Make the Player list visible in Gamespy

[PanamaLane]

I like the changes, leave them.

While I understand that many of the things mentioned might be annoying, I think the benefit outweighs the cost. I like people not knowing my level or class, and I like not knowing theirs.

[ScottyB]

As far as PvP goes, you should always have a good and interesting IC reason to PvP. Level shouldn't come into play except to determine who gets subdued. Getting into PvP with low-level characters isn't a problem; deliberately PvPing low-level characters because they're low-level (or even just because you assume they are) is.

Now the only way to really know someone's level is to be a DM or to ask the person in tells, so I don't see why it's a problem.

[putrid_plum]

Leave it the way it is.  This is absolutely great for subraces and players who might want to keep secrets, as well as many other great reasons.

[Ommadawn]

It's just common sense, really. If you've never seen the PC before chances are very good they are not a high level. (Unless you are like Ommadawn and you never see anyone because your timezone sucks)

^_^

[Echigo]

I've always held the theory that new players are brought in by word of mouth more than anything else. If anyone knows differently, feel free to enlighten me.

I can't speak for a new player now, but the only reason I ever needed look at the list was to know someone's level and build after it became apparent that I was getting my ass beat in PvP because others were considering the weaknesses in mine. Suddenly it became an arms race, and the lack of the list seems to have cooled that down a bit. It brings back a certain element of surprise. I like it the way it is. Your character sheet should be between you and the DMs.

It never occurred to me that I would learn anything meaningful about a new server by making a quick scan of the player list. The things I want to know about a server aren't on that page.

Agreed! I like the fact that the levels and classes are hidden. I don't want people coming after my poor little mage because they think he's an easy target >_>

[Underbard]

Other than having to check EFUSL to see who is on, I love it like it is.  Probably one of the best changes ever made.

[Jasede]

Edit: I have changed my post to more accurately reflect its content in fewer words:

[ScottyB]

This change has nothing to do with being hardcore or not, it's about privacy, and we have seen more new players since the change than we had in the months leading up to it. (Though, it's a correlation, not a cause.)

[Jasede]

Edit:

[9lives]

I still don't get that argument about the website. It is infinitely faster than loading up NWN.

[Sandstorm]

Jasede, your posts have no arguments or reasons in them. You wouldn't have come if you didn't see the player list? To me, that says more about you than about the direction the server should go! It has nothing to do with being 'hardcore' or not. You don't need to know other peoples classes or levels to be able to be 'hardcore'. However, you do if you want to be a metagamer.

[Howlando]

I completely don't understand how it is in any remote way unfriendly to new players.

[Mort]

Of course, Throb never really listens, which is why he also has the Dungeon Master portfolio.

You sound so melodramatic, man. No, it's true that I'm not a babysitter so I tune out when people start crying rather than talking.

And you're having a serious weep-a-thon over a playerlist <_< like it's a end-all change to the setting and server and affect everything In-game.

Like you said, man. Just a game and this is a change that makes it even sweeter to play and not to watch from the gamespy client.

[djspectre]

Personally, I don't check EFUSL to see who's logged in, since usually when I'm about to jump in, I check to see if a faction/plot-mate is on or not and decide if I need to get the needed character.

Though I don't mind having a blank player listing. Though I wish that it would allow for just the character name, perhaps, and omit the class/level information, however, I do not believe this is possible to do.

I am in favor of this. Surely stops metagaming certain aspects of a player.

[9lives]

It's an all-or-nothing deal, unfortunately.