Dancer Archive
Thread: afk dancers
I don't hate afk dancers, although I do hate the system that brought about such a huge influx of afk dancers into the Cantinas. It sucks that these people have to do something they don't want to do. I also believe that people should be able to play the way that they want to play. This means, if you want to afk that is your right. However, there are several very tangible ways that afk affects MY gameplay, making the dancing profession much less enjoyable. You see, I wanted to dance. It was the first elite profession that I picked up. I had a lot of fun doing it, and believe it or not enjoy manual flourishing, dancing to the music, and seeing what looks good. I like performing. I love when I get /tells complimenting me on how good I look. I like interacting with the group I'm dancing with, and I like getting to know people, asking questions, learning things, and making contacts. Obviously, all of these things don't appeal to everybody. But, I mastered dance strictly at the keyboard, I didn't even use macros. And, I enjoying every frelling second of it. It's true! 
The sad part is that, those who choose to afk are not enjoying it. Therefore, they simply shouldn't be doing it. And, when the hologrind is over, I'm sure there will still be people afk dancing. But, I'd like to think that the vast majority of them will no longer be cluttering up the cantinas. Because, presumably, the only people that are there actually want to be there and are enjoying themselves actually experiencing the profession as opposed to grinding it.
Before, I write down my list, I'll preface it by saying that I know not every afk'er does these things. And, if you're just an afk'er who keeps to yourself and doesn't do any of the things below, then by all means afk and we can be great friends because you won't be annoying me. lol. But, here is why I don't like to see afk entertaining:
1) Spam. Need I say more? The constant call for heals and group invites are extremely annoying.
2) Playing 3 different songs at one time in the Cantina. I like to listen to the ingame music, and 3 songs sounds awful. You're driving people away when you do this.
3) The new stop/start spam that appears to be prevalent in the coronet cantina on kettemoor because it supposedly gives better experience. This is even more annoying than the "heal me" spam and usually ends up with me trying to duel somebody. LOL
4) Buff bots--they take away my income. The entertainer has very little income as it is. It's rude as hell to set up a buff bot making it even less likely for us to make any money.
5) afk'ers taking up spots in the big group when there are atk players who need experience too. Preference should ALWAYS be given to an atk'er, and any group leader who doesn't boot an afk'er for an atk'er is not doing their job. Period. Feel free to afk entertain in my group if you want to. But, be aware that if the group hits 20 and there's an atk person needing a spot, you HAVE to go. Don't get mad and cuss me out because I made a very valid executive decision. The atk'er has limited time and is actually playing and contributing to my fun and the fun of the patrons. The afk'er runs all night long without any benefit for me, you can stand a few hours out of the big group and not whine about it.
I consider all of your points to be valid, and I do understand your frustration (more or less over afk'ers). But as you said, unfortunately its the path we are forced to walk.
I think most of us grinders respects those who have chosen this as their main occupation. But unfortunately, there will allways be that (hopefully minor group) that will take the best spots on the dance floor, every 30th second yelling "Tip me, heal me, watch me!".
I really hope that the afk-entertainment grinding will disapair entirely with the new quest driven jedi system goes live. And if someone insits on being afk dancing "because they make money this way", just send them a mail or tell informing them that afk tumbling in the hospitol is much more lucrative.. I think I too will benefit from the disapairence of the afk'ers. I think the enviroment (wrong word?) in the cantinas will be much more plesent and inviting. And making it a joy watching, and a pleasure tipping the entertainers.. Unlike the horrorfilled spaminfested visits they are now..
Drygo wrote:
5) afk'ers taking up spots in the big group when there are atk players who need experience too. Preference should ALWAYS be given to an atk'er, and any group leader who doesn't boot an afk'er for an atk'er is not doing their job. Period. Feel free to afk entertain in my group if you want to. But, be aware that if the group hits 20 and there's an atk person needing a spot, you HAVE to go. Don't get mad and cuss me out because I made a very valid executive decision. The atk'er has limited time and is actually playing and contributing to my fun and the fun of the patrons. The afk'er runs all night long without any benefit for me, you can stand a few hours out of the big group and not whine about it.
Fuschia, after about 10-15 minutes of someone entering a Cantina, I can usually guage whether they're a spammer, assmonkey, afk'er, or all of the above by the way they present themselves, the way they ask, and what they're doing. I may not always be right, but I think I have a very good idea of how to tell the difference just by theway someone is acting. Once I've established that someone *appears* to be an atk'er, then the afk'er gets booted, and the atk'er gets to join. Like I said, I may not always be right about this. And, if I end up being wrong, oops! my bad! But, I don't make apologies for making that kind of a decision. I think if you're an afk'er, then you should just gladly and willingly accept the fact that you will sometimes get kicked out of a 20 person group to make room for people. If you don't like it, then you need to be atk. That's just the way I feel. 
I remember many a time when I was levelling, as an always ATK leveller having to wait a half hour or an hour or more to get in the big group that was full of AFK'ers. Maybe I'm bitter, I dunno. But, as I said, my time levelling is limited because I chose to play ATK, and I wasn't going to join the crowd or kowtow to the afk mentality. As such, because I was adding to people's gameplay by actually being there, I DESERVED to be in that group, dammit! And, when I'm leader, I REFUSE to let other live ATK'ers go through the frustration that I had to go through in favor of someone who's still gonna get their master title within 3 days by not playing and then drop it immediately. Sorry, not gonna happen on my watch.
Message Edited by Drygo on 04-26-2004 09:49 AM