The Race Rules

[Quipp]

Ok, I have a theoretical question, I am a Kran, right now there are no special rules, so if I trained my magic above level 8 and then when the rules are implicated would my magic levels drop to level 8 or am I granfathered in?

[Zan]

you're not going to like to hear this but ...

Since Planeshift is still in a major testing phase, and will be for a long time, you can expect to have your character wiped of all their skills, trias and/or items occasionally. The Devs try to limit those wipes to when they really really need to happen but they will happen so I wouldn't be worrying about your issue too much just yet. Chances are your character will be completely wiped long before the race rules come into play.

[Karyuu]

Check this thread for a bit more info on wipes :}

[penetrecion]

So then, why am I wasting my time building a character if the Planeshift team is just going to erase it on me? Do you think I want to - run here, get that - run there, sell that routine all over again?

I was planning on making a donation to the developers for the game but if I spend 100+ hours playing my character just to have it erased then I won't waste my money and I will simply stop playing. Maybe in 5 to 10 years I'll look the game up and see if it actually works then.

[Karyuu]

The reasons for the wipe are very clearly stated in the thread I linked to. It's unfortunate if you're going to let this prevent you from playing, but I hope you know that raising stats and skills is by far not the only way to develop your character, and you can have a ton of fun building your character through roleplay alone, if need be.

Also please remember that everyone here is a tester of a game in early alpha development - we are at version 0.3, and wipes are inevitable. The database needs a clean start sometimes. Every single game in existance has had wipes, but the fact that PlaneShift is completely open from development's first start makes it more noticeable here.

[...] I spend 100+ hours playing my character just to have it erased then I won't waste my money and I will simply stop playing.

The dev team doesn't need donations - CrystalSpace, our engine, will take them though, as well as Fragnetics, our server host. However, there are many people still in the game regardless of the wipe warning, so they just might be onto something. I think that there is a lot to do to make your time here enjoyable.

I hope to see you around in some time, then.

[ThomPhoenix]

* ThomPhoenix sighs

Too much new people expect this game to be like a free World of Warcraft. This game is not about lvl'ing, lvl'ing and some more lvl'ing, it's about roleplaying and having fun. It's nice of course to have a character with maxed out skills and stats, but it's not necessary to have fun in the game.
I hope you will stay and enjoy the game, regardless of possible wipes.

[DaveG]

Simply put, if you can't accept a wipe every 6 months to a year, you probably shouldn't be playing, or at least not complaining here.  They're so infrequent that you shouldn't worry about them.  And when they do come, just deal with it.

The thing that gets me, is that the second the word "wipe" is uttered everyone panics and thinks their character is going to get deleted tomorrow.  The truth is that they're more likely to leave on their own before the next wipe.

Play the game.  Test the game.  Report bugs. Etc.

If the world gets reset, that shouldn't stop you.

[squishiex]

  Sorry to get off topic here but I'm curious as to what each of the races are and what do they look like it'd be nice to know before I pick something I'm not really going to be happy with.

PM or E-mail me with the answer xmech_niemo@sympatico.ca

[VMann]

They should look more or less like shown on the PS homepage
But you can have a look at the models available by now in the character creation (or just in the game)

[zorbels]

  If it is not something you want to do, then don't. Simple.

So then, why am I wasting my time building a character if the Planeshift team is just going to erase it on me? Do you think I want to -  run here, get that - run there, sell that routine all over again?

  I have spent way more hours in game than that (as I have been playing for almost a year) and I have a character that is pretty much maxed in most things. (So gaining stats and skills aren't really at this point what the game is about)  Once you get to that point you get bored, unless you can wrap yourself up in roleplays or testing the game for bugs. It clearly states all over the place on the planeshift main site and the forums that there will be a wipe. It surprises me that people get so angry or annoyed when they find out that their characters will be wiped. Why? Without a wipe the game cannot get better, without testers it will not advance. I personally am happy to be along for the testing ride. I will get to see the game grow over the years and knowing that I had a helping hand in finding problems (bugs) and sacrificed my character to create a better game makes me feel like I helpful to this project in some manner.

The devs also sacrifice their time for people like you and I to play this game and they don't get paid for it. Actually I think it would be quite funny for a dev to say "Fine you don't want to test, then I don't want to build it." I think it would be priceless to see the looks on the players faces if the tables were turned. All in all have some patience as these people work hard to provide you with entertainment.

I was planning on making a donation to the developers for the game but if I spend 100+ hours playing my character just to have it erased then I won't waste my money and I will simply stop playing. Maybe in 5 to 10 years I'll look the game up and see if it actually works then.

I think this statement is rather silly. They don't even accept donations so it isn't really much of a threat. Not only that but don't forget they are providing you with the game for free, not the other way around. I am sure even after a comment like that the planeshift crew will welcome you back in five years upon you deciding to grace them with your return, that is IF you ever return.

[Siteri Kidachi]

I don't have much of a problem with wipes (it actually might benefit me because I wasted a lot of PP on skills that don't work yet!). The only problem I have with them in fact, is how to explain them in-game! Does Laanx come down from the sky and burninate all the equipment and give everyone amnesia? Will we have to pretend to "re-meet" everyone we know?

[Karyuu]

Something as simple as illness that has quickly spread and weakened people would work for skill/stat loss :} For items, mass-thieving? Conspiracy theories? Deep magic? Take an idea and run with it.

[Gibbard]

I can't wait for the wipe.  With what I know now, my charachter will be a finely tuned machine.  Nary a wasted PP.  Plus a level playing field, of which I will rise to the top!  Mwa ha ha!

So, yeah... I think that database there looks a bit cluttered, GM ol' pal  *wink wink*

[beau]

for the RP bit about the wipes, say, for example, the magic on the pedestal in laanx temple going out, the azure sun glowing red, and a  magical barrier blocking the laanx dungeon. the cities gates barred with magic, so no leaving. you may enter, but not leave. and some info like: a demonic entity has appeared in the forests! miners are urged to return to their respective cities, and take shelter! the cities have been sealed! the azure sun has grown red, and the lake has been magically frozen, to protect it! and then: the demons are approaching! "you have been WIPED out!

[Karyuu]

And then The Surfaris start playing and the water levels begin rising, of course! \o/