Anti-minimap.

Cruzel · January 16, 2009, 02:32:37 PM

The minimap gets abused, a lot. Finding party members, escape routes, tunnels you missed, etc.

I think it would be better if we did away with it. Every 10-30 secs, whatever. the time doesn't really matter, but every time the duration is reached, the map is completely blacked out for that player.

This could be avoided if the PC has a map item of that area in their inventory. It would be much more interesting if PCs didn't have a fair idea of EXACTLY where to go, which ramp to take, unless they specifically had a map.

Quote from: Cruzel;105324
Quote from: "Someone else"Turn the map from an OOC tool to an IC tool. Black out mini-maps as normal, allowing you to see new parts of it as you go, but when you leave the area then it should reset. Unless you use a map of the area.

Isn't there already a map script in place though?

This is the CORE of the idea. You can see where you're going as you go there, but you don't have a crystal clear image of the area forever. The idea is that people need to buy maps, or they will get lost.

Getting lost is fun, and discourages some over eager party members from just totally running ahead (Which a LOT of people on EFU do, btw) and completely ditching their party with no idea of where they went. I would much rather see people running around LOOKING for their party than just metagaming the exact location on the map.

This is ridiculously easy to script, btw. There is a oneline function that will clear the minimap completely. Adding a timer and a check for the maps would be simple as pie. The entire script would probably take around 30 minutes to write/mainly test.

Mort · January 16, 2009, 03:02:00 PM

Possibly. Not sure how to do that thought.

IxTheSpeedy · January 16, 2009, 03:43:34 PM

Please, please, please don't do this. I have a terrible sense of direction IRL and IG...

No really, I'll get lost IG all the time without my little mini-map...

Conan The Conqueror · January 16, 2009, 04:28:25 PM

I don't see how the benefit of this outweighs the hassle it would create for both players who experience it and DMs who script it.
It just seems like needless regulation. So what if people find party members?

The map is in place to overcome limitations of the gaming engine. You can have a party member within visual range and not be able to see them because limitations with camera angle or view distance.

PanamaLane · January 16, 2009, 05:27:59 PM

Nay. Like Mr. Speedy, I'd get lost often without it. Like Mr. Midnite, I don't see a problem using it to overcome said limitations of the game engine. A little OOC is ok, if it makes the trivial roadblocks easier for players to overcome.

Joe Desu · January 16, 2009, 05:52:48 PM

How about before you get your group to go into the quest area, see if everyone wants to play a little hard core and not use the minimaps?

Admittedly the quest may take longer as either folk get separated and try to get back together again, or some folk may end up walking into spawns in a different direction, or by running away from the boss you get further stuck in the hellohole you walked into. Interesting indeed.

Egon the Monkey · January 16, 2009, 06:48:15 PM

No. nononono....
The Minimap is an OOC tool that lets you make up for the fact you can't:
Tell where an allied PC is easily by hearing them.
Have an effective field of vision behind you as your PC can't turn their head to look back, and camera swinging is a hassle.
Actually have your characters draw sketchmaps in a journal.
Play a PC with good direction and route knowledge if you haven't been on in a while and have forgotten the way, but your PC would have been there...
...And so on.

Maps are annoyingly large in the inventory and can't be added to a binder.

Cruzel, if you're that bothered, complain personally at or of the people who abuse the map for stuff way out of their PCs hearing/sight range, not everyone else who uses it well.

lovethesuit · January 16, 2009, 06:58:24 PM

Turn the map from an OOC tool to an IC tool. Black out mini-maps as normal, allowing you to see new parts of it as you go, but when you leave the area then it should reset. Unless you use a map of the area.

Isn't there already a map script in place though?

MisterPAIN · January 16, 2009, 07:30:49 PM

Uh let's not alienate newbies, they get lost already with the mini-map. Keep in mind anyone can make footprints in dust, most likely the soil is soft enough from constant rain to make them anyway, and there is no system for such things when in the real world they are perfectly visible. While people are not trackers a bunch of footprints made in the same number of the party's feet would be otherwise visible in a fantasy world of a perfect realistic as life EFUA video game with real life graphics.

Johannes · January 16, 2009, 07:36:39 PM

I'm /really/ not keen on this.

Sternhund · January 16, 2009, 08:45:34 PM

I dislike this suggestion in its entirety. This sounds like an amazing way to chase away new, lost players.

Letsplayforfun · January 16, 2009, 08:50:19 PM

Hiden server on gamespy.
Hiden plots.
Hiden factions.
Hiden PC list.
Hiding names.
Hiding minimaps.

Let's hide EfUA once and for all.

Seriously, keep things simple. Too much is getting players away from the server. I'm sure there's more urgent work than this. Not that i don't agree with you, Cruz, but that's getting too elitist imo.

Remember, as much as an excellent rpg server this is, it's still a video game.

lovethesuit · January 16, 2009, 09:18:36 PM

We're hidden on gamespy? what

but yeah

I agree with hiding names actually.

MisterPAIN · January 16, 2009, 09:35:35 PM

While hiding names is good in theory it would just end up with people in groups asking someone's name again over and over and over again since we all know some people are not too great at names. And even if I would remember I would still ask IC over and over again to annoy the shit out of anyone that promoted this idea.

Cruzel · January 16, 2009, 09:54:23 PM

Quote from: lovethesuit;105260Turn the map from an OOC tool to an IC tool. Black out mini-maps as normal, allowing you to see new parts of it as you go, but when you leave the area then it should reset. Unless you use a map of the area.

Isn't there already a map script in place though?

This is the CORE of the idea. You can see where you're going as you go there, but you don't have a crystal clear image of the area forever. The idea is that people need to buy maps, or they will get lost.

Getting lost is fun, and discourages some over eager party members from just totally running ahead (Which a LOT of people on EFU do, btw) and completely ditching their party with no idea of where they went. I would much rather see people running around LOOKING for their party than just metagaming the exact location on the map.

This is ridiculously easy to script, btw. There is a oneline function that will clear the minimap completely. Adding a timer and a check for the maps would be simple as pie. The entire script would probably take around 30 minutes to write/mainly test.