a day to monitor hacking activity ? Just hire some staff among the player that know alot about hacking. They know if someone were cheating at your server.
Any more suggestions ? Reply to this thread please. I'm happy if you give your response because i'm lookin to open up my own server very soon. Still debating what best for a private server. Pardon my english