Assess -v

[Morgenes]

I've changed the age description piece of assess -v so that you always get the age range, whether or not you are the same race.

I know this doesn't alleviate the core issue being discussed, but it does help with the side-line discussion about not being able to tell how old someone is if you're at an extreme and the same race.

[Nyr]

My reasoning dictated more than suspicion.  I would advise against latching onto any one word within an explanation that consists of far more than that.

[spawnloser]

In your explanation, however, Nyr, you basically say (rephrased of course), "If you want to play a half-elf that can't be found out with 'assess -v' you should pick the race your character resembles."  Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

[FantasyWriter]

PS- Assess -v already lets a human know that a breed is taller and thinner than he is in the height and weight assessments.

[Eloran]

My reasoning dictated more than suspicion.  I would advise against latching onto any one word within an explanation that consists of far more than that.

Actually, half of your post was spent on explaining how suspicions would pan out. Each example offered regarded physical traits, though, i.e. one's main description.

People of a certain race can usually discern the traits that distinguish those not of their race.

I'd agree, yes. However, are you willing to offer examples not just pertaining to one's physicality? What about how one acts in social situations? Such things cannot be accounted for by code. Rather, this should fall on the shoulders of the roleplayers.

A more slender human with pointed ears and etched features?  Seems a little out of the ordinary--I wonder if they are a breed? "Hey--your mother kanks 'neckers!"

Example #1 regarding physical traits one can key in on. (without assess -v, mind you)

A more bulky elf with a generally stronger physique and less defined features?  Seems a little strange--I wonder if they are a breed?  The same thought above applies.

Example #2 regarding physical traits one can key in on. (without assess -v, mind you)

[Nyr]

In your explanation, however, Nyr, you basically say (rephrased of course), "If you want to play a half-elf that can't be found out with 'assess -v' you should pick the race your character resembles."  Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

You're right, I did say that, as did Xygax.

However, a couple of alternate solutions that have been put forth:
1.  Change documentation to reflect the stated staff position/current code allowances.
2.  Change the code so that one can choose what race they would resemble more readily via assess -v (e.g., you are a half-elf trying to pass as human and look more human, therefore you would appear human to humans via assess -v).

[FantasyWriter]

In your explanation, however, Nyr, you basically say (rephrased of course), "If you want to play a half-elf that can't be found out with 'assess -v' you should pick the race your character resembles."  Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

You're right, I did say that, as did Xygax.

However, a couple of alternate solutions that have been put forth:
1.  Change documentation to reflect the stated staff position/current code allowances.
2.  Change the code so that one can choose what race they would resemble more readily via assess -v (e.g., you are a half-elf trying to pass as human and look more human, therefore you would appear human to humans via assess -v).

I love option two as long as you can still choose to look like a breed (middle ground) as well.

[NoteworthyFellow]

In your explanation, however, Nyr, you basically say (rephrased of course), "If you want to play a half-elf that can't be found out with 'assess -v' you should pick the race your character resembles."  Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

You're right, I did say that, as did Xygax.

However, a couple of alternate solutions that have been put forth:
1.  Change documentation to reflect the stated staff position/current code allowances.
2.  Change the code so that one can choose what race they would resemble more readily via assess -v (e.g., you are a half-elf trying to pass as human and look more human, therefore you would appear human to humans via assess -v).

I love option two as long as you can still choose to look like a breed (middle ground) as well.

Big, biiiig thumbs-up on Option Two. That'd rock in every way.

[Eloran]

Yes to #2.

This puts trust in the hands of players and can open up a lot of doors.

[spawnloser]

I do prefer option 2 as well.  Because being a half-elf is being a half-elf... not just having questionable ancestry.  However, I would not complain if option 1 was the one that we went with.

[FantasyWriter]

Changing documentation to reflect code seems bassackwards to me.

[AmandaGreathouse]

I would love to see option 2 put in place, providing, as FW suggested, you can still choose to show up as half-elf.

[mansa]

To pick up on a certain point made in this thread,

Assess -v is an IC construct because it echos something in the game;
You glance at someone.  Someone glances at you.

An OOC construct wouldn't have any visible effect in the game.

Peek, you might say, doesn't echo.
And to those people I will respond that peek is a skill, that always has a chance of failure, and might echo.  OOC constructs don't echo in the game, 100% of the time.

[spawnloser]

An IC means of discovering information can still give information that people consider to be OOC, like guild-sniffing.

[Eloran]

Assess -v is an IC construct because it echos something in the game;
You glance at someone.  Someone glances at you.

Actually, assess -v doesn't echo. Assess echoes.

[aruna]

I've changed the age description piece of assess -v so that you always get the age range, whether or not you are the same race.

As you say, this has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but I like.

[mansa]

Is that true, Eloran?

[Is Friday]

Is that true, Eloran?

No it's not.

[Xygax]

assess always has a chance to emit an echo, regardless of whether it's the -v variety or not.

-- X

[a strange shadow]

I've changed the age description piece of assess -v so that you always get the age range, whether or not you are the same race.

I know this doesn't alleviate the core issue being discussed, but it does help with the side-line discussion about not being able to tell how old someone is if you're at an extreme and the same race.

Thanks, Morgenes.

[Eloran]

It has a -chance- to echo? WTF, there's some sort of die roll to determine it?

[NoteworthyFellow]

It has a -chance- to echo? WTF, there's some sort of die roll to determine it?

It depends on a certain skill on the part of the observer, so, yes, there is.

[Eloran]

I guess the introduction of watch had something to do with that.

[Agent_137]

option 2 will give us LOTS of coded half elves for the added benefits of the race without the enforced and coded social stigma. great. as if there weren't enough breeds already.

[NoteworthyFellow]

option 2 will give us LOTS of coded half elves for the added benefits of the race without the enforced and coded social stigma. great. as if there weren't enough breeds already.

The documentation states that some half-elves can pass for human, and some can pass for elves, if they really try. The current state of the code makes that damned near impossible without record-level cooperation on the part of every human or elven PC you encounter. Perhaps, as a middle-ground, make it a karma option. At 0 karma, if you make a half-elf, your only option is to have their heritage be obvious. At some higher karma level, maybe 1 or so, you can select to have your half-elf more closely resemble a human or an elf.