Exclusive interview with Anti-Cheat GM Ephi

[Ephi]

Originally Posted by t0lkien [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Either way, no-one's saying it can be permanently eradicated, but that desire should be there IMO, and a level of vigilance maintained to keep it at a minimum. There should be a zero-tolerance policy and that should be understood, and be seen to be enforced. The value of the game (and passion for things in the game) will only be increased if this done. But this can't happen if you guys don't feel that way, or are ambivalent about it in principle.

I get what you're saying. I'll just say this: Don't confuse ambivalence with complacency. If there were no desire to eradicate it, I wouldn't be here in the first place. Same could be said about a lot of the issues the server faces and the CSR staff.

[The Situation]

Why does everyone grossly overexaggerate every problem as being the downfall of the server?

Inflation.
Raid scene.
Lack of content.
RMT
TMO

They're all sky-is-falling scenarios for someone. In truth, none of them are.

[Raavak]

Originally Posted by The Situation [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Why does everyone grossly overexaggerate every problem as being the downfall of the server?

Inflation.
Raid scene.
Lack of content.
RMT
TMO

They're all sky-is-falling scenarios for someone. In truth, none of them are.

Yeah, all these problems, yet population grows. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Tecmos Deception]

I guess most rich folk lock up their assets in super high-end items and accounts moreso than pp anyway! But it's still fun to have pp sitting around, lol [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[zanderklocke]

I was surprised that my platinum in the bank ~ 45K is higher than the average amount of platinum on a level 60 character as I am a really lousy saver.

I fluctuate to 0 in the bank pretty quickly and quite often. I never really keep reserves. Once I save up for an item I want, bye bye bank account.

[Rhambuk]

My question was, and don't feel a need to response since the interview is over.

What do you personally think of the variance, besides it being a massive headache saver as a gm,? With FTE rules now in place is variance really necessary? I thought the point of variance was to give guilds a better chance at getting raid targets over the guilds that knew when it was going to spawn and could sit 15 members at zone 2 days in advance? ( which is no longer the case even without variance ) Wouldn't a pure FTE system with classic raidmob respawn timers be more effective than a variance for more casual guilds? no 24/7 tracking no batphones at 3am, theyd know when the mob was due and if it was viable could form and COMPETE for fte, not poopsock.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Rhambuk [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

My question was, and don't feel a need to response since the interview is over.

What do you personally think of the variance, besides it being a massive headache saver as a gm,? With FTE rules now in place is variance really necessary? I thought the point of variance was to give guilds a better chance at getting raid targets over the guilds that knew when it was going to spawn and could sit 15 members at zone 2 days in advance? ( which is no longer the case even without variance ) Wouldn't a pure FTE system with classic raidmob respawn timers be more effective than a variance for more casual guilds? no 24/7 tracking no batphones at 3am, theyd know when the mob was due and if it was viable could form and COMPETE for fte, not poopsock.

Certainly would have an effect on guild sizes too.

[Ephi]

Originally Posted by Rhambuk [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

My question was, and don't feel a need to response since the interview is over.

What do you personally think of the variance, besides it being a massive headache saver as a gm,? With FTE rules now in place is variance really necessary? I thought the point of variance was to give guilds a better chance at getting raid targets over the guilds that knew when it was going to spawn and could sit 15 members at zone 2 days in advance? ( which is no longer the case even without variance ) Wouldn't a pure FTE system with classic raidmob respawn timers be more effective than a variance for more casual guilds? no 24/7 tracking no batphones at 3am, theyd know when the mob was due and if it was viable could form and COMPETE for fte, not poopsock.

I think variance is a necessary evil for a decade and a half old game where the secrets to slaying a dragon have already been well established.

I don't think removing variance solves anything, it just creates new problems.

But, if I'm completely honest, I just don't care very much, it's no longer my area of focus.

[Splorf22]

Originally Posted by Ephi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I think variance is a necessary evil for a decade and a half old game where the secrets to slaying a dragon have already been well established.

I don't think removing variance solves anything, it just creates new problems.

But, if I'm completely honest, I just don't care very much, it's no longer my area of focus.

Variance is not a necessary evil. I can agree that something should be done about 500 players sitting on a spawn point with HT and Ice Comet loaded ready to vaporize a raid mob with 3 seconds. But that doesn't mean variance is the only solution. There are plenty of other solutions that solve this problem without the many drawbacks of variance which have been posted thousands of times.

[Rhambuk]

Originally Posted by Ephi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I think variance is a necessary evil for a decade and a half old game where the secrets to slaying a dragon have already been well established.

I don't think removing variance solves anything, it just creates new problems.

But, if I'm completely honest, I just don't care very much, it's no longer my area of focus.

I know its not your area just wanted your opinion. At the time of creation variance was definitely a necessary evil, when first guild to 15 in zone had claim to a raid mob. However those days are past us, and we have a new system in place. No more first 15 have claim its FTE. While the variance makes things a bit more interesting it makes it nigh impossible for capable, albeit, more casual guilds to compete.

Say trak is killed at 8pm friday, the server is going to know that 8pm next friday he will spawn. ALL of the guilds that can do him and should have that classic attempt will know and gather, and just like it is now it would be FTE the only difference, A LOT more people would be there. As it stands, only 1 maybe 2 guilds can track and batphone within this 96? hour window simply lessening their competition.

I just think it would be worth a try to have classic raid mob spawn times with our new FTE system, it would kill the poopsock completley and take some weight off of the economy when guilds don't have to buy epic drops they actually stand a CHANCE at getting the mob at a reasonable hour.

Sure time invested deserves reward but its an unclassic investment of time, created for rules that no longer exist.

Just throwing it out there.