I have many good things to say about this server, but haven't taken the time away from playing to write a post about it. That post is coming, but alas I must write a criticism first. This is because I would not have stopped playing if I hadn't been completely turned off to the entire server, even the entire game, by a pointless but major break in roleplay for a simple scripted quest.

So anyway, I logged out to simmer, and to write this.

My character, Daristin Wensbane, was with 3 other characters, A, B, and C. They were talking about several things, and "A" mentioned to Daristin that they should set about the city helping new people.

"B" and "C" completely ignored "A's" comment, but my character Daristin thought it was a good thing to do. Instead, "B" and "C" suddenly started the "scripted" RP for a scripted quest: "I hear there are undead on the collapsed stair, etc."

So "A" goes with it, and being a paladin, Daristin does also. However, I remember OOC that Daristin has taken the quest.

The party tells me to "rp my way out of it."

How am I supposed to roleplay this? Real roleplay was just stopped for a whimsical scripted quest, and the whole party ditched me for it instead of looking for another quest or even coming up for their own RP reasons to ditch Daristin on a quest he would feel compelled to follow them on.

Having no way to roleplay it, Daristin just walked away.

Guess what? They died.

My criticism, and suggestion: KEEP CONTINUITY even when doing scripted quests. You can take other quests or hold off until later. Or a party member could have said, "Daristin, we can handle this. You should go see about helping those people."

Any of that is better than "Sorry dude, RP your way out of it."

I think the easiest way out of this is... stay in the party. When they discuss with the NPC, the characters have no roleplay reason to keep bugging the NPC, since he would tell them 'thanks, now bugger off', which would have solved the problem. That way, no problem for your paladin, as there is no problem at all, according to the NPC.

I agree, but one of them specifically said, "rp your way out of it."

They would have kicked me, they were set on the quest.

This is because I would not have stopped playing if I hadn't been completely turned off to the entire server, even the entire game, by a pointless but major break in roleplay for a simple scripted quest.

I'm not sure I understand. You're leaving the server because of one comment? It sounds like it was handled indelicately, but generally when something OOC comes up (like having already done a quest), it's best to explain OOC and then come up with a semi-plausible IC excuse to bow out of it.

It can be a bit awkward, but it's just one of those things players have to work around. If there's a better solution, I'd love to hear it!

Anyway, I'm hoping you meant "left the server to write this post, temporarily" rather than "leaving the server, for ever."

It has happened indelicately a number of times, and it is always when there is good real rp going on.

Note that there was a much more IC conversation going on before someone randomly decided to run out and do the quest. As a result, I was, and am, still without the characters I would have been rping with at the moment, as we speak, and have been for a couple of hours.

I did mean forever, but perhaps that was a little hasty. However, when it happens repeatedly in one way or another, suspension of disbelief is lost, and someone is left wandering around with nothing to do. Being left to wait around and/or find something else to do makes the experience progressively less fun.

I'm sorry to hear this from you. Personally I've seen very little of this. I'd try sticking it out a bit longer. After all, there is no server that I've ever been on that doesn't have a break in the immersion once in the while.

I think my main point is this... a scripted quest is as arbitrary as kicking someone from a party... so you should think of ways to keep the friends together, etc, before you randomly decide to do a quest not everyone can do.

But I'm going to stick around. I like the people for a lot of other reasons, and I am really into the characters.

I'll be posting a history soon, along with all the things I like here.

Please though, anyone who reads this, think about it... it seems like it would help just to consider it, it can only improve things.

Think you need to be careful not to take things to heart - this after all a game.

If your in a situation where you can't do a quest that others can then just excuse yourself to run a personal errand, take a nap or see to "another matter" the other people will understand and won't raise any objections. Then you just organise to met back up with them when they have finished the quest.

Cheers Nestek

I can quite understand how this is frustrating but sadly it will come up a lot, since scripted quests are part of the server as well as anything else, and, because of this, I tend to keep those things a bit apart, even though all aspects are amazing. Which means, I do recall situations where I just went "I am sorry, but I have ((insert random IC reason here why I cannot do that quest with you))." Seeing you can repeat quests you are expected to retain no detailled memories from it.. sooo.. they do not even really happen.. and henceforth, hardly contribute to your PCs development. So don't be afraid to just "OOCly" leave if you have done it before or make up a weak-ish reason.. Suggesting another quest, or postponing it might be done though.. if they are not responding to it the way you'd expect them, you are mayhap hanging with the wrong crowd. I'd always go out of my way to do some RP rather than a quest, and from experience I know that a lot of players here are the same. So don't just give up yet. :wink:

yeah... it can be very awkward... but Tarfil has played with WMD's Daristin alot, and I do understand what he means. I think what would help is an awareness of not leaving the RP solely up to the person who can't do the quest. Think about what your character feels towards this other character, and how they would respond appropriately if that person thought another quest/activity was more important. etc. etc.

Ultimately there will always be times that characters just bow out on a relatively weak reason, cause lets face it - its hard work doing excellent RP ALL the time... especially when a paladin is refusing to kill undead. But hey, perhaps the paladin feels ill and needs a "nap", if you're concerned about the character you might see him to bed, and make sure you go check on him when the quest is done...

I think its worthwhile working harder on the RP surrounding scripted quests, purely because I think we can.

Howland

It can be a bit awkward, but it's just one of those things players have to work around. If there's a better solution, I'd love to hear it!

One way which might help would be to allow people who have done quests to redo them with NO personal gain. Having done a quest you cant complete the quest, you get NO xp for the end of it if you're in the party or not.

Level limitations would still apply , as to stop high levelers railroading low levelers through quests.

Theres been a number of times i've done a lot of quests, and still been online but been unable to go anywhere scripted with anyone (even though I make the level requirements for the quests) because i've done them all ( I did spend a long time online though it's true).

It would be a major change to the quest logic though. You could also stop or reduce the xp gained by normal creature kills within quests they've done before (if this becomes a xp gain imbalance) and not just the xp gained on quest completeon.

I dont see the problem in a party who's JUST done a quest, decide to re-do it straight after just because some person who hasnt done the quest wants to now do it. (other than it might be a bit repetitive and boring for the people repeating the quest but thats their choice really) As long as you keep RP continuity, people can quite simply say they havent done it before (even if they have).

So summing up, you let people repeat quests if they wish, but they receive NO xp from the quest giver on completion, 1) Still bind quests by level limitation to stop cheating 2) People can repeat any quest they want to but recieve no XP from completion. 3) People recieve less or NO xp from monster kills inside the quest zone (or scripted xp gains within the quest) 4) If end-mission money rewards are a problem give money out ina scripted way to exactly the same people who will recieve XP for the quest completion. (automatic division of coin rather than one heap to the party leader)

On a side note this will make it possible for people to retrieve their fallen gear inside a quest zone after a quest has been completed. (one of the current problems if a quest is finished theres no way inside for anyone who's completed it which is a break in continuity itself)

People will still have to RP , and make excuses for level limitations but this would lessen the "already done it" continuity problem.

People redoing a quest, even if they don't get xp still get treasure and gold. So you still get rewards from redoing them.

There isn't a 'continuity' problem either if you say "I can't help you with this child about to be slain by undead because I have sworn to save SIXTY children beseiged by devils with some men you don't know, and so I must go" cause no matter what quest they're off to do that you can't, you can make up something more important. Often by using more numbers than they do when describing the mission.

On reflection, it sounds like the issue is not the system of how EfU work but rather the decision of other players to continue doing a particular quest rather than coordinate with you to find a quest no one has done. I guess it's an intersting question of etiquette that we could discuss, but I really don't think I would (as a player) get offended either way.

I know sometimes people try to find a new quest when someone can't come on one, but this can often be a very difficult thing to do for a variety of reasons.

Being able to do a quest multiple times in a reset is just something we'll never have happen.

Edit: on further reflection, I can understand being miffed if you're engaging in some interesting RP or character development of some kind and someone rushes up and gets everyone to go off on a scripted quest that you can't even go on. I like building quests and going on quests but EfU is not fundamentally a questing server and players who just rush from one quest to the next are missing out on a lot, and if this is done obnoxiously can lead to other people enjoying the server less too.

Just not sure what your particular situation was.

Call me crazy…but this matter just sounds absolutely ridiculous. There is a bit of OOC slack that fellow players should give to each other, especially pertaining to scripted quests. The classic “I have already helped him today and I am certain he would not like the thought of paying me twice for the job I supposedly finished” always seemed enough for me in game. The reason being is that there are so many other areas of the game in which serious RP dialog and intrigue can be utilized between players. Why waste energy seriously inquiring about why a particular Paladin refuses to help the Temple of Hoar with its undead problem, when you know OOC restrictions are applied? Just makes no sense.

As for the matter of breaking party…I have always gained much more enjoyment out of the game by identifying my character’s personality, and then establishing an in-game crew to buddy around with. I find the more I play with these characters…the better the RP becomes. (And who knows…you might just learn a few things. I know I did from Seldarine, Hooksword, Dholt, Meltdown, etc.) So…I would recommend sticking with the crew as long as possible and find IG plots (Scripted/Unscripted) together.

Just my two cents…

Domare

See, the only REAL way around this is to improve your leadership, or just generally, become so forceful or persuasive ICly that you will not get ignored. I always shrug any OOC leaving-for-quests if i haven't personally chosen to lead a group anyway - there're plenty of people to roleplay with.

Is this actually a "Paladin" issue though?

well yesterday the sever had been up a very long time without a reset. It would get pretty hard to find a quest that your group can do without leaving anyone out.