View Full Version : Hear me out
GuardianofLore
30-03-2006, 04:05
I'm not here to flame,.. I'm not here to disrespect anyone, or the server... but... I have to voice my thoughts, becuase I can't even get DMs to respond to questions. And I really think I should at least be given a "sorry, but not now" Instead of belatently being ignored.
I love the server, I like the low magic quality, and I enjoy the role playing ....when it does happen. I'm one of those players that likes to spend at least four plus hours ingame. By my own standards, I think I'm a very good role player, and I truly appreciate playing on a server that the builder paid close attention to detail. Most of everyone I met on there, have been very nice and helped when they can. I'm very grateful for all of you whom spared a couple moments with me. ... But I'm sad to say, that the majority of my time on the server I've spent alone. As I said before to some people, ... If I wanted to play alone, on my own. I'd download this PW of LotR from the vault, and play it as a single player module. My sole purpose of joining this server is to interact with other people. I'm either to low to join the big parties and partake in the fun. Or I'm to high enough to redo quests that I know of exist. I haven't seen any visible, or readable information that the server has custom tradeskills that would help occupy my time... So I'm kinda stuck here... If its becuase you don't have custom systems, perhaps I can interest you guys in the systems I created. I'm pretty good at the NWN Script, and people have often told me I could compare myself to an expert. .. People that play on this server in fact. If thats of any interest, let me know. Anyway, back on topic. I really think an upgrade to quests for levels between 5 and 10 should be made. Particularly solo quests becuase in my experience with low magic/exp pws. These levels are considered the hell levels because.. A, your to low/high to get into a group, and b, you still die by breathing the wrong way. I've read through some of the posts on here, and it seems I'm not alone in my request. Again, I"m here if you need talk, I'll come on in hopes that I catch a chance meeting with people RPing in taverns, but I'm sorry.. I can't just sit here, and stare at my character, doing nothing... Sure... she's hot!... but I just don't swing that way. lol
Anywho, hear me out., and god love ya.
Ashura
Mhyradin
30-03-2006, 05:28
I have also reached a bit of an impasse in terms of quest advancement. The server is geared towards party play and if you can't get into a party of sufficient numbers of just the right level then you're going to struggle. In my experience the server is so finely balanced that the moment you level beyond taking a quest is also the level at which you might reasonably be able to solo it. Which is very much as it should be but can lead to some measure of frustration if there aren't many other players on. I know it is common practice to log off to see the levels of the characters that are on, then log back in and send a polite tell to any that look promising for partying.
perhaps I can interest you guys in the systems I created? Seriously, I've seen some of this work and it is definatley worth a look :E
DM Curumo
30-03-2006, 07:12
The reason you might not be getting a response from a DM is that there might not be one on.
Recently I for one have been very busy with other things, and hardly had any time to log on as a DM for any extended periods of time. This is something I am trying to remedy.
As for group / party play we understand that at times groups are hard to come by, especially when there are only a few people on. One answer that I can provide is always have a few characters of different levels / alignments so that if there is a number of players on around a particular level you can find someone to join them.
I hope this helps.
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 07:28
A couple of things.
I'd have to agree with Curumo that the reason a DM didn't reply is that it's most probably because a DM wasn't on. This is a UK server and all the staff are, atm, UK people, so there won't be any DMs around (usually) in the middle of the night, or the middle of the day (people have to work and sleep).
Partying. Yes, it can be a problem. I've actually raised the question of tool/s to help with that and it listed to be discussed, but in the meantime you can do what Mhyradin suggests, check the chars levels at the log in page (where you select your character) - and btw why not have something to show levels in game to save all this logging off/on to check them ;) - and tell them a "hi, are you busy? Want to party?" I know it can be hard, and even I don't like to do it a lot of the time. Also there is a Group Planning thread on the forum that you could use. Maybe find out who is likely to be regularly on around the times you want and you can start meeting up.
Yes, I saw some of your scripts briefly and they are great, but personally, stuff like that only interests me where it helps RP and I couldn't be arsed, for example cooking recipes (one of Ashura's scripts) just for myself. "Tradeskills" might fill an hour or two perhaps but I can't see anyone useing them continually to fill the quite times (do they? )
And yeah, you do hit a bit of a slow patch after level 6 ish. But then the server is not about leveling. Leveling is deliberately slowed. Try starting another char? Try two or three. So should at least try one good and one evil at the very least.
Stick around though. When I'm on I'm always happy to party you know that, but I think the main thing is the timezone thing...
"Tradeskills" might fill an hour or two perhaps but I can't see anyone useing them continually to fill the quite times (do they? )
This is precisely how they are used in most places with tradeskill/crafting systems. It certainly beats idling in a bar.
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 08:55
This is precisely how they are used in most places with tradeskill/crafting systems. It certainly beats idling in a bar.
Right, well, each to their own I suppose. I wouldn't even idle in a bar for very long unless I'm waiting for someone I know is coming. If I can't find anything to do with a char I just start another. Hmm... I suppose we could also find something other than MERP to do.... nah!
:)
I'm not here to flame,.. I'm not here to disrespect anyone, or the server... but... I have to voice my thoughts, becuase I can't even get DMs to respond to questions. And I really think I should at least be given a "sorry, but not now" Instead of belatently being ignored.
Sheesh, here we go, another dig at the DMs, if you have a complaint please follow the complaints procedure as outlined by Kev here (http://forums.wireplay.co.uk/showthread.php?t=304132). I for one doubt very much if you were deliberatley ignored as you have clearly implied.
The easiest way to speak to a DM is in our mIRC channel - although as has already been mentioned currently all DM's are in the UK and have work and family commitments, so it is generally UK evenings and weekends that they are most easily found. We certainly do not, at this time, have DM coverge at all times.
Generally the quality and quantity of RP here is very good, however again it is fairly regional - a majority of our players are from the UK/Europe, so again evenings and weekends (GMT) tend to be the best times to find others.
Unfortunately we do all sometimes find it very difficult to find other players/a party - although mist players have multiple characters to help facilitate this.
We have in the past looked at many trade skill type systems and never found one we felt appropriate - this isn't to rue them out totally, but we'd have to find somthing we really felt fit.
Quests for those low - mid levels are constantly being looked at - although you're unlikely to see an increase in solo quests as we've never been that interested in making them - and they do ted to encourage people to travel alone rather than party.
It may take a little perseverance to get into this world, but once you've met a few of our wonderful roleplayers, adn started joining a few parties you'll see what we're realy all about.
Sheesh, here we go, another dig at the DMs
Guys... for once, please leave your paranoia aside and concentrate on the constructive side of the post. Fishing a single sentence out of an otherwise quite insightful and by no means offensive post does nothing but provoke flame.
Paranoia - surely it can only be paranoia if its coming from a DM - which it isn't.
The post on the whole is constructive - but the accusation of DM's blatantly ignoring someone isn't the best wording to use.
Paranoia, thats rich, someone sticks up for the DMs and its paranoia, and just because I choose not to ignore what in my opinion is a dig at DMs, I get accused of fishing. Well, sorry but I have no intention of ignoring such things, those players who deliberately or carelessly ignore the complaints procedure are certainly not doing me any favours.
I agree the rest of the post is very constructive, but that paragraph makes the rest of it pointless to me. The complaint portion should have been kept out and brought to attention in accordance with the procedure.
clone number 3
30-03-2006, 10:28
Guys... for once, please leave your paranoia aside and concentrate on the constructive side of the post. Fishing a single sentence out of an otherwise quite insightful and by no means offensive post does nothing but provoke flame.
If they didn't want to receive comments on a particular part of the post then they shouldn't have put them in the post. I agree that the post contains some interesting points, but there is no need to start the post with such a negative slant.
Anyway....
I have to agree with Steve on this one, I'm not one to spend hours playing a make believe tradesman/lonely drunk. If there isn't anybody to party with at a particular time I log off and try again later, or pop onto IRC and see if I can drum up some support. I can see why it may appeal to some, but it would not be a priority for me personally.
Some of my favourite times and most enjoyable RP sessions though have been spent idling away an hour or two in a pub chatting away with another character.
:)
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 10:49
Here's a thought. Would it be possible to add a script that will monitor the DM channel and report to a player "Sorry there are no DMs on at the moment"?
We might have to spoon feed some players, especially those who aren't from the UK and are probably used to non-UK servers where they would expect more DM presence when they are on.
I do agree that the DM ignoring part was badly worded, and would probably have been answered without us if more care had been taken to check out the details of the server and its admin, but I choose not to take offence at the statement because I felt that Ashura, who I've partied with and I would generally consider a good player, just didn't understand the situation properly.
I would expect Ashura to apologise for the slight once she realises her mistake. (If not I'll be just as annoyed as the others.)
(We have to make some allowances for a large influx of non-UK players now. Bless 'em. The colonials don't understand our British ways ;) (just kidding, just kidding, trying to lighten the mood...)
Edit: When I say non-UK I mean, of course, non-European... - those on significantly different timezones.
Here's a thought. Would it be possible to add a script that will monitor the DM channel and report to a player "Sorry there are no DMs on at the moment"?
i really don't think thats needed if you receive no reply the dm is either too busy to respond yet or there isn't one online.
from what Guardianoflore seemed to want to suggest ingame via the dm channel wasn't the right place to discuss it anyway, Instead she should have brought it up on irc.
and Normaly there are a few people dordling in irc who have done what clone sugested and left the server to seek other players on irc, so if you go onto irc it would be quite possible you'd be able to find someone to join you online.
I'm not here to flame,.. I'm not here to disrespect anyone, or the server... but... I have to voice my thoughts, becuase I can't even get DMs to respond to questions. And I really think I should at least be given a "sorry, but not now" Instead of belatently being ignored.
this could of quite easily have been said by "couldn't find a dm online to chat to"
instead what you said just seemed utterly negative without reason.
i understand you posted as you were frustrated but its ussaly better to wait till you are calm before posting and theres always the edit button.
DM_Olórin
30-03-2006, 13:19
If a DM is available in game, one will reply to any request in the DM channel even if its "im busy right now, ill get back to you in 5 minutes" or something like that. If there was no response at all, then putting 2 and 2 together, along with the predominant timezone issue on MERP_UK, then clearly no one was available to respond to you. We simply cant be available at all hours. Sorry, buts thats just the way it is.
Best plan of action is to contact DM_Kev and he can give your system due consideration with the the rest of the staff. Ultimately he will have the final say, but on such matters we will all contribute opinions. :)
Low level quests... At the moment we are more interested in increasing quests for levels around the 10 - 14 mark (a rough estimate) as most players seem to find that this is the sticking point that most vexes them. There are updates in the pipeline.
You will have to forgive "a little paranoia" from time to time, we recently lost a couple of valued DMteam members and players and other dev team members have committed more time to creating/improving areas of the world and the activities therein, because of a spate of unfortunate occurrences that had over time demoralised the DMs to a very low point. Long term members like Snarfel, clone, steve, ghost and many others are keen to support the DMs as in the past support was needed and most welcome. Thanks Guys.
I think that is why your initial introduction to us was percieved as negative and may have overshadowed other issues you raised. Better a knock on the door, than a boot through it mate... :) I hope we have addressed the queries in your post.
Steve Im not sure a tool to tell players a DM is avaialable is necessarily a bad idea except that it would only be a good idea in the hands of players who would use it responsibly. Clearly the manner in which it could be irresponsibly used would be a rather negative matter we neednt pursue in this thread.
Int... a new job description... hmm... so what does an "ex-nitpicker" do exactly :D
Nitpicks extra :P
Anyway, the reason why I posted is that, if you look at the user who started the thread, it is a new player (check the join date), so some extra consideration would be nice. And the intro of the first post looks more like a poor choice of words than a deliberate offense to me, and it's good that Curumo spotted it as well (at least judging by his calm, polite and to-the-point reply - thank you for that, we really need more of that sort of thing now!).
Anothe thing I would say from a DM point of view is that sometimes, if you're interacting with characters you don't see everything said in the DM channel - if there's a lot of dialogue going on where you are it can have scrolled off your screen before you're aware it's there. For this very reason when DM-ing I tend to read off the main screen itself rather than the dialogue box - it can be easier to keep track here.
Personally if I see a request for help I do one of three things - I respond immediatly to help, I send an apology if busy and say I'll be there in 'x' minutes, or I refer people to the forums/mIRC channel. However due to the nature of the dialogue panel I am sure I've missed things in the DM channel more than once.
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 13:44
it is a new player (check the join date).
Just to, erm.. nitpick :P the join date is when they join the forum, not when they started playing. As it happens Ashura is a relatively new player as far as I know, but players could, and have, play on the server for quite a while and then only join the forum to slag it off.
As I said though, I do basically agree with Int's point, in this case, I believe it was a misjudged and misguided reaction rather than a deliberate attempt to undermine the DMs and admin.
However, I completely understand the reaction to it. Players and DMs may be a little oversensitive to these things atm, but who can blame them. We've lost Araw over it (please come back mate...) and other DMs are losing heart. The DMs and admin/builders *are* this server's main strength (their vision and commitment are what create the other strengths, i.e. the players). yes, we need players, but without DMs would we all still play here as the server decends into chaos (and anyway, without DMs Kev will shut the server down). So as harsh as it might sound, it's worth risking offending and turning away a few new players then risking losing the whole thing.
This sort of thing should be nipped in the bud early. We've had too much fallout over these kind of comments. I'm sure a decent, sensible and mature player would forgive such reactions once they realise their mistake and I'm still expecting an apology (I'm an optimist, sue me). If a player makes this sort of derogatory comment, is put right and then continues to make such comments, or fails to acknowledge their mistake, then, well, do we really want them here?
The DMs and admin/builders *are* this server's main strength (their vision and commitment are what create the other strengths, i.e. the players). yes, we need players, but without DMs would we all still play here as the server decends into chaos (and anyway, without DMs Kev will shut the server down). So as harsh as it might sound, it's worth risking offending and turning away a few new players then risking losing the whole thing.
This sort of thing should be nipped in the bud early. We've had too much fallout over these kind of comments. I'm sure a decent, sensible and mature player would forgive such reactions once they realise their mistake and I'm still expecting an apology (I'm an optimist, sue me). If a player makes this sort of derogatory comment, is put right and then continues to make such comments, or fails to acknowledge their mistake, then, well, do we really want them here?
I beg to differ. No matter how brilliant a server's staff, they will never be a good server's main asset. Without players, what would be the point of DMs? You say that without DMs, Kev would shut the server down. What would he do without players? I don't think being so harsh on the forums (*looks at SNarfel and others*) is going to make anyone coming from the vault, willing to try this server inspite of the recent discussions there, more likely to stay. All this talk of "nipping in the bud" and "do we really want [such players] here" strikes me as elitist and inappropriate. It's never worth risking offending new players, unless you're happy with the tiny (shrinking) clique of "regular players". I would like to congratulate any new player who manages to get through the current paranoid (yes, I use that word deliberately, for lack of a better one) atmosphere and sees the worth of the module.
It is sad that we have lost DMs and players. It is sad that some of them were forced to discuss their issues on the vault. In all fairness, I doubt they would have been able to say what they said here. But the worst thing you can do is confirm the complaints voiced on the vault in the way that happened on this thread.
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 14:28
Apologies, carried away.
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V
Guys, guys, guys.
This has gotten a little out of hand now.
Can I please ask you refrain from any more posting about the player/DM/respect/who is most important issue for now.
The OP raised some valid points and I'm happy for these to be discussed - finding party members etc.
More discussion on attitudes will quickly turn this into a flame thread which we really don't need.
This is the view of all the DM team I've been able to speak to, so please follow our wishes.
Many thanks
DM_Lorien, on behalf of the UTT2 DM team.
DM Curumo
30-03-2006, 14:36
I would agree with DM_Lorien. Please allow GuardianofLore to respond to what has been said. I know they are a very good roleplayer and I am sorry they feel they are being ignored.
I am sure these points having been raised can be dealt with accordingly.
Thank you.
GuardianofLore
30-03-2006, 18:28
SNarfel:
Sheesh, here we go, another dig at the DMs, if you have a complaint please follow the complaints procedure as outlined by Kev here. I for one doubt very much if you were deliberatley ignored as you have clearly implied.
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My responce:
First off, this is no stab at DMs. I said it purely to get a response if any from the forums. If it came off negative, and hurtful then I do apologize that it did. But as DMs, you know you have to take what player says with a grain of salt. Yes, I will admit I'm ranting abit, but I like to know that I'm being heard. The reason for my comment, was that yesterday while I was the server. To which had about, 15 people on at once. I always check the player list to see if theres DMs even before I bother trying to contact them. I'm pretty sure there were, Don't think my player list would lie to me. But given the circumstances, maybe I was wrong, and maybe I thought I saw more then there was.
ghost81:
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The easiest way to speak to a DM is in our mIRC channel - although as has already been mentioned currently all DM's are in the UK and have work and family commitments, so it is generally UK evenings and weekends that they are most easily found. We certainly do not, at this time, have DM coverge at all times.
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My response:
I don't have mIRC, nor do I have the desire to download it. I understand Mundane issues effect game play.. I have 2 children of my own that I have to send off to school every morning and so this is brought up why?... If you don't have DM coverage at all times, then why does it say there's Constant DM coverage in the majority of upload screens between areas?
Yes, I'm a new member on this server, but that does not make me any less of one. I take time out of my day, to play on this server. I put in my hours of dedication to learning your rules, and abiding by them. Not that I'm anything special, but I am still a player in a dieing game, that will soon be replaced with NWN2, I think I have the right to vocalize my opinions without persecution.
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DM_Olórin:
If a DM is available in game, one will reply to any request in the DM channel even if its "im busy right now, ill get back to you in 5 minutes" or something like that. If there was no response at all, then putting 2 and 2 together, along with the predominant timezone issue on MERP_UK, then clearly no one was available to respond to you. We simply cant be available at all hours. Sorry, buts thats just the way it is.
Best plan of action is to contact DM_Kev and he can give your system due consideration with the the rest of the staff. Ultimately he will have the final say, but on such matters we will all contribute opinions.
Low level quests... At the moment we are more interested in increasing quests for levels around the 10 - 14 mark (a rough estimate) as most players seem to find that this is the sticking point that most vexes them. There are updates in the pipeline.
You will have to forgive "a little paranoia" from time to time, we recently lost a couple of valued DMteam members and players and other dev team members have committed more time to creating/improving areas of the world and the activities therein, because of a spate of unfortunate occurrences that had over time demoralised the DMs to a very low point. Long term members like Snarfel, clone, steve, ghost and many others are keen to support the DMs as in the past support was needed and most welcome. Thanks Guys.
I think that is why your initial introduction to us was percieved as negative and may have overshadowed other issues you raised. Better a knock on the door, than a boot through it mate... I hope we have addressed the queries in your post.
Steve Im not sure a tool to tell players a DM is avaialable is necessarily a bad idea except that it would only be a good idea in the hands of players who would use it responsibly. Clearly the manner in which it could be irresponsibly used would be a rather negative matter we neednt pursue in this thread.
Int... a new job description... hmm... so what does an "ex-nitpicker" do exactly
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my response:
Good, I'm glad someone took what I said seriously, and didn't fire their mouth off at me for being niave. I'm glad these issues have been address, and I can appreciate everyone's loyality to DMs, and the server in general. I'd expect no less from a quaility server as this.
Eöl:
I beg to differ. No matter how brilliant a server's staff, they will never be a good server's main asset. Without players, what would be the point of DMs? You say that without DMs, Kev would shut the server down. What would he do without players? I don't think being so harsh on the forums (*looks at SNarfel and others*) is going to make anyone coming from the vault, willing to try this server inspite of the recent discussions there, more likely to stay. All this talk of "nipping in the bud" and "do we really want [such players] here" strikes me as elitist and inappropriate. It's never worth risking offending new players, unless you're happy with the tiny (shrinking) clique of "regular players". I would like to congratulate any new player who manages to get through the current paranoid (yes, I use that word deliberately, for lack of a better one) atmosphere and sees the worth of the module.
My Response:
Agree, and to comment more on this would be flaming.
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Ending Statement:
I do apologize for coming off abit harsh in my original post, But from my experience in playing Neverwinter Nights, I wanted to make sure I was heard. Becuase ingame, I truly felt I was being ignored when I saw familar DM Names in the player list before I entered yesterday. Maybe my messages got mixed up with other players, maybe the DMs were in fact away from their computer... There could be a number of reasons why I was ignored. But you guys have to look at it from my prospective too. I am, in fact a new member to this server.. I don't know whats going on the DM side of things. I don't have mIRC to run too everythime I have a question. I'm not however a new player. I've been playing NWN since it was released. Thats how I felt at the time, .. I was hurt, and therefore reacted out of hurt.
I'm glad there are things being done about it. Thank you Olorin, Curu, Tulkas and Lorien for responding. I apologize if I upsetted you guys, but know that I too was hurt in the process, hence the post in the first place.
I don't really have time to make a full blown response - much of what had to be said has been anyway.
I know some people have problems here and there - I have just made a range of changes in the way we operate things in the hope that the player/dm relationship is improved. I only did this 2 days ago...
Can we please give it some time to see how things go. I have worked very hard to iron out some of the problems and grievances going around here. Let's "wipe the slate clean" for now and give everyone a chance.
Any complaints - you know the procedure.
Thankyou. :)
Steve-Law
30-03-2006, 19:05
If you don't have DM coverage at all times, then why does it say there's Constant DM coverage in the majority of upload screens between areas?
That's a good point though. There are at least a couple of those messages which are innapropriate or out-of-date (that one is misleading and there is one about the Greyflood arena, there may be others).
DM_Olórin
30-03-2006, 19:12
That can be ammended, it was relevant at the time it was included. One for the rest of the team i think, as im not sure about that one.
GuardianofLore
31-03-2006, 00:52
That's a good point though. There are at least a couple of those messages which are innapropriate or out-of-date (that one is misleading and there is one about the Greyflood arena, there may be others).
Yes, a very good point indeed, and primary reason why I got upset in the first place.
I'd like to push this issue aside though, I think nothing but the best for the server and the DMs running it.
We only do the best we can, GuardianofLore. Thankyou for being understanding and polite in your discussion.
As I said - we have only recently had a shake up of the way things work here. There are a lot of organisational changes in the works which are focussed on making the service more player friendly - im working on these - with my limited time. I have a baby daughter and this is my main commitment, meaning that I chip away at my tasks whenever time allows - usually 2-3 hours a day in front of this computer and then occasional notes on paper/my laptop when I have a quiet moment.
At the start of this year and a few weeks ago, I made some serious announcements about where this community is going. I admitted some things have gone wrong - I pledged to rectify these problems - I will. I identified areas where we've done great - we will continue to deliver.
I'd love nothing more than for us all to forget the grievances and problems some of us may have and move forward with a purpose - to make this a fun, friendly community for all, where we are all an important part of it. :)
GuardianofLore
01-04-2006, 02:06
We only do the best we can, GuardianofLore. Thankyou for being understanding and polite in your discussion.
As I said - we have only recently had a shake up of the way things work here. There are a lot of organisational changes in the works which are focussed on making the service more player friendly - im working on these - with my limited time. I have a baby daughter and this is my main commitment, meaning that I chip away at my tasks whenever time allows - usually 2-3 hours a day in front of this computer and then occasional notes on paper/my laptop when I have a quiet moment.
At the start of this year and a few weeks ago, I made some serious announcements about where this community is going. I admitted some things have gone wrong - I pledged to rectify these problems - I will. I identified areas where we've done great - we will continue to deliver.
I'd love nothing more than for us all to forget the grievances and problems some of us may have and move forward with a purpose - to make this a fun, friendly community for all, where we are all an important part of it.
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I agree, and I look forward to realizing that vision.
Having read the posts recently (I must admit I have been away for a long time now) I feel that I have to say something about the "world".
This server I would say is still the best of its kind without a doubt. I have spent (in the past) many long hours forming my characters and improving my roleplay to a degree, which anywhere else would never have happened.
I can remember the server with weapons well beyond the levels now and magic that flattened armies of enemies. I have seen and adapted to the changes that weeded out the powergamers and all round "not interested in talking" types. The "world" has improved greatly.
It is a fact, players come and go, much like myself. I agree that unless you can find a party, life can be a little bit frustrating. Some create new characters and start over with something new. I tried this and felt in some way that I was abandoning my other characters that I had spent so much time developing.
As a player one thing drives them more than a character being powerful, it is a character that can change the world around them in some fashion (not just with plots and storylines)
I still look in on you guys, and I do plan to pop in now and again.
We still have to remember that real life can also influence the amount of time that we spend on a server, and it is not always a relflection of the server having a problem when we are not playing.
The Frenchman
01-04-2006, 20:05
I have been thinking about the problems people are having with finding groups or people to play with, and would like to present and idea to my fellow players for discussion.
It is a strange and unusual idea for me to present since it involves the esoteric and arcane art of “planning”, which I usually consider to be mastered by others than myself. I do it badly, but am currently seeking to change my ways, since I have worked out that if I wish to fit playing on this server into my busy real life (when not invalidated by a hamstring injury as I have been this week) I am going to have to plan.
The question I suppose many of us are asking is what we can do to maximize the fun we have on the server, which depends heavily on having people to play with. While I don’t mind solo rp, I can see how the appeal of going on the server to be bored and lonely would rapidly fade.
I think really it is up to the players to organize themselves, there is only so much the DMs can do on this matter however they may be able to help us get the right tools to help ourselves.
What I am proposing is something similar to the Events timetable thread, but which would be for the players to put their projected playing times down a week or so in advance. All we need is a timetable, possibly with the days further divided into timeslots.
We also need to agree on a code, I suggest something like:
Times – Player – Character name – Starting Location – Type of Gaming
Times: Approx start and end time of your planned session (eg. 8pm to 12am GMT)
Player: Player username
Character Name: Pc you would most like to play at that point
Starting location: Where the Pc will start, which should give an indication of level (eg. Bree)
Type of Gaming: Qu or Rp, depending on whether you have a quest in mind, or just want to go fishing then have a quick pint in the pub before going to bed.
Not only would this help us fit UTT into our busy existences, and make it more fun playing by ensuring we had a chance of finding people easily, it would also serve as a great tool for the DMs in that it would give some idea of patterns of usage of the server, and could aid their own planning.
Discuss please… :)
Mr Skargill Suffragette the Third
Lickspittle League (application pending).
Steve-Law
01-04-2006, 20:29
Just to perhaps clarify and head-off any other comments pointing to the "group planning" thread, I think what Mr Suffragette (League General Secretary I'm thinking) has in mind is something a little less formal than the group planning thread (which doesn't seem to be used much anyway lately?). The group planning thread was, at least I see it this way, with the aim of something specific in mind. This is a general "I'll be around if you want to join me" kind of open invitation. And I'm all for it. (As much as the thought of planning scares the living bejeesus out of me...)
I would suggest the addition of two more categories though, alignment (your char's plus what other alignments would be appropriate to party with them) and a rough guide to level (1 or 2 levels either side of your chars current level say?)
Lord Toady,
Chief Underling,
Lickspittle League
The Frenchman
02-04-2006, 00:20
Should we move it anyway? It would make more sense *mimes technical incompence*
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