Suggestion: I find it difficult to type more elaborate emotes in combat; while they undoubtedly contribute to the atmosphere of the gameplay, not everyone is a fast enough typer and could use some break for typing or just for exhaling and taking a quick peek at the others' emotes so that it would contribute to the atmosphere hic et nunc, and not just ex post facto. Non-native English speakers generally need more time to think in typing an emote or a sentence, the time that is usually so badly lacking in the middle of a combat. Therefore I suggest a 5-second server-wide pause to be scripted after every 60 RL seconds, if possible. Since everyone can type during it, and typing emotes or just idle IC sentences can add to the ambience in all situations, I do not think it would be an inconvenience to many. Not to mention that under some fortunate circumstances it might help in lag spikes.

To me, a slightly slower and more relaxed pace would make the game more enjoyable and if it helps to drive those who just want to be getting xp and loot as fast as possible away, it's only for the better.

I know it is a weird suggestion but maybe some will find it interesting to discuss.

A good idea but ultimately I think it would drive everyone crazy. I don't agree with it bieng needed. I just refrain from typing in combat, ive got better things to do, like survive, than banter or emote all the time. My personal preference is always talk when needed, else be quiet. Thats what I'm like in RL.

I believe it would be quite annoying. I hate when I'm playing and a DM pauses the server (but it's understandable), or someone casts Time Stop. I'd go crazy if it happened automatically every minute.

This is really a personal preference and something that would have too much of an impact on other players to implement across the server. While one player might enjoy a slower pace to encounters and find typing during it a challenge, another may prefer combat at a faster pace and be able to type during it with ease.

During an encounter, my only suggestion would be to create a few quick slots with emotes and phrases your character might commonly use in battle. While not in combat, most players will adjust their style of play to accommodate other players that may need a little more time to type dialog or an emote.

Not a chance I'd ever play on a server with anything so incredibly annoying. Take a typing class, honestly, its not sarcasm--it'll really work to do say three or four 30 minute lessons. I didn't do much, and I can type nearly 80 words a minue.

I can type about 150, maybe more - but not in English and while paying attention - who attacks who, who casts what; who buffs who with what and who drinks what.

While I see how it could be a nice thing to have to get some typing space in battles, I doubt it'd be appreciated... Partly because everyone would go nuts having the server pausing every minute, but also because it would break the immersion, particularly during intense scenes;

"N-no... No! Please, don't hurt me... I have a family! NO!... *sla-" PAUSED UNPAUSED "-sh* Arrrgghh!"

-or-

"Eluwën... There's something I've been meaning to tell you... *hesitantly looks up into her eyes, smiling shyly*" "*meets his nervous gaze, eyes glittering* Yes, Elam?" "Eluwën, I... lo-" PAUSED [tell] Eluwën: "omg servercrash gotta lgosave my phat l3wt l8rz!" Server: Eluwën left as a player. UNPAUSED

Perhaps slightly exaggregated, but you get my point :).

Besides, what is to say that the once/minute pause will be when you want to type something in a battle? Many of them will likely go completely wasted due to bad timing.

Yeah, Wrexsoul pretty much said it. Most of the pauses will be when your picking up the monsters loot, not during the actual battle as not many battles really last a whole minute, not to mention how it'll drive people, that aren't fighting, insane.

Not to bash, but... what on Earth?!

This is the most bizarre idea ever.

The Orchids do not approve.

Just say NO.

Wrexsoul "N-no... No! Please, don't hurt me... I have a family! NO!... *sla-" PAUSED

Anyhow, if I am to be egoist, I am perfectly fine with the system as it is - I will not lose much of the fun I had in playing as I did in CoA. It is just that I felt guilty - during the combat/quests I could not contribute to tightening the atmosphere like some other good players did. But it seems that is not expected here, so no problem.

RobertDeHauteville Most of the pauses will be when your picking up the monsters loot

Ad. macros - yup, they are the only reason why my character was not completely expressionless during most of the quests. Still, they are short and eventually get repetitive - no room for 5-line emotewhoring. :wink:

Thanks everyone for posting their opinions. :)

I feel Mr. Cheez-it hit the nail on the head with quick slotting clever things to say. If you have a fast computer you can also alt-tab and copy that clever thing and be back in a flash to paste it. I know of atleast one bard who allways had a song to accompany his use of his bardsong ability by keeping them in a note pad on his desktop.

I'm not in favor of your suggestion for the reason that while not in combat the game is generally slow. I can't fathom alot of the mundane tasks like walking from place to place taking even longer. In general I feel that combat is about the least interesting of all places to have good RP. I mean the game -does- do a pretty good job of showing what your character is doing in combat. If you really want more specific emotes to flush out your characters particular fighting style it should only take one or two thought out beforehand to demonstrate this.

Good out of the box suggestion though. I just think there are other ways to go about getting the same results that would not be so radical.

Eraamion Ad. macros - yup, they are the only reason why my character was not completely expressionless during most of the quests. Still, they are short and eventually get repetitive - no room for 5-line emotewhoring. :wink:

Actually, there is. While there seems to be a letter cap on the emotes when typing them in-game, you can type them in notepad instead, and then copy/paste them into the macro. By doing so, the macro can be as long as you desire.

Only Eraamion... or Kiaring would make this suggestion :P

If you don't play the game in full screen, copy+pasting things from word pad is incredibly simple.

me checks the calendar

Jesus freaking christ, it's NOT April 1?!!?!?

Sinister Seneschal If you don't play the game in full screen, copy+pasting things from word pad is incredibly simple.

- Even if you do, it's not that bad.

I'm probably going to be one of the server's slower readers.

This is (obviously) my personal opinion, but I find the five-line emotes tremendously annoying when there isn't combat. I've taken to simply ignoring anything beyond the first line. I might scan the rest of the emote for relevance, but ultimately, I ignore it.

Granted, I would benefit from being able to pause during combat to read everything that's laboriously typed out (particularly during combat).

However, I think timestop is far more irritating than the five-line emotes.

I won't play a server where players can pause the game at will.

LaBrea If you have a fast computer you can also alt-tab and copy that clever thing and be back in a flash to paste it.

Sinister Seneschal If you don't play the game in full screen, copy+pasting things from word pad is incredibly simple.

alstromeria I won't play a server where players can pause the game at will.

Still, yes, building a 5-line emote database in Excel :wink: , neatly classified for the various occasions, and pasting them into the macros before a quest/event starts, based on the expected situations, seems to be the most viable way.

Eraamion Still, yes, building a 5-line emote database in Excel :wink: , neatly classified for the various occasions, and pasting them into the macros before a quest/event starts, based on the expected situations, seems to be the most viable way.

Ye gods! No wonder you play mages.

Eraamion: No, picking loot up isn't the main reason I play, I was just pointing out how inane it would be to have a pause that happened, normally, during times that it was least needed.

More importantly. It's really just a suggestion that benefits only one person. No one else wants to type 5-line long emotes on details which are already obvious during combat. Personally, I don't want to see someone type an essay on how they're swinging a sword, or read about how someone is running their tongue over their teeth pervertedly while looking over their latest rothe shipment.

I especially don't want to see if it they'll be pausing the game just so the select few people can spam 5 lines of the obvious and repetitive.

I know why you suggest it and it's a nifty idea, but god would that drive me insane.

_Nightfire_ I know why you suggest it and it's a nifty idea, but god would that drive me insane.

I'm going to second that. This suggestion, although definitely a creative way of addressing a real problem, just isn't going to be workable without driving people crazy. Pausing the game for emotes is more suited to a smaller campaign where it can be done precisely and selectively.