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ctown28
ctown28
Huntsman

Apr-16-2009 10:18

I wanted to start this thread to get some opinions from others in the community about the advantages that some players/agencies have over one another. I am not saying my thoughts on them are right or wrong nor am I saying that anybody else’s is. In fact, you may see me flip flop on the topics from time to time as I sometimes like to look at both sides.

What I do not want to see here is for this to turn into a flame war and/or any name calling. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you have been here for 10 days or 1000 days. Every opinion of someone that pays to play the game carries just as much weight as the next person.

A good debate can be healthy for the community and I ask you to all stay respectful here even if you disagree with something that is said here. I will start with some topics and would like to see them discussed and if anyone thinks I missed something or would like to add a topic, by all means go for it.



Replies

shell marple
shell marple
Con Artist

Apr-19-2009 21:51

One last thing, I do agree with nicnic that these are old issues that are not as relevant today as they were back when there where more players and a highly competitive atmosphere. But I do believe that there needs to be more disscussions on these here boards. I always knew as a director when my agency was in trouble and ready to lose members.. How.... the agnecy message boards got very quiet. I have always thought that the message boards and the interaction between the players has always been the backbone of the game... When they are upbeat and lively... the game tends to turn that direction. And when they get ugly or just plain cease to exsist so does the game.

Lolita Marinez
Lolita Marinez
Sleuth About Town

Apr-20-2009 02:29

Please don't remove it ctown. It is a great discussion and allowed people a voice over some issues that concern them and I am so pleased that it stayed as a civil friendly discussion.

I think it just goes back to the old adage of "You can't please all the folk all the time"

Vampiric Smile
Vampiric Smile
Safety Officer

Apr-20-2009 04:40

Unfortunately, judging by the results, it is obvious that the target of this thread was not accomplished. SS is right pointing the antithesis between the intention of ctown and the outcome of the discussion. In addition it is really sad the fact that a honorable player like kenb felt threatened by the post (it is true that parallelisms like “snake in the grass” were out of the spirit of the post) and decided to quit playing the game (I really hope that he will reconsider)
Jesus said that we should judge the tree by the fruits the tree is producing and I feel that the fruit after the post of Kenb is very bitter indeed. Better the post to be removed


Sleuth Sindy
Sleuth Sindy
Pinball Wizard

Apr-20-2009 05:05

Is that what offended Ken? My reference to "snakes in the grass?"

I wasn't thinking of anyone in general or specifically when I wrote that. I wasn't even thinking of a person. I was merely making reference to the fact that there is always *something* that we dislike about everything. It's just a fact of life.

I certainly was not casting aspersions on anyone. If someone took my analogy in that way, then I am very, very sorry.

topkebab
topkebab
Lucky Stiff

Apr-20-2009 05:10

I've been dragging my heels, reading what other people have been saying and trying to determine my own position on some subjects that i've not really thought about much before. So here's my 2c worth.

But firstly i'd like to say this:

Kenb, i'm very sorry to hear about your surgical woes. But... you want to leave? Are you SERIOUS? By my count this thread had 6 pages and 19 posters before you, discussing several topics not just YOUR multiple subs. (yes ppl I am that sad, i counted them all :P) How you managed to read all of it and then think that it's a direct attack on YOU, i'm not sure. Personally I didn't even think of you until i read your post. Is someone gonna tell me that i'm just so out of touch with what everyone else in the community knows to be true, that i didn't realise this is an "anti-kenb" thread?

"Yes, I am one of those sinful, cheating, dishonorable, snake in the grass people"... now correct me if i'm wrong, but i didn't see any of these descriptors mentioned by anyone else anyway in reference to people with multiple subs.

Of course you could have written a reply explaining your situation, i don't think many of us here would be clammouring for your expulsion. Instead you say you've decided to leave, which doesn't help this discussion, the game, or to be honest, yourself.

I hope you come back, it's just silly to leave because you read too much into a generalised community discussion.

topkebab
topkebab
Lucky Stiff

Apr-20-2009 05:11

Now onto my thoughts about advantages:

Case Helpers.
I do think that helpers should not be easily available to newbies early on, since they stunt the learning and thinking process, and create the situation where a newbie can't solve a case without it cos they don't know how to use paper and pen. Having said that, i don't see the problem for the 'old folks' using them, imho i personally would be playing much less since each case would take me longer without the helper that i use. I haven't tried Huglovers' program, mainly because i heard about how it works and that's not how i process my cases (i mean the sequence of who i ask etc). But I don't begrudge others using it cos they can do what they like. And if Huglover (or others) want to use the skills that they have to "improve" their gameplay, and then give away all their hard work for free, that's not something i object strongly to.

VH Helpers.
imho a waste of time for old folks since all you need to do is look at the map of the city you are currently in. Although i applaud those who take the time and effort to create them, i don't use them myself. For newbies... well certainly it would help them and again they would stunt the learning and thinking process.

Little job answers.
Personally i'm not a particular detective/noir story fan, i haven't read most of the books/authors mentioned and some i've never heard of. *waits for the boos to die down* It's nice to have the answers all in one place but in this day and age all i'd have to do is google the answers. There's just no way around the fact that they aren't really a challenge no matter what.

topkebab
topkebab
Lucky Stiff

Apr-20-2009 05:11

So what's the solution? I can't think of a good solution. Are we gonna make it a rule that any and all players of sleuth are not allowed to develop any helper programs, help sheets, etc to help themselves play the game? What about their close friends? What about their agency mates? I've made my own sheet for Prince's Palace, should I stop using it? The best I can come up with is make sure they're not too prominent if it can be helped, and try not to give them out to newbies too early.

Multiple subs.
I do think there should be a rule in place. It may be difficult or tedious to enforce but there should be one. Should there be any exceptions? Absolutely, this is a game after all, we're not talking about life or death. So situations in which family members use the same computer, or one player would like to have more than 2 subs in an agency for a special reason, should absolutely be considered. Any rule in the world will be broken by someone who really really wants to, it's silly to think that ppl who truly want to abuse the trust and honesty of the majority of players here, won't be able to even if Ben does enforce this rule more than he does currently. I agree with 2 subs in an agency that THs, i think that an agency that demonstrably doesn't TH could be considered an exception on a case by case basis.

Password sharing.
If i had an issue with this it would only be in reference to THs. Do any newbies really believe that they HAVE to give their password to the agency they've just joined even if they don't want to? I don't think that this point should even be part of this discussion. But... i don't have a problem with this, it evens out the time zone differences we have here in sleuth. (I'm fading fast here, no long tirade)

topkebab
topkebab
Lucky Stiff

Apr-20-2009 05:12

(Holy cow, 4 posts. Don't worry, this is the last one.)

All cases for a single detective.
OK, imho this is a silly debate. Some people are egotistical and like to see their name above everyone elses. You can't help them. Some people want to help a newbie gain XP. I remember when I was a newbie I really wanted to do as many cases as i could get my hands on because i enjoyed the game and was excited every time i could move up a level of difficulty.

Finally.
I like the idea of resetting favours at turnover, if you are holding one. Not losing it completely, that would be a waste of three cases, but a randomly generated new one after midnight, which actually means there's a 10% chance that it stays the same.

Also I would like to put forward the idea of a separate "subscribers" board within City Hall, which would be a better place for a thread like this than on a board open to any and all newbie. It was pointed out to me that there is a subscribers centre with a message board on it but i have RSI from playing too much sleuth, i prefer two less clicks ;)

I'm not sure if i missed any points, there are so many! I have to look away from the screen now, before my eyes fuse together.

Sleuth Sindy
Sleuth Sindy
Pinball Wizard

Apr-20-2009 06:08

Okay, I did a Google search on the term "snake in the grass," and I realize now that they way it has been used in my family is not the general understanding of the meaning of this term, and I can see how someone would be offended by my apparent misuse of the term here.

My family has always used it simply to mean something that doesn't go well or something you don't like. i.e. The copier at my job breaks down almost every day and I have to work in a very cramped space. I like my job but you know, there's always a snake in the grass (or two or three).

Again, I am very sorry that I posted offended anyone. That was certainly NOT my intention.

Adam Carter
Adam Carter
Big Winner

Apr-20-2009 06:59

After reading all the posts here, the general consensus of the community seems to be "let's not rock the boat." To me, this is disheartening. A couple of years ago, when the game was running at full steam, people would debate and argue anything, from password sharing and "2 subs in one agency", right down to whether or not to consider one of Nephi's ideas. The spirit within the community was that of competition, and it spilled out into gameplay, with people constantly battling to become #1. Now though, it seems that everyone is content to just "get on with it."

I'm not going to go over everything that has been said here, as most of it has been summed up pretty well. I do agree with SS though, we really do need a set of rules in this game. It's more fun to compete and win when you are restricted than when it's an open field. A simple set of rules, to tell us our do's and do not's cant hurt. People can only really object to them if they would be stopped from doing something they already do.

I do believe though that the 2 subs thing has been blown out of all proportion with regards to THing. For me that isn't where the issue lies. You can do far more damage in an agency that compliantly password shares than an agency where the 12 subs are run by one person. An example to that point is my old agency, Hitchhikers: London. Nobody in that agency had more than 2 of their own detectives, yet we were able to sweep probably 1/3 of all the treasure hunts played during our active time. That was done because one person at a time had control over the whole agency. We all took turns in it, but essentially the principle was the same. Plus it was easier for us than it would be for one person alone, as it was harder for us to burn out. Though it did happen eventually.

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