Dancer Archive
Thread: The BuffBot Quandary
FarmerDozee
Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:29 pm
#40
Why don't we kill the part of the macro system that makes it loop. The /ui action toolbarSlot ## is what makes it loop correct? If we take this out then macros won't loop anymore, and will take out quite a few AFK macro folks.
Drygo
Sat Jun 12, 2004 7:29 pm
#41
I definitely don't think we should get rid of macros. They truly *do* aid in performances in a big way. I even have a looping macro that I use when I'm just dancing to dance. It allows me to look good and still chat with people. I'll throw in an extra effect or something manually. But, the thought of having to flourish so often manually is just not appealing to me.
Also, the /ui action line is not the only one that allows macros to repeat. I don't even use that. I just type /macro <nameofmacro> at the end of the macro, which makes it repeat.
Now, I know some people don't agree with me, but I think that you will see a huge difference when the hologrind is over. At the very least, the people afk'ing will be doing it to be an entertainer. For whatever reason, they'll want that profession. I think it's going to cut down the amount of "entertainers" in the Cantinas significantly. I mean, having recently levelled up a new avatar to master dancer, I had the "joy" of levelling with mostly afk'ers. Nine times out of ten, when asked, these "entertainers" said they were doing it for a holo and would drop it once they got master. So...we're talking about cutting down "entertainer" populations in the Cantina by about 9/10ths. That *will* make a huge difference. I think we *are* gonna get our Cantinas back.
HOWEVER, what really concerns me, is the subject of this post...the buffbots. Those are here to stay, unfortunately. I don't think we need worry about the afk entertainers levelling all that much. What we need to worry about are the buffbots. And, rather than fighting with the devs about macros and afk, which will get us nowhere, we really need to focus on the buffbot issue. And, the only real way that I can see to do this is making buffing REQUIRED atk play. Just like the ID windows. The devs *did* just set a precedent here. They made ID's unable to afk. One has to wonder why they chose to do that after so much lip service to *not* doing that because of their fear of third party programs.
Now, I don't agree with the timers and some of the other things they "gave" to IDs. However, I do think that the "spirit" of the ID UI is a good one. I honestly don't see why they can't do something similar for dancers and entertainers when it comes to buffing. I don't want a UI that takes up the whole screen, lol...but I would like something that requires atk play for buffing. I think probably the simplest solution would simply be requiring the use of the radial dial for buffing. Have a little blue box that says "buff," click on it, and voila! you're buffing. Remove passive buffing and put it on the radial dial.
Sure, I don't know how much coding that would take, but it would do wonders for the entertainer community...not the "entertainer" community, but the entertainer community (not quoted). The devs touted the new style of gameplay. I hope to the force that they don't give up on that. It's not a failure yet. But, it will be if they don't act to alleviate the failure. I started playing this game and love this game because it offers this new style of gameplay. DO NOT ruin it! They have something so good here, and I can't believe how non-responsive they are when it comes to this. The social experiment is NOT a failure, but the way they have encouraged afk play and buffbotting is what is causing it to fail. There's still hope and all they need to is act--do one simple thing to save it. They got rid (or will be getting rid) of the hologrind, that was step #1 they needed to do. The 2nd is to make buffing atk. Then, I think I can actually be happy.
Salmahn
Sun Jun 13, 2004 7:26 am
#42
I'm currently trying to become master musician. It's very hard to do when there are buff bots in the Cantina because people go to them to get buffed, and at the same time their bf and wounds go away. I don't think I'm alone in wondering if anything can be done about this short term. Buff bots in a town hall or a guild cantina wouldn't be too bad, but when there are afk buffers in the middle of Coronet cantina, where it's hard enough to get healing exp, I get a little irate. I'd like to see some changes in the very near future to stop the practice of afk mind buffers. I would even go so far as to say that the people afk buffing need to be punished in some way. They may think their being nice or whatever, but all it boils down to is that they're a bunch of exp thieves. I just thought I'd vent, and this seemed like the forum to do it in.
Salmahn Eye
NewJedi
Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:39 pm
#43
If the /register command were working properly, and if it had some "buff" component, that might help a lot. Even better if we could /register as "live" rather than AFK. That way you could use the CTL V map to see who's "live," who's buffing, who's healing, etc.
I'd like to ask the devs about /register in one of our upcoming weekly Questions.
bawler14
Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:29 pm
#44
The problem is most people are too lazy to search for live Masters. I've even heard of cases where there is a Live Master with a +25 EAD to their Buff, giving them a 125% buff, and a Buffbot... Even with better buffs... most folks will pick the free buff bots every time.
For Master Entertainers... our only static income is broken cause of this... I'd rather have the devs fix the problem... than make it easier for people to know we're there and still ignore us. Most people don't give a bantha poo doo about live ents at least on my server. I ask you to refer to these to threads as perfect examples of it.
The fact is from my experiences... people either just don't recognize us enough... The current system works... but most people have never heard about it. We don't need to help them find us. We need to help them recognize us as players and people. The devs ignore us... but at least they recognize we exist... In my opinion the majority of the player base doesn't recognize us as a valid profession... and until that changes... or the devs start caring... all our ills will continue. It doesn't matter if people see a sign saying "LIVE ENTS!" if they don't care whether their entertainment is AFK or not. I know they are those who
still appreciate and love us... but the number who don't grows every day. I think every player who treats us like a joke... decreases us in the devs eyes. How many customers will they please by fixing us... not enough. We need our fellow players fight for change... before anything is going to get changed.
All I want is for more non ents to recognize us... is that so much?
Message Edited by bawler14 on 06-21-2004 05:53 PM
rebus_ks
Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:37 pm
#45
phujitiv wrote:I get my battle fatigue healed from regular dancers. But, if I need a buff, I will go to an AFK one. There don't seem to be any other people giving out good buffs. I can get all my mind buffs in less than 10 minutes from an AFK buffer, while I can't seem to find anyone else to do it. What am I supposed to do? Not get buffed just because the other entertainers don't like the AFK ones? No. I will get buffed by anyone who provides quick buffs.All you entertainers out there need to advertise that you are buffing, otherwise I am going to the AFK ones.
I know that this reply is taking the thread a little ways off topic, but I feel the need to respond to it. Have you asked if a person is there and buffing?
The people who set up buff-bots will get themselves a good action buff and spam their little advertisement macro away without giving a fig about the economy or actual players. Perhaps the reason you can't find a live entertainer to buff you is that all the buff-bots and hologrinders have driven us away from the NPC cantinas? Also, the popular NPC cantinas are filled with spam, so perhaps you need to /tell the person because he or she can't see your request through it all?
If it's a matter of time (i.e. You want to only take three minutes instead of six or ten or whatever) maybe you should tip them so that they can afford accarragm or buffs? If it's a matter of buff size, maybe you should start tipping live entertainers so that they can eventually afford the skill tapes to give better buffs?
And advertise? We don't like spamming, we'd rather chat and socialize thank you very much. This is, for better or for worse, an MMORPG. Maybe I should highlight that the second M stands for Multiplayer, i.e. lots of people actually playing together. Maybe you should try getting to know some real entertainers instead of just going to who shouts the loudest or has the biggest buff. It won't be a wasted experience.
kaldarin
Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:18 am
#46
My character does not have any medic skills at this time so it seems to me that if I get wounded and want healing I should have easy access to a wound healing afk medic any place I may travel.
kirah_ashlin
Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:02 am
#47
kaldarin wrote:
My character does not have any medic skills at this time so it seems to me that if I get wounded and want healing I should have easy access to a wound healing afk medic any place I may travel.
Because, after all - you are the only important player in the game . . .
Kreistor
Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:23 am
#48
kirah_ashlin wrote:
kaldarin wrote:
My character does not have any medic skills at this time so it seems to me that if I get wounded and want healing I should have easy access to a wound healing afk medic any place I may travel.
Because, after all - you are the only important player in the game . . .
QFE 
kirah_ashlin
Tue Jun 22, 2004 1:59 pm
#49
Oh . . . my online game noobiness is showing, Ubi! I don't know what that means?! Good things, I hope!
Kreistor wrote:
QFE
Akkurscid
Tue Jun 22, 2004 2:01 pm
#50
Do what I did, and buy a droid with a stim dispencer, then get our local medic to fill it. There you go Stims where ever you travel.
As soon as they get a Buff dispencerdroid I'm getting one of those too. 
ArgentWulf
Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:52 pm
#51
kirah_ashlin wrote:
Oh . . . my online game noobiness is showing, Ubi! I don't know what that means?! Good things, I hope!
Kreistor wrote:
QFE
I'm glad you asked, sis. . . I was afraid I was the only one.
/blush
Yazia
Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:34 pm
#52
Finally someone with something to say thats worth responding to. I play a Master Entertainer/Master Musician/Master Dancer on Intrepid. I have played her since launch. There has been alot thatus FULL TIME Entertainers have had to put up with (as many other classes has also). I have my own Cantina also in Vodo Falls on Dantooine. I spend most of my time buffing players mind in the cantina in the mining outpost. I agree with alot of you that the buff botting has got to go, my business has gone down hill because of a buffbot that stands there and gives out free buffs also. She says to please tip if you can but i know how tight ppl are with there credits so i know very few tip im sure. I'm all for some extra thing you have to do while your buffing that you cant do AFK. Something that doesnt require me to get something from another class please like what youve done to stat mitigating (that is a pain to do now and i hate what youve done). Also dont make it something you have to craft cuz i dont want to craft... What i want to do is stand in a catina playing one of my macros ive made. These macros are needed to assure a good sound you cant produce without a macro. So please by all means get rid of the Buff botts but dont make it unbearable to play an entertainer.