Searchable on always

[Torgar]

My suggestion, with how incredibly low our numbers are, is to disable searchable as a player function. It no longer makes any sense from a "But he'll meta-game where I am if I don't" point of view, simply because there isn't hardly any of us left, and we all are grown up enough not to do it. Searchable should be a DM command for DM's to use during events where they don't want people just walking in that aren't part of it in out of the way places. This whole thing where there are 5 people on the server, I hop on, and 4 of the 5 are off searchable is, forgive me for saying this, absolutely stupid. We shouldn't have our searchable's off, when our server is gigantic and there's less then 10 of us at any given time. It's an RP server, and turning off searchable is basically saying "I don't want to RP with other people".

[Fury]

Conversely, in a truly in character world, you wouldn't know where those people are anyway.

This argument is unfortunately weak. If one were to remove the searchable function what you would have is no scryability, rather than the other way around. As for why anyone goes incognito- there are a number of reasons, many of which may actually have very valid RP backup. There's nothing wrong with the searchable function, and no reason monkey with it.

[sonuvalich]

I have to say that I am unclear on the intention behind your request. If you want to go where people are based upon a search, isn't that being a bit metagamey? I rarely turn off searchable unless I am up to something I do not want being "wandered in" on, or if I am AFK in the Enclave and don't want people wandering up to me wondering why I am ignoring them. I don't like to go to the AFK room because people there are sketchy.

[Lotus]

I have to say that I am unclear on the intention behind your request. If you want to go where people are based upon a search, isn't that being a bit metagamey?

Duh. The whole point of the searchable function is to enable players to find each other. It's a "metagamey" that staff is okay with (indeed, that staff enabled) because we want people to play with each other. Players are at their liberty to hide from each other, but when numbers are down, it's a nice idea to stay "visible" so people can get together and do the RP things.

Conversely, in a truly in character world, you wouldn't know where those people are anyway.

And you'd all be dead months/years ago.

If one were to remove the searchable function what you would have is no scryability, rather than the other way around.

to disable searchable as a player function

"As a player function" means to remove the players' ability to control whether or not they're searchable, not to make everyone unsearchable.

Either way, we're not going to do anything on the staff side, but we do encourage you to be "present" and play with each other.

[sonuvalich]

I guess I just don't often see where people are using searchable and think to myself "Oh it makes total sense for my character to be there, let me go wander up and get involved." It's usually faction HQ's, Mossdale, Whurest, or in the AFK room. Part of the issue may be that even with lower numbers we still have a good spread of factions on all at once. Still, I totally support the "leave it on unless you really are up to something" notion.

[Torgar]

The point I made is because I can go onto the server any given day, there is 4-6 people on, and 3-5 of them have searchable off. That tells me that 80% of the server doesn't want to be found ever, which would make sense if we had, say 30+ people on. But not 5. With 5 people, there is practically no reason for us to keep ourselves hidden from one another. And the argument that it doesn't make RP sense to be in certain area's, well that's true 90% of the time period. If you're in the Whurest, why are you ever not at the dwarven hold? If you're in Blackwood, shouldn't you be at Mirakus or aquor and no where else unless someone came to YOU to hire you? Druids should never been anywhere near a town or city. But we do interact with one another despite all that, and go to places it maybe doesn't make sense for us to be in, specifically SO that we can RP and actually interact with one another.

And really, how much fun are you really having hiding away in your faction HQ's with only 4 other people on, secure in the knowledge they can't/won't ever go to you for RP? Why are you even really hopping on the server, if your only goal is to make sure you don't RP with people? The mentality of "AHAHAHAH, now those other two fools will never know what diabolical scheme's I'm scheming! The scheme's that I'm coming up with, alone, in my headquarters, away from all other contact with others, and that can't be acted upon unless there is actually other people involved....MUAHAHAHHAhahahahaaaa.... I'm lonely."

How is that fun? Until such time as we actually HAVE numbers again, all I'm saying is maybe we don't make it HARDER to RP with one another. Or, you know, just keep on keeping on, because so far I'm really failing to see how making it harder to RP is INCREASING our numbers and making people enjoy the server. Everyone I talk to seems pretty god damned bored with all the lack of interaction between everyone.

[Yevelian]

How is that fun? Until such time as we actually HAVE numbers again, all I'm saying is maybe we don't make it HARDER to RP with one another. Or, you know, just keep on keeping on, because so far I'm really failing to see how making it harder to RP is INCREASING our numbers and making people enjoy the server. Everyone I talk to seems pretty god damned bored with all the lack of interaction between everyone.

Let's be honest. There are lots of active characters, whom if they crossed paths with other active players, past and current RP would initiate instant combat. I for one, and everyone on tonight, has their locators on except one that I can tell. I'm just suggesting perhaps it isn't always a good thing to know where someone is. If you want to, we have a locate creature spell. Maybe you're in a stagnant faction? That's not our fault.

Let's encourage an atmosphere to leave them on, when not up to something important.

[jarlexel]

Have to agree with Togar. I chatted with a new player a few weeks ago and he asked the same thing and . . .eh he's not playing here anymore.

Also I do turn it off at times because I've been pvped more then once while in bad places. For instances while doing daily been pvped while fighting the daily mobs, not going to name any names you know who you are.

[Fury]

How is that fun? Until such time as we actually HAVE numbers again, all I'm saying is maybe we don't make it HARDER to RP with one another. Or, you know, just keep on keeping on, because so far I'm really failing to see how making it harder to RP is INCREASING our numbers and making people enjoy the server. Everyone I talk to seems pretty god damned bored with all the lack of interaction between everyone.

Gonna just put this out here for posterity's sake- You have a character that is entirely designed around being an asshole troll to anyone except for two characters, it seems like. Considering that every last person who was on happened to be Black Hand, Sandro, and me- who happened to have to go afk far too frequently- who were you so eager to RP with anyway? And how could any of that RP ended up in a positive? So why does it even matter if the Black Hand folks prefer to float incognito?

[Jhickey]

When I get to play I am often searchable, unless I am in a meeting with other PCs. Then I generally go unsearchable, this is because of Meta Gaming. "let me go see the two people in the BH headquarters", see how many issue that can cause? I understand both points of view, but if you see no one on searchable, send a tell and ask if they want to meet for some RP. I am sure they will oblige. Let us stay a strong community here! Anyway, I miss you guys.

Joe

[gamestarmike]

C-Cant we all be friends? ;_;

[Lugwy]

It's all a Banite conspiracy! Sow strife among the few players remaining! Or something like that.

[Peridan]

I, for one, welcome our new Banite overlords.

Edit: Also, chill out Torgar. If you really want to RP with people, try reaching out to them in tells. More metagamey, sure, but who gives a shit if it leads to good interactions?

[Fury]

A quick tell of "Hey man, wanna hook up and RP" is no more or no less meta-gamey than opening a list to see where people are, as far as I can see. Hell, I do it all the time.

[nezzerscape]

So here are my two cents.

I understand both sides but I think this should be a player option not a mechanical rule. When playing all but my BH or EP toons I leave searchable on unless instructed otherwise. For my EP toon, well there has not been much EP RP with her so searchable is usually on. My BH toon searchable is usually off.

While on or off, I engage in Tells to see what others are up to, if they want company, etc. I also my a point to reach out to player names I do not recognize (new players) and say Hello. I typically ask them something about their toon and offer to swap toons if alignments or what not are misaligned with the toon that I cam on with.

Ok well 3 cents...

Nez