'Think' Question.

[Vessol]

I know this has been brought up before, but not recently?

Do you use the think command much? What kind of things do you think of?(if you can say here).

Myself. Honestly I do not use it much, for me it is cumbersome. For me when I am roleplaying I think for my character in my own mind, I do not know if this is strange but I am able to create a basic form of my characters mind in my own mind and then think what he/she would think of in the game. For me typing 'think blah blah blah' breaks that RP for me, if i do think it is commentary and barely that. I seriously do not like using think in great amounts because to me it does not feel natural. I am fine with solo emoting, but thinking does not work for me.

My second question is. Am I a bad roleplayer if I do not use the think command much at all?

[Dakurus]

You are not a bad roleplayer.

If you are "thinking" as your character, but in your head, then you're roleplaying.

Sadly, none of us can share in that "robust" roleplaying you are doing.

If you used the think command, we might be able too.

Some people the think command helps you reflect a little too, as your type it, it allows you to really see and question your chracters thoughts, as opposed to them fleeting by in your own head.

[Lizzie]

I use "think" often. But a lot of the time it's more like my character having a dialogue with herself. Half of it's out loud, half with the "think" command. It's a very easy thing to slip into when you need to solo-rp for a little while. What's fun, is when my character says something out loud, in response to something she was thinking silently, only to discover that someone was there listening to her. They might see

>The PC says, in weirdo-accented sirihish, "..and I'll POUNCE! Like an escru on fire! Bwahahaha! Mwahahaha!"

With no context, and obviously she's not talking -to- anyone. Thinking is fun. Thinking is especially fun during solo-RP.

[Fathi]

I tend to use feels more than thinks, but I think that's a character-specific thing--some are more visceral and emotional than brainy.

I do, however, use think a TON when I'm going through menial tasks like crafting or wandering the bazaar. Also when my character is feeling duplicitous, it's fun to use thinks to utterly contradict what they're saying.

You send a telepathic message to the manly-man Byn sergeant:
     "Of course, sarge, I'll do better next contract, I swear!"

You think:
     "Fucker, you won't be -around- for the next contract if I get my way."

[Forest Junkie]

I do not use feel, or rather, I hardly do.

I love incorporating feelings into thoughts.

> think (a sense of urgency tingling within the back of your mind) Spidey sense!

I love the think command.

I even use the dream command, which can be alot of fun.

I do not think that anyone who decides not the use the think command is a bad roleplayer.

Perhaps it's not for everyone? If you're playing a character and engaging with the world, you are roleplaying. No worries there man.

For me, personally, it helps augment my roleplay, keep my in character, and provide context to various emotions/actions my character has/will commit.

That's it really.

[Gimfalisette]

Depends on the character. My less intellectual characters think less often, my less emotionally aware characters feel less often.

However, when my character is lying about something to someone (about information, an event, a person, thoughts, or feelings), then I believe a think or feel is necessary about that.

Also when my character's external reaction to a situation doesn't match the internal, then I use feel or think for that. (Oh fuck we're all gonna die! while remaining outwardly calm.)

Also my characters will tend to have snarky thoughts about other people pretty frequently.

And sometimes I'll think when my character is planning or working on something.

[jstorrie]

Yes, I use think very, very often. At the very least it's a courtesy to mindbenders and [anyone else who can read thoughts.]

[Barzalene]

I love think. Some pcs think more than others. I think more during downtime, but I love think.
I think about how my pc feels about things, what she wants or thinks she wants or wants to think she wants.   Sometimes my pcs lie to themselves. Sometimes they have revelations. Sometimes they make plans, big and small. Sometimes I make shopping lists. Sometimes I give words to my pc's frustrations. Sadly, I find that a lot of my pc's think people are idiots, and ponder just how stupid people can be. Which probably means my pcs aren't as smart as they or I think they are. Sometimes I forget to think. But I love think.

I take especially perverse pleasure in thinking things that my pc wouldn't want anyone to know she thought in crowded places to improve the chance having her mind read.

[Rindan]

For me, the think command is a good way to make my intentions clear or amuse a mind bender.  When, I am idle, I plan via thinking.  When I am in conversation, even if it is a fast conversation, I tend to try and drop the occasional think, especially when I lie.  In a fast conversation I think very little, but if I am telling the truth or lying and someone might want to know if I am telling the truth or telling a lie, I at least type "think I am lying."  If I have a subtle reaction to something, like turning away from a magiker, sneering at someone's comment, smiling at something I overheard, etc, I usually explain the reaction in a think.  I find it helps keep myself amused when I am bored and keeps me honest about what my character thinks about a certain situation.  It also lets mindbenders use their abilities to their fullest, and keeps any watching staff up to date on why I am doing what I am doing.

I almost never use the feel command.  "think Oh shit!  That Templar wants to talk to me!" works just as well as feel a sense of rising terror.  My "think" habits come from pre-feel command, and so I tend to forget that it is there.

[spawnloser]

I had a character that never used any communication another PC would normally be able to hear.  No says, tells, talks, psis or whispers.  The only thing I DID use was think and feel.  This was a loner character, mind you.

For most characters, though, it is a way for me to analyze my character more than it is to help others.  It helps me to get into the character's mindset, and it lets those that CAN read my character's thoughts know what is going on.  For the first reason, it helps me to develop my character by actually doing the hard thinking that I would do in words in my own head... as my character.  It helps me differentiate my character from other characters.  For the second reason, the big thing is letting staff know why my character does the things s/he is doing.

[mansa]

It's sometimes hard to remember the new commands that enter the game.  I forget sometimes...

Stun?  What's Stun?  Subclasses?  Woah.

[Vessol]

As others mentioned already, I tend to use think in situations that are emotionally distressing, or when I am lying. As others stated it is 'Just incase a bender is watching' to entertain them, because I think 'think' fuels mindbender RP which is a good thing.
For less menial things I sometimes throw out a think, but usually I have nothing much to reflect on.

One reason I believe I find problems with using think is that I find it hard to incorperate my own views of thoughts into my character in-game. The main reason is I have a very 'disorganized' and 'chaotic' mind. I won't say anything more, as I am not 100% sure on that condition, not that it mattes.

In the end I think all that matters is that you stay consistent with the game world and the events going on around you and react realistically and stimulate roleplay.

[Nao]

I love the think command. It's far easier for me to spam out thinks than to emote. Also, typing things out sometimes brings ideas out that I wouldn't have had from just thinking silently in my head.

Sometimes I forget it, though.

I'm pretty sure I've entertained at least one mindbender in the past, without knowing about it at that time.

[X-D]

I'm from long LONG before the think command existed.

For years I did not use it once it did. Prefering the way I always dealt with it, emotes, talking to self, mount.

I try now to pop them in there now and again, Some pcs far more then others. If it is a social/mundane PC, then there will be very few thinks. Because I'm more interested in interacting with the PCs  around mine then anything else. I'm not a blazing typest so, the more that is going on, the more things have to suffer...feels first, then thinks then emotes.

I am beginning to use mood more though...I rather like that addition.

And Bio rocks...I use it more and more with each PC, I love being able to give my PC an online memory/history and try to keep things he knows up to date in that manner.

Thinks simply feel funny...dreams...cannot do...sorry, but a dream is subconcius(meh..5am, can't spell) and therefore outside of control. I'll leave that to other forces.

[Shiroi Tsuki]

I use think for a lot of things.

As several people have mentioned, when my character is being dishonest he usually thinks/feels about something.
I think when my character is having internal reactions that he would not be expressing outwardly (except through hemotes, which I also like).
My character has arguments with himself in his head, about his inclinations, wants, and also...
I do thinks/feels to think/feel about the things he wants to do but knows he shouldn't.  That's usually amusing.
I backtalk, bitch at, and think about how other people are stupid.  Often.  Also because it amuses me.
I think a lot of 'Oh shit' at the appropriate times.
I think to have him wish for things, or pray about things, a hope for things, or when he's afraid of things.
My character thinks about how he is attracted to various people.
My character dreams.

I do other things with thinks, but I need to run to work 

[Elgiva]

I use think a lot. Usually, when I am bored, tired of solo-ing (which I do way too much these days), I can't help it and end bitching and musing about something. Spam solo-thinking is a little easier than spam solo-emoting, at least for me.

I use feels in thinks, but I don't use feel alone much at all. I'd love to, but I simply keep forgetting it exist.

[Goldberry]

I mostly use think when I am 1) plotting, 2) working through some sort of confusion or contradiction, or 3) when my characters actions do not accurately depict her motivations, ie. she is being manipulative, faking it, or being dishonest in some way.

[staggerlee]

I love the think command, I don't know if I could seriously play without it. It's the key to getting into my character's mindset.  The biggest time I use think is when I'm solo rping, walking places, first logging on, or otherwise alone.

When I'm talking to other people a lot of what I'd think I just say out loud.  Unless I'm lying/specifically not saying something, or my character has something else on their mind.  I do use it a lot when my character is confused, or has something on their mind, or to figure out their motivations.  I find that a lot of my character's real personality development comes out in solo rp after dealing with people, letting the days events sink in and running over them in their mind.

It's also a ton of fun if you're playing something like a guard, and can't really be involved in a conversation going on around you.

I've used dream a couple times, but don't sleep all that much in game and it is a bit awkward to explain dreams.  Maybe I'd have an easier time with it if I was a lucid dreamer in real life?   I try to work in vague feelings and anxieties.

Code Select Expand



Dream:  A wild feeling of panic as I'm crushed beneath the massive weight of... something.
or
Dream: That hot pink halfling I saw a few weeks ago is dancing in my head, and for some reason I'm at total peace



I have trouble with feel still, but I'm getting better.  If I get my finger cut off I don't tend to "feel: A sharp lance of pain as the finger is lopped off" I tend to "think: Son of a bitch! That really fucking hurt!"  Arguably feel would help me bring my character to life, but I have trouble with it.  I also almost never remember to modifiers to my thinks.

I only really use feel to supplement my emotional reaction to things, when I'm solo rping I'll toss it in to bring the world to life:

Code Select Expand


Emote: Tugs his cloak tighter around himself.
Feel: The wind and sand cutting through the thin cloak and battering my skin.



Mood... I forgot mood even existed.

[Morrolan]

My #1 time to use "think" falls into 4 categories:
a) when I am getting my butt kicked in a fight.  The emotes are usually pretty limited.  This is not a time to worry about punctuation.
ex: >think fuck!

b) when recovering from a battle
ex: >think Well, that was stupid.  No arguing it.

c) using "think" to dream when I am lying unconscious somewhere
ex: >think The little boy tries to climb out of the hole and get away from the gith, but the circling raptors won't let him get out.

d) When I am about to do something stupid
ex >think That poor child.  Someone better rescue him!  I guess it's me!
    > think Oh, I didn't notice the gem.  Fuck.

[Tulana]

I even use the dream command, which can be alot of fun.

Err....What dream command??

[staggerlee]

If you use think while asleep it echoes as:
You dream:

[Tulana]

If you use think while asleep it echoes as:
You dream:

Sweet, but what is it for?

[Elgiva]

If you use think while asleep it echoes as:
You dream:

Sweet, but what is it for?

...for allowing your character to have dreams while s/he sleeps?

[staggerlee]

Dreaming!

I gave an example of how I use it in my previous post.
I'm not staff so I can't comment on how other people use it.

I suspect it's a tool for your own character development, and to help the staff understand the thoughts and motivations of your character, much like think.

I can't really speculate on whether it has any coded function beyond that, and probably wouldn't want to if I could.

[Belgoikiss]

I used to never use thinks or feels or mood, then I really felt once I learned all the basics of emoting and politics to keep me alive that I needed to spread out to thinking and feeling.

A trick I used to teach myself to think often was, I set up a timer on my client to just enter think, which made me get the echo, "Yes, but what do you want to think?" I set that to every 4 minutes, because any sooner and I started to ignore it, or was thinking non stop and missing conversation.

After a while, I stopped using the timer and was thinking in game. I'm still not great with it, and usually I can only do it when I'm conversating and have secret thoughts on whatever it is. For some odd reason I just find it hard to have a straight thought when I'm alone. I seem to go in circles with myself lol.

As for dreams, I've only done it three maybe four times, but it is always fun when I do. It gives me something to think about or talk about when my character wakes up. No, you can't control dreams in rl, but that's the beauty of armageddon. Most people dream about things going on in their life, all you need to do is add something spectacular, confusing  or something you fear to whatever you're dreaming about.

[BuNutzCola]

Thinks are an awesome tool in armageddon. Using them really helps to get into the character both for yourself, and it puts the thoughts behind your actions in the perspective of those who might be watching, i.e staff or otherwise.

Otherwise someone might just see you kill that old beggar, and think you a twink. But suppose you were really fucking hungry, the thoughts, emotions, and desperation of your character displayed through the think and feel commands would show you were in a life or death situation when you took that old fart's crusty piece of bread.

The only thing I can really say in terms of when and when not to think..just do what's ic. I've been exposed to situations where characters did no thinks or entirely avoided thinking about something because someone who may or may not be able to discern their thoughts was around. Barrier is an in game command, not thinking just to avoid giving up information is just circumventing an IC situation by oocly failing to think/act.

[Zoltan]

Think/dream is one of my favorite parts of this game. There's no way I could RP without it. Using it removes me from my mindset and gets my character moving. My current character has all these plans and goals, and I find it easier to keep them on track by thinking IG about them all the time.

The think command helps keep me from getting bored with the game, too. Whether solo-RPing or waiting on someone to respond, I just like to be able to do something with my fingers. Typically when I play Arm, I'm not multi-tasking. The extent of it is peeking onto the GDB occasionally. So I like to be active in the game the whole time I'm logged on.

And I love think because it's a great character development tool. I've had a character who was an extremely different person privately and inside his head than the person he was when he interacted with others. Only with the think command could you do something like that.

Maybe. Well, I suppose you could talk to yourself/mount, too. But the inner monologue feels more fluid to me.

[Aruven]

Think and feel make my character that much more unique, and real. He tries to rationalize, and think out his emotions of envy, anger, frustration - whatever. Feel is a necessity for me now, or he is emotionless. Can't experience joy or sorrow. I use think and feel constantly, though not really mood.

[Manhattan]

I didn't even know 'mood' existed.

I tend to only use think when I'm solo-RP'ing. My thinks are shamefully boring, always just commentary about the environment or my PC's very basic sensations: hunger, exhaustion... Sorry to whichever psion or staffer who's reading my thinks. I'm trying, I swear!

Feel is the same way.

None ever go beyond 1 line of text. (Hell, a few words.)

edit: Oh, I didn't explain the reason. I think with my PC's mind in real life as I'm playing, it's just natural for me rather than typing it out on screen...
And when I do, it feels forced.

[Sanvean]

Please, please, please do not reveal information about psi abilities on the board. This is a really good example of something that many people would like to find out IC, during the course of play. If there's a helpfile available to everyone that reveals that information, feel free to mail me and I'll stick those posts back into the thread, but I'm not aware of one.

Right now I don't have the time to sort through all the posts following the one in question, so I have split off that chunk of the thread, but will do it this afternoon so the posts that don't reference it can be put back.

[Akaramu]

It took me 2 and a half years to get used to thinks.

What really turned it around was playing a shy, withdrawn character who was invisible most of the time. Emoting things no average person could realistically see seemed silly, so I started spamming thinks instad of emoting.

Nowadays I use it quite a bit when playing alone, and maybe on average once every 10 emotes / says when interacting, but then often in a pair, or 3 thinks in a row. Mostly just reflecting the PC's honest opinion of what is going on at the time, her desires, ideas / still undeveloped plans for the future, etc.

Seems less odd now to use it now than it did years ago. Cheers for the little Whiran.

(Also, it's always nice when the staff understands what is going on IC). 

[Rairen]

I don't suppose any of you would be willing to share examples of how you take advantage of 'dream'?

No matter how I phrase it, what I enter there feels a little off.

[Cutthroat]

When I use think while sleeping I tend to use the second-person when phrasing everything, and if I dream about particular people or objects I would use the real sdesc (or mimic it as well as I can off memory).

Some examples:

You briefly groan in pain as the unkempt, large-nosed gith stabs you clean through the neck with a bloodied obsidian spear, before promptly dying.
The buxom woman dances in front of you.
You hit an obsidian deposit with a glasshacker, and the glasshacker bounces off of the obsidian deposit, sticking itself into your face.

Etc.

[rishenko]

Code Select Expand

You dream:
     "of sprawling naked in a bed of yellowing grass as a warm breeze blows over
your body and ritikkis chirp in the distance."

That's how I use the think command to dream.

[Zalanthan]

I'm glad you asked, Rairen, as I was curious what the consensus was on dream as well.  I started off using it with first person which, as you said, felt "a little off".  I then used Rishenko's method for a bit, but now I prefer a second-person narrative like Cutthroat's example.

[Rairen]

I just tested this... y'all are amazing.  Thank you for the help!  *group hug... of DOOM!*

[Agent_137]

I didn't even know 'mood' existed.

omg i totally forgot about mood.

[manonfire]

in before mood tries to make a double entendre

[Gimfalisette]

You dream:
      "Clouds rise on the horizon in volumes of feral, angry red. The air is heavy with the pressure of the oncoming storm. A distant yelping arises from some creature, somewhere, falling prey to another."

You feel an uneasy sense of foreboding.

You dream:
      "Wind begins to course fiercely across the desert, racing before the storm, plucking at my hair and whipping it around my face. The yelping turns to eerie howling and blends with the storm's building rage."

You dream:
      "In moments the storm is on me. A great spear of lightning bursts forth, rending the sky, and strikes the desert at my feet. With a sickening rumble, the earth and stone begin to split and shear away."

You feel terrified, but rooted to the spot and unable to flee.

Feeling mounting panic, you dream:
      "Have to get away. It's coming. We'll all die. Where are the others?"

My characters pretty much only have nightmares

As to how to use dreams...well, I think they can be really valuable for character development. Sometimes they communicate a fear or thought to my character that wouldn't come consciously. Sometimes they are for processing difficult emotions. Sometimes they are just part of a life circumstance, a kind of marker that the character is going through something. Sometimes, because this is Zalanthas, they are much more.

Mood is also a great command, but I tend to only use it if my character is going to definitely be in SOME mood for a while during my playtime. Mood can also be added to your prompt.

Lately, I have really been getting into and enjoying feels...playing with them more than with thinks, and being really descriptive.

You feel like you just said something sooooooooooooo fucking stupid...you -idiot-.

You feel like clawing Amos' eyes out.

You feel deeply at peace, as if everything was leading to this moment and it's exactly right.

You feel an odd and disconcerting mixture of curiosity, loathing, and disgust.

You feel like grabbing Malik and kanking him on top of the bar RIGHT NOW.

I think when I'm using feels for those things instead of thinks, it just feels like it flows better. (I think...it feels...hahah.)

[Mood]

I didn't even know 'mood' existed.

omg i totally forgot about mood.

WELL FINE.

in before mood tries to make a double entendre

Up yours, man. Up yours.

[RoannTantreal]

I use think now and again.

BUt my character talks to himself more than thinking to himself, which is more interesting roleplay wise, it adds meat to your character that other players can actually be privy to, and also, can end in interesting situations, such as some random soldier overhearing you say something nasty about his armor and challenging you on the subject.

It can be fun.

[AmandaGreathouse]

Thinking is fun. Thinking is especially fun during solo-RP.

I totally agree here, especially as I don't play alot during peak hours. And also, my husband told me that using the think command, even though I am usually actually thinking it myself, is something that would make playing more fun for others, being as there may be some around who would be able to read her thoughts.

[Zoltan]

My character right now is a sneaky type, so I've been using the think command in a different way than usual. The hemote command is awesome and all, but when I want to get in a real sneaky mood, my character basically narrarates what he's doing while sneaking around. If I'm trying to sneak past a guard, I'll type something like "think Okay, that passing whore's got his attention. Time to get moving..." rather than doing the appropriate hemote. It just feels more fluid to me.

If I'm around PCs I might toss out a hemote to give them a chance to spot me or make the scene cooler or whatever. But when I'm dealing with NPCs, I prefer just blasting away at the trusty think command.

Hope that makes sense, I'm pretty tired right now.

[Gimfalisette]

But how do you know there are no PCs there?

[BlackMagic0]

I use think command very barely... As it bothers me...

I think in pictures 85-90% the time.. inRL.. I wish the think command was more fluid for thinking picture-wise.
Yes the pictures or visuals in my mind, have voices etc.. But I -never- think in a inner voice...

Ok.. I lie.. I have 2 inner voices... But they are not -mine-.. I got 2 old guys sitting in a dinner up in my head, that help me decide what to do everyday.
Other then that? No inner voice for myself... Think feels odd to me.

I use feel though.

EDIT: I just wish that the think was more fluid for visual thoughts.. Then just "Think: I will have her, bwahahahah!"

[Rhyden]

I use the think command as much as possible.

Not only because I type furiously fast sometimes, but my weird internet connection disconnects me from Armageddon when I idle too long. This means I have to type something in every few moments, or else I 'll get disconnected (which is ridiculously irritating sometimes). The think command fills in those periods of possible disconnecting time perfectly. And you don't even need other PCs around to use the think command. Now that I think about it, most of my characters think most often when there aren't other PCs around. But those thinks usually resemble: "Where's that bag seller?".

The feel command also works very well with think.

[Ammut]

When I play my characters, I try to think as much as possible.  Not only does it help me figure out what my character will do next, but it allows anyone who can read my thoughts to have an idea of what I'm doing/going to do.

It could be as simple as,

>think I'm going to go sell some of these daggers.  Hopefully no one will know I stole them!

or as extravagant as,

>think The plan is pretty simple, like my brother-in-law Zomos.  But unlike Zomos, this plan might actually work!

[Zoltan]

But how do you know there are no PCs there?

Er, well I don't know for sure -all- the time. But the thought -has- occured to my character that he may not be the sneakiest guy sneaking around wherever he is at the time.