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Forums  > General  > General  > The state of the game?     Display using: Flat View Threaded View   Oldest to newest Newest to oldest Previous Thread :: Next Thread   Author  Thread: The state of the game?  Talos Joined: 31 May 2006 Total Posts: 182 Send PM   The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 01:16 AM I'm not the sort to overreact, but it seems to me that Vives is truly on it's last legs. With even the hard cases barely around any more, it's looking bleak, to me at least. I understand that people have other things to do, and I don't fault them that, even my lax schedule has been getting more and more busy lately. It's even looking like some of the unfinished story lines might not get sorted out. So I was just hoping to get some input on the subject. Where are we at, who out there is simply busy and hoping to come back when they get a break? What's the potential for some of the DM's to schedule events to continue the stories? Should it be the case that Vives is all but dead, what are the chances of the things Paul mentioned in a thread a while back being implemented? Perhaps we will leave it running as it. Perhaps we will run some adventures "in the future of vives1, but before vives2". Perhaps we will make everyone DMs so they can hop in and see whatever bit they like. Something along those lines maybe, or a public release of the server? Or an idea I had of making some changes to the game enabling players to have a better chance of survival solo, or in small groups to even the most dangerous areas of the game, and opening up spots that are currently inaccessible to most, like Undraeth? Anyway, I'd much rather see Vives up and running like it once was, with the wonderful players and their characters, and of course the fantastic DMs, yes, even Sprinkles. All of whom made each moment of time wasted here, well, not wasted in the least. Failing that, I'd settle for the chance to just rampantly stomp the ever-loving crap out of all those NPC's who once did the same to me.  The Ranger Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Total Posts: 1489 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 02:23 AM Well.. This answer is my own personal view, not that of the team as a whole, so please bear that in mind, I think it's safe to say though that as far as the team is concerned, I'm not alone. 1. Vives, contrary to current appearance, is not dead, and as a result of conversations held as recently as yesterday, lengthy conversations at that, there are plans to breathe life back into Vives pending the arrival in the future of Vives 2. 2. There are still storylines in existence that are unresolved and which, given players available, can be resolved, including opening up areas as you mentioned. 3. Efforts will be made so that if players wish to play DMs will be available, storylines will be picked up, new ones run. I guess the basic point of this answer is that Vives is not dead, far from it as, with any luck. people will begin to see very shortly. Yes, people seem to be busy, but not all of us are, yes V2 is being worked on, even if currently feedback on current development or situation is sparse it will happen - you can be sure of that. In the meantime do not give up on Vives, which for the moment is what we have. ELVES!  Talos Joined: 31 May 2006 Total Posts: 182 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 02:50 AM I guess the basic point of this answer is that Vives is not dead, far from it as, with any luck. people will begin to see very shortly. Yes, people seem to be busy, but not all of us are, yes V2 is being worked on, even if currently feedback on current development or situation is sparse it will happen - you can be sure of that. That's really great news, I'm very glad to hear it, thanks for the response Ranger.  The Ranger Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Total Posts: 1489 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 03:22 AM Not a problem. The point to stress of course is that while I, among others, am willing and happy to pick up storylines or even run new things none of us with the best will in the world can do anything without players. That isn't a criticism by any means, far from it, but I think it's fair to point out that player/DM relationship is a two way thing. Players prefer to have active DMs, to be active DMs need players. What we want to see happen can only happen if we have both. I was involved in a couple of lengthy conversations yesterday particularly from the point of view of members of the team that are currently available. Again, RL is an issue as it always has been, but we can with what we have provide pretty good coverage for the server. We can, given available players, pick up existing storylines and resolve them, run new events, run new stories, bring the world to life again. If that is going to happen though we need people to log on and participate. We can't provide 24/7 coverage, I think it's fair to say that even in past times that has rarely applied, and there may still be times when a DM is not around. We CAN however, provide a reasonable, probably more than reasonable, amount of time to devote to the game, IF we get players. ELVES!  Talos Joined: 31 May 2006 Total Posts: 182 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 04:22 AM Well, speaking from my own experience, what encouraged me to play wasn't just scheduled or big events. It was the spontaneous moments where you're just puttering around and suddenly your little trip to the swamp turns into something a bit more. When any little task could suddenly become a lot more complex, it provided as much motivation to play as you get when you're just near your next level and want to get that last bit of experience. It didn't have to be anything extraordinary, but finding a trap where you didn't expect it, or a couple extra monsters in a room made the game more alive. Not to forget that if you know a DM is around you are not limited in the actions you can take. It can be more fun to talk your way out of a situation rather than just swinging a sword around. That is what provided depth to the game and made me want to log in and idle around even if the server wasn't packed. Of course others might feel differently, but I think if players knew that the DMs had the time and inclination to pop in and start this up again, they might show up a bit more often. It's just a thought.  The Ranger Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Total Posts: 1489 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 04:35 AM Couldn't agree more, and that formed part of our discussion too. The thinking is not just along the lines of running huge events or storylines, or even massive scheduled events. Though those of course were spoken about and aren't by any means out of the picture. A large part of what we have always done is exactly what you describe, providing the unexpected, possessing NPCs and so on. As such the larger storylines provided simply a changing backdrop and environment in which to play, no world stays the same, things change. What you say about DMs having the time and inclination is precisely the point I am trying to make, some of us at least, myself among them, DO have the time, and have the inclination. What we don't have, at the moment at least, and I accept that there are valid reasons for it just as there are valid reasons as to why team members are unavailable, is a player base that appears and logs on regularly to enable us to do these things. I'm not pointing a finger and blaming anyone, not in the slightest, due to RL I've had long periods of absence myself, they happen and can't be avoided. My point really was to stress the two way aspect. I and others on the team side of things have the time, and the will and the inclination to do things IG in whatever sense, if players have the same then we have the ideal situation. ELVES!  Talos Joined: 31 May 2006 Total Posts: 182 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 04:48 AM My point really was to stress the two way aspect. I agree completely with that. It is a two way street, and pointing fingers doesn't accomplish anything. Maybe many of the other players are like me, they're under the impression that the majority of the DM team is tied up in the work on Vives II. The server wont get back to what it once was overnight, just like it didn't come to its current state overnight. But just hearing what amounts to basically: "we have time to DM again, we just need the players to play again", is really encouraging. It makes me want to hop back in game right now. But the fact that it's 3 A.M. and I really should be in bed means it will have to wait at least another day. I really hope other players who have the time to play feel the same.  The Ranger Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Total Posts: 1489 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 05:12 AM LOL OK go to bed, seems like a plan. Some things to bear in mind though: 1. Yes, there are team members available not currently working (at least full time) on V2, EVERYBODY on the current team is involved to an extent, some larger, some lesser, at the moment given that areas I would be responsible for won't initially appear in V2 my involvement is primarily along the lines of writing, which can be done as and when and means that I am available for long periods during GMT hours to work with V1, and I am happy to do that, happy too to extend those hours into US time as I've always done, I'm sure there are people around who remember me running events and DMing or playing well into the early hours to cater for the other side of the pond, that won't change. 2. There are at least two other team members, one stateside, one who can potentially cover some time when I am not around - I do sleep occasionally - which means that we can provide pretty good coverage. That may change as others become available due to RL considerations. 3. I agree it won't happen overnight just as I understand that I can't force people to log on and play, everyone has a real life, but the message is that if you want to play, and have the time to play, then we will be available though not 100% of the time and not 24/7 but there IS still a core of people willing to keep Vives going pending the appearance of V2 - and no, I don't have an idea of when that will be. What I DO know is that it will happen, it isn't shelved by any means. ELVES!  Tasra www.bgmod.com Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Total Posts: 1364 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 06:20 AM *Sigh* Now I have to try and figure out which of my long list of characters is actually supposed to be alive...  Game_Warden Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Total Posts: 120 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 01:36 PM I am still lurking as well. I do apologize, Talos, that I have not been throwing out monsters and traps all that much recently. I am available sporadically in the evenings PST. I am most available by PM should a player want to work out stuff IG or conduct research etc... I can either answer the questions in PM or arrange for a time to be IG. I also want to encourage others to come back. Just before the recent spate of server woes, Vives had a great deal of life. The Fuschia Fire Clan was keeping the torch lit. Once the server went dark we lost a lot of players. But HEREBY LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE SERVER RUNETH WELL! Y'all come back now, ya hear?  Frimble Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Total Posts: 260 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 04:55 PM I intend to play frequently this summer. But I am not (quite) irresponsible enough to play when I should be revising. Being a newcomer (n00b?) none of my characters are involved in any plots, but I will be happy to play some of the supporting cast. PS. I promise not to cause trouble on the forums. sorry. :-| "Absolute precision buys the freedom to dream meaningfully." - Donal O' Shea: The Poincaré Conjecture.  Henesua houseofthemagus.com Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Total Posts: 797 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 04:59 PM Welcome Back, Ranger! It is great to have you in Vives again. Famous last words: Mykal> it's my new wireless router. * > Mykal has quit (Ping timeout) Vulpina> Hey!! IRC didn't boot m..... * > Vulpina has quit (Exit: DarkMyst WebChat)  Tasra www.bgmod.com Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Total Posts: 1364 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 05:24 PM Frimble, sorry for what? :o  Talos Joined: 31 May 2006 Total Posts: 182 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 05:26 PM I am still lurking as well. I do apologize, Talos, that I have not been throwing out monsters and traps all that much recently. I am available sporadically in the evenings PST. I am most available by PM should a player want to work out stuff IG or conduct research etc... I can either answer the questions in PM or arrange for a time to be IG. I also want to encourage others to come back. Just before the recent spate of server woes, Vives had a great deal of life. The Fuschia Fire Clan was keeping the torch lit. Once the server went dark we lost a lot of players. But HEREBY LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE SERVER RUNETH WELL! Y'all come back now, ya hear? No need to apologize, it's understandable that not everyone has a lot of time to spend in game, and not everyone keeps the same hours. I didn't mean for my original post to come across as any sort of admonishment or finger pointing, I just wanted to get a feel for how things stood and some input from the players and DMs.  renter6 Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Total Posts: 684 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 27 May 2008 09:28 PM Hey volks, I'm around to play, probably around more starting in June. Been working a lot during April and May. I haven't been good for more than a couple hours on an evening, sometimes not even that. I'll do better!! Welcome back Benny! If you say jump IG, I jump IG. Hey you Frimble! Now's the time to take up a central position in these ongoing story lines. There's only a handful of us and there's lots of story to go around. Embed yourself like a tick! Oh, and I think the Ranger's in your time zone! "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about dying." "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means lying in the ground with dirt on your face and holding your breath forever." -Burt Reynolds, "The End"  ygsdrasil Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Total Posts: 137 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 28 May 2008 07:53 PM I've been dropping by to see if there is any progress of late. I upgraded my vid card and installed NWN2. Had to uninstall NWN to make room. I am going to install it again. I can make room now ;-) Briefly visited a couple of worlds. Seen nothing anywhere that approaches what Vives was a couple years back. For the level of pure role play. That said there is only so much to be gained from playing solo. And other than a couple of brief cameo's I've seen few to play with. And this is a tough world to solo. I suppose I could make a bard/fighter/rdd that could manage it though Bard/RDD/PM might have more immunities (considers) I have an idea for an event! Make me a level 40 for a day or two and I'll do an evil Bard/RDD/PM invite everyone to gang up on me.Can I custom build my lair too ? Please please please < j/k I have no skill at building areas- I can generate some erf's for his equipment though mwahahaha>  ygsdrasil Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Total Posts: 137 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 30 May 2008 11:41 AM <quote>I suppose I could make a bard/fighter/rdd that could manage it though Bard/RDD/PM might have more immunities (considers) I have an idea for an event! Make me a level 40 for a day or two and I'll do an evil Bard/RDD/PM invite everyone to gang up on me.WinkCan I custom build my lair too ? Please please please </qoute> No replies to such an inflammatory statement? Perhaps there is no pulse here...or am I just ignored as a rule? Ygsdrasil  The Ranger Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Total Posts: 1489 Send PM   Re: The state of the game? Posted: 30 May 2008 11:46 AM Depends what you're saying Yggs :P Drop me a PM with your ideas and I'll pick on you too! (j/k) ELVES! Previous Thread :: Next Thread  Page 1 of 1   Forums  > General  > General  > The state of the game?