An NPC speech fix

[Ishtar2]

The new ability for NPC's to talk publiclly made PS seem more lifelike, but it had some problems.  Mainly, they had no sense of privacy.  They would react to ANY speech, even if it is not directed to them. So, it was changed.  Now, no NPC will listen to you unless the first word you say is their name.  This solved the privacy issue, but now Roleplaying had a slap in the face.  How could you address an NPC without knowing their name?  Sure there's the text above the NPC, but who in real life walks around with a neon sign of your name strapped to their head?  I certainly don't.  But I've heard that it's a free ticket to a nice hotel called "Mental Institution."



I think that NPC's, let's take for example Harnquist, should react to any speech, directed to them OR open ended.  The players should then be able to tell the NPC to shut up. Let's look at this example:

(Player 1 intending to talk to Player 2)

Player 1: "Hi"

Harnquist : "Hello, I'm Harnquist, were you talking to me?"

Player 1: "No"

Player 2: "Hi Player 1!"

Player 1: "Blah"

Player 2: "Blah.  Bye"

Player 1: "Harnquist Hello"

Harnquist: "Hello"



Another example:

(Player 3 is talking to Harnquist but then wants to talk to Player 4)

Player 3: "Hi"

Harnquist: "Hi, I'm Harnquist, were you talking to me?"

Player 3: "Yes"

Harnquist: "Blah"

Player 4: "Hi Player 3!"

Player 3: "Excuse me"

Player 3: "Hi Player 4!"

[Mirashi]

Why did Harnquist say "Blah?"

[Santiago]

I definitely like the idea of NPCs introducing themselves when they hear a greeting. This way players are not required to magically know the name of the NPC before they have been introduced. The rest sound like good ideas but new players would really have to be trained how to use the system effectively. It may become too complicated.

[Vengeance]

I can imagine a time when we hardcode in some triggers like "hi" or "greetings" which are designed to get the npc's attention and do not require the name.

Until then, I suggest that you roleplay that you didn't just type his name. ;-)

- Venge