Ability to Hide Items

[SirPhobos]

I was thinking it would be really neat to be able to "hide" items you drop.
Your level in "item hiding" (or something better, like "stash" or something) and the item's size would determine how well you can hide the item.
After hiding it you can still see the item, but to anyone else that walks up it is invisible.
Along with this could be a "search" ability with a command (similar to the /sit and /dig commands). The same "item hiding" (or stash, etc.) level would determine how long you have to search (to return a message that you found something or didn't find anything) and the radius around your character that you can search at a time.

Each hide/search could take away mental stamina and maybe physical, too.
What do you think? I think it would be handy. You could even put a time limit on how long it will be hidden.... at least 20 minutes (could also take into account item size, possibly), maybe increasing with skill level.

[Joemama246]

I think it is a good idea, but a better one that I have heard on the forums was to put the shovels into use. You can find a place, bury items that you can't carry, but want later. Then people could come try to dig them up. Then people could do events like scavender hunts, where they send you on a trip, first one to find it gets "blank" tria. I do understand that there would be so much complaining about stolen items, but I think it would be a good idea. PS. It was Adder's idea so give him the credit, and if you think it is a bad idea also give him the credit

[Satha]

Hiding things does sound neat. =p And even if it was a shovel that had to be used, I reckon a skill could still be put to good use for it. Or, you could hide items with or without a shovel, but with one you could hide it better... That would only work with soil area's though. Or, perhaps not. I suppose one could lift up a stone on the pavement and dig under that... but if it's indoors, that doesn't work. Maybe it can't be used inside? *shrug* Ether way, having ways to hide things is a good idea.

[Eloras]

Having this is a useful idea but needs doing with care. If the effect is permanent till you go recover the item(s) the world will certainly fill up with hidden junk which which is bound to slow the game down. Will we get hoarding of massive amounts of ore/gems near mining areas? i think so because this happened in another mmo i played that had this system.
Another problem is players drifting through the game that leave permanently or for a long while who have forgotten or cant be bothered to recover these items. Why would it only be valuable things hidden and not say worthless stuff like slag/dust etc? I would hate to see this implemented then taken out because of abuse.

What about a spell or an enchanted sack bought from an npc then have it wear off after a real day or so? If an enchanted sack make it only one use then it becomes an ordinary sack. The sack is already ingame so would only need some modding plus it has storage limits whereas a new spell would need more work.

If this idea hasnt been submitted to the bugtracker feature request then maybe it should be.

[Gaian]

Take care, if there will be the ability to hide items, there should be the one to find them, too.

[freeharte]

Take care, if there will be the ability to hide items, there should be the one to find them, too.

A useful skill to develop... 

[Gohra]

One problem should be the server, because if the "hider" left the game or something, we will have uncountable "lost" items on the maps which create lags, if noone try to find all. It's the same as you put many items at the ground now, you'll see how badly this is to load. One solution could be, that you create a "treasure point" with your shovel, working like a box. And every player are only allowed to create a special count at one time.

But the idea is good. Especially because you could use the same basement of these skills for "set/finding traps", too.

[Lanarel]

One problem should be the server, because if the "hider" left the game or something, we will have uncountable "lost" items on the maps which create lags, if noone try to find all. It's the same as you put many items at the ground now,
....

Actually, it is not the same. Since you cannot see the hidden items, there is no need to have them in the world at all, so they would cause no slow down.

[Dreamcrafter]

Since you cannot see the hidden items, there is no need to have them in the world at all, so they would cause no slow down.

Though you would still need 'placeholders' of some kind to keep track of what was hidden where, which would probably be almost as problematic.

[Gaian]

Take care, if there will be the ability to hide items, there should be the one to find them, too.

A useful skill to develop... 

I meant that if you'll be able items, you'll not be sure that they'll be impossible to find. Every skill has its anti-skill... I know, most of them still don't work, but in the next releases, maybe...

[Nikodemus]

Since you cannot see the hidden items, there is no need to have them in the world at all, so they would cause no slow down.

Though you would still need 'placeholders' of some kind to keep track of what was hidden where, which would probably be almost as problematic.

No, leave developing to experienced people

In whatever shape it would maybe come into game, this reminds me how manuals are needed. There are games where everytime they make a feature, they add entry to their manual with quite detailed description of how the feature works. So noone is really asking at forums or in game. Everyone can check in manual with a nice index of content and a google search function.
IMO it is quite important players know game mechanics, to RP without issues and more bracked disruptions.

[SirPhobos]

Yeah, the way the server could keep track of where items are hidden is with coordinates. It could probably be programmed so no one sees any hidden items and only calls for  a hidden item when they "search" or "hide." When they do one of the two, it could send their coordinate info and then return whether or not it is possible to hide an item there, or if there is an item hidden there by checking a bank of coordinates. When searching for items, it could have some leeway.... I don't know how large a square coordinate is, but it could be set so you don't have to be RIGHT on top of the item, a few coordinates away, and you find the item if it's within them.

I think if there was just a time limit on how long you could hide an item, it would be fine. Say... one day or so. There should also be a max on how many each player can hide at a time. Possibly some other rules, too (set by the engine), about where you can and can't hide items. Maybe each character class can only hide items in certain maps, like their birth-place and then one XXroad map.