Command: Playtime

[Anonymous]

Ordinarily, Master Fancypants would offer you a job, some pay, and a task to do. But, he looks at your playtime and realizes that you don't play when he plays normally, and figures OOCly that would be too much of a pain, so he passes you over, instead.

I get your point and agree somewhat, but is it a better solution for Master Fancypants to hire you and then never be around when you are?

I acknowledge this, too. Living it. Everyone I play with logs in an hour before I go to bed. Suxor. BUT - This has one distinct advantage over not being where I am. I am a member of a superstructure where I would ordinarily not be. So, in the situation where I would normally be completely alone with no one to play with anyway, I have staff and resources that I can call upon, regardless of the PC representation during my login hours.

i.e. I am no longer Joe Schmuck the crafter, I am now Joe Schmuck, a crafter of Master Fancypants' house and can use that to carve out my own fame with the other people who play during the same hours as me.

It depends on the situation, really. My rule of thumb for clans, though, has always been to force a second encounter if at all possible. That usually proves that we are able to overlap more than once by chance, and it gives me the chance to quickly hit the field and see if there's anything I like better.

[Morgenes]

My main issue with this is it only gives you the information when you DON'T need it.  You will only be able to see it if the person is already logged in.  When you're really gonna need it is when you're sitting around waiting for Lord Fancypants to log in.  Unless you keep your own logs of every 'playtime' you've done for every player, IMO something like posting your playtimes on the Clan boards is a much more preferable solution.

[Malken]

It has it's good and bad sides.. As an example, I once played for a few extra hours one night, even tho I never play this late usually. Well, my character met a character he hadn't met before, probably because he never plays when that character plays as well.

Anyway, this character of mine and that other character ended up in a relationship that night.. Well, let's just say that trying to see that other character in the next few days was a -real- pain for me.. I had to start going to bed later than usual.

So.. If I had been able to see this other character's playtime and realize that I would never see her again, deep inside I would probably have tried to avoid a relationship with her.. Would that have been a good thing or a bad thing? ICly, it would have been bad, but for me, as a player, it would have been good..

[Cyrian20]

I think it's a given I like to play the devil's advocate so here are two issues I
worry about.

The first Larrath brought up with linking pc's to players. Sometimes I could
care less and there are times when I want no one to know anything.

The second which is a big issue for me, what about sporadic playing times.
I will never fit into the range I input, I never know when I will login or logout.

Also you may find people not including someone in quests or plots because
they are off-peak, we have a hard enough time as it is please don't add
something that will push us away even more.

Now as for my personal opinion I think OOC is better in this situation, I know
that seems a cop out like the discussions for the consent flag. In this situation
though I feel it is the best route.


:derail of DOOMZ!:

As a quick derail the above sentence gave me an idea for the discussions
about the consent flag. People argued it should use ooc because what if
you had a bad day and forgot to turn off your violent torture flag. To this
I say perhaps every time you login the consent reverts to undeclared, that
way when you login you have to turn on the ones you are comfortable with. Otherwise people can just ask ooc. (make it twinky and a reportable
incident if people are checking you in the tavern, it should be a cmd used just
as your about to do the act, if it says no you ooc and fade.)

[Yokunama]

Why would the staff put in the time and effort for a command that everyone is not going to use?

Same reason they put in spells......  :? There are -tons- of things in the game that not everyone uses. Some people refuse to be in clans for example, so any clan-only crafting items are pointless for them.

The staff have the GDB and some people refuse to use the GDB.

Who, with the ability to cast them, doesn't use spells?

The GDB has played a role in helping improve the game in both OOC and IC barriers. Even though it is not something that everyone uses, it is a very important part of the game itself.

I still think this idea is useless and full of bad ideas.

[Akaramu]

My main issue with this is it only gives you the information when you DON'T need it.  You will only be able to see it if the person is already logged in.  When you're really gonna need it is when you're sitting around waiting for Lord Fancypants to log in.  Unless you keep your own logs of every 'playtime' you've done for every player, IMO something like posting your playtimes on the Clan boards is a much more preferable solution.

How about this:

Players can define 'playtime' as an option within their account menu. Then, if Salarri Bob really needs to deliver the fancy new sword to lord templar Hard nose,  he can send a request over the awesome request tool. The next time Lord templar Hard Nose logs into his account, he will be asked if he wants to consent to his playtime being send to Salarri Bob in email. No account names are revealed. If the request comes from a PC who does not have any sort of obvious reason to meet lord templar Hard Nose, he can just decline it.

Problem solved!  

[Cyrian20]

How about this:

Players can define 'playtime' as an option within their account menu. Then, if Salarri Bob really needs to deliver the fancy new sword to lord templar Hard nose,  he can send a request over the awesome request tool. The next time Lord templar Hard Nose logs into his account, he will be asked if he wants to consent to his playtime being send to Salarri Bob in email. No account names are revealed. If the request comes from a PC who does not have any sort of obvious reason to meet lord templar Hard Nose, he can just decline it.

Problem solved!  

Now we are getting somewhere, I would like to see the discussion taking a turn in this direction, any ideas how this could be made less of a hassle to the staff? Requests can take a while as it is already because they have to fit it into their already time constrained schedules.

[spawnloser]

If it's not automated, I don't want it, first off...

Second, if it is automated, it would be difficult to ensure that you are targetting the right person, if that person is not logged in in front of you.

Third, if that person is logged in and right there in front of you, you don't need to use this function.

[Anonymous]

Players can define 'playtime' as an option within their account menu. Then, if Salarri Bob really needs to deliver the fancy new sword to lord templar Hard nose,  he can send a request over the awesome request tool. The next time Lord templar Hard Nose logs into his account, he will be asked if he wants to consent to his playtime being send to Salarri Bob in email. No account names are revealed. If the request comes from a PC who does not have any sort of obvious reason to meet lord templar Hard Nose, he can just decline it.

I like the thinking - but I'd like to know how this differs from:

Code Select Expand


Lord Templar Hardnose tells Salarri Bob, in sirihish:
   "I want a sword. Big and long and manly. Like a pirate."

Salarri Bob tells Lord Templar Hardnose, in sirihish:
   "Great. I know just the thing. It will take some time for our crafters to produce such an item. Would you be amenable to meeting me in three week's time, around this time of the week? I will be able to let you know if it is finished and if so, deliver it to you."

Lord Templar Hardnose tells Salarri Bob, in sirihish:
  "I will be on a sensitive mission at that time. But I will check with you in four weeks around this time of the week if you think you can meet then."

four RL days pass, it's about the same RL time as before. Salarri Bob and Lord Templar Hardnose are both logged in. One contacts the other to check the status. If the sword is ready, they set a meeting place and close the deal. If the sword is not ready, they reschedule.


Or even:

Code Select Expand


Salarri Bob tells PC militia guy A:
  "Hey, you seen hardnose? I've got a sword for him."

PC militia guy A tells Bob:
  "Nope. He must be on mission. I usually see him about this time of week, though. I'll tell him you're looking for him."

Salarri Bob thanks PC militia guy, then goes and talks to the other merchant:
  "Hey, other merchant, how's it hanging? Look, if you see Hardnose before I do, will you let him know that I have a sword for him? I'm going to be out of the citystate next week, but I should be back by this time the following week. Thanks."

etc.


I mean, I know that it requires a lot more swinging back and forth - and I've done it both ICly and OOCly for playing times, but doing it ICly causes more RP inadvertently or otherwise. I'd almost rather see the code effort put into a webpage tool that lets you put in an RL date and time and get an IC date and time (and vice versa) to assist people with orchestrating this type of event ICly.

[John]

Who, with the ability to cast them, doesn't use spells?

*Raises hand*

I still think this idea is useless and full of bad ideas.

That's a valid opinion. However it is different to "Only some people will use this therefore it's a bad idea."

Players can define 'playtime' as an option within their account menu. Then, if Salarri Bob really needs to deliver the fancy new sword to lord templar Hard nose,  he can send a request over the awesome request tool. The next time Lord templar Hard Nose logs into his account, he will be asked if he wants to consent to his playtime being send to Salarri Bob in email. No account names are revealed. If the request comes from a PC who does not have any sort of obvious reason to meet lord templar Hard Nose, he can just decline it.

Problem solved!  

It is limited in that assassins and thieves won't be able to use it. A better idea may be that players can define it in their account menu, and the staff will send it along to anyone who asks for it. If you only want certain people knowing you're playing times, don't use the option.

Although this has the bad side effect in that it increases the workload for staff. If it's automated, how do players target someone? If it's via name, then aliases are useless. If it's keyword, the likelihood of getting the wrong person increases a lot.

Third, if that person is logged in and right there in front of you, you don't need to use this function.

You do for any subsequent meetings. I'll often see someone once, and then never see them again for weeks. It could be they're not logging in, or it could be that one of us was playing outside of our normal playing time.

[spawnloser]

In response to your response to my paraphrasing of staff comment, John...

Davien had a wonderful suggestion, don't make plans on seeing a character a second time until you see them a second time...or a third.  Make sure you're going to see the person again before wrapping yourself up in needing that person.

[Aldiel]

Neat.

Although, let's hope the grunts don't start assess when their superiors are going to be on so that they can screw around all the time they are not.

However, I don't think this will be a problem since most clans already do threads for this.

I say cool idea.  Props if a imm likes it too and wants to take it on.

[Cale_Knight]

As it is, we already use clan boards to post playing times.

If you're in a position where you're worried about an assassin sneaking into your estate and omgozoring you, just don't use the command. Simple as pie.

[Anonymous]

The concern that a "clan board" gives an advantage in this regard over unclanned characters is legitimate and should not be overlooked.

[spawnloser]

On this one, Davien, I have to disagree.  People that don't have a gigantic organization backing them SHOULD be disadvantaged.

I say this having played just as many if not more unclanned characters than clanned.

[Warclone]

Davien had a wonderful suggestion, don't make plans on seeing a character a second time until you see them a second time...or a third.  Make sure you're going to see the person again before wrapping yourself up in needing that person.

We all know how status quo works.  It's my opinion that this command will make the game more enjoyable for more people.

FACT: It is OOC and unrealistic that player's characters are away from what they are supposed to be doing for so long.  The frequency of occurance of "random shit" that "just happens" to draw you away for days upon days of IC time is only the slight lesser of two evils.

This command mitigates the above fact by allowing things to happen moreso as if characters are around as often as it should be.

[Anonymous]

On this one, Davien, I have to disagree.  People that don't have a gigantic organization backing them SHOULD be disadvantaged.

I would agree that people who don't have an organization backing them should be disadvantaged from an IC perspective, but I don't think there's any reason that disadvantaging them from an OOC perspective is justified.

[Yokunama]

Why would the staff put in the time and effort for a command that everyone is not going to use?

Same reason they put in spells......  :? There are -tons- of things in the game that not everyone uses. Some people refuse to be in clans for example, so any clan-only crafting items are pointless for them.

Spells, clans, and the --tons-- things that you mentioned that are not used, do contribute greatly to the majority of the game and its roleplay. Even if they are not being used, they still play a big part in Armageddon as a whole. Mind you, the HRPT is a good example of those clans and magicks at work.

I still think this idea is useless and full of bad ideas.

That's a valid opinion. However it is different to "Only some people will use this therefore it's a bad idea."

Heres a couple of other reasons as to why it is not a good idea:

My main issue with this is it only gives you the information when you DON'T need it.

You are usually not around every day 5-7pm EST.

I am sure there are more that could be added to the list.

[Akaramu]

As it is, we already use clan boards to post playing times.

I thought it was clear that we were talking for a solution for non-clanmembers. :roll:

Playing times are something entirely OOC, and any attempts to express them in IC terms are crude and possibly misleading at best. Realistically, there should be NPCs and VNPCs around who can help arrange a meeting time. But how would you explain 'I am away until the 17th of june, and from then on I can only play 3 hours over noon' in IC terms?

The concern that a "clan board" gives an advantage in this regard over unclanned characters is legitimate and should not be overlooked.

Exactly. My suggestion would balance things out.

I dont see why thieves and assassins would not be able to use this... they dont have to be obvious about their true profession. If Amos the halfbreed was a known assassin, lord Templar Hard Nose's VNPC entourage would not help him set up a meeting with the lord templar.

[Cegar]

Isn't this why important people hire aids?

[Akaramu]

Isn't this why important people hire aids?

Aides generally play when their leader is around, and only a few of them can play more than say 3-5 hours a day.

20any ideas how this could be made less of a hassle to the staff? Requests can take a while as it is already because they have to fit it into their already time constrained schedules.

I guess it could be made an automated process fairly easily.

[John]

Spells, clans, and the --tons-- things that you mentioned that are not used, do contribute greatly to the majority of the game and its roleplay. Even if they are not being used, they still play a big part in Armageddon as a whole. Mind you, the HRPT is a good example of those clans and magicks at work.

I think that a command such as this would contribute something to the game. Depending on the implementation, depends on how much effort it is to implement and use, which depends on whether or not it's worth it. Although there are definitely concerns as you mentioned.

[spawnloser]

Thing is, John, I don't think it will add anything that simple observation doesn't.  For people to use their senses and brains doesn't take much coding time...normally.

[John]

Thing is, John, I don't think it will add anything that simple observation doesn't.  For people to use their senses and brains doesn't take much coding time...normally.

If that were the case we wouldn't need such threads on the clan forums. We'd just need clannies to use common sense and brains. Or are all clannies exempt from such a need?

[Eternal]

I'll change my vote on one condition...

I as the character/player get to choose who can see my playtime.

Lord Templar Hard Nose eyes you morbidly.