Slow down!
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So basically, what is being said is that the goal of scripted quests is to rack up gold. Everything is secondary to that aspect.
If the "time invested"/"money gained" ratio is not optimal, I'm doing it wrong.
If I am slowing down and forcing others to use potions since buffs have expired, thus reducing the money income, I'm doing it wrong.Since when did quests become this alien object? From what I read it sounds as if people pause their usual game, invest a few minutes to get some gold and xp, and then resume nwn again. Quests are a marvelous tool. Players simply have to use creativity to enjoy them, because scripted content offers a lot of possibilities. For example, right now, there is an army of orcs approaching Arabel. There has just been a siege and chances are there will be another. And yet not even one who thought of gathering up other characters and go have some fun with the two "defend the castle" quests we have. Try out tactics, maneuvers, interest other players, etc. Use the scripted content to tell your story. You only need some good old imagination. You have no idea how much this kind of flavor helps in creating a group.
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Roleplaying during a quest does not necessarily mean having a philosophical debate between kills.
Wanting to use your buffs while they last is not the same as bad roleplay.
Roleplaying can be as harmless as banter or as serious as a full-blown rivalry. My last few characters have been guys who go charging down the middle, but they still tossed out the odd battlecry or an appropriate jibe. They still, between encounters, took a moment to flex/check-companions, or fawn over a locked treasure chest. If 300 goblins showed up they wouldn't talk much, sure, but they didn't enter Parners on full-tilt and run right through the quest without a word even though they could.
No one is asking for a philosophical debate every time you kill a goblin, but who benefits from a steamrolled quest?
Faster, or more gold/xp/loot? When was the last time that this had any bearing on a character's success (in a positive light, even)?And Glow, I've been playing here nearly as long as you. There are tons of quests around now rather than just Kaz/Fezznick/Kanthea/Hullack. I still enjoy the most common quests though because a bit of roleplaying is what makes them unique each time. A stand-off between a tomb-robbing barbarian and a paladin; a cleric and his devotees hell-bent on sacrificing someone to a dark diety; the watchman who is heading an investigation into a wizard tower gone mad - there's an infinite number of ways that a quest can begin, progress and end if roleplaying is involved.
You really will get bored very fast otherwise because a quest is a drag even the first time without PCs to bring it to life. What Count of Depths said about using those "Siege Quests" in light of current events is exactly what I had in mind about the kind of unique spin a player can put on everyday quests.
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I'd be very interested in quest counters, I can't really see why can't they be popular.
If I know a quest not, I won't locate it by its tag. If I know it, and see it underdone, I'll make sendings for it.
Of the three quests, I have idea for the identity of no more then one. -
What if after a quest was completed it couldn't be done for 1 RL hour? Lowbie quests would be exempt from this since its really the only quests they can do (Celes, Nada's, Friodocs) but others would require real life hour wait time before they could be done again. This would force players to go out and explore more to find new quests because than you couldn't just keep grinding the same ones everyday. Also it would provide some realism as well; does it make sense to kill the Fey Queen only to have another adventuring group take the same task right as you finish it? I understand some things cant be helped but even thats a little silly.
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I believe in slow down too! I also notice those people that tend to complain about buffs running out are typically those people that cast all the buff at the start of the quest. A while ago a played a ranger/wizard and she typically hoarded her spells, only casting them when she though things were getting a bit too hairy. She also tended to scout and also reached level 10, I don't consider this a coincidence.
Most of the quests seem designed around a pure caster of the relevant level range anyway, with time to stop and examine things on route. Rp a bit, let your characters personality come out a bit, does your half orc fighter see those tool of torture as "sick" or "interesting"? Is your mage a wise wizard who found "evidence of plannar travel" or superstitious sorcerer who found "black magic"?
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Also it would provide some realism as well;
I'd love to see two parties fight over the right to take the job. But wait.. you can't PvP near blue NPCs.
Suggestion: make quests in easily accessible areas and make the quest giver an object. Like an "entrance of a cave" as a clickable object with an OoC quest-giving conversation!
We'd need some idea though how to keep people waiting for a RL 10-15 mins so groups into each other… trails of deep in thoughts -
@Alice:
A while ago a played a ranger/wizard and she typically hoarded her spells, only casting them when she though things were getting a bit too hairy. She also tended to scout and also reached level 10, I don't consider this a coincidence.
And this was before new AI, my friend. Please try entering the dungeon without buffs as a wizard now.
All in all, different people in this thread apparently mean different things when they say slow down.
-Give commands, shout battlecries, use tactics, scout and lure - sure thing, and most of us do this already.
-Spend more time than you need on a quest because someone wants to stand around and have a casual chat - i don't think i'm a bad player if i don't do this every time.I'm not sure where potion hoarding came into the picture and what does it have to do with bad roleplay.
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And this was before new AI, my friend. Please try entering the dungeon without buffs as a wizard now.
Stealth mode!
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I'm not sure all this talking on the new Ai is legit. From what I know, it was mostly reverted back.
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i for myself will close saying this..
we are not all alike, we are all different, some like more rp other like it less…. one thing is certain... rp'ing your character as he walk along a monster pack filled dungeon, that he his scared or cautious, describing how he moves or react is great.. having a talk about the weather and what not, like having a cup of tea.. is totaly another matter that doesnt make any sense in a dangerous place... also... as some said previously, buff not always last long.. and if two or more charcter are intertwine in rp while other wait after them and that the buffs are vanishing, that is also a bad thing, as it will hinder all of the group, not just the one who is buffed... when i play my priest with other i always ask if they accept my blessing if they say yes.. i buff them more than i buff myself.. mostly warrior class i buff up, and by then they are anxious to play with their buffed warrior.. but if rp is hidering their own role then they themselves also feel a bit cheated... i would suggest to play with those you are use to play with, and wich you like rp ing with more often, and try to help those less able to rp, it s not given to everyone to be easy talker... or to tipe fast... sometiems in combat situation.. tipping slow lead to your death, and the death of others as well... one other point would be... the character type per say.. is he a talker... is he shy.. does he have high or low charisma.. is he secretive... all those factor may well be toher reason why some dont appear to rp much... perhasp it is in their character not too... i wonder...we should all put water in our glass, and reach to a common understanding... rp ing is needed... so is questing with intelligence... that said... i never fetl bother by anyone rp ing, and i like it as it does bring flavour to the world we try to create aound us in arabel..
that said... have fun everyone... the goal is that.. fun :)
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I think if you are going to take one thing from this convoluted thread, it should be that other pcs are not just pawns for you to play with how you want to play. Just use a little common courtesy when playing with others. If everyone else is going slow and you are rushing ahead, you are the asshole, not them. The reverse is also true. I've had no problem trailing behind golw's characters spunging experience while he kills things at breakneck speed, it was fun watching someone mechanically gifted at their best. I've also been on slow heavy roleplayed quests with Lizard Man and had a blast.
The point is, as its always been, not everyone plays the same. Adapt, people, and if you are dead set on playing one way gravitate toward the people who play similarly to your style. Trying to convince others to play your way leads to 4+ page threads that end up resolving nothing.
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Just to use an example of what I am talking about, take me and Mr. Geek. We are completely different players, he tends to spend a lot of time in meetings behind some door and I am an action player who always wants to be out exploring, questing, ect. We both like plotting, we just choose different avenues to get too it, him in meetings, me between spawns of orcs or whatever. That being said, he and I have had a friendship going on 5 + years based around CoA. If I were going to start a new concept and he was characterless, he would be one of the first I asked to join. Yes, that means that sometimes i will find myself behind a door plotting, and others he will find himself rattling off three to four quests in a row. If two diametricly opposed play styles can live in harmony like geek and I have for years, why can't the rest of you?
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My 2 cents now…
The simplest definition of RP might be to act/react about things happening on a quest. Yea, you've done that quest 8 213 543 times already, but your character didn't get almost killed because of a trap that no one saw. I don't care if you don't want to speak about your grandmother while we are killing rats in a crypt, but don't act like you are a robot! Have feelings and show them. Hate that damned spider that almost took your leg with that bite! Be impressed by your fellow adventurer who just killed three orcs in a row in one round. Be bored by the job you're doing and say it openly "killing rats is BOOOORRING!". The easiest way to create RP is the interaction this will create (meaning other people should react to the situation or, at least, your reaction).
Just this will give some credibility to your character and a good level of immersion for everyone. And taking 15-20 seconds after a fight, or the time while your scout is scouting to talk won't kill you. Starting a conversation about how you like it when it rains while fighting an ancient red dragon might not be the best idea, but there is a good timing for everything...
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Just play every situation as your character would.
Easy?
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I'll just add my 2 cents to this conversation. I no longer worry about my buffs running out. Almost certainly the PC's that are chatting away and "unduely" delaying things are not themselves buffed. Therefore they must think that they are able to battle forward without my buffed assistance. My tack is to let them lead and support them from afar, even though my original intent might have been to wade in. Simple. PS: always keep a few inv potions handy just in case they fail up front :D