A DM Habbit - We can't help it

[GodBeastX]

I usually just keep my DM channel quiet, coz Im assuming its flooded by everybody else...heh, maybe I should do that for now on.

Well, if you are afraid to DM channel it, you can also Party chat it, or you can /tp "GodBeastX" or /t "DM GodBeastX" all work for me. ^_^

[GodBeastX]

Everytime I try talking on the DM channel, I never get a reply... so, I sort of partly gave up on it.

May not be a DM there to hear you. May have transitioned and lost the message without noticing. May have though another DM took care of it. May have been busy.

We make many mistakes as DM's, we just pretend we don't for the sake of appearances <_< >_> It's alright to ask something more than once on the DM channel after some time. The only time I almost choked someone who messaged the DM channel was 2 days after server opened.

The server crashed. A character bought potions but did not save after he did. He entered into the game after the crash without the potions then proceeded to enter a dungeon with coins in hand. I'm trying to tend to other people who had problems associated with the beta issues at the time. Eventually he posts on the DM channel about needing potions, and getting a big attitude about it. I asked what's the problem, he wanted me to teleport him so he didn't have to walk to get potions while I'm running about trying to handle things. I told him he had to walk and he blew up at me on the DM channel 8( My head spun really. "I have to be inconvenienced because YOUR server crashed?!" I believe was one of his sentences.

Ironically it's Obsidian's code that crashed the server and does regularly in the same location in code (I have the memory dump) but people blame us alot

[Ithildur]

I don't see what the problem is. Firstly, being a Banite in Sundren isn't illegal. People might look at you bad, but there aren't people in jail or executed simply for being a Banite.

Second, even so, why would you assume he's going to kill you before he attacks anyway? Type out Halt! If a DM has it attack anyway, then you go "Oh, you don't WANT to halt, alright!"

You want the DMs to type out everything for you in concise descriptions and such, but alls it takes is for a player to pause a split second to be certain of what they're doing and things work out fine. I'm sure that banite who pounded your face died, so was saying "Halt!" so bad?

Nooo...

I'm not saying DMs need to type out everything. First of all, some DMs give more descriptions than others, that's their preference, that's fine; no one's forcing them to do it. I enjoy DMs typing out description, to me that's the equivalent of PCs typing out good emotes/descriptions that enriches the story.

But here I'm simply talking about situation where it's unclear what the appropriate response is. I'm not talking about my PC, my pc wouldn't be too badly effected by a banite in the goblin caves getting a couple of freebie hits in; but a lvl 3 wizard with 12 HP is a different story... he'd certainly care if said Banite got two or even one free hit in, while he's typing, and hasn't even had a chance to buff. I doubt he would survive even long enough to type out "Oh, you don't want to halt?", he'd be dead by the time he got to "oh, you... don't!" and the entire time he's trying to figure out "hmm... maybe i was supposed to assume he's kos and it was stupid of me to try and talk to him... but then again, the last time, another DM penalized me for assuming that and attacking first.."

I raise these kinds of questions with the server as a whole in mind, not because my PC can't take a couple of swings from a Banite Sometimes it's not clear because we have different DMs that take different approaches to things; I'm not ragging on you guys or demanding you type this or that, but one way to clear up some ambiguity is using descriptions that lets players clue in a bit.

[GodBeastX]

Nooo...

I'm not saying DMs need to type out everything. First of all, some DMs give more descriptions than others, that's their preference, that's fine; no one's forcing them to do it. I enjoy DMs typing out description, to me that's the equivalent of PCs typing out good emotes/descriptions that enriches the story.

But here I'm simply talking about situation where it's unclear what the appropriate response is. I'm not talking about my PC, my pc wouldn't be too badly effected by a banite in the goblin caves getting a couple of freebie hits in; but a lvl 3 wizard with 12 HP... maybe would care if said Banite got two or even one free hit in, while he's typing, and hasn't even had a chance to buff, different story. I doubt he would survive even long enough to type out "Oh, you don't want to halt?", he'd be dead by the time he got to "oh, you... don't!" and the entire time he's trying to figure out "hmm... maybe i was supposed to assume he's kos and it was stupid of me to try and talk to him... but then again, the last time, another DM penalized me for assuming that and attacking first.."

I raise these kinds of questions with the server as a whole in mind, not because my PC can't take a couple of swings from a Banite Sometimes it's not clear because we have different DMs that take different approaches to things; I'm not ragging on you guys or demanding you type this or that, but one way to clear up some ambiguity is using descriptions that lets players clue in a bit.

Alright, I think I get you.

From now on, before I spawn NPCs, I'll emote something to help people be prepared more, also I will try my best to make NPC names Generic.

Hmmm... DM's write alot of policy for players, maybe Players should write policies they would like DM's to consider?

[pook]

However, can you concede that even after reading this you will consider what the character is based on what you see instead of what's over their head?

Also what's all this talk about Banites anyway?

Ahh, we're really getting into the nitty gritty of what I had hoped to discuss.

First, I just say Banites because it's an example I know of. We could be talking about Mossclaw gnolls or pinkskinned bellyscratchers and I'd say the same things.

I do concede that I will and I have tried to consider a character based on what I see instead of what's over their head.
However, that gets right to the core of my confusion. I don't know what my character sees.

(I'll stick with Banite Clerics as an example)

I guess I have to assume each human banite cleric is at least a unique human (different hair and eyes and such), I don't guess I'm dealing with clones. However, do they all have blue bands around their forearms? Are they all wearing the same, standard issue Banite armour, or does it only look the same because its a video game and its silly to try and make custom armour for every NPC? I just don't know.

I don't know where that line is. If it's up to the PC, everyone draws that line in a different place.
If up to the DM, then how do I know what the DM feels that I see and don't see?

I also don't pretend to have the answer to this. That is, how to get everyone on the same page.
I'll play it whichever way. Wherever the line is, then I'll play along. It's fine with me.

Basically, when confronted with an NPC of which there are many copies running around in the area, I don't know what my character sees. Be it DM controlled or not.


This is not to be confused with the Necromancer character that was walking around town. I know that my PC did not know it was a necromaner. It was the first time my PC saw this NPC, which made it easy. My PC saw a pale bald guy walking around.

There were some earlier posts about how much description is provided by DM's and they were getting to the same point as me I believe. I don't expect DM's to type all night giving the most detailed desc about everything going on, but if too little desc is given. Then I don't know what my char sees and how to play it.

[pook]

Yes, the point made by Ithildur in his last post is the same thing I was trying to get across.

[undeadsteak]

seriously... This happens all the time with clerics of bane as well.. -.-

[Zoberraz]

May not be a DM there to hear you. May have transitioned and lost the message without noticing. May have though another DM took care of it. May have been busy.

We make many mistakes as DM's, we just pretend we don't for the sake of appearances <_< >_> It's alright to ask something more than once on the DM channel after some time.

Are you absolutely sure? Because lately I've tried messages over /d, /dm and /tell and I don't seem to be getting any answers.

All I want is to get my hand on some mythril. T_T

(Gah, you had to answer me while I was alt-tabbed and writting this, weren't you GodBeastX? *shakes fist* Curse you and your sly DMing ways! ~_^ )

[Soulbadguy]

Are you absolutely sure? Because lately I've tried messages over /d, /dm and /tell and I don't seem to be getting any answers.

All I want is to get my hand on some mythril. T_T

(Gah, you had to answer me while I was alt-tabbed and writting this, weren't you GodBeastX? *shakes fist* Curse you and your sly DMing ways! ~_^ )

Ahhh asking for some mythril.. that'll get yah ignored.. oh and if you never asked yet.... well.. Some of us have premonition.. .

Dms probably just busy or something...man.. crap.. im a DM and I keep asking Godbeast stuff and he doesn't answer me half the time.. but he sure likes making fun of Abi's booty when im on..