PlaneShift
Gameplay => Newbie Help (Start Here) => Topic started by: Fallen Angel on May 14, 2003, 11:52:51 am
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I\'m reasonably new to the abolutely amazing world of PS and i have collected some crystals and now i am wondering if this is just a pre-lead thing before the proper game comes out to test bugs etc.
What i really want to know is if these crystals are replaced with anything when the game begins to reinstate us for spending our time in this brilliant game or are we wasting or time (techinally we\'re not, because the graphics are great and i could run around this world for days)? If any admin or knowlegable person could help me on this matter it would greately appreciated.
PS. Any one interested in joining a fun guild with a cool monthly competition that specialises in assasins plz check out the site
http://www.fallenangelsguild.tk
PSS. If admin or other could plz inform me if guilds are wiped when game begins too that would be kool too.
PSSS. I would like to know if u need a guild website to be an official guild without being wiped. A certain someone told me that without one such website your guild will disband after a period of time. Plz help me on this matter as well.
NOTE TO ALL: I edited this post because the Fallen Angels guild changed its purpose from being assassin/mercs to a gladiator guild that wants it\'s members to feel welcome and at home. VISIT THE SITE TODAY!!!
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Here you go: Guild info (http://www.planeshift.it/community_guilds.html)
I just meant that it was my experience that a guild without a website doesn\'t last long. The guilds that have come here so far without a website haven\'t survived (and yes it is currently a requirement to becoming an official guild).
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It may also help not to use \"text speak\". A guild that looks like it\'s just thrown together also doesn\'t last long. Besides, there\'s a few dozen guilds for assassins (that\'s with two groups of s\'s by the way) - you\'ll have to make yours unique. \"Elite\" means nothing in a game where no-one can actually test the skills that they have.
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To the first question?will the crystal collecting mean anything when we go forward?
Truth is I don?t know, if it was up to me we would have whacked the player lists every once in a while (two weeks or every upgrade) perhaps keeping guild totals and not much else.
The crystal hunt was something to test several aspects and also give the community something to do, rewarding them for their support and patience.
Being that a lot of people are really into their characters at this point and wealth, I would like to see some benefit for players who have really dedicated their time and effort?but if it means a lot of work for the dev team?I?d rather we have a working game 30 days faster then maintaining a reward system?but that is just my take on it.
Now that I thought a second for it?not that it is official or anything, just a thought?but how would people feel if they could purchase in crystals an avatar for their forum name?or some other semi permanent thing?
Any ideas on the forum?
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Originally posted by paxx
but how would people feel if they could purchase in crystals an avatar for their forum name?or some other semi permanent thing?
I\'m sure lots of people would go for the avatar idea - personally I like the fact that they are only available to devs, it makes it makes them instantly recognisable on the forum.
Something permanent that we could take from version to version would be great though. The only ideas I am coming up with so far revolve around in-game things and hence means more work for developers - not ideal :(
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Hm....I would have to say something in-game would be a good idea.
In Another-Game-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, certain folks who were the \"first\" to open up a new area, or excelled in a GM or developer event were given a special title that no-one else had. In ...(not typing that out again) above game it was often something as simple as being able to call your character THE something (such as in a real instance, Timm The Enchanter for coming in first place at the best of the best tournament)
Perhaps just giving folks a title in game that would not be accessible any other way may be nice, and doesn\'t involve a whole lot of work. It could also be done for more than just crystals (at least I hope so as I haven\'t done crystal hunting in over a month).
Just a thought
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Yup both ideas are good although i have to go with an out-of game reward system. I think alot more people would prefer even better in my opinion because sum people may not want to be recognised in that way in game so perhaps they could have a choice?
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i think leave em as be... i mean even if the monetary system goes away.leave us with our christals that way we can tell who are oldtimers and they will be rare as the game goes into the final stages and you never know you guys might implement a quest or something down the road that recuires a gem thats from the current stages.. like a quest of faith. cause right now im content with learning the layout of the city and gathering christals... i dnt care if im wealthy now in the game but later when it matters id like the boost for being loyal and sticking with it
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The problem is?at a certain point the DB (where the characters reside) will be scrubbed for a new DB, moving characters from one incarnation to another is more work then it is worth from a development standpoint.
What I am trying to provide is something out of the game that perhaps later can be added in the game (once in production) but milestones being kept track of would be bad?so I am just wondering.
As I have stated in other places?I would have killed the DBs every 2 weeks so people don?t get too attached?Now I am not sure what to add or not add or reward, just fishing for ideas really.
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I like the idea of the DB being dumped every once in awhile in this stage. Forces players to try new options out. Why try only one character combination when you can try them all? Honestly, it does not make much difference at this point, but in the future it will.
Just throwing some logic out there, that\'s what I do.
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Originally posted by paxx
The problem is?at a certain point the DB (where the characters reside) will be scrubbed for a new DB, moving characters from one incarnation to another is more work then it is worth from a development standpoint.
What I am trying to provide is something out of the game that perhaps later can be added in the game (once in production) but milestones being kept track of would be bad?so I am just wondering.
As I have stated in other places?I would have killed the DBs every 2 weeks so people don?t get too attached?Now I am not sure what to add or not add or reward, just fishing for ideas really.
During such a dump, would it be possible to still retain the names, passwords and guilds? ?(
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Originally posted by paxx
I would have killed the DBs every 2 weeks so people don?t get too attached.
Really, you would?! 8o
Why do you think that so many of us return to MB time after time? - The complete opposite of the situation we had in AB. We come back so regularly because we have some kind of a semi-permanent, persistant world now, we have something to work for and been given that chance to get attached, make new friends and develop our characters and their possessions. Surley a regular DB wipe would be a retrograde step and put us off regular playing?
And as Skizzik pointed out, who wants to have to create a new character, sort out the guild members, etc. every 2 weeks?
I suppose you might point out that I especially would be saying this ;) but it is true that I have worked very hard and been very dedicated to MB, as have many others. Even though this is such an early stage of development, to completely disregard all our achievements to date, would be harsh to say the least. I know they may mean absolutely nothing from a developers view point, but minor hurdles such as getting thorough the first quest have, at times, felt like major achievements ;)
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Kada,
It is dedicated players like you that help keep the devs so dedicated to progressing the game for you. Keep it up. :-)
- V
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i\'ve got an idea!
does anyone remember that thread about libraries and legends? ...well, how about if after a wipe the major achievements that players had before the wipe would be recorded into the library? ...just an idea
well, i have only 20 or so rubies and a few emeralds, but i\'d be as disaspointed as kada if my Seeln got wiped :( ...i kinda grew fond of him ...he\'s porbably the best character i had ever!! :) ...i don\'t play for the sheer fun of it ...i just love PS :] ...and my character
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i also am not fond of the idea of losing my character i have worked so hard on him :(
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I also have to agree with Skizzik and Kada. Now the world of PS is quite advanced and stable, frequent DB wipe-outs would give the dedicated players a feeling of constant \"early development stage\" and unstability.
And like others, I think it would be nice to have something permanent in the game, that could be bought with the crystals. Of course, I know there is already enough work for the dev team, so better keep it simple ;)
Just another idea, that could work for now or in the far future : I think I\'m not wrong saying that most people would want a way to be easily recognized in-game. So I would tentatively suggest the possibility for them to \"buy\" a texture for their character, like personal clothes. Special items would require 3d modeling, so let\'s put that aside.
For instance, as the texture size should be quite small, it could be designed by the buyer and uploaded to the server and then downloaded to other clients on demand (i.e. when the character has to be rendered). Of course we have to hope nobody will make it provocative or aggressive, but I don\'t think dedicated players would. I also realize this implies additional coding, but am I wrong or is this a feature you would implement anyway ?
Or this could be a set of pre-defined textures, that would be downloaded along with the client at next update.
By the way, I suppose DB wipe-out means crystals and weapons ? 8o
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Originally posted by Kada-El
Originally posted by paxx
but how would people feel if they could purchase in crystals an avatar for their forum name?or some other semi permanent thing?
I\'m sure lots of people would go for the avatar idea - personally I like the fact that they are only available to devs, it makes it makes them instantly recognisable on the forum.
Something permanent that we could take from version to version would be great though. The only ideas I am coming up with so far revolve around in-game things and hence means more work for developers - not ideal :(
I dony like the idea of buying avatars. Like kada said, they should be for the crew only.
Perhaps they could get a street named after them?
Caldazars road.. dont you all like the sound of that?
CadRipper: That means that EVERY character will be erased... right?
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Perhaps they could get a street named after them?
Caldazars road.. dont you all like the sound of that?
CadRipper: That means that EVERY character will be erased... right?
Street names, sounds like a good idea. But you would need to add signposts then. At least, it would be simpler to describe people the way to the tavern or to the library ;)
And no, it would not be necessary to erase every character, since the texture name is only an item stored into the database. The only difficult part is to allow every client to download it on-demand (dynamically) in the first case, thus implying a modification on both the server and the client.
In the second case, no modification would be required but clothes/textures wouldn\'t be personalized, a little like the clothes you can buy in Project Entropia (I hate to mention this name but...).
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What about houses for long time fans ? :D
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I was thinkin along those lines yann. perma houses for peeps who buy them with millenium blue crystals? maybe even in-city homes? something real nice like that
but then again, there would be a lot of peeps who joined later that would think it wasn\'t fair to them, that they miss out just cause they never saw anything about this game, god, the only reason I saw this is cause I did a google search for free mmo\'s and this was the first name on the list
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Heres my two cents:
There are good things and bad things that come with a DB flush.
One of the good things is that players are \'forced\' into trying new characters (Unless of course, they choose the same exact settings), which would in turn help identify bugs and holes.
On the other hand, how many players would actually stick around for a year, creating a new character every two weeks. The lack of character bonding that the player should have, will result in a loss of players. People dont play a game to debug. They play a game for enjoyment. Creating a new player only to have him deleted the next week, is almost an irritating thought.
Over all, I think players should keep what they have worked for. I wonder; What if we were to enable a idle time for user accts. The players who obviously are spending time with their characters, will not connect to find them missing. Those however, who did not connect to the server for x amount of time in y amount of time [ie. Player had to connect for aprox. ten minutes in the period of three months time], would find their players missing upon connection.
This would server two strong points, first the DB would likely shed a lot of its \'one timer\' players. The players who give up on the game, in its infancy. Meanwhile, keeping the players who put time and effort into the game.
Perhaps I was not clear on some things, so please let me know your thoughts and opinions on this.
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As for the reward system why not give all members and regulars now some kind of veteran item, like an arm sash (like the ones jewish wear too represent a death)
http://artist.theotaku.com/pictures/topaz/vegetacrossarmsshade.jpg
^like the one on this picture mary drew.
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No, something in game would be wiped anyway - there will DEFINATELY have to be more than one db wipe throughout this games testing right? So even if you declared you had some crystals and you purchased a \'vetran item\' like you stated and they inserted it to your new character name after the db wipe another db wipe would occur later anyway - so then item would have to move AGAIN (i just see way too much hassle with devs doing that - out of game rewards seem SO much better)
The main reason I\'m posting right now is not to argue with you fellow forum guys but to ask the admins/devs this:
In your opinion which would you like better: an out of game reward like an avatar etc.
OR
an in-game reward like a house/street named after them.
PS.By the way everyone if when you created your character did not see the BUILDER or ARCHITECT occupation people that choose to take these jobs can build houses for you for a price OR You can purchase a house in the beta or alpha stages from an NPC or out of game system.
Thoughts please...
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Two ideas, both in the hopes of keeping it easy for devs but still noticable for gamers.
Amulet: A simple, non-intrusive, visible to everyone over the clothes or armor amulet. Some other type of trinket whose likeness would not be used for anything else (i.e. no other amulets would exist in-game except for these recognition amulets).
Plaque: Put a plaque on the statue in town that says something along the lines of: \"This statue dedicated to the hard work and effort of those who came before.\" The names could then be listed in columns of all who existed before the wipe. Provides visibility to all who come afterward as well as equality in reward for all who came before. Could be listed alphabetically or chronologically by first-login date.
Thanks for listening.
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I still don\'t think anyone deserves a reward... the reward for the game should be that you are allowed to even play it, that it is free, and that you are allowed to participate/contribute to it...
We have to remember that there are MANY games where none of those standards are met!
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In addition you have also got to remember that there are a lot of people who do not play in-game much but are extremely active in the forums and guilds and make a contribution to the game in that way.
How would these people be rewarded??
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I wanted to clear up confusion and I can only speak for myself but....
I was simply trying to provide ideas for the developers in case they decide to give out an award.
They don\'t have to do anything....it\'s up to them. I just tried to help give ideas in case they do.
Oh btw...congrats Drilixer on your forum status \"emperor\" from \"King\"...just happened to notice.
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Depending on complexity and time involved to individually add someone back into the database, I think the dev team should keep a back up of everyone once they do decide to wipe the DB. Than, anyone who has not logged in in over a month is automatically removed from the list of ppl to add. If there are stilll waaaaay too many ppl to add than they should decide on a number of players to add based on a time limit and than add only the top players based on how many total hours/mins they have been \"active\". If this isnt possible due to players just simply staying logged in 24/7 than they should take the top whatever ppl who have the most money.
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I just thought up of this:
Maybe someone could code something as a \'bank\', where you can store your items. It would be a lot like the merchant page. Each player would have \'bank account\' (no numbers involved, just username and password). Here each player could deposit items, simply by filling out the fields of items they want to deposit. They would also be able to withdraw items through a withdrawalpage (spelling?). If all bank accounts with a contents would be stored in a separate database, this database could \'survive\' through a dbase wipe.
Ofcourse, to keep this bank database clean, empty bankaccounts (whenever a player withdraws all items on his account) should be removed from the database; they could be restored whenever the player decides to deposit anything.
Maybe if an automatic wipe would occur (without prior notice) all items in all players\' inventories could automatically be transferred to the bank, perhaps with the exception of people with a very low-worth inventory (one-timers that never returned).
Just my 2 cents,
Skizzik
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I like the idea and was just about to agree with you, Skiz... but then I realised it means giving us regular players an unfair advantage over new people who decided not to start playing untill Crystal Blue.
I know it sucks that all the time you\'ve spent gathering crystals and buying weapons would go to waste, but I also wouldn\'t like to hear cries of \"You got to keep your weapons? Great, now it\'ll take me a month just to get to where you\'ve started at.\"
However, I would still like to see some kind of aknowledgment (sp?) to the dedicated PlaneShifters. It shouldn\'t be a reward...
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I really haven\'t posted for a while but some good ideas are circulating and I would like to make a point about the Bank idea:
Someone mentioned that if other people already have weapons/armour etc. they will feel sad/left out/whatever but isn\'t that always the way? Other online games that are remotely like PS continuously have new players and as always they will never start as good as older players so what is the problem with older players getting an advantage? - this is not just to get me an advantage mind you I haven\'t played in months...
All other ideas are sounding good and valid and should be considered but I think older players should have a reward - they spend their time collecting crystals - helping the developers by testing the game, in essence - and for dedicating their time they should, at the very least, have their names recorded somewhere or something.
Maybe once this thread has been examined and discussed some more until more possible solutions have been suggested the developers could create a poll, a poll that that would make clear just how many people expect rewards, how many dont mind, dont want one etc. and maybe even a poll that includes the suggestions to see what sort of thing people would like - this stage of the game is just as, if not more important than any other and just HAS to be recognised.
Here\'s an idea of my own, not a great one, not one that will require alot of work (I think): Why not just create a memorial statue/thing with a plaque or something of the like to mention a phrase like this:
\"This plaque, the Plaque of Dedication, commemorates the hard work of the early cyrstal collecters and has helped make this region what it is today\"
One plaque, for everyone that plays, has played and will play the world\'s foremost RPG.
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Originally posted by Drilixer
I still don\'t think anyone deserves a reward... the reward for the game should be that you are allowed to even play it, that it is free, and that you are allowed to participate/contribute to it...
We have to remember that there are MANY games where none of those standards are met!
Amen.
Originally posted by Isgrimnur In addition you have also got to remember that there are a lot of people who do not play in-game much but are extremely active in the forums and guilds and make a contribution to the game in that way.
How would these people be rewarded??
I\'ll try to state my opinion just combining these two posts together: agree with the DB wipeout with no rewards when CB will be released. And if devs will want to erase the database during updates, fine by me. After all they will test the skill system, ballancing everything out, which means (at least I think it means) that there might be some major changes in the character creation process. As for the rewards, why now? Isn\'t it too early? I mean, this is just a pre-alpha?! If the devs start rewarding people now, the whole system will get pretty complicated with each new release to come. There will be new people who spend a lot of their time playing CB release. They should be added to the reward scheme too then.
I agree with Drilixer, you can simply contribute to this game to get your reward. Because then you can always say:\"I have participated on making this model/setting/quest/music.\"
Won\'t that be nice? :)
And it will save the devs time instead of wasting it. (We want this game to be finished, don\'t we?)
And as for Isgrimnurs\' remark:
You can loose your in-game character, the inventory. But you won\'t loose your name/reputation, your friends. Either in-game or here. If you stick to this game and to this community long enough, you will survive all DB wipeouts.
Well, I don\'t play the game often enough, nor do I post here, but what the heck. At least I can contribute to the game. :D
Hmmm, this must be my post-lenght record...
EDIT: OMG, I have just become a cool newbie! Imagine that :rolleyes:
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I have to say that I dont think players should get any reward which gives them a unfair advantage over new player who start in crystal blue. Maybe summin which shows that they\'ve been with the game for ages, like a title in their charicter profile or summin but nothing more. I don\'t mind losing all my crystals if it means that crystal blue will be released quicker.
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Yes, the thing is I don\'t care if the developers do nothing to reward oldies (although my heart would warm to see greats like Kada, Havena etc. and maybe the top guilds rewarded my being mentioned somewhere nice in game - like the starting area for newbies to the game or in a nice happy field of flowers, or the town square...but I am getting carried away...lol) resulting in CB comng out even 1 day before it is supposed to. Every day is one day closer to when the PS world is created fully - isn\'t it worth making that day come closer, faster?
Despite my unbelievable craving to see what the devs have done so far and my want that older players are remebered it would be absolutely AMAZING to see the next version/ update or whatever come out on deadline or even before!
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I don\'t think an real award would be apropriat for long time players. It\'s unfair and if they would make an amulet than they had to write extra code (game speed decrese) add tables to database (server performance decrese) just for and extra type of amulet.
On the other side I beleave that it would be an good idea to let players keep there stuff. If posible. If some items make it imposible than replace them with other items ( crystals become gold or something).
Changing an database to a new format can bedone by scripting. I have made some php/mysql queries and know it can work. Just 1 day extra work.
Still if they realy want to reward players than the best way is to name parts of places after them. They would be there any way, so there wouldn\'t be any real extra work to name places after people.
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Originally posted by Drilixer
I still don\'t think anyone deserves a reward... the reward for the game should be that you are allowed to even play it, that it is free, and that you are allowed to participate/contribute to it...
We have to remember that there are MANY games where none of those standards are met!
Not everyone has the time/skills to contribute.
Planeshift (as I am sure you are fully aware) is a large project and very time consuming. Even if time were not a factor not everyone can code or make art.
So they do what they can by testing.
Testers are contributing to this project as much as any dev dispite what you may think.
How would you release the game ever without a large group of people to test it on.
Even though we may not sling code or write music or do artwork we still contribute.
We simply want aknowledgment of that.
Thats just my opinion though.
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Testers are contributing to this project as much as any dev dispite what you may think.
No, not really. Without the devs, it wouldn\'t exist, without the testers... the game continues to be made.]
How would you release the game ever without a large group of people to test it on.
Easy, look at all the other PC games in existance.