Aliases/Nicknames

[Forest Junkie]

If you give an alias to someone, please be nice about it and addkeyword <alias>. It's hard enough as it is to try and target someone amongst a group of other cloaked individuals, especially when the alias they give you isn't a coded working one.

Pretty please?

[mansa]

Aliases / Nicknames ?  I was confused with the general post, FJ, so maybe add a / nicknames to the subject?


As per nicknames - You don't have to.  But it makes things easier for us to target you in emotes, to contact you, and to lessen mistakes.

If you're worried about trying to make your character as mysterious as possible, why not just make a long and confusing nickname with multiple characters?  Or pick a common name like Shade, Smoke, or Amos, or something like that.

[Forest Junkie]

Changed, sorry.

How is it okay not to addkeyword on nicknames? If that's how someone knows you, don't you think they should be able to target you/contact you with it?

I think it's a little twinkish, honestly.

[touringCompl3t3]

Changed, sorry.

How is it okay not to addkeyword on nicknames? If that's how someone knows you, don't you think they should be able to target you/contact you with it?

I think it's a little twinkish, honestly.

This has gone back and forth in another post.

Personally, I have a somewhat moderate opinion but I disagree with you.  I'd like to be more accommodating and fall into line with your request, however I find your choice of tact to be questionable.

Here's how I view the logic that you're using:

"There is a pattern of behavior that inconveniences me.
Because it inconveniences me, it bothers me.
Because it bothers me, I'm going to insult the role-playing of people who indulge in this pattern rather than try to reason with them or ask nicely."

In other words, I disagree that it's twinkish and until the four or five people who are calling this twinkish adopt a more conciliatory stance, I personally am not likely to change.  I'd love to add keywords, etc. in order for us to enjoy the game more but I don't appreciate it being implied that I'm a twink.

-Melvin

[Tisiphone]

Changed, sorry.

How is it okay not to addkeyword on nicknames? If that's how someone knows you, don't you think they should be able to target you/contact you with it?

I think it's a little twinkish, honestly.

Not directly addressed to the question, but you can file a player complaint about keywords, requesting that the person doing this get their keyword added. Now that the staff have removed the capability to remove our own keywords, this should fix things up, in specific instances.

[Forest Junkie]

How do you even know I'm talking about your pc? I just want to have the ability to -target- said pc when speaking to them amongst five other cloaked figures.

If you don't think it's twinkish, then I hope you'd admit it's rather rude not to add a keyword at the behest of another player, especially if you have given them a name to call you by.

Your line of reasoning above is flawed as well. I never once followed the aforementioned steps you listed to come to my conclusion. It was more along the lines of:

"There is a pattern of behavior that inconveniences me and potentially other players do to the player in question's ability to be untargetable and thus safer in instances where actions might occur."

"Because it inconveniences me and potentially other players, I feel that said players in question should be courteous, especially when asked politely, to add the keyword they've offered IC."

"Because it bothers me, I'm going to insult the role-playing of people who indulge in this pattern create a post and politely ask them to add said keyword."

Read my first post please. I did ask politely. I said "please." What else do you want me to do, kiss your ass? I really don't think I'm asking for too much here guys.

[Riev]

Even JUST earlier, someone decided to start calling my PC by a nickname he may or may not actually enjoy, but I was nice enough to addkeyword "nickname" because, shit, its another name I can go by.

[jstorrie]

If you identify yourself with a certain nickname then you really ought to addkeyword it, yes. Not doing so is out-of-character trickery. It's a question of whether or not a player can target your PC with commands, and deliberately trying to make yourself untargetable in order to enjoy in-game benefits is pure twinkery.

If another PC starts calling you a certain name, not of your choosing, it's more of a grey area, I suppose. There are definitely good reasons why you wouldn't want to addkeyword your Byn-granted nickname of 'little jozhal' or 'Gortok Gord', after all.

[Delstro]

If you introduce yourself as KTHXBYE, then please add the keyword.

If I start calling you gith-bite, then I don't care either way, because I probably have your name already.

[Yam]

I feel no compulsion to addkeyword aliases that I may use for characters and I do not believe it to be OOC trickery.

[Lizzie]

I remember another thread about this. I still think the same about it. It's very frustrating when "the tall dark man" says in sirihish, "I'm Amos."

and then you try to

tell amos Hello

and you get:

There's no one like that here.

So you think, ok, maybe I spelled it wrong.

tell amso Hello.
There's no one like that here.

tell dark Hello
You tell the figure in the dark hooded cloak who had snuck in and has been lurking in a corner, watching, in sirihish, "Hello."

ooc misdirect

tell tall Hello.
You tell the tall skinny elf who just walked in, in sirihish, "Hello."

ooc misdirect.

say (to no one in particular, but hoping that someone specific might actually notice she was talking to him and add "amos" to his keyword list) Hello.

[flurry]

I would be interested to hear an explanation how it's not ooc trickery.  It sure seems like it is.

[flurry]

If you're worried about trying to make your character as mysterious as possible, why not just make a long and confusing nickname with multiple characters?

Because, ICly, the Way doesn't involve typing.

[Sokotra]

I'm not sure about this one.. I guess it would depend on the situation.  It would make sense that you should be able to target the 3rd dark figure standing in a row of 4 dark figures if that 3rd one said "yeah, I'm Amos, I killed your father".  But then again, if they are moving about sneakily and being confusing on purpose (in an IC manner) then that might be another story.

[Forest Junkie]

How about if you're talking face to face with them and they say "Hi, I'm Amos."

>l amos

...

No dice.

*facepalm*

[Riev]

I just don't see the issue with adding a ton of keywords if necessary. If five people know you by five different names, is there a problem -with- adding that many keywords? Lets keep the Way out of this, I don't believe it belongs in this conversation. I want to know, if someone tells you their name, but you can't even target them with that name, you are fucking up. Its like giving someone your phone number, only instead of a phone, they're just standing in front of you macking on your girlfriend.

There are some things that you should do as a courtesy to other players. If you don't want them to have your name, say "People call me.... Tater Salad" and then immediately addkeyword Tater;addkeyword Salad

There. They don't have your name, and they only know you by the name Tater Salad. Other people that know the character will think you're dumb, ended.


Honestly, I would like to see staff opinion on this, rather than all the players being unable to solidify the argument.

[NoteworthyFellow]

Remember also that, if you introduce yourself by an alias and someone can't immediately target you with that alias, it's going to be glaringly obvious that you're lying and you'll plant that nagging OOC doubt in the other player's head that you risk having enter into their character's actions.  Yes, yes, I know, it's bad form to let OOC things influence IC things, but don't pretend it doesn't happen, and for all the possible advantages one could have from non-keyworded aliases, I'd prefer to lose those than to risk another player immediately knowing that my character has reason to lie to theirs.

[Mood]

The tall, muscular man says, in sirihish:
     "I'm Amos."

>tell amos (with a lopsided grin) Hey, Amos.
You don't see that person here.

>think Something's odd about this guy.
You think:
     "Something's odd about this guy."

>subdue muscular
You subdue the tall, muscular man, despite his attempts to struggle away.

>tell muscular (smiling sweetly) How about we try this again, huh? I'm Malik.
Smiling sweetly, you say to the tall, muscular man, in sirihish:
     "How about we try this again, huh? I'm Malik."

[Jenred]

I'm usually in favor of addkeyword... but the problem is, sometimes I give people aliases that, should you call me by that 20 minutes, an hour, a day, later I would:

A) Not remember giving out that alias, and hence, not be associative with it should you yell it out in the bar.

B) Am giving a false alias, with in-character pretense, entirely for the purpose of confusing you.

The notion that, I should be associated with the aliases I give, implies that -I actually would respond should you refer to me by my alias-.

The fact is, I may not, and its not bad roleplaying if I throw out an alias that I myself will forget come tomorrow.


But for the most part this is not the case, and in situations to the contrary, I always addkeyword. Im just tired of being associated with "code trickery" when I do something, that inconveniences you (the other player) with perfectly sound, rational motivation.

[Armaddict]

Actually, it depends on if you're talking from an ooc or ic perspective.

Sure, it may be a hassle to not be able to use the name they gave you for emotes and such, but if you're talking about not being able to reach them through that name, or so on and so forth...then that is not ooc trickery.  In my opinion, this is only reinforced by the only way you realize it's not their real name is because of keyword mechanics.

I posted an example that has actually happened to me on why I am sometimes hesitant to add one of various aliases to my keywords.  It screws you over when your name becomes hearsay in a certain group, and that group decides to test out the name through the way, and Lo and Behold, they find out this person is this other person they know.

Yes, it may be polite to do it so that emoting such is easier.  But if you're using fake names consistently for the sake of having some anonymous status...then having each of those keywords accessible for use at any time defeats the purpose of an 'alias' in the first place...whereas the description of the one you're looking for is still solid for use in the Way.  If you've never seen their short description, then perhaps you don't know them well enough to have easy, direct access to their mind at your whim in the first place.

[Yam]

If my character is going to use a name to just placate someone and doesn't actually want to be known by that name, I wont add the keyword.

If I plan on being Amos to a variety of people for an extended people of time, I'll addkeyword Amos.

[mansa]

If my character is going to use a name to just placate someone and doesn't actually want to be known by that name, I wont add the keyword.

If I plan on being Amos to a variety of people for an extended people of time, I'll addkeyword Amos.

You're thinking about it too much.  It's not about you being called by your name, but allowing the players to interact with you. You don't have to anwser when people call your fake name, and you can always say that they have the wrong Amos.

[Desertman]

Actually, it depends on if you're talking from an ooc or ic perspective.

Sure, it may be a hassle to not be able to use the name they gave you for emotes and such, but if you're talking about not being able to reach them through that name, or so on and so forth...then that is not ooc trickery.  In my opinion, this is only reinforced by the only way you realize it's not their real name is because of keyword mechanics.

I posted an example that has actually happened to me on why I am sometimes hesitant to add one of various aliases to my keywords.  It screws you over when your name becomes hearsay in a certain group, and that group decides to test out the name through the way, and Lo and Behold, they find out this person is this other person they know.

Yes, it may be polite to do it so that emoting such is easier.  But if you're using fake names consistently for the sake of having some anonymous status...then having each of those keywords accessible for use at any time defeats the purpose of an 'alias' in the first place...whereas the description of the one you're looking for is still solid for use in the Way.  If you've never seen their short description, then perhaps you don't know them well enough to have easy, direct access to their mind at your whim in the first place.

I think this man just said all that needs to be said on the topic.

[Forest Junkie]

Armaddict, what if the code were tweaked so that one could not contact with an alias, but rather had to use your sdesc or truename?

[Yam]

If my character is going to use a name to just placate someone and doesn't actually want to be known by that name, I wont add the keyword.

If I plan on being Amos to a variety of people for an extended people of time, I'll addkeyword Amos.

You're thinking about it too much.  It's not about you being called by your name, but allowing the players to interact with you. You don't have to anwser when people call your fake name, and you can always say that they have the wrong Amos.

I'm thinking about it just enough.

[Qzzrbl]

Armaddict, what if the code were tweaked so that one could not contact with an alias, but rather had to use your sdesc or truename?

I like this.

[Lizzie]

Armaddict, what if the code were tweaked so that one could not contact with an alias, but rather had to use your sdesc or truename?

I like this.

That would reward, even more than now, people who get around this by using obscure words to make their sdescs, or who have sdescs that either don't match or poorly match their main descs, -and- don't add keywords. Yes, there are people who do both.

look figure
This guy is amazingly tall for his race. So tall, that he stands out in a crowd. He is also barrel-chested, but mostly tall. His blue eyes gaze out over a plain, scarred and tanned face. His shoulders are uneven and his torso twists as the result of some kind of deformity, giving him a gruesome appearance.

assess -v figure
He appears the same height as you (which is just about average for your race)

tell templar
Yeah it was that guy who you saw here just a minute ago who ran out. Really really really tall, although, maybe he's only around as tall as I am. One or the other. And he's all twisted up and deformed. He's a real gruesome looking guy.

And the templar starts looking for the tall, twisted deformed man...

and never finds him, because that player picked "the blue eyed humanoid" as his sdesc.

[roughneck]

Needing a real name to use the way would be alright... I wouldn't have any objections anyways.

As far as not adding alias' to your keywords - it's just a piss off OOC'ly and although I understand why people feel the need to do it I generally react pretty strongly IG when it happens.  Especially in a place like the 'rinth where everybody wears the same effing thing anyways, you need be able to target your emotes/attacks correctly and efficiently.  I don't care if you don't trust me not to abuse your alias, if we had a conversation, saw you, heard your voice that oughtta be good enough to go off of for me to be able to recognize you.  If you want to be cloak and dagger rely on your skills, not manipulating keyword code.

[Elgiva]

First I thought "Oh, needing a true name sounds cool!"

And immediatelly afterward: "Wait. But perhaps I use -this- fake "true"-name and I want everyone to believe I -am- truly Amos and I don't want them to know my true name is Tektolnes."

[Winterless]

Armaddict, what if the code were tweaked so that one could not contact with an alias, but rather had to use your sdesc or truename?

I like this.

No... no no no. Bad.

[palomar]

First I thought "Oh, needing a true name sounds cool!"

And immediatelly afterward: "Wait. But perhaps I use -this- fake "true"-name and I want everyone to believe I -am- truly Amos and I don't want them to know my true name is Tektolnes."

Agreed. There are also some cultures in Zalanthas that do not use true names but rather prefer various nicknames. Tribal groups are the first that come to mind, but I'm sure there could be others as well.

[Forest Junkie]

That's why using someone's sdesc would be allowed when contacting them.

[Elgiva]

That's why using someone's sdesc would be allowed when contacting them.

I'm sorry, but contacting "the tall, muscular man" (or anything similary vague) just by sdesc might be a little frustrating OOCly.

Just IMO, of course.

[jhunter]

I don't think it makes sense really. So you've met someone...spent time talking to them face to face, and simply because they gave you a false name and were wearing a cloak with the hood up it makes them impossible to contact? Fake names and hooded cloaks shouldn't make someone invisible to The Way.

[Desertman]

I don't think it makes sense really. So you've met someone...spent time talking to them face to face, and simply because they gave you a false name and were wearing a cloak with the hood up it makes them impossible to contact? Fake names and hooded cloaks shouldn't make someone invisible to The Way.

I do agree. I have never been a big fan of The Way anyways.

I would like to see psions have use of all of the Way skills sure.

But I would like to see basic pc's have only two abilities....Barrier, and Expel.

I hate "Contact" and sending messages through The Way. Sure, it makes shit easier from an OOC standpoint, but I dont nescessarily like easier.

It seems to me The Way was put into the game as a "way" (no pun intended) for people to get together, like an in game Yahoo Messenger, if you will.

Now, we have things organized well enough, and we have a large enough playerbase, that I dont think The Way is needed any longer.

I want to -have- to send messages by courier, I want to -have- to leave word at the tavern I am looking for "Jack the Crafter".

I have never liked everyone having "The Way".

In 2.Arm literacy and thus the use of written messages should be more prevelant in the world, and I would hope we can get rid of this Way in game messenger shit.

[jhunter]

I very badly want to see literacy much more common. I would love to be able to pay people to deliver a message or be able to play a messenger pc, etc.

[Forest Junkie]

I very badly want to see literacy much more common. I would love to be able to pay people to deliver a message or be able to play a messenger pc, etc.

Eh, I tried doing it with a templar back in the day. It was a way to encourage rp and bring other pc's into it, give them something to do.

All I'd get were wasy from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Perhaps for non-psionicists, contacting someone over the way should be -severely- limited in range. As in..within ten rooms of each other or something.

[Elgiva]

I very badly want to see literacy much more common. I would love to be able to pay people to deliver a message or be able to play a messenger pc, etc.

Eh, I tried doing it with a templar back in the day. It was a way to encourage rp and bring other pc's into it, give them something to do.

All I'd get were wasy from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Perhaps for non-psionicists, contacting someone over the way should be -severely- limited in range. As in..within ten rooms of each other or something.

I sometime play in times when there is +-15 people around. The Way often is the only chance to actually -find- one of them.

[Desertman]

I sometime play in times when there is +-15 people around. The Way often is the only chance to actually -find- one of them.

Thats true too.

Its a hard balance I guess.

I am a peak player only, so I wouldnt have this problem, but I can sympathize.

I do believe that taking the Way out, except for psions would make IC coordination a must.

For example...

"Meet me in the Gaj next week at about this time yeah?"

"Sure thing"

If your budy doesnt show up because he is busy getting his guts cut out by a rinthi he screwed over, well, I guess you can always wonder what happened to your buddy Amos instead of getting this...

Amos sends you a telepathich message:
"They are gutting me in the old house just off of Blue Road, three leagues west of the tavern! Get the templars!"

You rush to gather up templars.

But that is a whole different issue. Anyways, I would still like to see the Way taken out, (except for psions) or at the least drastically limited.

I hate tortureing someone to death, just to have eight other PC's suddenly on my ass because the entire time I am breaking some hooker's fingers, she is Waying every pc name she could remember to exact final revenge on me. But again, different issue.

[Mood]

I wish there was a readily available way to prevent a captured victim from contacting their buddies, and hope there is one in Reborn.

[Forest Junkie]

I wish there was a readily available way to prevent a captured victim from contacting their buddies, and hope there is one in Reborn.

YES.

When the body is under stress, make the checks harder the pass. If subdued or at low hp - something like this.

[number13]

To further the derail:

I like the Way as a convenient method of communication.  It is a game, after all.

But there should be methods of blocking it and eavesdropping on it available to the mundane, non-Karma-ed character.  So physical messengers would have to be used for sensitive issues, and the ambushed man wouldn't be able to contact a dozen of his closest friends.

Also contacting over extreme distances should be exceptionally difficult (if not out right impossible), and exceptionally costly on the stun gauge.

[Desertman]

I wish there was a readily available way to prevent a captured victim from contacting their buddies, and hope there is one in Reborn.

YES.

When the body is under stress, make the checks harder the pass. If subdued or at low hp - something like this.

I'm for that.

[Desertman]

To further the derail:

I like the Way as a convenient method of communication.  It is a game, after all.

But there should be methods of blocking it and eavesdropping on it available to the mundane, non-Karma-ed character.  So physical messengers would have to be used for sensitive issues, and the ambushed man wouldn't be able to contact a dozen of his closest friends.

Also contacting over extreme distances should be exceptionally difficult (if not out right impossible), and exceptionally costly on the stun gauge.

Im for that too.

[roughneck]

My only problem with the way is that it's so difficult to barrier/expel someone.  Expel you have to branch and barrier you have to practice enough to be better than someone's contact, plus if you go into a fight or do anything mildly dangerous you'd be stupid to be draining your stun with it anyways.  My whole thought is that it's -your- mind and you should have better control of who gets in there, leave the fancy shit to psions.

As far as people asking for help when you have them in a bad spot: That's cool.  Largely because with the fact that this is an online game there's much less likelihood anyone would know you're around like they would in real life and go looking for you after you didn't show up somewhere.  Also, if you've ever played a captive or a slave the Way can be the only way to fill your days of solo rp in a cage.  I know it's a piss off when someone ways their templar/noble friend to mess with you or even their sorcerer/mul/half-giant buddy but I'm always for pulling more people into the equation and giving PC's a chance at surviving tough situations.

There's also that if people don't way with each other I can speculate that it may limit a psions usefulness as well.  I've never played one so I don't really know.

I'd be all for limiting it, but the way is one of the coolest parts of Zalanthas I think.  I always thought it would be cool if there was a non-psionic race, like if dwarves or something just didn't have the ability at all to be contacted or contacters.

[jhunter]

I'd be all for limiting the range of The Way for non-psionicists. That way delivery systems can be used between cities...but you still have the ability to contact people within the same city, for example. I think that pcs should be able to easily block any non-psionicist from entering their mind also.

[Desertman]

I'd be all for limiting the range of The Way for non-psionicists. That way delivery systems can be used between cities...but you still have the ability to contact people within the same city, for example. I think that pcs should be able to easily block any non-psionicist from entering their mind also.

Thank Jesus.

I am all for this.

[a strange shadow]

All I'd get were ways from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Pretty much, yup.

Literacy is so underused.

[Desertman]

All I'd get were ways from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Pretty much, yup.

Literacy is so underused.

Thats because it is obsolete.

The Way, instant gratification.

A letter, potential for multiple bad things to happen before your message is received, and it takes time.

The Way is the McDonalds of Zalanthas communication.

[Sokotra]

As far as the way goes, as has probably already been discussed, I would still like to see it changed so that you can only see the persons description depending on what they are wearing, etc... i.e. cloak, facewrap, whatever.  Like I said, this has probably already been argued about but it would prevent sdesc sniffing if you see a "dark, hooded figure" and when you contact them you still can only see a "dark, hooded figure".  Only psionicists should be able to see through disguises in order to realize what someones "true mind" actually reveals their sdesc to be.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind delivery systems being available and useful but it's just really hard for people (especially those that don't play constantly) to be able to coordinate with other players if The Way was limited so you couldn't talk to someone across the known world.  I do think that might be more realistic, but it may cause OOC'ish problems as well.  *shrug*

As for literacy... I wouldn't mind seeing it expanded/more available in Arm2, but just as long as it is limited to a certain degree so that the world is not flooded with messages and junk everywhere you go.  I don't want Arm to change too drastically - the outlawed literacy thing was always one thing that I loved about Arm... but I did expect it to be more possible to use it so you could be taking that risk if you chose to do so.  However, I would think that having it too common and too accessible in Arm2 might change the feel of the game too much and cause more problems as well.  Although, if there are actual bulletin boards where anyone can write and post literal notes and things onto it, then you should also be able to tear the notes down and destroy them just as easily.

[Tisiphone]

All I'd get were ways from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Pretty much, yup.

Literacy is so underused.

Thats because it is obsolete.

The Way makes literacy just about as obsolete as the radio does.

[brytta.leofa]

All I'd get were ways from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Pretty much, yup.

Literacy is so underused.

Thats because it is obsolete.

The Way makes literacy just about as obsolete as the radio does.

If a powerful sorcerer could devise a Way repeater with a long time delay...

...we could, in point of fact, have psionic computers.

[Desertman]

All I'd get were ways from people saying "lolz why didn't you just way me ding dong?"

Pretty much, yup.

Literacy is so underused.

Thats because it is obsolete.

The Way makes literacy just about as obsolete as the radio does.

I was thinking more like the telephone/computer with instant messenger.

Do you know how long it has been since I sat down and wrote out an actual hand written message to someone....Years and years and years.

I use the phone, or I use instant messenger if I dont have thier phone number.

(Instant messenger is technically literacy, but its instant gratification and isnt comparable to the write a letter and wait a few days for it to be delivered method of Zalanthan writing)

My point is...The Way, is definantly faster and more convenient than using hand written letters, and thus, it makes hand written letters obsolete.

[Lizzie]

Disagree, especially with the comparison to real life.

Letter writing is, and will always be, the preferred method of non-urgent communication for letter writers. I still exchange hand-written letters to my family, and I will -always- prefer a hand-written post card from a relative traveling to another country, over an IM from their laptop saying "WISH U R HEAR LOL!!!!!"

In the game, there are some pretty awesome reasons for writing to -not- be obsolete. And reasons why the way -cannot- replace literacy in the game, does not replace it, and will not replace it in the current version.

[Sokotra]

Disagree, especially with the comparison to real life.

Letter writing is, and will always be, the preferred method of non-urgent communication for letter writers. I still exchange hand-written letters to my family, and I will -always- prefer a hand-written post card from a relative traveling to another country, over an IM from their laptop saying "WISH U R HEAR LOL!!!!!"

In the game, there are some pretty awesome reasons for writing to -not- be obsolete. And reasons why the way -cannot- replace literacy in the game, does not replace it, and will not replace it in the current version.

Not to mention writing lists, notes to yourself, journals, and things like that which might keep track of progress you've made in a certain area and help you remember stuff...  which in turn could possibly be found by someone else later, offering more possibilities than if you just used the Way and nothing else.

[Desertman]

Disagree, especially with the comparison to real life.

Letter writing is, and will always be, the preferred method of non-urgent communication for letter writers.

I agree with that.

But thats just like saying...

Left hand masturbation is, and will always be, the preferred method of masturbating for left hand masturbators.

Get laid, it makes left hand masturbation, obsolete.

Or...

Amputees who hop on thier right leg, prefer to hop on thier right leg, because they lack a left leg.

Get a wheelchair, it makes hopping on your right leg, obsolete.

See what I mean?

Saying..."Someone prefers to do something this way, so they do it this way." Doesnt mean that thier "preferred" method, is any less obsolete, they just prefer to use an obsolete method.

[a strange shadow]

I think Desertman doesn't get it, and explaining ourselves would make this conversation too IC.

[Desertman]

I think Desertman doesn't get it, and explaining ourselves would make this conversation too IC.

I guess not.

But cut me some slack, I'm only working with what I have here.

If there is some secret way to make writing a letter faster and more convenient than typing...

contact joe

psi joe It was the TROLLS that did it! Tell the templars!

Then I guess I just have never seen that aspect of writing.

[Sokotra]

Disagree, especially with the comparison to real life.

Letter writing is, and will always be, the preferred method of non-urgent communication for letter writers.

Amputees who hop on thier right leg, prefer to hop on thier right leg, because they lack a left leg.

Get a wheelchair, it makes hopping on your right leg, obsolete.

See what I mean?

Saying..."Someone prefers to do something this way, so they do it this way." Doesnt mean that thier "preferred" method, is any less obsolete, they just prefer to use an obsolete method.

Hehe...
Not exactly.. because if the amputee had a left leg then they would use it.  And if you drive around in your car that doesn't mean that you don't walk once in a while - whether you have to in certain situations or just feel like it.  

So if you can use the way you still might want to write a letter because you can stop and think about what you are going to say or because you are writing something down that you might forget later or whatever.  There's lots of reasons you still might do things that might be considered "obsolete" in certain ways.   If that makes any sense.  

[Desertman]

I think Desertman doesn't get it, and explaining ourselves would make this conversation too IC.

Well yes, I suppose your Way could get "spied on" if thats what you mean.

And so letter writing would thus be better than sending a Way in that respect.

[Desertman]

Disagree, especially with the comparison to real life.

Letter writing is, and will always be, the preferred method of non-urgent communication for letter writers.

Amputees who hop on thier right leg, prefer to hop on thier right leg, because they lack a left leg.

Get a wheelchair, it makes hopping on your right leg, obsolete.

See what I mean?

Saying..."Someone prefers to do something this way, so they do it this way." Doesnt mean that thier "preferred" method, is any less obsolete, they just prefer to use an obsolete method.

Hehe...
Not exactly.. because if the amputee had a left leg then they would use it.  And if you drive around in your car that doesn't mean that you don't walk once in a while - whether you have to in certain situations or just feel like it.  

So if you can use the way you still might want to write a letter because you can stop and think about what you are going to say or because you are writing something down that you might forget later or whatever.  There's lots of reasons you still might do things that might be considered "obsolete" in certain ways.   If that makes any sense.  

I am not argueing that writing doesnt have its uses, I know it does.

I just want to see it used MORE, and for less "sneaky" or "special" things.

I want to see it used to relay more mundane style messages, instead of just insta-waying everything that isnt too "ultra secret" to risk a psion catching.

Edited to Add:

I dont think that is too IC, to assume a psion might be able to hear you Way message.

I have never played a psion personally, thats just my assumption. It seems to me that they would be able to.

[mansa]

Regarding real life..

...You don't need to know someone's nickname, truename, or even their short description to interact with someone.  It's just, "Hey Buddy."  You can punch them, steal from them, all without knowing anything about them.  However, in this game, we need a keyword to interact with someone, in a full sense.  The problem arises when you want to try and be untargetable within the game.  You want to be invisible.  You want to be able to steal something, or kill someone, and get out and survive.


The way I play this game, my characters have about 3-5 nicknames.  I usually give one 'fake' name to someone I first meet, and then nickname #4 when I've interacted with them even more.  When is that, 'even more', situation?

Usually it's after I've seen you around five times, and when I want to be able to be contacted by you.  I usually decide when that happens.  The problem really arises when you're not given nickname #4 after playing with someone closely for about a week.  At that point, I would expect the other player would be nice enough to give me a unique keyword of some sort so that I can interact with you fully, and be able to target you specifically in a crowded room.

So, I suggest to fellow players, that if you're interacting with someone for over a week of real life time, and you still don't have a keyword to target them with, to ask them OOCly to either addkeyword or break the IC/OOC boundaries and say, "Hey, do you have a better name I can use for you?  I know muscular is not your nickname."  I'm sure after playing with them for over a week, your 'friendship' that you've developed should be able to produce a unique keyword for yourself.

Trust mansa.