Entertainer Archive
Thread: A few ideas to help Entertainers
Hi folks. A couple of things occurred to me as I've worked through this unique profession, and I apologize if they've already been posted (lazy grinder), but I thought they might be interesting/worthy.
1) Cover charges
It probably is worth while to start charging to enter cantinas, in the same way merchants do. A variable fee with a known cap could be set up that charged visitors based on the number and total or mean level of entertainers within. To be clear, I'm only thinking of a minimum like 10 creds based on level of a player wanting to enter (to help n00bs), but make it increase by the level and number of entertainers working within. This would ensure all entertainers get some income. Distribute between entertainers based on their level as well. Make the cover charge with a time limit, so people can come and go, but have to pay again within that limit if it expires and they leave the place. Also, for player cities, allow players to "manage" those fees if they are a merchant. Give them some extra merchantXP
2) Bouncers
Put neutral high-level NPC bouncers in cantinas. Some of it could be for RP reasons, but could also be practical. Put NPC's in to stop PvP, the entry of pets, and to attack players who initiate combat on entertainer players within (GCW -- if someone gets a TEF for some reason). I don't mean to stop diseasers, but duels ought to occur outside IMO. In order to stop people from exploiting and kiting the bouncers outside, just give NPC bouncers the ability to "ban" an offending player for awhile. If someone attacks a bouncer and they win, make it so the next spawn of bouncers "ban" that player for a period and warp them outside. With a cover charge, the system will always be checking players who enter anyway and detect if someone has a ban and for how long.
3) Managers
Entertainers of all types need income and XP, so there needs to be a way to reward and help players along as they level. One thing that ought to be possible is to put in the Overhead Map (CTL-V) a listing of Elite profession players who are in a cantina. Basically, having the equivalent of a metaphorical manager who "books" that entertainer to a cantina. I don't think the map system works in real-time, but advanced Dancers and Muscians should be able to advertise when they enter a cantina to work. The system can't check everytime if someone enters/leaves a cantina, but it ought to be able under /Vendors/Entertainers to show the name of the player and their profession if that player "registers" for the night ("goes on stage"). The entertainer tells the system they're working and the system shows players if a cantina has high-level performers working. This would be great for wild planets and player cities (and free up Coronet). It would also be time-based, so you couldn't hop cantinas in a night maybe.
4) Hawkers
Like with the Overhead-Map it might be good to offer players as they advance in an elite profession the ability to hire a hawker for a night. I know we don't need anymore spam, but it might be cool if dancers/musicians got the ability to place an NPC outside and near a cantina to /say a small message. It would be identical to an NPC vendor right now who greets you. Unlike players, this /say would be timed, so we all wouldn't get sick of it (every 10-15 minutes?) too easily, and it would be small. The point would be to have a way to identify elite players and provide a little RP and advertising ("tonight only... WILD Twi'let on Twi'lek action... see inside" etc). In order to make sure we don't drown in hawkers, make it so that you can only have them at master skill levels (e.g. enthraller ), that you only get one, for a limited time like one per night, and that they have to be placed away from each at a set distance (to avoid the latency spam with too many dialogue balloons).
The point with each of these is to help entertainers with exposure, income, RP'ing, to provide incentives and specialty rewards to level, and to give the cantinas back to the people who need them. Thanks.
Message Edited by Soln on 04-06-2004 05:31 PM
2) Never going to happen. Watch ANH again and take note of the cantina fight when Han/Chewie met Luke/Ben. Read next to any of the books. Cantina fights are the norm.
3) There is a registration system for doctors, dancers, and musicians. They all get it at novice. That you did not know this is indicative of one of the reasons it doesn't work. The other reason is that it's bugged on player cantinas.
4) Hell no. Spam macros are bad enough, we don't need NPCs that can't go on the ignore list to add to the problem.
Ryyger wrote:
1) Good idea, improbable implimentation. How do you keep the entertainers themselves from paying?
2) Never going to happen. Watch ANH again and take note of the cantina fight when Han/Chewie met Luke/Ben. Read next to any of the books. Cantina fights are the norm.
3) There is a registration system for doctors, dancers, and musicians. They all get it at novice. That you did not know this is indicative of one of the reasons it doesn't work. The other reason is that it's bugged on player cantinas.
4) Hell no. Spam macros are bad enough, we don't need NPCs that can't go on the ignore list to add to the problem.
agreed