Dancer Archive
Thread: Mind Buffs The reason I don't wear my master dancer title.
Drygo
Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:00 pm
#14
DanceRulez wrote:
I always liked "Uniform Marshal" myself - most people aren't even sure what that is.Now though, I usually wear my Master Dancer title, like Drygo said, mostly as a political statement, and to give others around me that much less of an excuse to use a bot or claim that there aren't any ents around when you need one. As far as the buffing issue that started this. I generally don't mind it and am happy to help, but I basically never get any requests to buff anymore anyway. Admittedly I don't spend as much time in the cantinas anymore, though when I do, it tends to be a good experience with people showing their appreciation that I'm there. I really don't seem to have to deal with too many rude or impatient people - I think most of them are pretty much buffbot trained by now that I don't have to mess with them. I still get the occasional random group invite, but when I send them a tell asking what kind of group they're forming they usually just say "nevermind" or "sorry" and go away.
On to a larger issue, though, I used to think that our ability to buff was a good thing for our profession because it was a marketable skill that people were more willing to actually pay us for. Unfortunately on further consideration, I think our profession was a lot more fun to play when we weren't able to buff. The problem is all in the circumstances. When people want buffs they want them fast and so they can get out and do what they want to do - not to mention the fact that they're on a timer if they've already got doc buffs. They don't want to spend a lot of time looking for buffers and they certainly don't want to hang out and enjoy a show or enjoy the atmosphere. That's really the antithesis of the game that most of us have in mind and are trying to play. On the other hand, when people are looking for healing, it's usually after adventuring or battling or whatever, and they may be trying to figure out something else to do or just want to spend a little down time. It's this time when they come to see us that they are more receptive to hanging out a while. They're not usually in a hurry to go somewhere or do something, and they may want to chat about the battle they just had or the creature they just defeated or the new loot item they got. They might even enjoy watching our dance routine or listening to our music routine. I think this is what most of us like doing, and this is what it was like when the game first started - before mind buffs. I think if I had a choice in the matter now, I would choose to give up the whole mind buffing skill. Give it to the doctors, or something, and find something new to give us instead.
I have the same experience. That is, I rarely get asked for a buff anymore outside of my own guild or possibly fellow entertainers. And, they all know I'm a master dancer whether or not I'm wearing the title. And, the vast majority of the buffs I give these two groups are going to be free. In fact, I almost never ask for payment, but some people pay me anyway, and I won't refuse them.
But, the random stranger who walks into the Cantina rarely asks for a buff. I'm often enjoying other parts of the game, but on those days where I literally might spend 8 hours in a Cantina, I may get about 3 buff requests the entire time. So, having my master dancer title displayed is far from being a nuisance these days.
I do remember, however, before the buffbot plague, I would constantly be asked for buffs the second I shuttled into either Coronet or Theed. And, if I'm going to be entirely honest, that *was* a nuisance at times. Because, like I said, I enjoy doing other things in the game as well, and being constantly asked for buffs got kind of annoying. This is the whole reason that, if the bots are gone, I wish that our buffs could be done real quickly. As Shi says, when people want buffs, they aren't there to be entertained. And, as she also says, I have also gotten to a point where I'm not too keen on the whole buff thing anymore. Just too much fighting and whatnot, and it really doesn't allow us to show off our entertaining. I think those entertainers like Else who think this way do have a point. And, it's the healing part that allows us to interact with customers and people who want to talk about their latest adventures. The healing is very good for allowing that down time and social interaction. And, I truly think most people are okay with that, even the hardcore combatants enjoy the downtime in Theed Cantina. Or, at least they seem to on Kettemoor. And, I don't know if it's just me or what, but it almost seems like tips have been increasing from those being healed.
So, in short I guess, it wouldn't bother me if our buffing were taken away. But, as Shi says, and as I've always felt, I believe we should have some type of viable economic role in the game. I suppose our mission increase is a good start. But, I'd like to have something that was both lucrative and required interaction with others, and that didn't require a sense of urgency and resentment.
Message Edited by Drygo on 01-21-2005 08:04 PM
dofey
Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:57 am
#15
Ialways wear my master image designer title when having a title up at all... I have not had that many people being rude to me either. Off course there are always some, but by talking to them they usually relax and talk back in a normal fashion. Anyone who is rude to me a couple of times, i gladly welcome to my ignore list 
(and that list is not long at all...)
(and that list is not long at all...) And i don't mind mindbuffing either...and off course i chat with them during the buff. But then again, i can't seem to ever stop talking...
Petronela
Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:43 am
#16
My answer would definitely be yes and yes.
I always wear my Master Dancer title and I’m usually happy to buff anyone who asks nicely. If I have prior engagements I let them know I can’t and usually if I know of other entertainer on line I try to point them in their direction. If they get rude over it it’s welcome to my /ignore.
I like buffing, makes me feel I contribute to the community more then just by healing.
Anyone who has 15 points to spare can heal, but it takes work and time to be able to buff.
It’s true I don’t get asked much for buffs, but I’m finally at the point where I don’t let it bother me.
Lately I dropped all of my ID and picked up unarmed, it’s very therapeutic to smack stormies around. I just imagine the name of the last rude customer over their heads and go to work.
If we ever lost our ability to buff I would still keep my Master Dancer title but I know I would miss being able to mind buff.
Most likely I wouldn’t see the point of ever dancing in public cantinas then, why would I willingly subject myself to the insane lag if my presence there would equal to any novice entertainer. And yes I know I can heal faster then they, but that’s not the point really.
Deli'ah
I always wear my Master Dancer title and I’m usually happy to buff anyone who asks nicely. If I have prior engagements I let them know I can’t and usually if I know of other entertainer on line I try to point them in their direction. If they get rude over it it’s welcome to my /ignore.
I like buffing, makes me feel I contribute to the community more then just by healing.
Anyone who has 15 points to spare can heal, but it takes work and time to be able to buff.
It’s true I don’t get asked much for buffs, but I’m finally at the point where I don’t let it bother me.
Lately I dropped all of my ID and picked up unarmed, it’s very therapeutic to smack stormies around. I just imagine the name of the last rude customer over their heads and go to work.
If we ever lost our ability to buff I would still keep my Master Dancer title but I know I would miss being able to mind buff.
Most likely I wouldn’t see the point of ever dancing in public cantinas then, why would I willingly subject myself to the insane lag if my presence there would equal to any novice entertainer. And yes I know I can heal faster then they, but that’s not the point really.
Deli'ah
Ikewe
Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:48 am
#17
I wear my Master Dancer title 100% of the time. I'm proud of the accomplishment (never for one second AFK) andI wantpeople to be able to find me. I used to love providing mind buffs. I became an entertainer because of the healing and buffing ability. It's only been the last few months that people seem to have gotten the impression that /invite = "can I get a mind buff?" I recently decided that I will never accept a /invite that isn't preceeded by some form of conversation. With very few exceptions (groups who come to me as a group for example) I insist I be the group leader during a mindbuff. The latter has greatly reduced the rudeness factor. People tend to get the hint after having the /invite rejected a couple of times and those who find communication too complicated simply leave when they get the "Ikewe is already in a group" message.
cheers,
Ikewe, Master Dancer Shadowfire
LyteFoot
Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:22 am
#18
I wear my master musician title when I'm in a cantina and feel like buffing. When I don't I switch to my TK tags. I enjoy buffing and I enjoy the interaction. I don't put up with rude people but most of them aren't rude they are simply trained. I was in Dant cantina the other day after a hunt session and there were two live ents grinding there. So I pulled out my mando and grouped them to up their experience and help them get some fatigue exp from the combat players. There were two buff bots so I wasn't too worried about buffs and didn't mind doing some so I threw on my title.
Lo and behold one bot breaks and the other gets busy so I started seeing the "Invite to Elwyn Plz". I replied "LOL no one can invite you because it is my group, do you want a buff?". I see the invite request again from the same person and I do another LOL then I say "I'm not a robot if you want a buff just ask". The next thing I see is three people asking if they can get a buff so I group them up and start my buff macro. Along comes two more and I pop them in but they don't start listening. I ask why and they are waiting for the next session so I explain that since I'm live I can time them seperate from the others and they don't need to wait. Long story short I had most of the business for the hour I was there simply because they didn't have to wait 8 minutes for the next session. I also didn't get anymore random invite plz messages so I guess it spread through the ranks that a live person was there and they changed their behavior.
People will do what they think is the appropriate action, unfortunately buff-bots have trained them in a way many of us don't like. If you can't interact with them and politely set them straight then don't buff, if they won't act right then very pointedly don't buff them and say why in spatial it will impact the others in the cantina. I have only ever had to do that twice and the general reaction was very fun because the other combat players became even MORE polite.
I've also kicked admittedly future buf-bots from groups for going AFK in my group. I've had some very pleasant tells over that move. I always respond to them that I don't care how they decide to use their account but at the same time I'm going to play the game my way and that doesn't include supporting them. I almost always get the same response about how I'm conceited and the cause of my own problems which solicites the response from me that I'm not the one making a big deal about how someone else has elected to play the game so they should check the meaning of conceit and promptly add them to ignore.
Lo and behold one bot breaks and the other gets busy so I started seeing the "Invite to Elwyn Plz". I replied "LOL no one can invite you because it is my group, do you want a buff?". I see the invite request again from the same person and I do another LOL then I say "I'm not a robot if you want a buff just ask". The next thing I see is three people asking if they can get a buff so I group them up and start my buff macro. Along comes two more and I pop them in but they don't start listening. I ask why and they are waiting for the next session so I explain that since I'm live I can time them seperate from the others and they don't need to wait. Long story short I had most of the business for the hour I was there simply because they didn't have to wait 8 minutes for the next session. I also didn't get anymore random invite plz messages so I guess it spread through the ranks that a live person was there and they changed their behavior.
People will do what they think is the appropriate action, unfortunately buff-bots have trained them in a way many of us don't like. If you can't interact with them and politely set them straight then don't buff, if they won't act right then very pointedly don't buff them and say why in spatial it will impact the others in the cantina. I have only ever had to do that twice and the general reaction was very fun because the other combat players became even MORE polite.
I've also kicked admittedly future buf-bots from groups for going AFK in my group. I've had some very pleasant tells over that move
. I always respond to them that I don't care how they decide to use their account but at the same time I'm going to play the game my way and that doesn't include supporting them. I almost always get the same response about how I'm conceited and the cause of my own problems which solicites the response from me that I'm not the one making a big deal about how someone else has elected to play the game so they should check the meaning of conceit and promptly add them to ignore.
Esharra
Sat Jan 22, 2005 9:43 am
#19
I'm not sure what title is up on my dancer on my home server right now. My master on Bria has never had a title up. I don't use a title on most of my characters. Just one of those things I don't bother with, I guess. Enough people know that if I'm dancing then I'm open to buffing them so I don't feel a need to put it up for advertisement's sake. I stay busy enough as it is.
It is a rare occassion that anyone harasses me anymore (since the bot guild left). A stranger walked up and slapped me one night last week in the Theed cantina. I'm sure he figured I was just another zombie. Big mistake on his part though. He was immediately hit with several duel requests.
seline
Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:01 pm
#20
Playing over 1 years, I only opened my title after I got Alliance Ace Pilot. Titles means nothing, nothing at all...
Sakura-Ikari
Sat Jan 22, 2005 1:01 pm
#21
The first thing I do when I log in Arashi is turn off her Master Dancer title to no title. Don't let Goldy and Fainora hear me say this again, but I'd be happy if they got rid of mind buffs completely.
(yes, i know they both quit *pout* but they were on my server and I loved them both to death but it was a subject we very much dissagreed on)
seline
Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:04 pm
#22
Yes, but as you have said in your first message.. Who wants to be found? Most only opens it for show-off or getting app points... For entertainers it is different than most may be, but I did not see any one searching lately since there are ALWAYS 24/7 buffbots there already..
Else-Whira
Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:54 am
#23
seline wrote:Playing over 1 years, I only opened my title after I got Alliance Ace Pilot. Titles means nothing, nothing at all...
The title allows people to do a search for you based on the profession you have displayed. Having no title up means that if someone did a search for entertainers they wouldn't find you.
Cindal
Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:36 am
#24
I wear my Master Daner title because it is what I am and allows me be searchable. I register with the planetary map. I pull camps on the remote planets and do buffs.When the Geo Cave opened my guild wenton agroup hunt there. People were dying left and right, the master dancers/musicians in our group went out and buffed people on the hillside. Granted we didn't run out from the bottom of the cave to go and buff people but when we were outside of the cave, if asked we buffed. We also shouted to players arriving (either fresh or from the cloners) that we were buffing. It was appreciated by everyone there who needed a buff.
The new player base was raised on the AFK and/or bot system. Many are unaware that you don't need to be grouped to get a buff. Apparently many don't realize that we can hear them much less speak to them. Players often run in and shout "Who's buffing?" When asked "what type of buffareyou looking for?", they generally run out of the cantina without comment.
When someone runs in and demands to be admitted into the entertainer group, if I am leader I ask if they are going to be dancing or playing. If they will be playing, what is their highest song so that I can make sure that the band comes down to their level. You can't alwaystell if someone is working on entertainer/dancer/musician.
If the person requesting admittance responds that they want a buff, I ask if they are by themselves or will there bea group. I explain that if they just want to get themselves buffed I will direct performance at them and then they can request a musician to do the same. Many players are unaware that they do not have to be grouped with the entertainer to get the buff. (I know, I know, I'm repeating myself but it is an important point.)
If the player responds that his buddy is on his way or that several friends are on their way, I offer to drop from the ent group and start a group with them. Important point is that I control the group unless the person who is requesting the group buff is known to me. I explain that I will do continuous (oh my poor finger) flourishes so that it doesn't matter when his friends join just so long as they watch me for the prescribed time. I also let them know that it is their responsibility to keep track of the time from the moment they started watching. I do keep track of the last person admitted into the group and use that plus one minute to base my own time for the group.
If someone is admitted to the entertainer group and they do not start dancing/playing/healing, I will drop from the group explaining to the leader in a tell that I do not give passive buffs and ask them to reinvite me when xxx player leaves the group. Generally the leader will come back and ask questions and then I explain why I left. More often than not the non-entertainer is removed from the group and I am reinvited.Most new entertainers are clueless as well. I am happy to explain the buffing system in group chat so that all the entertainers get anunderstanding of how it works.
I refuse to be treated like a bot. I respond to rudeness with politeness. Nothing is set in stone and player attitudes can be changed. We are the frontline, we need to lead by example because we can make a difference.
seline
Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:14 am
#25
I'm on usually right after server reset before "bots" log in. Funny thing as you say, people asks me if they don't need to be grouped as they learned from bots. Sometimes while I was buffing others, some of people shouts if someone can invite him to "my group", I yell "hey I aint bot" and tell to my customers, "sorry, I'm not giving you lessons like bots do "mind buff for dummies", stop watching after 4 minutes" . I never group with people to buff IF I'm not invited to a largescalehunt or raid preperations. I'm happy with my life, I don't care bots either. I'm a good chatter, I don'twear like a wh*re, I don't flirt, I don't beg for tip or heals, I don't ask for money for buffs (which they pay themselves, some even don't have money, paying me after they do missions), I treat people as they deserve (which they like it even harsh)and once someone got buffs from me, they never go to bots again if I'm there...
Am I an entertainer? Yes, but I'm also a combatant who are aware of all other mechanics in game. So I don't need some of thems stinking breaths. I respect to full time, full template entertainers but, I suggest to select one type to all so you can protect your nerves, moving your interests to other side of this game.
Message Edited by seline on 01-23-2005 04:21 PM
Kiriah
Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:04 pm
#26
I leave my Master Dance title on at all times. I've had a few unpleasant instances of jerks demanding buffage, but usually only during times I was buffing others, and a line had formed. Jerks weren't interested in waiting their turn, and I just plain don't do "group buffs" unless the group involved will actually be hunting together, as a group.
Still, my experience with demanding jerks is minimal. Partially because buffbots are so prevalent, but also partially because I tend to frequent cantinas that are devoid of entertainers, more often than not. The people who find me there are just happy as can be that there's someone with the ability to dance Basic 1, much less a buffer. They've been polite and, tip wise, quite generous.
So... I leave my title on at all times, if only because I'm in places where entertainers just aren't guaranteed, but are needed.
Still, my experience with demanding jerks is minimal. Partially because buffbots are so prevalent, but also partially because I tend to frequent cantinas that are devoid of entertainers, more often than not. The people who find me there are just happy as can be that there's someone with the ability to dance Basic 1, much less a buffer. They've been polite and, tip wise, quite generous.
So... I leave my title on at all times, if only because I'm in places where entertainers just aren't guaranteed, but are needed.