GM Events

[Kerol]

We have prepared a number of "mundane" events that are simple but effective as chance to RP and without huge rewards or rewards at all.
Nowadays we also try to run "surprise" events without GM label, so players are only notified at the end that they were in an event and are rewarded.
For both we yet need to gather experience and get to know the things to avoid.

[Suno_Regin]

Yeah, I heard about that Kerol. Good job.

[Orgonwukh]

We have prepared a number of "mundane" events that are simple but effective as chance to RP and without huge rewards or rewards at all.
Nowadays we also try to run "surprise" events without GM label, so players are only notified at the end that they were in an event and are rewarded.
For both we yet need to gather experience and get to know the things to avoid.

Sounds very interesting and promising. I hope it will work and you won't get stuck with only one or two players. I am curious about if/how it will work.

[Kerol]

Another new idea is to use the instancing of the maps to "uncrowd" those events that aren't supposed to be mass-events but attract many people so people don't get the "why are 50 people here trying to get a flower for this poor old lady?"-feeling again.
But for this we'll probably require at least one new command to make things smooth and (again) gather experiences.

[Suno_Regin]

Kerol, I love you.

[Kerol]

Kerol, I love you.

Not sure if that's a good thing

The instancing thing however really is a new approach (tested the possibility yesterday) and nothing that was thought of in the earlier posts.
While I suspect new problems coming with the introduction system (and new opportunities as well) I'm sure the problems stated here can be resolved in future by combining future engine capabilities and cooperation with settings dept.

In future it may also be possible to combine quests and events somehow and entwine both, specifically for "epic" events, which would target the "an evil char shouldn't help a blind guy over the street for a reward"-problem.

[Suno_Regin]

Well to be honest with you, instancing seemed like an impossible idea. Guess I was wrong, though.

[Kerol]

Well to be honest with you, instancing seemed like an impossible idea

Well, on one hand we don't want to mess with realism (world consistancy etc.) on the other we don't want to mess with realism (a mass of people trying to help a damsel in troubles) so it's a question of balance when instancing is a viable approach.
Other than that I don't understand why it would be impossible?

[Suno_Regin]

Well, just to me anyway, it seemed that movable lights is more doable than instancing. But I'm not good when it comes to things like this, so...yeah.

[Kerol]

Instances are implemented pretty well since some time already. Tutorial i.e. creates an instanced map the moment a new char enters the world which works without problems.

[Suno_Regin]

But that's an instanced -map-. I didn't really know you could instance controlled areas.

[ThomPhoenix]

The instancing thing however really is a new approach (tested the possibility yesterday) and nothing that was thought of in the earlier posts.
While I suspect new problems coming with the introduction system (and new opportunities as well) I'm sure the problems stated here can be resolved in future by combining future engine capabilities and cooperation with settings dept.

In future it may also be possible to combine quests and events somehow and entwine both, specifically for "epic" events, which would target the "an evil char shouldn't help a blind guy over the street for a reward"-problem.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I thought of the idea first

[Kerol]

But that's an instanced -map-. I didn't really know you could instance controlled areas.

Once you are in an instance of one map you enter the same instance of all other maps that are connected with this one.
So basically the whole world is instanced once you switched, except the maps you're entering by special means (tutorial, DR etc).

Sorry to disappoint you, but I thought of the idea first

I said this in regard of the posts in this thread, not globally. I haven't seen these ideas in this thread mentioned before, but if I'm wrong, sorry.

Btw, we already had one event that used the instancing of a map (hydlaa_plaza) as plot element few weeks ago. I just think we can use this means specifically to "uncrowd" events if necessary.

On a sidenote: An everlasting item on our GM wishlist is to control NPCs directly as character for events which would help again in making events look more spontaneous and fit better into settings, but until this is implemented I can truely resort to the infamous "soon(tm)(c)(r)".

[Caarrie]

http://www.hydlaa.com/flyspray_upgrade/index.php?do=details&task_id=225

[Scarn]

Uh... hello there. I just wanted to say that GM events i've participated (maybe 3 or 4 only) have been great and in each one I've had the choice of playing it out as my char would do it. My char was 'good' when I started playing and I participated in the Plague event where I was given vaccines to hand out to people and the RP was fully working with no one waiting for an award (and nobody got one I think). The people were just glad to recieve the vaccine so they wouldn't die. Then another event took place in the tavern with me (still a 'good' person but maybe a bit greedier) and Morila (outlaws) fighting over something when a little creature walked in and was happy to see us. Thorian had lost it and offered 2000 trias if we gave it back (he wanted to skin the little bastard). I thought I might sell it to him but Morila who hated people generally seemed to have her heart warmed by the little feller and said she'd stab me if I sold it to Thorian. I swallowed my greed and told Thorian I wouldn't agree to sell it as it was really cute after all. The little creature skipped along towards BD and we followed guarding it from further harm. Later we learned it was an Ulber cub and the Ulbermom glad to see its cub 'showed' us a place where some hunters had been killed and we got to loot them. (we didn't expect a reward as no actual persons were involved in this it was just pure fun). third event I can remember was the crystal eclipse. The good guys were having a party in the secret garden and surely they weren't expecting any reward for having a party... (or were they?) Me (now having evolved to a darker char) heard the calling for another event taking place at the same time but no goodguys were there. Here is the only time we expected a reward as evil and greedy people often do... we got sent out on missions, ruined the goodguys party, got sent to DR, got our souls sacrificed, got betrayed, sent to Oja to witness the horrors taking place and got sent back to DR (most players got NO rewards). Crystal Eclipse was the bestestestest event ever and I came out empty handed but feeling more excited than ever. The point was: you need not to get rewards for an event to be good, you can have the awards implemented into the story and you can play as your char would do it... or did I just get lucky?(also these events had no problem with masses gathering around being OOC). Thanks GMs, I'll be kissing some more ass in the near future in hope of getting maybe a 'Bones Opal Encrusted Spidersilk Dark Steel Dagger of Blinding Strike Q300½' ...or maybe I'll just enjoy the events...