Ettiquette?

[Monger]

Ettiquette? I hope I spelled that right. So the other day I'm leveling on a map, and a character jumps on and Meteor Showers me, and I happen to die as a result. In his defence he didn't see me, and I was switching spells and unable to run away. Now I usually avoid Area spells, but this became a rather heated debate. So what's proper ettiquette when you step onto a new map? Is there an easy way to see if you are alone? Is there a Map Chat option, or should there be one?

What other in game manners should people keep in mind?

[Ryo]

That definitely depends on the server you're playing on.

Metalforge has precise rules (what the other player did would be totally against those rules), which can be seen at http://www.metalforge.net/rules/index.html

For other servers, check their MOTD or news, which appear when you connect and before you enter your login/password.

[Rednaxela]

See what Ryo said, also:

Is there an easy way to see if you are alone? Is there a Map Chat option, or should there be one?

Well the "who" command lets one know what map everyone is on, and thus one can know if there are others on the map. Not sure if that qualifies as "easy" in your opinion, but it does in mine. Also, there is a "map chat" of sorts: The "say" command is not only for talking to NPCs, it also talks to all players on the same map.

[Monger]

Only problem with say is it doesn't cover all sub-maps. Say you enter the Dragon caves and type "say Anyone else around" at the wyvern area. Only people in the wyvern area will hear you. I'm not sure how the maps are stored, but maybe an msay command could be heard by everyone on your map, or maps directly linked to it. I know this could cause immense issues with the worldmap, but it's an idea. Ponder away.

[Ryo]

That wouldn't really work, as maps are not linked by group or "whole map". From the server's point of view, it's all the same.

The best way is to check maps (through the "maps" commands) before entering, and/or use "chat" to ask all players.

[Rednaxela]

From the server's point of view, it's all the same.

(Though, making the server aware of this could be an interesting eventual feature, and could also be used for things like limiting the range of word of recall on some maps )

[bort]

Would a nice feature to add be the client displaying in red <Username> has entered <truncated map name|this map!> ?

Another option is to add a functionality that requires players to 'invite' others to join the map sub-levels.

For 2.0, I suppose there really needs to be a better way of introducing players to maps and etiquette?

One last thought is making friendly fire cause a fraction of the damage normally given. E.G. The damage is max from spell Meteor Swarm if the player is 'hostile' and the victim is peaceful/hostile. The damage from Meteor Swarm is maybe x% (10%?) if both players are peaceful and one accidentally fires MS at another. Monsters, however, get 100% damage effect (as if you fired at them either way).

This requires some large code changes, but we want to make CF a bit more enjoyable. After all, I have been severely frustrated when my partner used holy word and made my wraith into Cyclop's chow.

[Leaf]

One last thought is making friendly fire cause a fraction of the damage normally given. E.G. The damage is max from spell Meteor Swarm if the player is 'hostile' and the victim is peaceful/hostile. The damage from Meteor Swarm is maybe x% (10%?) if both players are peaceful and one accidentally fires MS at another. Monsters, however, get 100% damage effect (as if you fired at them either way).

As long as players can "block" monsters, an implementation like this will be badly abused.

A player could move ahead of the MS caster and prevent the opposing monster from moving forward or proceeding. The second player could repeat (spam) cast MS until the monster is dead. The Monster takes 100% damage. A macro'd quaff healing potion or other healing means would almost ensure that the player being hit by MS would survive. No, or minimal, danger to the the spell caster.

[Rednaxela]

Would a nice feature to add be the client displaying in red <Username> has entered <truncated map name|this map!> ?

To me that seems like a good idea, though perhaps something would need to be done to make sure it doesn't get too spamish if a player is entering and exiting alot (of course, there are much more spamish things anyways, but still, something to think about). It would also be useful for parties doing things and general player interaction, not just for etiquette.

Another option is to add a functionality that requires players to 'invite' others to join the map sub-levels.

That could be interesting, though I wouldn't consider it as high priority, but still interesting.

This requires some large code changes, but we want to make CF a bit more enjoyable. After all, I have been severely frustrated when my partner used holy word and made my wraith into Cyclop's chow.

Actually, I wouldn't say the code changes requires at that big. Could be done in a couple days even possibly. I also agree getting killed in those sort of situations is too easy. The real trick is finding a way around the probably that gets rid of potential abuse issues as Leaf points out (i.e. smarter monster AI, and more ranged attacks on monsters could make your solution less abusable IMHO)

[bort]

As long as players can "block" monsters, an implementation like this will be badly abused.

A player could move ahead of the MS caster and prevent the opposing monster from moving forward or proceeding. The second player could repeat (spam) cast MS until the monster is dead. The Monster takes 100% damage. A macro'd quaff healing potion or other healing means would almost ensure that the player being hit by MS would survive. No, or minimal, danger to the the spell caster.

Ah. To deal with this, the options are to make attack types cause higher/lower percentage damages (after all, I can fire at a wall and macro my healing), or to make certain spells cause more/less damage on level discriminancy. A level 35 pyromancer's meteor swarm will hurt me a lot less than a level 89 would.