Should Keyboard Skills Affect the Game?

[ibusoe]

I've recently noticed that a few players of this game have problems typing.  Obviously, this affects things like combat, etc.

A few of these players have recently lobbied to have changes to the game that have reduced the importance of typing/perception.

Is this good?  Should typing affect game-play?

[Olgaris]

A few of these players have recently lobbied to have changes to the game that have reduced the importance of typing/perception.

We've been lobbied?

[Yam]

Consider yourselves lobbied.

[valeria]

On most mud clients it's very easy to alias commands down to shorter, simpler phrases.  I do this all the time.  It's also pretty easy to hi-lite colors and things, if you want to pay attention to certain phrases, like combat hits against you.  So it's possible to customize the game to your own vision and typing styles, entirely on your own.

I'm not sure exactly what kind of changes you're lobbying for, but I think it would be hard to have a text based game that didn't factor in typing or perception very heavily.

EDIT - oh, could there be a third option for the poll?  I don't like the first, but there isn't one that says 'I don't think these factors can be eliminated'.

[musashi]

I laughed so hard at this thread.

Oi, alright ... *wipes a small tear from his eye* now then ... what kind of changes were you possibly thinking could be implemented to compensate for people who are slow typers?

Valeria said all that needs to be said I think. If you're slow to type, that should be compensated for client-side. There are many more ways to compensate for it client side than there ever could be coded into the game.

[Olgaris]

I don't think we're going to code any text-to-speech or speech-to-text just for Armageddon. So, other than client aliases and whatnot... You kind of need to be able to read and type to play a text game.

[Cerelum]

Where twitch firing and circle strafing are the skills required of a good First Person Shooter.  On text based games, typing is key.

So if you can't type, fix that on your own, don't make the game dilluted and watered down for the needs of the "peck" typer.

[Yam]

You could probably input commands with Dragon Naturally Speaking.

[Synthesis]

Isn't basic keyboarding pretty much a required skill for -everything- nowadays?

I will say this:  MUDding nearly tripled my typing speed.

[MarshallDFX]

I don't think we're going to code any text-to-speech or speech-to-text just for Armageddon. So, other than client aliases and whatnot... You kind of need to be able to read and type to play a text game.

Language conversions too.

PK's could also be considered hate crimes to the codedly challenged, methinks.

[Cerelum]

You could probably input commands with Dragon Naturally Speaking.

LOL

"east"
"look north"
"Look South"
"look east"
"Look west"
"Forage salt"
"Emote pulls up his pantlegs and waddles into a loose shift of salt, digging at it for anything valuable."

Yeah, I'd rather type.

[Yam]

No way man. It would be fun. Especially if you had friends over.


"Uh, Yam... did you just say 'emote pulls down his trousers and ravages (TILDE)tressed with his kank'?"

[Fathi]

I'm curious as to how you think staff could compensate for somebody who has vision problems.

I mean, I'm picturing blind people trying to Arm while taking advantage of a braille embosser.

[Gunnerblaster]

This must be some form of humorless joke.

If you can't type/read properly - A text-based roleplaying game probably isn't something you should be playing. If you do decide to play it, regardless of your own physical short-comings, you can't whine and complain.

Since you, ibusoe, seem to be the only one "lobbying" for this - And the rest of us seem against it - Consider your lobbying effort DENIED.

P.S. - I voted incorrectly so that's the only reason you have 1 vote for No. 

[Manhattan]

Why are people so mean on the GDB 

[Akoto]

I think someone with typing/vision problems would likely do better in a MUSH/MUX environment, where speed is less of a factor. Over the years, I've made online friends with one or two people who were blind, and they did very well on said types of games.

[FantasyWriter]

I don't really know what to say...
If you can't read or type well enough, MUDs are not for you.

It's like asking should WoW stop having awesome graphics because they can cause seizures in epileptics.

I believe games should continue to cater to their niche of players, not change to be more widely acceptable and "water them down" for their current players

PS - Arm has tripled my typing speed as well.

[Wasteland Raider]

I don't really know what to say...
If you can't read or type well enough, MUDs are not for you.

It's like asking should WoW stop having awesome graphics because they can cause seizures in epileptics.

I believe games should continue to cater to their niche of players, not change to be more widely acceptable and "water them down" for their current players.

It's more like asking WoW to not use a keyboard and mouse, because I have no hands.

[Clearsighted]

They could give us unlimited aliases.

It's not like we can't get around it a hundred different ways with our mush client, certain keyboards and other software.

[valeria]

They could give us unlimited aliases.

Better to do aliases on your client, so it saves from character to character, I've found   

Unless maybe it's really character specific.

[musashi]

They could give us unlimited aliases.

It's not like we can't get around it a hundred different ways with our mush client, certain keyboards and other software.

I dunno but ... I think the limit on aliases server-side might be more of a server space issue than caring how many aliases we actually have to use in game.

[Sephiroto]

Reading and typing well in English are skills that are necessary for playing this game.

Lobbying for us to make things an even playing field for those who do not have, or lack proficiency in these abilities is ridiculous.  This is Armageddon, not the U.S. Government.

I hate to say it, but if you can't read/type, either find a way to get better or find another game.

Suggestions:

Staff: More aliases would be grand.  I often use all of mine and wish I could have more.  Storage devices are in Terra-bytes now, unlike in the early 1990's when they were Megabytes, so server space shouldn't be an issue, right?

Players: If you can't see well get a bigger monitor, use a larger font, or try some different colors.

It's 2009 and typing is a necessary skill.  If you're no good, there are plenty of typing applications to help improve skill.  Learn to type correctly.  *ding*

[Xeran Van Houten]

I've only got one working eye and I have to wear sunglasses all the time - I won't be bitching because I chose to play a game that more or less equals staring hard at a scrolling block of text for hours anytime soon...

[spicemustflow]

I don't think ibusoe is talking about blind people with no fingers here. It's just, if you're a slow typer, then forget the combat emotes and things like that.

[Lizzie]

If you're a slow typer, you can set up combat emote macros. You can mix them up...toss one in now and then, -not- toss one in now and then, make them variable-add macros so you can switch weapons without having to retype or make a whole new macro just for that weapon..

Macros used to be my absolute favorite thing to use, before I started typing everything out. Now, even if I'm playing a magicker, I type it out, or I'll open my excel file and copy/paste spells to the buffer.

As long as it's not a script..you should be fine. Scripts suck. Mostly because I get tired of watching someone do the same thing the -exact- same way, every single time they do it, without any variation, ever, and especially when they do it often (like the "I am about to leave the city, get ticket pack, get coins pack, offer ticket, hitch mount, title mount, n, w, w, w, w, draw dagger draw shield scan" script. I hate that script. With a passion.)

[Reiloth]

Should Keyboard Skills Affect the Game?

Yes. There is absolutely no feasible way around your skillz with typing not affecting gameplay in a text-based roleplaying game.

[Cerelum]

Why are people so mean on the GDB 

This must be some form of humorless joke.

If you can't type/read properly - A text-based roleplaying game probably isn't something you should be playing. If you do decide to play it, regardless of your own physical short-comings, you can't whine and complain.

Since you, ibusoe, seem to be the only one "lobbying" for this - And the rest of us seem against it - Consider your lobbying effort DENIED.

P.S. - I voted incorrectly so that's the only reason you have 1 vote for No. 

Remember your oaths, disagree without being jerks.  I disagree, but I didn't get so damned negative.

[musashi]

My oath was rendered null and void when staff edited it without saying anything after I typed it up 

I don't think I was being a jerk anyhow though.

[Malken]

I think when you create a new character, they should give you a typing test to do, and depending on how well you do, and how fast you can type, that's your agility stat.

[Gunnerblaster]

Remember your oaths, disagree without being jerks.  I disagree, but I didn't get so damned negative.

I went in and edited my pledge before posting.

[LauraMars]

I think when you create a new character, they should give you a typing test to do, and depending on how well you do, and how fast you can type, that's your agility stat.

I laughed in real life.

[LoD]

It's important to identify your strengths and weaknesses and play to your strengths.

Some players:

> Have a good sense of intuition and can more easily predict the behavior of other player's.
> Are very charismatic and persuasive, easily soliciting support from others.
> Are faster readers and typers, allowing them assimilate and process large chunks of information very quickly.
> Can quickly identify and connect mathematical relationships, allowing them to more accurately fit their PC to the coded curve.
> Have a better memory, and more easily draw upon past knowledge to integrate into their game play.
> Are more creative, and can more easily make the game come alive around them.

We all have strengths, and we all have weaknesses.  One of Armageddon's strengths is that you don't have to engage in coded combat in order to be successful, powerful, or have fun.  There are many different avenues to pursue, and the trick to having the most rewarding experience you can is to choose roles that play to your strengths.  That usually results in a win-win for everyone.

-LoD

[Gagula]

heh, personally I think "emote grunts" would be your friend if you can't type fast....and I should know....my gwam was like 38...and that was in high school when I typed everyday.

[AmandaGreathouse]

heh, personally I think "emote grunts" would be your friend if you can't type fast....and I should know....my gwam was like 38...and that was in high school when I typed everyday.

Mine was like 52. I think it's likely increased to a bit over 100. But on the computer we have at the moment.... the 'r', 't', and 'e' keys have literally been used so much they fell off, so I'm slowed down, trying to hit the tooth-pick-wide nubs which actually input the letters without the keys.

[FuSoYa]

Here you go:

http://play.typeracer.com/

Brandon

[MarshallDFX]

This thread is now about typing speed.

http://www.typeonline.co.uk/typingspeed.php

I scored 79 WPM with no mistakes.  Go me.

[MarshallDFX]

Here you go:

http://play.typeracer.com/

Brandon

67 WPM with 97% accuracy.  My competitors were crappy.

[Gagula]

heh, personally I think "emote grunts" would be your friend if you can't type fast....and I should know....my gwam was like 38...and that was in high school when I typed everyday.

Mine was like 52. I think it's likely increased to a bit over 100. But on the computer we have at the moment.... the 'r', 't', and 'e' keys have literally been used so much they fell off, so I'm slowed down, trying to hit the tooth-pick-wide nubs which actually input the letters without the keys.

Hmmm, If only you lived a little closer, I'd give you a keyboard for christmas.

[derail]
Which brings me to my next great thought, Armageddon remakes on holiday classics:

All I want for christmas is a new keyboard.  (all I want for christmas is my two front teeth)

We wish you a merry gith-mas! (we wish you a merry christmas)

cunyati nuts roasting on an open grill. (chestnuts roasting on an open fire)

Oh yppr. (oh tanenbaum)

.....that's all I've got for now.
[/derail]

[FuSoYa]

My skill level: Megaracer

Average speed: 101 WPM

YEA BITCHES.

Brandon

[Olgaris]

I am locking this thread so that I can have the last word.

Also everyone here is either mean or talking about something else entirely. Including myself. That isn't good.