Static Loading

[Wynna]

Looking into some logs to see if there was anything that could be done for a PC deceased during a static, I discovered that static running is apparently part of TSM gameplay. Having already warned one long-time player in game last week, I thought it was an isolated incident. Apparently not. I cannot tell you how disappointing it is, personally, to work on statics for weeks, to hear nothing but complaints of bugs and then to find multiple logged instances of ALFAns that should know better running those same suites of statics in ridiculous amounts of time by taking two at a time every fifteen minutes. They apparently work fine for some PCs. There are logs showing the six new Fourthpeak statics being run in < 1 hr, probably solo. In that player's case there is similar evidence for the new Settlestone statics and Rivermoot, too. Other logs show similar patterns. Statics are not a cheap and easy way to XP. Statics are there to give you something to RP. Yes, there have been reports that partying causes bugs in the quest state, but I am looking at that and it is unrelated to the issue at hand. The evidence here is that they can still be played, either while partied or solo, and that people are abusing them.

Let me make this clear. From now on, evidence of this behavior will be submitted to the PA for a powergaming investigation. This is to be considered a general warning.

[fluffmonster]

Does this mean players should not be doing statics solo?

Does this mean players should be doing statics rarely?

Should players feel guilty for doing statics?

Several weeks ago I did a static alone and that took maybe 10 minutes at most. Was that wrong?

[Hughes]

um... what's a static? is it the regularly occuring spawns of monsters that aren't attached to quests, or is it the quest spawns? sorry, relatively new to the server's terminology.

[zicada]

um... what's a static? is it the regularly occuring spawns of monsters that aren't attached to quests, or is it the quest spawns? sorry, relatively new to the server's terminology.

A static is a non-dm given quest. Eg statically coded into the module. Coded properly they will only give you the ability to do it once, or twice, or a certain time whenever, and act accordingly when you saw it before, or too soon ago. Code it right and this wont happen...

[Wynna]

Do statics and have fun. That's one purpose they serve. Don't do six statics in 1 hr alone and exhibit a history via logs of doing all the statics a particular quest giver gives in an orgiastic burst of powergaming.

[Hughes]

Do statics and have fun. That's one purpose they serve. Don't do six statics in 1 hr alone and exhibit a history via logs of doing all the statics a particular quest giver gives in an orgiastic burst of powergaming.

Certainly. Well this can only be undertaken by a) someone who's done them before and died, and is playing a new PC or b) someone who's got a friend helping them out, showing them where everything is, etc.?

Because goddam they're way to scary to tackle that quick if you've never even seen them before - and they're never offered a second time, right? Who the heck blows through those quests in ten minutes? Or am I just a huge p***y?

EDIT - wait - actually I'd rather not know the answer to either of those questions. nm.

[White Warlock]

The vast majority of abuse happens when people solo. If there's another PC next to, or near them, they stop running and they roleplay. I think a nice 'scripted' tactic to resolve this, or at least take a large chunk of the abuse out of the picture, is to 'require' most all statics to be accessible 'only' if someone is in a party.

Btw, this still doesn't address spawn running, which i'm sure is also rampant. Please see my upcoming post in the suggestions thread for some ideas on how to take a bite out of this.

[oldgrayrogue]

Wynna:

I have a question about your post similar to Fluff's. I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

I recently discovered the new TSM areas of Fourthpeak and Settlestone a few days ago. Recently, because other than to explore the new "mountain pass" between the hills above Rivermoot and Winter's Edge my PC has little IC reason to go there any longer.

So, recently my PC traveled to Rivermoot carrying supplies from Rauvinwatch Keep having heard IC that the town had been attacked by gnolls and/or orcs from different sources and feeling they might need some supplies. He also wanted to see if they needed aid. If he was going to make the trip might as well make it worthwhile eh? This supply run was done solo -- mostly because he did not encounter anyone along the way. Is this considered static loading?

When the PC arrived at Rivermoot, he spent some time in discussions with two other PC's about recent events (one of which was an ongoing DM quest). A third then joined while another left. The PC who arrived informed my PC that a friend of his had been slain near Settlestone. (Since I saw this PC logged in live the next day I assume it was the one you were log checking). My PC discussed the death and its circumstances with the other two remaining, how and where it had occurred, condolences etc. One PC left (and the player logged) and my PC discussed with the other his desire to search for clues about this PC's death in the hills. The other PC indicated that he would normally accompany him, but his duties did not permit and left (and the player I believe logged a short time thereafter)

So my wild elf ranger goes it alone. On the way up to the tunnel he kills a couple of goblins (0 xp for those btw) which he spots in their little fort near the tunnel, because well, he doesn't like them much. He finds the body of the dead friend in the fort. He then explores pretty much the entirety of the Fourthpeak area (beautifully built btw, kudos to whoever made this, I took several screenies just because it was so breathtaking).

He makes his way to Settlestone, avoiding a few wolves along the way because, well unlike goblins he likes wolves and wont kill them unless he absolutely has to. He finds the dwarf questgiver in Settlestone (a giant of a dwarf btw!). Because he is a ranger and often works as a scout he takes the first scouting quest. From his perspective IC it is a good opportunity to learn about this new area while searching for clues of the other PC's demise, earning some money and getting to know the locals.

My PC completes the first scouting quest easily and quickly enough, it is fairly close to the town. He returns and reports and picks up the second scouting quest. He does that one fairly easily as well, although it takes more time because there were a few more wolves around to avoid. At this point there was only one other player logged on the server.

I think I logged after that. I believe the next day I completed the final scouting quest and one of the raid quests. Again while one of only a handful of players on the server.

Is the above considered static loading? The reason I ask is that I generally don't do statics unless it would be IC for my PC to do it. (for example, won't do the Silvy "deputy" quests bc he would not IC join the constabulary -- although he did help another PC do one because he asked for help). Though I prefer grouping up, if no one is around I will try them solo. If it looks like I might get killed, I generally will wait and build up a group for help. Is doing them solo at all frowned upon? From my perspective, my PC had IC reasons to 1)do the supply static and go to Rivermoot; 2) Head on up to Settlestone and look for clues and use the scouting missions to do so; and 3) even do the raid mission once the scouting mission revealed that the barbarians were mustering and his new friend the giant dwarf offered to pay him to kill a few.

Now, I knew there was no DM on and actually no possibility for my toon to actually "find" clues about the poor man's death. But IC that's what he would have done, and well, I felt like playing. =) I thought the next time I saw the other two I could RP about how I found the poor man's corpse but no clues of his demise. After doing the scouting and a raid I thought I could RP that it probably was not gnolls as the other PC had surmised (since I saw no gnolls in my scouting) but likely wolves or maybe the barbarians who according to my friend the dwarf are acting up. Maybe we could later all go seek revenge on the barbarians together =)

So if I am playing and there is no one to do statics with, and I don't feel like logging I will do the above. I do find it fun. Heck I even enjoy just exploring the server, and indeed as a ranger my PC thinks its his business to know his way around the Marches. I try to tie it to IC as much as I can, and use it as a subject for conversation for future RP. Again, is this static loading? I honestly would like to understand the standard being applied. As I read your post I thought "My god she is talking about me," and then I thought that if I had read the logs without any context I might have thought the player was loading as well. I guess I just don't think logs alone tell the whole story which is one reason for the long post.

This is not a gripe at all btw, just an honest question of the standards being applied to my conduct as a player on the server, so that I can attempt to conform thereto as best I can. For what its worth, I will always choose DMed content or group RP over solo RP (regardless of the XP involved) but do enjoy playing on the server and doing stuff solo when few others are around or interested in that. So was I loading statics? Powergaming? I don't believe so, but if that is the standard on the server please feel free to dock my PC XP and gold next time he is logged. Thanks.

~OGR

[Wynna]

My PC completes the first scouting quest easily and quickly enough, it is fairly close to the town. He returns and reports and picks up the second scouting quest. He does that one fairly easily as well, although it takes more time because there were a few more wolves around to avoid. At this point there was only one other player logged on the server.

I think I logged after that. I believe the next day I completed the final scouting quest and one of the raid quests. Again while one of only a handful of players on the server.

Is the above considered static loading?

Four statics in two days? No, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow at this. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I described static loading as doing up to six statics in less than 1 hour as a pattern. I have seen multiple instances of it since I started looking and they are very demoralizing.

Is doing them solo at all frowned upon?

No. Partying in all things is preferred because it gives you more satisfaction from the RP but if nobody is on, of course the statics are there for you to do and relate through RP to your friends later. Just don't do them all at once.

As I read your post I thought "My god she is talking about me,"

I have not gotten to 'O' yet and as far as I know, based on what you have written above, I am not talking about you. In general, people will know when I am talking about them, because I will have already or will shortly pull them aside for a chat.

[oldgrayrogue]

Thanks Wynna

[Vendrin]

God forgive a player that tries to do something that benefits their pc when a dm/group isn't around or they don't have anything else to do.

[Vintenar]

Personally, my pc runs a lot of statics because often when I log in, there are no DMs online (that I can see) and there are only several PCs online, often PCs which mine does not get along with. I know it's metagame thinking, but what use it is sitting in a tavern when no one logs on for hours? I think it makes sense that a character would take whatever work was given to them and go do it...

Also, it can be rather difficult for someone new to the community to be expected to run quests with a group when they don't even know a group of PCs to group with. Of course, one could counter argue that, how can you meet other PCs when you are out running statics on your own? Well, the answer is a difficult one. Right now it sort of seems like the DM attention is primarily on the University and on the Exalted quest, which is fantastic, but if you arn't a spell caster or paladin, really when can you expect to see a plot? This is where the Adhock discussion comes into play.

I've been trying to keep tabs on my characters progression from DM quests, and right now, I think I have gained less than 200 some XP from DMs total during his life, which is a very small portion. Now, don't get me wrong, DMs have lives and with the holidays being around, it's perfectly understandable to expect that many people are busy, but it really only makes sense to run more statics in that case.

I would have to agree with those that say, if there are problems with statics being run too often than it should be resolved via scripts which limit their time. However, these statics already have had XP reduced from earlier times where higher level PCs have already benefited from them. Also, if there are stipulations on the matter, they should perhaps be outlined in a clearer location.

*prepares to dodge tomatoes*

[Magile]

Personally, my pc runs a lot of statics because often when I log in, there are no DMs online (that I can see) and there are only several PCs online, often PCs which mine does not get along with. I know it's metagame thinking, but what use it is sitting in a tavern when no one logs on for hours? I think it makes sense that a character would take whatever work was given to them and go do it...

Also, it can be rather difficult for someone new to the community to be expected to run quests with a group when they don't even know a group of PCs to group with. Of course, one could counter argue that, how can you meet other PCs when you are out running statics on your own? Well, the answer is a difficult one. Right now it sort of seems like the DM attention is primarily on the University and on the Exalted quest, which is fantastic, but if you arn't a spell caster or paladin, really when can you expect to see a plot? This is where the Adhock discussion comes into play.

I've been trying to keep tabs on my characters progression from DM quests, and right now, I think I have gained less than 200 some XP from DMs total during his life, which is a very small portion. Now, don't get me wrong, DMs have lives and with the holidays being around, it's perfectly understandable to expect that many people are busy, but it really only makes sense to run more statics in that case.

I would have to agree with those that say, if there are problems with statics being run too often than it should be resolved via scripts which limit their time. However, these statics already have had XP reduced from earlier times where higher level PCs have already benefited from them. Also, if there are stipulations on the matter, they should perhaps be outlined in a clearer location.

*prepares to dodge tomatoes*

Postby Vendrin on Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:20 pm

Old post, debate is over and done with.

[mr duncan]

Let me make this clear. From now on, evidence of this behavior will be submitted to the PA for a powergaming investigation. This is to be considered a general warning.

I dont think an exception to this rule has been made for PCs that have trouble making friends.


The server is PACKED FULL of danger and loot, make some friends IC and go adventuring. Statics are high reward for very low risk, if you make the DMs feel their generosity is being abused youll just get treated like Wynna said, and prolly get all the servers statics taken down.


J

[Vintenar]

Let me make this clear. From now on, evidence of this behavior will be submitted to the PA for a powergaming investigation. This is to be considered a general warning.

I dont think an exception to this rule has been made for PCs that have trouble making friends.


The server is PACKED FULL of danger and loot, make some friends IC and go adventuring. Statics are high reward for very low risk, if you make the DMs feel their generosity is being abused youll just get treated like Wynna said, and prolly get all the servers statics taken down.


J

Thanks for making that clear.