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Sep-27-2004 11:21

I want to open up discussion about whether somebody should be allowed to have more than one detective in an agency, and if so, how many.

The official policy is that no more than one detective from any single IP address is allowed in a given agency. I haven't been particularly clear on the issue, nor have I enforced it particularly vigorously, so it's understandable that a lot of people didn't realise that was the rule. If we continue with that rule, I should probably at least add a more obvious notice to the "Invite Detective" screen.

The argument for having a limit is that it is a competitive advantage to have several agents controlled by a single person, because it makes coordinating on hunts easier.

Some points:

1) No system for identifying multiple accounts is 100% accurate. Some people have accounts at work and at home, some have dynamic IP addresses that switch, some have shared IP addresses, where different people at different locations can look like the same address to me.

2) There are a few instances of where players share a computer. For example, Sunny and I both play from home, and therefore the same IP address.

3) Some people have multiple detectives just for the fun of it, and don't use that to competitive advantage. There are a few of the smaller, less competitive agencies where users have more than one detective. they just enjoy being able to share items and cases between detectives and rarely even get involved in hunts.

4) A lot of agencies share passwords. In those cases, somebody may log in with their teammate's accounts often. If they do that, it can look like they are coming from the same IP address, depending on when I look.

So, let me know. How would you like this issue handled? Should there be a limit to the number of agents from a single IP address in an agency? If so, what should it be? Should the game enforce that limit, or should I do it by hand? Should the limit apply to non-competitive agencies?

Sep-29-2004 09:42

Sassafras has a point here. Making the favours harder is a problem for a newer player. You easily can end up killing them at some point, as there is no money for shady or bribes.

It may be an idea to have the favours linked to skills, or experience. As a new player a lost some favours, won some. Now it only rarely happens that I loose a favour. However the problem with that is simple. I just paid shady 250K, if I lost a lot of treasure hunts, it would simply kill me. Frankly if jstkdn ever got killed, I probably would stop playing this game altogether. After nursing him for 5 months.

Sep-29-2004 11:16

The dificulty could go up with experience, and if you aren't sure about the killer you can always quit the case.

Sep-29-2004 11:47

Our agency has dual ip agents too. I don't think that is the problem because we have only solved 1 treasure hunt since AUG 18th. Several agents in my agency have my password and it's a good thing because I was just called to my mothers bedside and had to stay away two weeks. My team mates would have been up a creek.

Sep-29-2004 13:06

Maybe to make the hunts more fair/last longer, two favors for each townsperson should be required. The first time someone from an agency does a favor the townsperson says "I just don't know if I can trust you with that information", and the second time they give it up.

That would force more favors and hinder the favor holding process.

Sep-29-2004 14:43

true it would.. but more hunts would be the best way i think - cos every time one ended, another would be possible to start. then as chron said earlier, everyone would be able to work on a favour..

Sep-29-2004 14:55

I've made a few adjustments on hunts...

Sep-29-2004 15:08

Those being...?

Sep-29-2004 18:20

Yes, those being?

Or is part of the challenge that we have to figure it out for ourselves?

Sep-29-2004 18:21

I have figured out a few of the things, but could you give more details, as I don't think I have it ALL figured out.

Sep-30-2004 08:13

hakunamata, I think we all know you quit a case when you are not sure. My problem is, I make an honest mistake on an occasion...then it is a hello shady, and bye $$. ALthough it doesn't happen often (thankfully), it does happen. I am sure it happens to all of us, but a mistake should not kill us. In that sense I do rely on winning favours most of the time.