What people think of ALFA

[MorbidKate]

DF had tons of players when we had regular DM's, then when we had tech issues, people went where the other DM's were.

Funny. I've been mentioning that for almost 3 years now. Statics are just baby-sitters to chew up time to keep players online until other players log in or a DM shows. No matter what though, ALFA is all about the DMs because it's that level of interaction we're all after.

I think the new toolset is so complex that concerns about ALFA2 ramping up 12+ servers is no longer a concern at all which means that when we start the do over that is ALFA2 we should have far more DMs concentrated across fewer servers... and that's exactly what we need.

DM/Player ratio concerns will become a moot point imvho.

Also, one more thing, HDM's are like principals (sorry, teacher here), they have a lot of admin crap to deal with that takes away their DM time, so we can't go expecting HDM's to be as available to DM as ADM's. Access to the server needs to be shared for all ADM's for updates to storylines, but if the HDM is involved in a lot of plots, the admin stuff get's put down the list, and bottlenecks happen. We have to expect that the main DM lovin is coming from ADM's. HDM is really a part time DM.

I very much agree with this. It's also why DMs burn out so quickly. My hope is that less servers due to the complex toolset will mean HDMs will have larger teams. In the end though, we need to do whatever we can to mimimize the red tape and admin hoops so that when a DM logs in they can maximize their time interacting with players.

[fade]

Honestly ALFA used to be a lot of fun, and then it became. . not so much fun.

ALFA used to be fun when CvC was a daily occurance on a server. ALFA was fun when people didn't cry to DMs about getting killed in a CvC. It was a lot more fun when you were able to play a PC, that when he threatened you with your death, you knew he was going to try. Was fun when you could play a evil PC and have it be hated and feared. It was fun when you always had people to group with, and who weren't afraid to go outside of the inn when DMs weren't on. ALFA was fun when the focus was ON the fun rather on the rules.

ALFA became stale after it became overridden with bureaucracy, and more focus was put into making rules then playing the game itself. So much focus was put into stomping out people who cheated, or powergamed, or otherwise abused the system, that you stomped out people will to do stuff. Was a sad day for me when I realized for the most part people would rather sit in an Inn and emote then go out and explore, and I feel that started happening due to what was felt like a large amount of 'witch hunting.' Almost all static content was removed, and there was nothing to do with people unless DMs were on. And even when DMs -were- on it could take extraordinary amounts of time to set stuff up because there wasn't a whole lot of static content to build off of. Also to me it seemed like DMs were a whole lot more willing to do stuff with you and your group when you were already out doing stuff, and that kinda stopped happening once static content was all but removed. Had some great times on TPI and BG just when a group of us were out poking around, and a DM would hop on and make things interesting. And -as- a DM I can tell you it is a whole lot easier, and more motivating to DM when players are already out doing stuff, rather then sitting in a Inn.

I'll also add in a note about resses. When PCs are ressed 2, 3, 4, 5+ times it is ridiculous, especially getting ressed after CvC deaths. What happened to death in ALFA? Seriously.

Dunno, I'm sure im bitter and cynical but that is how I feel.

[Mikayla]

fade's disappointment is understandable - I personally do not think it was a great idea to remove all the static content, for example. That said, the one thing I would take issue with is the subject of raises. I saw a lot more raises back in the "good old days" than I have in the last 2 years. Back in the "good old days" characters on ALFA's servers seemd like weeble-wobbles to me - you could knock them down, but they would always pop back up. There were some PCs in ALFA whose death/raise total I lost track of, and I was a DM back then. My perception is that raising has actually declined a lot over the last two years. Of course, it is easy to see why that might not be the perception, as we have had a couple of high-profile CvCs "rolledback" over the years resulting in folks who had been killed being alive again (which is not quite the same as a raise, but its still "you were dead, and now you're not" kind of thing). Anyways, that is my perception.

[AlmightyTDawg]

And the counterpoint to fade's post being that CvC is what necessitates the balance to me. CvC is meaningful in one kind of environment, and stupid in another. A lot of the old timers have seen PCs who act big and bad around the low levels, and then curiously find table manners and discretion when a higher level PC walks in. And it's also much easier to be big and bad when you know you've got the best toys; a curious number of "DM-sponsored" PCs were far more raucous than expected from my limited experience.

At that point, it's arguably less about RP and more about grief-influenced power-tripping or power-gaming. Not "provable" of course *ahem*. But for my money, it actually decreases immersion, rather than increases it. Of course it's not fair to paint a broad brush, but it happened enough that it produced a counterculture. Such is life.

The cutback on static content was a mistake in my opinion, but sometimes that's the easy answer for people. And let's be honest, fixing the problem's bloody difficult work, so I can understand why the path of least resistance seemed the better. Hopefully with scripting and some foresight we'll have that cornered for NWN2.

And I don't doubt fade's right that in a number of camps things went too far. But they went too far in both directions; I've seen DMs flip out about hunting 10gp worth of drops that weren't even the purpose of the trip, and I've seen players miffed that the 500xp and 2000gp they made in under an hour hunting underpowered static creatures was considered excessive. It was a hard road towards the middle, and like so many other public-relations things, people's impressions tend to get dominated by the most extreme examples.

But I think what people now need to realize is that you've got a pretty broad-thinking Admin, a pretty flexible structure in place, and better standardization and education around. Looking through Mik's PA decisions thread, there's no (or little depending on PoV) indication of any of that now, and static content is making a comeback (e.g. SD & Legio).

[ayergo]

fade's disappointment is understandable - I personally do not think it was a great idea to remove all the static content, for example. That said, the one thing I would take issue with is the subject of raises. I saw a lot more raises back in the "good old days" than I have in the last 2 years. Back in the "good old days" characters on ALFA's servers seemd like weeble-wobbles to me - you could knock them down, but they would always pop back up. There were some PCs in ALFA whose death/raise total I lost track of, and I was a DM back then. My perception is that raising has actually declined a lot over the last two years. Of course, it is easy to see why that might not be the perception, as we have had a couple of high-profile CvCs "rolledback" over the years resulting in folks who had been killed being alive again (which is not quite the same as a raise, but its still "you were dead, and now you're not" kind of thing). Anyways, that is my perception.

Maybe on the server you DM'd, but mostly still hard to get. I challenge anyone to say that mortality was not high on TVS, Anauroch, Silverymoon, or Loudwater. I think most of those there wasn't even a way to get a raise.

Just two coppers from an ALFA fogie.

[Burt]

I completely agree about statics. Trying to get anywhere in ALFA these days without a DM is a fucking nightmare. Back in the day you could actually level up by doing static quests, oh noes!

[Rick7475]

I completely agree about statics. Trying to get anywhere in ALFA these days without a DM is a Ƥøا nightmare. Back in the day you could actually level up by doing static quests, oh noes!

I hope that statics can help lower levels get the exp they need to level passed 1 or 2. In fact, it is better if you have open ended statics with group participation like the ones we had on DF that are available for levels 1 - 10.

[fade]

The statics were a blast on DF. It was a shame that they were abused.

I remember the first time I patrolled the DF roads. I was scared -shitless-

As for character resses I remember when I played Kric it felt like no one was ressed, but a year or two later moving into Zauric it felt like a noticeable amount of PCs would talk about their 'latest' experience with death.

As for CvC I know with Kric I tried to act big and badass around everyone, and think I did a decent job with it. Once I moved into Zauric I toned it down a bit, especially the CvC. Let a lot of people live that I felt Zauric should of killed them. One was the issue with resses. I remember killing a paladin of Kelvemor in daggerford when I first started Zauric ( he is a Cyric priest), and then fed her body to the wolves. Then needless to say a few days later she was up and walking around again. I left the server after that and basically stopped bothering with CvC on Zauric. That kinda crap just wasn't worth it.

[Burt]

I hope that statics can help lower levels get the exp they need to level passed 1 or 2.

They don't.

[wvincenti]

I hope that statics can help lower levels get the exp they need to level passed 1 or 2.

They don't.

But they could, and honestly I'm in the crowd that think they should. If someone doesn't like them they can feel free to ignore them, there were still loads of folks out there over the years who had a hard time hooking up with a DM.

-Bill

[fade]

Personally I wish there was an -actual- decent amount of static content, whether it would be quests or spawns or both, at least until level 10's or so. Obviously DMs would have to keep track of who was abusing the system, I trust they are still as paranoid as ever so it shouldn't be a problem. I feel like there should always be something to do if there are a few players logged on, even if a DM isn't. No matter what level you are.

Course I am used to MMO's now so maybe I am spoiled by being able to log on whenever I want to have some fun.

[indio]

I'm making lots of statics on our new server. As a solo player, I've always relied on solo content, to wit, statics. w00t!

[Rick7475]

I'm making lots of statics on our new server. As a solo player, I've always relied on solo content, to wit, statics. w00t!

Awesome, I'll be there

I think we can cut down on the abuse with better logs and monitoring. We caught an aweful lot of people before.

[Cynon]

To be honest I hate ALFA.

I'm not kidding, I really really do. You people are unhealthy to interact with.

IC/IG ALFA was always awsome as hell. RP was brilliant every day. I couldn't get enough of ALFA. As players, As DM's you guys are all the best out there but OOC/OOG you are the biggest bunch of psychotics online!

Psychos!

That's coming from me, my god you guys need to think about that.

You should read some of your posts and threads and rules and forum bulls*** back months after the topics have blown over. I read my own words and I hate what people drove me to saying sometimes.

It's all control control control. Why will anyone ever come back and play on ALFA in NWN2 under the government and Ethos ALFA has nowadays?

Tell me why I should play here as opposed to somewhere where fun and imagination and hope and dreams and free will are allowed.

ALFA doesn't encourage good RP it forces you to RP a certain way. It tells you how much you can try for, it puts limits on everything it removes the basic principles of why people are gonna even want to play here in the first place.

Every so often I get nostalgic and come to these forums to have a peek of what is going on and the moment i read just one thread There is this feeling that comes back.

Its like.... Anyone seen texas chainsaw massacre? The town in that film! The people there are all living in this psychotic perverse little bubble. I don't understand what is going on in peoples heads but it's the same mentality.

It's like being a player in ALFA is like being one of those kids who get caught up there. You want to talk to the policeman but it's just the chainsaw guys dad! The lady in the caravan says there is no phone but it's ringing out the back! There is a baby in the house but it's not theirs! It's not their baby! It's not their fscking baby, omfg I feel sick I need to escape again!!!!

[indio]

lol