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Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 08:26 PM |
I'd like to see what the players think about adding a little structure to some of the DMed events...
I'm considering doing some scheduled events... to get players together, let them meet and RP, and such... kind of like an adventuring group, but reversed. What I see happening is that DMs would post an event when they plan to run one. This is not to say that DM xyz will ALWAYS run an event at such and such a time, but that they will schedule them when they have a plan for one, so that players who are interested can know when & where to "Get in on the action".
An example of such a post:
Scheduled DM Event Announcement
DM: <DM>
Time: <date> <Time>
Expected Duration: <hours>
Best played by levels: <lvl range>
Quest Start Location: <location>
While the quest is best experienced by folks of the stated range, the DM will attempt to modify to suit players of other levels as appropriate.
Players interested in participating in this event should arrange to be near <location> 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
So, I guess my question to you all is, does this appeal to you as a a player? Let me know what you think! |
Question Authority! |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 08:37 PM |
| I think its a great idea. Theres nothing like going on an adventure with a group of other characters. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 08:37 PM |
Yes, this appeals to me.
I've basically been playing less and less due to lack of dm's around. I know some pop in from time to time, but I never really know if one is going to be on, and it seems like more often than not, I end up chatting with other players, hoping that our little plot lines will garner some attention and be developed further than we can take them as players. I know this will motivate me to play a bit more if I know for certain there will be a dm online. Heck, I don't even care if the dm preplans anything. There are so many interesting plot developments happening, if we just knew a dm would be online from x hour to y hour, I'm sure the dm could watch for a short while and help push the plot to some sort of fruition.
Anyways, I'm all for it. Dm's post a time you'll be online, and I'll probably be back in game.
Poki |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 09:05 PM |
does it appeal?? heck, yah. yee-hah, in fact (as they used to say where i grew up)
i suspect any such posted events will be oversubscribed. at first, dm's should expect a milling mob, hungry for story/adventure. |
But long ago he rode away
And where he dwelleth none can say |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 09:53 PM |
This idea sounds like a dream come true (and somewhat familiar... say six posts down from this one ) for the occasional player, which happens to be exactly what I am. I tired to get this idea out a little while back but I think my bad title made it die off-- no one knew what it was. Anyway let me just copy and paste my posts from there... I have seen this on other servers and have some ideas mostly concerning keep it IC.
(quoted from my other thread below)
[i]One of the best things I have seen other servers do is hold open events that are announced to the players, breaking the "regular thing" that people who are not currently playing DMed games can fall into. These are different than regular games in that anyone who sees they are happen can get involved by just showing up.
It might be best if I give an example:
1) "Rumors have been persisting for days that the bandits have enlisted the help of a giant and plan to attack the Buckshire Tradepost. It is to late to send a message to the city, and for them to mill over it. A milita needs to be formed to try and hold them off."
This type of rumor could be posted on a sticky post on the boards perhaps a day before the scheduled event is going to happen. Even if the DM desired he could post suggested levels (or not) for the litle event. In the game it makes sense for this to be a rumor and PCs could come and take part. After some might even get in on an adveture to search out why it happened. More attacks could come until the DMs figure it out. While *75%* of the time posting is best (since the point is for it to be open and scheduled) occasionally a DM could do a shout of such a rumor and run something similar. Relitivly short these would not take up a great deal of time, but they would break the monotany (NOTE: I love the server) of the server when you are not in a game.
Other possible ideas:
--A footrace held in Midor (or wherever) to celebrate something or other. The race would involve maybe a NPC or two and be in a relitively safe area. PCs could take part and win a minor (but unique) prize.
--A Poetry contest for those interested, the PCs recite their poetry and the winner gets a small cash prize or a book or something. (Of course it must be original and include words of places in the game)
--An Archery contest
--A Crafting contest.... this could be a metalworkers contest perhaps. Weapons, wrmor and the sort. DMs might have to do some tweaking to figure this one but the winner could get custom armor (not stornge, different color).
--Pure RPing events.... a Bard comes and tells a tale and it is posted all over.
These are just a few ideas..... I have seen it done before and these types of event were very popular. They also got rid of complaint that only certain people got DM attention. The DMs are busy I know but if each DM did maybe one a week, lasting as little as a half hour but maybe longer it would add some spice to things. Big thing is to post it, let people know what is going on so thery can try and take part. [/i]
(quoted from my other thread above)
Basically the same thing you mentioned but perhaps with an In Character Rumor thathints off what might happen. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 09:56 PM |
| Wholeheartidly agree. Gives a good chance to meet different players and to start different plotlines. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 10:46 PM |
Well Gibreel, perhaps it was you that was the source of my inspiration! Thanks for that!
It seems so though there is plenty of interest, so I will begin scheduling events. Soon as I cook up something good for the first one, I'll throw it on the forum! |
Question Authority! |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 12:52 AM |
To add my voice to the crowd: I like the idea very much.
Some additional thoughts that I was speaking with Pugs yesterday... Maybe we'll take the opportunity to get players involved in the building stage, and develop fully particular areas of Vives alongside with the quest?
To start out small and mundane as a proof of concept, I'm keen to propose an Archery Contest scheduled this Sunday (about 11-14:00 EST - sounds good to everyone?) The contest will be part of a larger festival held in Buckshire.
I will be available during those time as DM, and other DMs interested please post here.
To make good use of this opportunity, feel free to think of NPCs (or better, submit them as ERF; even better, with convo!) or venues in Buckshire that can be further developed. What's a festival with the handful of NPCs we currently have in Buckshire? If you have other ideas about Buckshire, it's a good time to bring it up - e.g., fleshing out the personalities / speech of the major... Shroeppen... etc. Post your replies here maybe?
It'll be great if lots of your ideas can be forwarded by end of Friday, since Saturday afternoon I should be free from other commitments.
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Aria
So talented, so troubled. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 11:12 AM |
| Perhaps a sticky post on the News Board? |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 03:53 PM |
I'm not sure how the dm's feel about this, but one thing I would enjoy being able to see is how many dm's are currently in game. Perhaps on the server status here on the website it could list the players that are in game then just say "dm's in game: 1, or 2, or whatever" it doesn't have to say which ones, or where they are. I know I always check the server status before I go in game to see if anyone is in game. If there are only a couple people, I will often elect to do something else with my time. However, even if there were only 2 people playing, but i knew a dm was milling about in game, I would probably pop in, and not for any roleplaying xp, but for the simple fact that plots could be developed beyond the normal roleplaying conversations that occur everyday between players.
What do you dm's and other players think about this?
Poke |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 04:26 PM |
Real pros and cons to having player and dm lists available, Poke. One advantage to not showing either is that it gets the character in game irregardless if their buddy is on, and can increase the interaction between players that may have not met otherwise. I know most everyone is guilty of looking at the players online box on the website and going, "I don't know those folks. Maybe I won't go on." With a DM list as well, it bumps it up one more notch to where you make one more reason not to play. Again, decreasing the chance of rp between different players, or for general character to character relationship development.
Not to say that all people do this. And I would have to agree that two weeks of being online hashing out old storylines with the same crowd that is always on can get dull. So those players that might get a bit burnt out from playing may get more motivated if they see dm's available.
Really, the solution in my humble opinion is not posting what dm is on the server, but finding different reasons to attract the players, regardless of dm presence. Obviously crafting is one, player to player interaction is another. But as players, can't we design our own miniquests and adventures? Take your sword, run it to a far off location, come back to town and tell a horrid tale of how you were nearly killed by such and such a monster, then develop a quest to return your weapon. Make it your characters mission to search the woods for a very rare plant. Doesn't even need to be real, just a plant you need for a potion you pretend to make. Spend the day out searching high and low for it with a few companions, meeting encounters and having a great rp time along the way. I would think that if each player started developing their own tiny rp event that could be done without dms, this place would be as full as if all the dms where present. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 04:30 PM |
You can already see if a DMs IG.
Before logging in, just check the player list in NWN. Shows everyone's class an lvl. DMs are very, very obvious.
I suppose a thing on the site would be nice, though. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events. An archery contest!!!!
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 05:26 PM |
Aria! You are such a temptress!! Neek could never miss an archery contest!
I have some sugestions for events you might want to consider;
"Twink the Target"
Each contestant is issued 10 arrows, the contestant that scores the higest number of hits wins. Two groups, 4 divisions. The two groups are; Level 1 thru 5 (first group), and Level 6 & and up (second group). The divisions are Longbow, Shortbow, Large crossbow, and Small crossbow. All ties are settled with a "shoot off". The person with the first miss in a shoot off is eleminated untill there is only one contestent left.
The "Crack the Kobloid" contest. This one has two groups and 4 divisions (same as above). The object is to kill (with a ranged weapon excluding slings), a DM controlled Kobolid running thru paws forest. Only one person hunts at a time and the winner is chosen buy the fewest number of arrows spent to score a kill.
**Note** only standard non-magic arrows may be used in any of the compititions
The Great cat/bat hunt
group1 (Levels 1-5) hunt bats
group2 (Levels 6 & up) hunt cats
The will only be two winners (one for each of the levels). Hunters may choose either bows or crossbows.
This one incorporates a knowledge of Vives geography, speed and ranged weapon talent.
The contestants(stripped of swords and sheilds) start from a place (to be named at the start of the compitition) at the same time. The first contestant of each group to return to the start with a pelt wins. The bats/cats must be killed with arrows or bolts only. (Magic arrows can be used in this event).
Let me know what ya think!
Neek Starnipple
Master Bow Crafter & Archane Archer 4th order
If yer lookin for a judge for these events I would be happy to do it :) |
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Re: Scheduled DM events. An archery contest!!!!
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 05:38 PM |
"**Note** only standard non-magic arrows may be used in any of the compititions"
Which will have to be provided for the low levels :) |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 07:30 PM |
| Sounds great but personally I think it sounds like a great idea but i hate the thought of players becomeing totally dependent on staff for there rp or events for exp. I think it should also be the players responsibility to work together with the staff and yes i've said in the past but i still think its very important unless the dms wish to make more players dms in which case that can have pro's and cons but regardless this event idea sounds quite interesting i cant wait to see it implimented |
"...Another day passes and I slip further from reality..." |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 10:07 PM |
Well I am getting my cable internet hooked up on monday so I will become alot more active ingame as a DM. The announced events sounds like a great idea that will allow the players and the DMs to work together. With that in mind it would be great if the players publish their own RP ideas and plotlines on the website. I was ingame as a DM last weekend and heard some people talking about the Emerald Knights but I don't know much about them or what their purpose is etc. It would be good if the players would post this kind of info on the site so the DMs are in the loop. The Emerald Knights may already be on the website for all I know, but I am just using them as an example.
The DMs can then use the players plots if they get lazy and don't want to think up their own adventure. :P
thats all for now! |
I do what the voices in my head tell me too. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 10:08 PM |
| DAH-LETED!!!!! |
I do what the voices in my head tell me too. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 20 Sep 2003 01:13 PM |
This is a bit of a technical question, but I think relevant. It's been my observation that the DMd events are horribly super-lagged. Is this a consequence of the number of players in the area at one time, of the number of monsters involved (I think not because one I remember one in particular did not have that many monsters), or of some aspect of the DM operation of the quest? It's not really very much fun to attend an event where all you can do is watch helplessly as it plays out, assuming that you don't actually lose the server connection. This doesn't seem to happen when there is a DM simply watching, or animating one NPC, I don't think.
I do like the idea of leaving the enrollment open for people to show up or not. I'm reluctant to commit blocks of my time a week or two in advance unless it's an absolutely essential service that I'm arranging for.
I also like the idea of suggested levels. A level 2 fighter feels like teats on a bull in a scenario set up for level 10 mages, or maybe something even less useful than that.
A side-note. I've gotten [Tell]s that I believed to be from a DM manifesting as a player, but I was unable to reply by [Tell] (got Player Not Found, or some such error) and I got no response using DM mode. This was frustrating to me and probably annoying to the DM who may have thought I was ignoring him or her. |
Dieties preserve us from the evil chaotics named Lag, Crash, and Server Reset.
PCs: Loli Dankirk (Ftr 18/Brd 8.5 @ 1777 hrs) left Vives for Origins; Gnora Gnombody (Sor 5 @ 54 hrs) and Amanda Stark (Wiz 3 @ ~10 hrs) left Vives for Feline Providence. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 20 Sep 2003 01:22 PM |
A side-note. I've gotten [Tell]s that I believed to be from a DM manifesting as a player, but I was unable to reply by [Tell] (got Player Not Found, or some such error) and I got no response using DM mode. This was frustrating to me and probably annoying to the DM who may have thought I was ignoring him or her.
well... DMs doesnt leave a quit msg.. means they might drop /loggout and you wont know..
when someone doesnt reply me i just ask him the question again =p
anyway maybe the DM was busy and that's why he didnt reply to the /dm msgs
Dens |
You are more than welcome to ignore my spelling mistakes =p |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 20 Sep 2003 01:31 PM |
A side-note. I've gotten [Tell]s that I believed to be from a DM manifesting as a player, but I was unable to reply by [Tell] (got Player Not Found, or some such error) and I got no response using DM mode. This was frustrating to me and probably annoying to the DM who may have thought I was ignoring him or her.
well... DMs doesnt leave a quit msg.. means they might drop /loggout and you wont know..
when someone doesnt reply me i just ask him the question again =p
anyway maybe the DM was busy and that's why he didnt reply to the /dm msgs
Dens
The player was active in the game and moving from area to area, according to the server status. {shrug} My concern is that I feel it is courteous to reply to questions sent to me, and I worry what sort of wrong conclusions are being drawn when I apparently refuse to answer to what is probably authority. |
Dieties preserve us from the evil chaotics named Lag, Crash, and Server Reset.
PCs: Loli Dankirk (Ftr 18/Brd 8.5 @ 1777 hrs) left Vives for Origins; Gnora Gnombody (Sor 5 @ 54 hrs) and Amanda Stark (Wiz 3 @ ~10 hrs) left Vives for Feline Providence. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 21 Sep 2003 02:48 PM |
The player was active in the game and moving from area to area, according to the server status. {shrug} My concern is that I feel it is courteous to reply to questions sent to me, and I worry what sort of wrong conclusions are being drawn when I apparently refuse to answer to what is probably authority.
I don't think any of us would draw such conclusions... we're not the gestapo-ish type. More likely if a DM doesn't respond, we're either lagged, busy, or on our way out when you send the message. and I think the lag during large DM events is mostly a function of the latest internet troubles, which I think are fixed. The festival today will tell a lot about that I think. |
Question Authority! |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 21 Sep 2003 04:13 PM |
The player was active in the game and moving from area to area, according to the server status. {shrug} My concern is that I feel it is courteous to reply to questions sent to me, and I worry what sort of wrong conclusions are being drawn when I apparently refuse to answer to what is probably authority.
I don't think any of us would draw such conclusions... we're not the gestapo-ish type. More likely if a DM doesn't respond, we're either lagged, busy, or on our way out when you send the message. and I think the lag during large DM events is mostly a function of the latest internet troubles, which I think are fixed. The festival today will tell a lot about that I think.
That's good to know, although I think the point is being missed here that the questions under discussion were asked of _me_ and not the other way around. Although I suppose it would be possible for a DM to ask a player a question and then log out immediately afterward, it would be a tad bit strange. *wry smile* What was oddest, IMO, was that the program was telling me that there was no such player even as the server list was showing him moving from area to area. But it doesn't matter as long as I don't get shot on sight for it. *grin*
Today's DMed session had no hideous lag for me. I did have to log out and back in once because people were not showing up visible, who I could "hear" talking. This was just after the sack race and at the beginning of Tom's story. |
Dieties preserve us from the evil chaotics named Lag, Crash, and Server Reset.
PCs: Loli Dankirk (Ftr 18/Brd 8.5 @ 1777 hrs) left Vives for Origins; Gnora Gnombody (Sor 5 @ 54 hrs) and Amanda Stark (Wiz 3 @ ~10 hrs) left Vives for Feline Providence. |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 21 Sep 2003 04:37 PM |
I've had a similar experience to what Slink is saying. I think it had something to do with the dm giving you tells while either changing their ingame name, or while posessing an npc. You can't send the tell to the posessed npc, since they don't truly exist as a player. Not sure if there is a way around that other than knowing the true name of the dm that sent you the tell.
Is there a trick to that? |
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Re: Scheduled DM events
Posted: 21 Sep 2003 04:40 PM |
Hello everyone! Glad to see our experimental event today (the Fair) works out quite fine; I guess these would persist in the longer run then! (Q got ideas for the next one already )
Another idea that is on the test are Cast-Player Characters; as of now, we're just going to be testing little aspects of it, and see how it pans out. The idea is that certain players will be trusted with partial DM resources (and responsibility); they'll have in effect PC-controlled NPCs (e.g., 'A hooded figure'; hence cast-character) around, with multitude of props/costumes to match. And they're there to make impromptu adventures/plots, singly, amongst themselves, or in conjunction with DMs! We'll hopefully soon see them in action, and how it pans out in the longer run 
Cheers, |
Aria
So talented, so troubled. |
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