A suggestion: Counts

[TheScoundrelRico]

I would like to see if the devs might be able to take a look into revising the way counts are given. As it stands, if I find someone and kill them, they can give me a count if I initiated the violence. I would like to see this changed. Over the years, I have had fun killing unattended scripters, or for that matter unattended players. I would like to see a timer placed on the "victims" ability to give a count.

Maybe 10 minutes, maybe 20 minutes...but if I kill a player who has stepped away from their computer, and has the ability to keep themselves from logging off for that time, I'd like for them to lose the ability to count my character. Not that it's that big a thing (getting counts) but at the same time, if these players can't be bothered to stick around the computer long enough to count me, I should be able to get away with killing them...scott free.

If it's 10 minutes...the timer would need to allow characters who lose connection to be able to give counts...so if a player loses conn and is killed before they are auto logged, and let's say that takes 7 minutes...then when they logged back in, they would have the count gump up for at least 3 minutes from the time they regain their connection. If anyone has anything they might be able to add...I'm all ears.

One more note: I have heard that this has been done on other shards, so I know the coding can be configured by a development team that is willing to take the time...la

 

[Old Man of UO]

heh... I was wondering about the same thing, taking murder counts. I would love to kill scripters but don't want the counts. However, this would mean that the Dev's take an official stance on the vigilante side of things, allowing players to police an aspect of the game that the GMs for one reason or another can't. Therefore, while I LIKE this idea, I don't think it will happen.

 

[Omnius]

counts are usually prized. I know most of my guild mates horde thousands of counts. I consider them more valuable than my faction points.

 

[walter_mitty]

yeah i always like murder counts 8k and rising.most pvp`ers tend not to give them tho

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I prefer to keep my thief blue. But at the same time, I don't mind taking a count or two from time to time. I just prefer to not take a penalty when the other player is breaking the rules. The fact that the timer only shows that they were afk, last time I checked, this was still a no-no, even if the toon isn't doing anything...la

 

[Wenchkin]

I think 10 mins is more than long enough, I'd actually make it more like 5. If you're not at the keyboard or your con goes, hard luck. I've never felt peeved at losing the opportunity to count someone lol.

Wenchy

 

[Viper09]

Amen to that. 5 minutes should be good enough. Nothing wrong with being away from the keyboard, I do it from time to time when I need to. But I always make sure I am in a safe place when I leave the keyboard.

If someone is scripting, weighing down keys, etc outside a guard zone in fel (or even in a guard zone in fel at that matter) and away from their computer and can't seem to count the murderer after 5-10 minutes, their loss. It can easily be prevented by sitting at the computer.

Leaving you screen for X amount of time in a rule-set place like fel has its dangers and you should expect something to happen whether it be a thief or a pker. Don't make the proper precautions before leaving the computer then suffer the consequences.

 

[Nexus]

I'm on board with this idea, I've killed every Unattended Scripter I've ran in Fel. I usually Page on them then kill them. I've waited and had them Count me HOURS later, like 3-4 hours later. It's absurd that someone cheating can get away with doing this. Actually had one show up, rez after 20 minutes and tell me to leave him alone so he could watch porn....

 

[Basara]

Rico, I might be a Trammy, but I'm also a crafter.

Anything that nerfs the ability of unattended macroers to give counts, I'm all for.

Heck, how about adding one of the virtues to work like honor, but is a "report target as an unattended macroer, when it dies", that lasts only 30 seconds (way longer than it should take to kill it).

You then kill the target, and if it fails to report you as a murderer within 10 minutes, then a flag is put on the account. If the character gets "X" number of UAM flags (or the account gets twice that number, spread between multiple characters - even deleted ones), the GMs are required to investigate it the next time they are hit with the marker.

People abusing the marker on obviously attended characters would, of course, be held liable for wasting the GM's time (how about 2-4 random Sphynx curses for a week?)

 

[sapphirediablo11]

A good idea, how many IDOC have i gone too where I kill someone and no count and kill another.. no could few hours pass, and get my last bag but can't get to my house because i've become red...

Good idea.

 

[Old Man of UO]

Rico, I might be a Trammy, but I'm also a crafter.

Anything that nerfs the ability of unattended macroers to give counts, I'm all for.

Heck, how about adding one of the virtues to work like honor, but is a "report target as an unattended macroer, when it dies", that lasts only 30 seconds (way longer than it should take to kill it).

You then kill the target, and if it fails to report you as a murderer within 10 minutes, then a flag is put on the account. If the character gets "X" number of UAM flags (or the account gets twice that number, spread between multiple characters - even deleted ones), the GMs are required to investigate it the next time they are hit with the marker.

People abusing the marker on obviously attended characters would, of course, be held liable for wasting the GM's time (how about 2-4 random Sphynx curses for a week?)

The one problem with an account flag is if a person should get disconnected because of a power outage... I frequently lose power in my somewhat remote area. I could live with getting PK'd and losing uninsured items, but the flag thing may be a bit much.

 

[sapphirediablo11]

The one problem with an account flag is if a person should get disconnected because of a power outage... I frequently lose power in my somewhat remote area. I could live with getting PK'd and losing uninsured items, but the flag thing may be a bit much.

Agreed just make it a small 20 min timer or even 10 minute timer...

 

[OldAsTheHills]

Actually 15 minutes on a timer would be enough time. But, the real problem is will the timer
be on the Client side or the Server side of the game?
The Client side would give the killed player a chance to award the murder count when
that player re-logs-in! But, the Server side timer will go off without the player being
still online.
In the last 10 years of play, I have had only 3 times that I was attack with a disconnection
occurrence and was not able to re-log immediately. Those re-logging occurred in the
30 to 70 minute range of delay.

Please Rico, just state your preference between Client or Server timer.

*stares*
Yahaxithonix

 

[Akalabeth]

A great idea!!!

 

[Old Man of UO]

Please Rico, just state your preference between Client or Server timer.

*stares*
Yahaxithonix

Umm... as I think about this, what would prevent a person who has the knowledge to write a script in the first place to edit the script to respond to the report murder gump and report the murder of a scripter? I can't remember, but do you have to rez first to report?

 

[Tjalle]

I can't remember, but do you have to rez first to report?

Nope.

The option-window to give a count comes up right after you die...

 

[Ceridwen]

Umm... as I think about this, what would prevent a person who has the knowledge to write a script in the first place to edit the script to respond to the report murder gump and report the murder of a scripter? I can't remember, but do you have to rez first to report?

Thank you - was wondering all along why nobody mentioned it...
We had a couple rampant scripters on Drachenfels, which ended up in almost the whole shard going after them (well, we're a small shard...), killing them over and over, and I remember that they gave auto-counts directly after killing them. One guy even got over a hundred counts just by killing them...

 

[Petra Fyde]

Does everyone remember the 3 characters in painted caves and dojo that were script farming on all shards not too long ago? We collectively gave them a pretty hard time and I think they're gone now? But I believe they were giving counts when killed in Felucca painted caves?

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Actually 15 minutes on a timer would be enough time. But, the real problem is will the timer
be on the Client side or the Server side of the game?
The Client side would give the killed player a chance to award the murder count when
that player re-logs-in! But, the Server side timer will go off without the player being
still online.
In the last 10 years of play, I have had only 3 times that I was attack with a disconnection
occurrence and was not able to re-log immediately. Those re-logging occurred in the
30 to 70 minute range of delay.

Please Rico, just state your preference between Client or Server timer.

*stares*
Yahaxithonix

Personally, I'd like to see it done the way that will prevent counts, but at the same time, you have to know there would be immediate complaints from someone if they get killed after losing connection.

I was thinking about the real players, not the scripters, but it is a good point...la

 

[J0KING]

Actually have to say that this sounds like a good idea... it may encourage the player who likes to take out that unattended victim but yet does not want to go red... which would help with the ever continuing battle of scripting...

 

[Fink]

Most likely they could script a way to give you a count if they were determined to do so.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Let the scripters work harder then. If they really want to hand out counts...that's fine, it's not like I've let a count get in the way of me killing a scripter in the past.

It was just an idea for discussion...la

 

[Old Man of UO]

I would do it even with the counts if I could get the title "Bane of Scripters" or something like that!

 

[Maplestone]

I certainly dislike unattended people ... but wouldn't this set a bad precident? I mean ... no matter how noble your metagaming, you are talking about murdering characters.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I certainly dislike unattended people ... but wouldn't this set a bad precident? I mean ... no matter how noble your metagaming, you are talking about murdering characters.

If it's that important to allow people to give counts...let them sit closer to their computer while their scripts are running...la

 

[Wenchkin]

I certainly dislike unattended people ... but wouldn't this set a bad precident? I mean ... no matter how noble your metagaming, you are talking about murdering characters.

If they feel offended, they can do what the rest of us do - either play the game attended or take sensible precautions before you go AFK. Or simply script in Tram.

Wenchy

 

[Sweet Delta Eb]

Unless a person is all-knowing then that person cannot say if the suspected blue is unattened. Anyone can assume but not be for certain. That is for the GMs or higher ups to decide. Also, if a person attacks a blue player and kills them that is murder which I think a person should have to be held accountable for. If people wish to play the vigilante there are repercussions.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Unless a person is all-knowing then that person cannot say if the suspected blue is unattened. Anyone can assume but not be for certain. That is for the GMs or higher ups to decide. Also, if a person attacks a blue player and kills them that is murder which I think a person should have to be held accountable for. If people wish to play the vigilante there are repercussions.

That's why the timer. If someone is there to give a count...fine, but if they are not, they should not be able to count the hero...la