Dancer Archive
Thread: Interesting idea to revamp the buff process
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Maryja
Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:22 am
#27
If you wanted torelate the mechanics to something tangable from an RP persepctive, maybe you could think of it as the power of thecharisma that comes with stardom. Where as watching you perform would lift their spirits by reducing BF and healing mind wounds, buffing could be thought of as that personal touch, such as giving a fan an autograph. The more peforming you do, the more autographs you can hand outto fans.
Vorpaks
Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:32 am
#28
OrionsByte wrote:I dunno... I like the idea froma standpoint of ease of use and understandability, but I doubt the devs will give it much thought. The idea behind buffs wasthat they listen to us or watch us, and their spirits are lifted, which manifests as a buff.If I'm understanding this idea correctly, then all the entertaining would be done behind-the-scenes, and someone would be able to receive a buff without being entertained. Is that really what we want?Perhaps we can only earn buff charges if we (or our group) are being listened to/watched while we are playing/dancing. So performing in a crowded cantina would allow you to charge your buffs up faster, and playing alone wouldn't do anything. It still doesn't make much sense to be able to give people buffs if they were not entertained by you, but at least some form of entertainment is still involved.In the end, though, I think any ideas we pursue along these lines will have to take in to account that the devs want people to be entertained to receive entertainment buffs, not just interact with an entertainer. There's a subtle difference there that we need to be aware of.Sorry to play devil's advocate...
If there is a visual effect to go along with it I think people will still be entertained.
And they still have to watch to heal wounds and fatigue. I don't think buffing was provided so that more people would watch entertainers, I think it was provided so that entertainers would have a controllable form of income.
AtheneNoctua
Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:37 am
#29
I like this idea very much, especially if there is a nice visual effect when a buff is applied. As I understand it, the number of charges that can be stored will be the critical factor that determines the direction we will go to. To make this a bit clearer, I'll point out my understanding of the extremes:
a) Only 1 charge can be stored at a time: Very similar to the current targetted buff, but much easier to apply for both, entertainer and customer. No more group buffs. Negligible incentive for AFKing (at least until someone finds a way of automating applying the buff).
b) An infinite amount of charges can be stored: This will bring us closer to how doctor buffs work today, 'preparing' and applying buff charges needs no longer happen at the same time and location, therefore generating an incentive for unattended, or at least semi-attended gameplay while charges are prepared, especially if preparing charges takes rather long.
Again, I really like this idea, especially because it is very simple. I just wanted to highlight possible side effects of the number of charges that can be stored.
(I wonder why nobody hasn't brought up the requirement that both, buffer and buffee need to wear hawtpants for the buff to work...)
a) Only 1 charge can be stored at a time: Very similar to the current targetted buff, but much easier to apply for both, entertainer and customer. No more group buffs. Negligible incentive for AFKing (at least until someone finds a way of automating applying the buff).
b) An infinite amount of charges can be stored: This will bring us closer to how doctor buffs work today, 'preparing' and applying buff charges needs no longer happen at the same time and location, therefore generating an incentive for unattended, or at least semi-attended gameplay while charges are prepared, especially if preparing charges takes rather long.
Again, I really like this idea, especially because it is very simple. I just wanted to highlight possible side effects of the number of charges that can be stored.
(I wonder why nobody hasn't brought up the requirement that both, buffer and buffee need to wear hawtpants for the buff to work...)
DanceRulez
Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:57 am
#30
I can see why this idea would be popular, but I don't really like it. For one thing, what is this "charge" anyway? It makes me think of some kind of magic, glowing sphere or capsule or something of concentrated music or dance "energy". It kinda goes against the reality aspect for me. The idea of the mind buff seems to be that the watcher (listener) is inspired by a specially directed performance on the part of the dancer or musician. I don't really like the idea of replacing this process with some kind of magical "zap". I'm not a Jedi (not yet anyway ).
For another thing I kinda like having my customers "trapped" for a couple of minutes while I buff them. Sometimes that is all they come in for, and most of the people who come to see me like to chat for a bit. I would be a little disappointed if I could dispatch them so quickly.
As far as the people who complain about us being too much of a time sink, I wouldn't worry about them anyway. Those types won't be happy until they are completely independent and able to blast stuff wherever and whenever they want (and even then they'd get bored of it and want to move on to something else). The devs would never let them have that anyway although they have made some wise concessions such as lowering the shuttle wait times. Periods of downtime between periods of action are a good thing. The downtime is used for strategic planning and build-up which lead to more interesting action periods, and that's what we're a part of.
There's also the "delayed gratification" aspect: by making you wait a little while to do what you want to do, you don't get through everything too fast, and you're more likely to stay around longer. Besides, I've seen people stand in a line of 10 composite clad people or more to get a doc buff, and that's gotta be a wait of 5 minutes or more doing absolutely nothing, and they want to complain about watching a dancer or listening to music for 3 minutes??
Anyway, I'm sorry to go against the grain a bit here, but I'm afraid I'm against some sort of insta-buff method. I like my captive audience.
).For another thing I kinda like having my customers "trapped" for a couple of minutes while I buff them. Sometimes that is all they come in for, and most of the people who come to see me like to chat for a bit. I would be a little disappointed if I could dispatch them so quickly.
As far as the people who complain about us being too much of a time sink, I wouldn't worry about them anyway. Those types won't be happy until they are completely independent and able to blast stuff wherever and whenever they want (and even then they'd get bored of it and want to move on to something else). The devs would never let them have that anyway although they have made some wise concessions such as lowering the shuttle wait times. Periods of downtime between periods of action are a good thing. The downtime is used for strategic planning and build-up which lead to more interesting action periods, and that's what we're a part of.
There's also the "delayed gratification" aspect: by making you wait a little while to do what you want to do, you don't get through everything too fast, and you're more likely to stay around longer. Besides, I've seen people stand in a line of 10 composite clad people or more to get a doc buff, and that's gotta be a wait of 5 minutes or more doing absolutely nothing, and they want to complain about watching a dancer or listening to music for 3 minutes??
Anyway, I'm sorry to go against the grain a bit here, but I'm afraid I'm against some sort of insta-buff method. I like my captive audience.
Dreamland
Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:11 pm
#31
I think maybe just speed them up a bit, maybe make it so you can do a 3 minute buff with regular flourishing instead of mad 1 second flourishing. I also think the group buff needs to go at least in its current form.
The trouble to me with the group buff is 1: it enables buffbots and 2: it creates a situation where the entertainer has to leave their group in order to to buff, and even when buffbots in their current form are gone this creates a situation where the buffing entertainer should they be out there just to buff, is still acting as an xp sop to the main group as they cannot be a part of it and group buff as many will no doubt choose to use as their choice method of buff.
What id propose instead is a new interface with the same principles as image designer:
: There would be a window interface that is basicaly a list with an add, apply andkickbutton. it would open upon the first use of /setperform on a target.
: The window would be visible to entertainer and to the customer as well.
: The entertainer would add customers to the list by targeting and clicking add up to a maximum of 20
: Upon being added the customer gets a system message that says "(entertainersname) has invited you for a mind enhancement please begin watching or listening now."
: Once the customer starts watching a blue progress bar appears next to thier name indicating the completion of the buff.
: Once the buff is compete it does NOT take effect til the dancer highlights the customers name and clicks apply, if they click on kick at this point or at any point the customer is removed without a buff. This allows the entertainer a way to enforce payment.
: A checkbox toggle would be available for autoapply on completion for entertainers that wish to buff on a tips only system.
: Upon pressing the apply button the customer gets a system message that says "you have recieved a mind enhancement from (entertainersname) enjoy."
: On pressing the kick button the customer is informed via system message as well.
The only problem i see with this sytem is recieving musician and dancer buffs at the same time which used to be a possibility before it was bugged, as the complexity of a second window would make it confusing to the customer and harder to implement. In this case its something i've often thought of that musicians and dancers should be put on even ground and be able to apply both primary and secondary stat buffs. This would make it easier for the customer whono longer has to search out both a master musician and a master dancer to get a full set of buffs.
Message Edited by Dreamland on 09-10-2004 12:12 AM
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