A familiar presence contacts your mind.

[FantasyWriter]

Bringing this over from another thread because I think it would be a great addition to the game.

....why you can't figure out who Way's you or if that's just how things were coded.

Because a -foreign- presence has just entered your mind.  The mind of another creature with whom you are not intimately familiar.
I -would- actually like to see a short desc appear once a certain level of psychic intimacy has been established.


For example:
psi contact 1 from Amos: A foreign presence contacts your mind.

psi contact after 10,000 messages to and from Amos: A familiar presence contacts your mind.

psi contact after 50,000 messages to and from Amos: The tall, muscular man contacts your mind.

Input, naysayers?

[QuillDipper]

I like this because I roleplay the Way working like this a lot of the time. I mean, if I can find the grumpy man's mind a thousand times, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to find it more easily or know if hes in mine.

[Kalai]

I am fond of this idea.

[ShaLeah]

No one but <X> should have any extra mind power. I'm not even crazy about mundanes having expel.

[QuillDipper]

I'd hardly call this world shattering.

At the very least, I think the "familiar" part makes sense and would be awesome.

[Molten Heart]

Cool idea.  I like the familiarity message but not the second part where the sdesc is given.  The sdesc info may be too much, imo.

[Narf]

No one but <X> should have any extra mind power. I'm not even crazy about mundanes having expel.

If you go back to the original inspiration for the game, everyone had some measure of wifty psionic power.

Of course, conversely, not everyone could psychically communicate.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I like the idea as proposed.

[Molten Heart]

No one but <X> should have any extra mind power. I'm not even crazy about mundanes having expel.

While I agree that mundanes shouldn't be getting special abilities that give them advantages.  This ability, one that only develops over a long time and exposure to individuals, is gimp enough that it adds more flavor than actual "power".

[FantasyWriter]

I don't see it so much as an extra power, but an ability to recognize the mind of those you are familiar with.  Like they way sometime the phone ring and you just KNOW who it is before you see a number or hear a voice.

[TheWanderer]

I like the "familiar" part, but, uh, not so much with the whole sdesc thing. It'd be very detrimental to my gaming experiencing, and would thusly affect my ability to contact and cease contact on the fly. It's important my presence holds some mystery while I'm stalking you, else it's just weird. Don't weigh me down with meaningless conversations! Let me spread my wings and soar.

[FantasyWriter]

I could certainly get behind having only the familiar part.
But it also adds a sense of mystery and added challenge when you don;t WANT to be discoverable, which can be a good thing as well as bad.

[Barsook]

I dig the "familiar" part but not the sdesc part.

[Cutthroat]

I think "foreign" is being used for the Way at the moment as a synonym for "external", not "unfamiliar". Still though, I like the idea of people who share a Way connection often, getting a different message when they are contacted by that person.

[ShaLeah]

I don't see it so much as an extra power, but an ability to recognize the mind of those you are familiar with.  Like they way sometime the phone ring and you just KNOW who it is before you see a number or hear a voice.

The point is that you have to HEAR the voice to know who it is. Caller ID for the brain?

It wouldn't throw me off to see it, I'd rather not. If I can't recognize someone walking up behind me in a cloak without looking at her I don't think we should know who or what is in our mind until they tell us.

[FantasyWriter]

I think "foreign" is being used for the Way at the moment as a synonym for "external", not "unfamiliar". Still though, I like the idea of people who share a Way connection often, getting a different message when they are contacted by that person.

Yeah, I get that, too. Just feels odd seeing it then seeing someone your character is close to and knows well send a message a moment later, if that makes any sense.

[Harmless]

I dig the "familiar" part but not the sdesc part.

+1

[Lizzie]

I sort of like the "familiar presence" part, I definitely don't like the sdesc-revealing part.

I don't like the sdesc part, because what happens when you've been buddies for someone for awhile - and then you're not buddies with them anymore. You now can expel them before they ever say anything to you at all - AND you know it was them who was just trying to Way you. I don't really like that possibility very much. And if you only know one person who's used the way to communicate with you on a regular basis, the "familiar presence" would be a dead give-away to their identity, without any sdesc needed. That's why I only "sort of" like that end of the idea.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I sort of like the "familiar presence" part, I definitely don't like the sdesc-revealing part.

I don't like the sdesc part, because what happens when you've been buddies for someone for awhile - and then you're not buddies with them anymore. You now can expel them before they ever say anything to you at all - AND you know it was them who was just trying to Way you. I don't really like that possibility very much. And if you only know one person who's used the way to communicate with you on a regular basis, the "familiar presence" would be a dead give-away to their identity, without any sdesc needed. That's why I only "sort of" like that end of the idea.

How is that a bad thing? If they have become that familiar with you, why should they be able to get in your mind without you knowing who they are?

[ShaLeah]

I sort of like the "familiar presence" part, I definitely don't like the sdesc-revealing part.

I don't like the sdesc part, because what happens when you've been buddies for someone for awhile - and then you're not buddies with them anymore. You now can expel them before they ever say anything to you at all - AND you know it was them who was just trying to Way you. I don't really like that possibility very much. And if you only know one person who's used the way to communicate with you on a regular basis, the "familiar presence" would be a dead give-away to their identity, without any sdesc needed. That's why I only "sort of" like that end of the idea.

How is that a bad thing? If they have become that familiar with you, why should they be able to get in your mind without you knowing who they are?

Cause ANYONE can get into your mind, whether they know you or not.

[Zoan]

That's some NSA shit right there.

[Lizzie]

I sort of like the "familiar presence" part, I definitely don't like the sdesc-revealing part.

I don't like the sdesc part, because what happens when you've been buddies for someone for awhile - and then you're not buddies with them anymore. You now can expel them before they ever say anything to you at all - AND you know it was them who was just trying to Way you. I don't really like that possibility very much. And if you only know one person who's used the way to communicate with you on a regular basis, the "familiar presence" would be a dead give-away to their identity, without any sdesc needed. That's why I only "sort of" like that end of the idea.

How is that a bad thing? If they have become that familiar with you, why should they be able to get in your mind without you knowing who they are?

You will know who they are. As soon as they say something. In-game, if you are - somehow - blinded...or it's pitch-black with no moons -

do you know that your best friend in the whole world from childhood is still there, right next to you on his mount? Or do you just hope they're there, and confirm it when they say something?

Why should this be any different? The only people who -should- be able to tell who is in their head, are people who have skills that let them know who is in their head.

Just like the only people who -should- be able to tell who is in the same room when it's pitch-black with no moons - are people who have skills that let them know who's in that room with them.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

But you do know your life long friend when they speak, whether you can see them or not ... and the mind is an even more intimate connection.

I'm not with you on this, Liz. It would cause me no big consternation, but I'm alright with knowing that person who's been in my head 10000 times.

[FantasyWriter]

We know what players are jumping in and out of our heads without saying anything now.

j/k

[Molten Heart]

I sort of like the "familiar presence" part, I definitely don't like the sdesc-revealing part.

I don't like the sdesc part, because what happens when you've been buddies for someone for awhile - and then you're not buddies with them anymore. You now can expel them before they ever say anything to you at all - AND you know it was them who was just trying to Way you. I don't really like that possibility very much. And if you only know one person who's used the way to communicate with you on a regular basis, the "familiar presence" would be a dead give-away to their identity, without any sdesc needed. That's why I only "sort of" like that end of the idea.

How is that a bad thing? If they have become that familiar with you, why should they be able to get in your mind without you knowing who they are?

Cause ANYONE can get into your mind, whether they know you or not.

I suspect the people being contacted would be getting the advantage of slowly becoming familiar with others' mind, instead of the other way around.  But really the distinction would be made by staff if an idea like this were implemented.

[FantasyWriter]

I suspect the people being contacted would be getting the advantage of slowly becoming familiar with others' mind, instead of the other way around.

Agreed.

[IAmJacksOpinion]

I think "foreign" is being used for the Way at the moment as a synonym for "external", not "unfamiliar".

This.

Honestly, this idea doesn't really add anything to the game except a new table that counts how many times you've way'd each individual character. (Krath, characters like Tasok Salarr would have one thousands of records long...) So someone finds your mind? Great! When they've way'd you and you can ascertain their sdesc, you can RP their presence being as comforting and familiar as you would like.

I'll leave you, with this:

[Fujikoma]

It would, however, be quite useful for THAT ONE GUY who's always contacting you and dropping connection...

You know who you are.

Yes, you! Stop metagaming. Chances are you'll find the answers you seek IC.

It would be nice to know who that jerk is so I could stab him with tainted knives. 10k times? Yeah bud, over the limit. Doesn't happen to every PC of mine, but wow, it does get old.

[IAmJacksOpinion]

Meh, I sincerely don't really mind that guy. Sure, it can be construed as meta-gamey, but in all actuality your character is in Zalanthas 100% of the time. You are in Zalanthas less than 50% of the time, AT MOST. It's a game, not a second life, and as such I'm not going to log on and spend my precious game time laying traps for people who aren't online, despite their characters still being actually in Zalanthas.

Shoe on the other foot, if you get people ghosting your mind every time you log in, you can be fairly certain someone is gunning for you - and that helps you to not get caught with your pants down. Joke's on the meta-gamer.

[Fujikoma]

If you log into your breed or elf and someone isn't trying to kill them, well, you're not playing them the way I play mine, whether someone's out to kill them or not, I'm starting with the assumption there's people out to get them. The foreign presence touching their mind, then withdrawing without a word doesn't tell them anything they don't already know as fact.Just saying, sooner or later I want to clean my blades of taint in their lungs. But, I do see your point. Alas.

[mattrious]

I am against both the "familiar presence contacts" and the revealing of an sdesc upon contacting.

If your character was gifted enough to have these type of abilities or powers then that's fine. Though, changing it so everyone in the game would be able to do it as well? That is a little jarring to me and I just don't think it actually improves the game.

[Inks]

I hate that one dude who is constantly contact then dropping connection. What Fuji said basically.

[Fujikoma]

It's like before caller ID, when people would call your house, and hang up as soon as you picked up.

[HavokBlue]

When people contact/cease me I just assume I either have a common sdesc word or they want to kill me.

[Desertman]

I believe staff is already working on a change to The Way in this regard.

I think their idea was to make it so you have to have the exact sdesc of the person you are trying to contact in order to contact them. Basically, in order to find their mind you have to have met them face to face at some point. No more random "across the world" finding of minds just because you heard the name "Amos" in a tavern somewhere.

Just tossing that out there.

[Nyr]

Source?  First I'm hearing about it.

[ShaLeah]

Source?  First I'm hearing about it.

I teehee'd.

[Desertman]

Source?  First I'm hearing about it.

For the record, we are talking about making true-names not be contactable either.  Just their current keywords based on their sdesc alone.  Name, any extra keywords you may have added will not work.

Honestly the idea that true-names somehow hold more power is something staff have tried to downplay and are poised to outright say they don't matter.  If we go ahead with this change, the name of your character will be a convenience for you and staff for determining what to call the character.  To all other players, it won't matter unless they do 'addkeyword <person> <keyword>'

Granted, this may have gotten talked about in the last year and a half and shot down. But, being a player, I wouldn't know that. Maybe you guys are still talking about it? (Which I assume isn't the case since you haven't heard about it recently enough to recall.)

[Nyr]

in that same thread:

We're looking at one option as Morgenes mentioned.  It may not be feasible.  However, in the grand scheme of things, this code has probably been this way for longer than most of you (and many staff members) have been playing the game.  If we change the code, great.  If we don't, okay--but you'll live, and you'll probably be bringing it up again a couple more years down the road. 

You have like 6 more months, noob.

[Fujikoma]

Ah, will make it too easy to tell who's going under an assumed name and metagame that way. There are plenty of situations where a person may wish to hide their identity, as feeble an attempt as it may be.

[Desertman]

in that same thread:

We're looking at one option as Morgenes mentioned.  It may not be feasible.  However, in the grand scheme of things, this code has probably been this way for longer than most of you (and many staff members) have been playing the game.  If we change the code, great.  If we don't, okay--but you'll live, and you'll probably be bringing it up again a couple more years down the road. 

You have like 6 more months, noob.

Does that mean we decided it wasn't feasible?

I had such hope...

[valeria]

My problem, when thinking of sdesc-only contact limitations, is how would you ever find those merchants, nobles, Byn Sergeants, whoever you are trying to get hired by, to express your interest in meeting them for the first time?  It's already hard enough for newbies to find these guys.  Think of the children newbies.

[Lizzie]

My problem, when thinking of sdesc-only contact limitations, is how would you ever find those merchants, nobles, Byn Sergeants, whoever you are trying to get hired by, to express your interest in meeting them for the first time?  It's already hard enough for newbies to find these guys.  Think of the children newbies.

Not only that, but this will REALLY encourage people using sdescs exclusively to describe each other, which is a bone of contention with many players. I mean how often would a rinthi describe his best friend as the verdant-hued vermillion-eyed youth? But if that's the only way you can contact his best friend via the Way, then that's how people will be describing each other and never mind trying to "roleplay" a description because it makes more IC sense.

[Nyr]

in that same thread:

We're looking at one option as Morgenes mentioned.  It may not be feasible.  However, in the grand scheme of things, this code has probably been this way for longer than most of you (and many staff members) have been playing the game.  If we change the code, great.  If we don't, okay--but you'll live, and you'll probably be bringing it up again a couple more years down the road. 

You have like 6 more months, noob.

Does that mean we decided it wasn't feasible?

I had such hope...

I think we got sidetracked by other stuff.  Part of feasibility is also "is it something we care about enough to focus on instead of the stuff we already have on the plate?"  As you saw, what Morgenes was talking about went beyond simply "removing other names" and went into "letting the player add keywords to other players" (which would have to be stored on the keyword-adder's PC).  While things are steadily moving towards database driven stuff for this game, I don't know if we're quite in that position yet or whether that would be the way this would be handled.

[Desertman]

in that same thread:

We're looking at one option as Morgenes mentioned.  It may not be feasible.  However, in the grand scheme of things, this code has probably been this way for longer than most of you (and many staff members) have been playing the game.  If we change the code, great.  If we don't, okay--but you'll live, and you'll probably be bringing it up again a couple more years down the road. 

You have like 6 more months, noob.

Does that mean we decided it wasn't feasible?

I had such hope...

I think we got sidetracked by other stuff.  Part of feasibility is also "is it something we care about enough to focus on instead of the stuff we already have on the plate?"  As you saw, what Morgenes was talking about went beyond simply "removing other names" and went into "letting the player add keywords to other players" (which would have to be stored on the keyword-adder's PC).  While things are steadily moving towards database driven stuff for this game, I don't know if we're quite in that position yet or whether that would be the way this would be handled.

No worries, you have kept the hope alive.

Thanks.