no global ooc in offpeak killed the game

[nilbog]

Well whats the explanation for having global chat in the first place? Not enough population during certain times of the day? Harder to trade? Looking for groups? Newbies need a channel to ask questions?

If the answer to why it was added in the first place was yes to any of the above then you still have that issue.

I don't owe you an explanation. We make the best decisions when we see fit to make them. When the server launched, I was also told that only "30-40" people would be playing, and that boxing would be necessary. Things change.

Also consider the swell in population comes when "another" game hasn't released content for a while and people are looking for something to do. When they finally release that content and people head back to "that" game I hope the population of this server will be able to take it, putting us in a worse position than before.

We're making classic Everquest, not trying to content race competition? I think you have the wrong idea of this project.

[Malrubius]

Easier said than done, I know, but why don't the off-hours folks (or the off-hour folks who see this as a problem) get together and form a guild?

This seems like the classic solution.

Global channels (opt-in or otherwise) would be a blow to the "classic-ness" of the server, imo.

EDIT: And I think such a channel would be roundly abused since a lot of people are still addicted to the global chat, and would instantly join such a channel to the detriment of the ooc and auction channels.

[Thac0]

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

I don't owe you an explanation. We make the best decisions when we see fit to make them. When the server launched, I was also told that only "30-40" people would be playing, and that boxing would be necessary. Things change.

You are correct that you don't own any one any kind of explanation over why you make any choice in regards to server health. We just ask because we are genuinely concerned with the server growth and playability. Many players here including myself click on the adds here and/or even donate cold hard cash because we enjoy the server that much.

We're making classic Everquest, not trying to content race competition? I think you have the wrong idea of this project.

I think you misunderstand. People will leave when other games release their content lowering server population. If your decision to remove global was based on server population.. even partially, then the move to remove it may have been to soon.

On the flip side of the coin... the staff here seems pretty adept at making changes in regards to server health, so I have confidence that you will do what you need to make the server the best it can be. The recent GM events and PVP stuff is a case in point that you guys want to make it fun for everyone and we really appreciate that.

[Hiragawa]

Also... Read the rest of his post from that quote you pulled.

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

The only reason global ooc/auction is still on is because of the population difference from live versus our server now... and the fact that chat channels are not functioning properly.

I don't want people thinking it "won't go away", because it will eventually. That time cannot be determined by polling or arguing. It's a development decision that will be made.

There have been discussions that global chatting benefits this or that.. but honestly, all it does is give people the global ability to speak, which is non-classic. Since this is an emulated server and there are constant questions for installation/spells help, it has remained active.

There is a non-classic aspect that I would be willing to live with.. and that is the chat channels. If people could just /join general, it would alleviate some problems. The chat channels are broken, so that's not an option currently. Will they be fixed? Probably. Do I think people should "default" log on to global ooc/auction? No.

You quoted him saying the population limit was why it was still going back then, but you totally left out the next part (And the bit that he came in saying in this thread) about it being active for the technical help bits.

EDIT: Bah.. I'm so slow today. Nilbog is so speedy o.o

[jilena]

I play at all hours of the day. Peak, off peak, in between, whatever. I definitely think the offpeak people have a valid argument. Being able to "/ooc 20 rogue LFG" and have every group on the server be able to see that you are LFG, let people who are thinking of logging see that they might have a replacement, or maybe have some shaman see you and think "hey maybe we can duo"... Well that makes things a lot more convenient. Then when you find your group, being able to "/auction Paying 100pp for port to XYZ from ABC" means you can actually get to your group in a reasonable time without annoying the piss out of every druid on the server with tells.

Can the same be accomplished with LFG? Probably. If someone is sitting there spamming /who all lfg nonstop. Is it as efficient? God no.

Auction is now a chore on peak or off peak. Before I could /auction while I was farming something and then if I had a bite arrange to meet up with the player. Now I have to sit in a boring ass zone and hope the people wanting to buy my items or who are selling the items I want to buy is in the zone. EC tunnel was neat for about 30 seconds. Now it is a waste of my life (please note that when I am enjoying everquest I do not consider it a waste of my life).

Also the person who said something about afk campers was quite correct. The offpeak hours 200 people is 40-50 people AFK camping a raid encounter, 20-30 necros, enchanters, mages, and a few other random solo'ers, 20-30 people afk in the tunnel, 15 people afk everywhere else... And a remaining levelling population of about 75-100 people across 50 levels. Is it possible to consistantly find a group? Damn straight. Is it likely? Not really. Does global OOC change this completely? God no, but it certainly softens the blow a little.

Also, I don't give a shit personally for grouping purposes, I have a 50 necro and less people on means I have more shit to farm. I just like having people to chat with when I am doing it. The people QQing about spam need to grow up. You don't HAVE to read everything, you can ignore people, and if you are that incapable of just blocking that shit out, you can always disable the channel. *shrug*

[Shurid]

So your for global channels but against global OOC? There is an incredibly simple way to please everyone on both sides of the argument.

Turn on Global OOC / auction, if you like it use it, if you don't like it simply use your filters to turn it off.

Why take such a hard stance on an issue that can be resolved with EVERYONE's interest in mind? To say If you don't like it leave, or I have the final say is such a childish stance. Especially when you can just turn it back on and please everyone.

Reasons for OOC:
Entertainment
Yes, this is a massive multiplayer online game and people log in to interact with others.

1. People enjoy chatting actively with many people while actively playing their character. In a chat room style setting.
2. Some people enjoy reading the arguments or convo's as they are happening. It's like listening to talk radio, every now and then someone will here a topic that compels them to call in and participate.
3. Sometimes you have a quick question and you don't want to alt+tab to search for the answer, you would rather throw it out to the community for a quick response. Hell if they don't respond then go find the answer yourself.
4. Some people hope to score that sweet deal from a seller thats trying to get rid of a lore item quickly.
5. You just scored a sweet piece of loot for the first time in a dungeon, nobody in the group knows the value so you can quickly PC it in auction to see what it is worth.
6. Some people aren't level 50 with unlimited plat, they can't waste the alloted time they have to play EQ on sitting in EC tunnel trying to sell some spider silk so they can buy their level 12 spells.

The whole point of my argument is:
If global chat channels will eventually be implemented then why take away OOC/auction. It's almost the same exact thing with 1 minor difference. Chat channels need to be joined, while OOC/global need to be filtered out.

Make everyone happy, turn on the OOC/auction and /MOTD please turn off auction/ooc filters if you do not wish to see it.

[nilbog]

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

If global chat channels will eventually be implemented then why take away OOC/auction. It's almost the same exact thing with 1 minor difference. Chat channels need to be joined, while OOC/global need to be filtered out.

No. That isn't what I said at all. I think I said, 3 months ago, that chat channels would be something I would be "willing to live with". This was at a time when ooc/auction was also global and roaring strong. At that time, you're right, they would have been about the same.

Make everyone happy, turn on the OOC/auction and /MOTD please turn off auction/ooc filters if you do not wish to see it.

That doesn't make everyone happy.

[JayDee]

I must say, I was for the removal of global ooc/auction at first.

But now, it just seems more of a ghost town and it's more difficult to find ports and to trade.

Finding myself less interested to log in on my free time in general and I know a few people who feel the same way.

[Ihealyou]

Filtering OOC isn't the same as turning it off. With OOC off, people play differently. They run to dungeons to get groups, auction in ec, etc. Filtering OOC makes chat classic, but it wouldn't change the way people play. By forcing OOC off for everyone, people have to adapt their playstyles, giving the server a more classic feel.

Yes, it does suck trying to find people to group with late at night. I've had good groups break up because when I need to log there are no replacements lfg. But would global OOC change this? I think its safe to assume that people use lfg when they want to join a group now. If there is no one lfg, then there is no one lfg, regardless of whether or not there is global OOC.

Socializing is harder now, but there are ways to still talk to people without OOC. Between my guild, friends, and mumble, there is usually always someone for me to talk to until at least 3 AM EST. I do miss some of the OOC converstations from when it was global, but the social atmosphere is much more similar to how it was when I played EQ now. There were always times when you had no one to talk to. Chatting with hundreds of people was nice, but it was never how EQ actually was.

[Toony]

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

Filtering OOC isn't the same as turning it off. With OOC off, people play differently. They run to dungeons to get groups, auction in ec, etc. Filtering OOC makes chat classic, but it wouldn't change the way people play. By forcing OOC off for everyone, people have to adapt their play styles, giving the server a more classic feel.

Exactly, its a fundamental difference not just one of convenience. Like you said, leaving it on but hidden will have the exact same effect as just leaving it on and visible, further fragmentation of the established grouping system.

To be honest in the last couple of days playing, I've realized how incredibly smart and or incredibly lucky the original dev/decision making team was to happen up on such a naturally social method of group making. Groups in other games are a take it or leave proposition to a point, i.e. you can solo, group, craft, pvp etc. The shared goals element of EQ encouraged grouping, the death penalty discouraged boneheaded players with no regard for the party, the loot system and free for all nature of the world encouraged bargaining and even sometimes refereeing.. .

To those who want a global ooc/trade system I have to wonder, why are you even on a "classic" eq server, the second a channel goes global it shrinks the world. If what you really want to emulate is just about any other modern day/bland mmo, why not just play one? EQ was/is special for a reason, why strip it of that uniqueness?