Balance between players

[Brokenbone]

I've posted a "scavenger hunt sniffer" NPC's scripts a few times in the forums. The conversation was too "nesty" to easily put in the forums, but suffice it to say this script fired when there was some kind of action in convo about "HEY CAN I LOOK AT YOUR STUFF AND TRADE"? Here's a link, though I'm sure I've posted about this more than once:

http://www.alandfaraway.org/forums/view ... th#p527298

Blindhamsterman, I'm pretty sure you've got tech-fu, you could kinda do whatever you wanted with a script like this and then some.

Tooling 20 "scraps of paper" labelled CR1, CR2, CR3 thru CR20, with tags including the string "CRx", x being an integer (really, for the scavenger hunt NPC dude to "read"), not hard. You'd want a unified naming scheme and to stick to it.

We have some wacky ideas on how to reward based on an XP ratio, as opposed to say, a treasure table for CR1, CR2, CR3, etc., although whatever the loot scripts deep in the dark of the ACR spit out, I don't really know what those are patterned on. Never have.

Here's the hilarious part though, the wealth tables in ALFA are HIGHER than in the DMG.

However, reward occurrence in absence of a DM is LOWER than in the DMG.

Do you get 300gp for an EL1 encounter in ALFA, 600gp for an EL2 encounter in ALFA, etc.? Okay, granted, those numbers assume being in the "owner critter" LAIR, as opposed to out in the field where a critter will only carry what it needs (utility items, weapons, and probably only gold if it's planning to go shopping or whoring), but they're pretty beefy numbers, ain't they? Finding five orcs with 1500gp among them would cause most ALFAns to die of shock. Finding five orcs afield with just "used" arms and armor which would've been worth 50gp a head if new, less shocking, nor the idea that back home which you will NEVER, EVER find, the other 1250gp of wealth including a 50 gallon barrel of wine, three horses plus one half eaten horse, two pearls buried in a bag ten feet under the cavern floor, a 100gp painting of an elf that's been ruined by it being the target of the "who pees the farthest with good aim contest", etc.

Don't know what a hypothetical CR1 token should be worth, could be a 3d10 gold, you see if your server's economy goes to hell, tinker with the numbers etc. until you feel there's a decent balance, people are having fun, people aren't exploiting to "ruin a good thing", etc.

I do not know if the ACR loot scripts pick from like, a list of good and junk items to distribute, but making it spit out "tokens" for a week as a test might be interesting.

[oldgrayrogue]

See, I disagree. More static content is the answer. DMs can adjust downward if people are over standards just like they can adjust upward. Its probably easier to identify the few who are over standards actually because they farm or have seen a disproportionate amount of DM time or whatever. Give people stuff to do and stop worrying over virtual gold pieces.

Here's a thought then.

How about we stop bickering about what we need most and y'all volunteer to write up quick little statics on our various servers. I know BG would be thrilled to have s'more!

Here's a response then -- I did -- like 3 times. I asked repeatedly for access to Wynna's static scripts for TSM so that I could "crib" them and fashion them into statics for BG. I even wanted to use those scripts to create a "template" that could be used to create statics for any ALFA server by simply plugging in new suitable dialogue. I am by no means a scripter, but I was willing to try. Got tired of asking. If somone with scripting knowledge were willing to take that up, I bet we could have instant statics for all servers pretty easily.

[Curmudgeon]

See, I disagree. More static content is the answer. DMs can adjust downward if people are over standards just like they can adjust upward. Its probably easier to identify the few who are over standards actually because they farm or have seen a disproportionate amount of DM time or whatever. Give people stuff to do and stop worrying over virtual gold pieces.

Here's a thought then.

How about we stop bickering about what we need most and y'all volunteer to write up quick little statics on our various servers. I know BG would be thrilled to have s'more!

Here's a response then -- I did -- like 3 times. I asked repeatedly for access to Wynna's static scripts for TSM so that I could "crib" them and fashion them into statics for BG. I even wanted to use those scripts to create a "template" that could be used to create statics for any ALFA server by simply plugging in new suitable dialogue. I am by no means a scripter, but I was willing to try. Got tired of asking. If somone with scripting knowledge were willing to take that up, I bet we could have instant statics for all servers pretty easily.

As PA, you would have had access to the DMFTP, and could have downloaded the TSM mod at any time.

[JaydeMoon]

As PA, you would have had access to the DMFTP, and could have downloaded the TSM mod at any time.

Is that in the PA handbook? Or just something he would have just realized if he happened to check that out?

While on the one hand, we can easily look aloof from above and be like, "Well, it was accessible the whole time, you moron!"; I wonder, when specifically ASKED, why would someone not have gently taken their hand and pointed to said accessible DMFTP?

[Veilan]

I wonder, when specifically ASKED, why would someone not have gently taken their hand and pointed to said accessible DMFTP?

I guess I never got asked.

Helping DMs find their documentation and access is part of our job, but it does require a query to the Help Desk or PM inbox.

[JaydeMoon]

Well, I'm certain you aren't the one at 'fault' here, then.

All of this assumes that OGR isn't just lying out of his face and that he actually asked someone three times, or three someones once, or some other combination...

And why that someone could not have helped him out.

Which, of course, could be down to OGR asked a brand new just approved ALFAN for the access... and said njub didn't have the answers...

I somehow doubt that...

[JaydeMoon]

And ANYWAY! This is relative to Paazin's smarmy comment about just picking up the ball and doing it yourself and OGRs response (particulars be damned) that it isn't that plainly simple!

YOU!!!

[paazin]

And ANYWAY! This is relative to Paazin's smarmy comment about just picking up the ball and doing it yourself and OGRs response (particulars be damned) that it isn't that plainly simple!

YOU!!!

I'm not trying to call anyone out. Pointing out that arguing on this thread about who is right or wrong is less productive for the lot of us than, say, if we decided to diagram ideas and see about extracting quests like OGR suggested from TSM.

[thinkpig]

This stuff is all Burt's fault. Burt, quit unbalancing Alfa, you jagoff.

[oldgrayrogue]

I am not interested in getting into he saids she saids. All I will say is that I made multiple posts about adding statics to BG and other servers in the manner described. I also explained that I was not a scripter and needed help. Did I have access as PA? Sure. Did I have a clue how to access on my own? No. Was I willing to try with help? Yes. Am I willing to do it now? Not in a million years.

[Mirabai]

EDIT:


MEH

[zicada]

Whatever few people involved deal with this on irc on a chan or through messages in stead of using this thread, one would think we'd have learned after 11 years or so.

Also, its clearly burt's fault.

[paazin]

Zic's right. We could probably start a thread and a chat on this exact topic.

Otherwise this thread has served its purpose.