Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Sleuth Talk


0 0
Feature to replace "Password Sharing"

Sherlock H0lmes
Sherlock H0lmes
Well-Connected

Oct-11-2005 07:41

Password sharing is bad. While it may not have harmful effects on many, many occasions, all it takes is one mistake and a lot of bad may come of it.

On that note, what could be implemented to prevent the need/desire for password sharing yet couldn't be abused.

Facts:
1) Done in agencies so that cases/favors can be used when the person who gave the password is not around.

2) Passwords are mostly given to one or more directors. Sometimes it must only be shared with one other member of the agency.

3) The 10 case a day limit is so that the amount of time you can spend Sleuthing isn't a huge unbalancing factor.

Ideas
1) For vacationing sleuths, have the ability to set up an "Agency Auto-play". Basically, you choose a difficulty level and, until you turn it off, your sleuth will automatically take cases of that difficulty and store them in the case files until your # of slots is full.

2) Add an agency permission so that each agent can choose which agency members can play as them. This is what (we) programmers refer to as a "hack", but its better than having people give out passwords.

3) Change the game mechanics somewhat... First, add a hard limit of say 15 cases/day for a single detective. The number doesn't matter much as long as its more than the number of cases you can get in a day. Second, allow the number of cases allowed per day to roll over. Third, there is no third. Here's an example of what I mean here:

Day 1: detective goes on vacation, 10 cases available
Day 2: detective is still on vacation, 20 cases available
...
Day 7: detective comes back from vacation, 70 cases available. Detective plays 15 cases and cannot play anymore. 55 cases remain
Day 8: 55 cases + 10 new cases - 15 played cases = 50 cases
...
Day 18: 5 cases + 10 new cases - 15 played cases = 0 cases - detective has now "caught up" from his "vacation"

Replies

Sherlock H0lmes
Sherlock H0lmes
Well-Connected

Oct-11-2005 07:53

Personally, I like the 3rd option best. I don't think it would be too hard to implement, but it does change some of the mechanics of the game.

I think the 15 case (or whatever number is chosen) is much closer fit with the reality of "time" in sleuth. Also, the aspect of coming back from a vacation and then having a desk full of work that takes you a few weeks to catch up on is closer to reality too. This also makes vacations somewhat of a tool ... the agency may suffer during treasure hunts while the agent is gone, but when the agent comes back, he can distribute his saved up work so that everyone can do 15 cases. A little bit of abuse, maybe, but I think there is a balance between a few days of not doing so well and a day, maybe 2 of doing really well. There may need to be a cap on the number of available cases for a detective so it doesn't get too ridiculous. I'd say 70 - 140 would be reasonable (1 - 2 weeks). In a 10 agent agency, that's 14 days with 9 agents and then 3 days with the equivalent of 15 agents.

Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-11-2005 17:20

That's a good idea but too difficult for me lol unless its just the day I am having and I am making it sound more difficult than what it is. :) We require password sharing in our agency...but only Directors have the passwords (and there are only 2 of us). We dont use their cases or log on under them at all,unless given permission by them. We have their password just in case we would have to kick them out, and we could take our gear back b4 doing so.(we havent had to do that,thank goodness, each and every person we have are wonderful!) We've never had a problem in our agency with that requirement. I know some dont agree with it BUT whatever works in an agency, works! :)

cfm
cfm
Nomad

Oct-11-2005 17:25

Let me point out that Password sharing is not a requirement for Mojo. It is encouraged, but we aren't going to kick you out if you choose not to share.

That said, and I know that 10 cases is more than enough for me! I was recently gone for 4 days, I would have had heart failure had I come back to 40 cases to work! Besides that, people could stock pile cases for hunting....

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Oct-11-2005 18:02

Though I know it is common. And I have done so myself in my own agency at the time (granted after many months of playing with people.) I wouldn't like to see it officially condoned, or encouraged.

I think the risk you take with password sharing, is your own. If someone pulls the plug on you, it's your own fault too. So I wouldn't recommend password sharing to anyone, unless you are 100% sure.

I think this would add more pressure on people sharing their detective or their pass. password mishaps can happen intentionally or unintentionally. And are a responsibility of both giver and taker.

In terms of the measure above: 1) Vacationing part of normal life in any agency. So is being away for a day or two. I also sets up a situation to benefit from having a few dummy agents, who are permanently or frequently on vacations. And would limit the actual situation of having real players. Who on ocassion get fired because of lack of playing time. 2) You can decide who you give your pass to, you have your own built in permissions, 3) If someone wants to play 500 cases a day, be my guest. :) Besides logging in regularly on more then 2 agents in a single agency is regularly monitored and playing them actively (for instance for contacts), and people on ocassion are warned.

I had several players joining TAFKADD, because they were forced to give up their pass in another agency as soon as, or shortly after they joined. It leaves a bitter taste.



Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-11-2005 18:49

I also think 10 cases are plenty! I would croak if I came back from vacation or just two days or whatever and saw a pile up of cases. I think I would turn around and go for another vacation :o)

As for password sharing, it can leave a bitter taste but in my agency, there has never been a problem. There is open communication and everyone knows why we have it, and knows we dont log on for any other reasons than what we have stated. There is alot of trust here between us! (thank goodness)
I dont know as we would kick anyone out for not giving us passwords but, we shouldnt have to because they know b4 they join what we require. :o)


kidgame2004
kidgame2004
Vigilante

Oct-11-2005 19:29

10 cases is usually more then enough. Sometimes I get them all done, sometimes not. It may be a good idea to have roll over and whatever cases you dont solve continue to the next day. Eventually I'd have several hundred saved up so hey for those days im home all day and bored, I'll have tons of cases to work on. Then again it would pressure me a bit into thinking I have to do them all in one day. Thats where I'd make a mistake and get a false perhaps because of thinking I need to rush through them.

Sherlock H0lmes
Sherlock H0lmes
Well-Connected

Oct-11-2005 19:40

CFM, this post has nothing to do with Mojo policy. My day job is a developer and the idea of password sharing just gives me chills. Its probably equivalent to a guy leaving the toilet seat up, but mulitplied by 10 or 100 or something.

Anyway, the last idea wasn't that you'd have 40 cases or 80 cases or 100 cases to work. You'd have that many available, but the most you could *actually* play on any day would be 15. And by "play", I mean quit, false accuse, or solve.

Dummy accounts ... well, they would "help" no matter what the "rules" are. As for using passwords to boot people, there's gotta be a better way for that too. Perhaps being able to "assign" equipment to agents or the agency and then, upon dismissal, they would be given their equipment.

Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-12-2005 12:51

I think it would be great if there was a feature where someone cant leave an agency until they've put back the gear they've borrowed. Or if we have to kick someone out,their gear has to be off them. (unless its their own) BUT, since there isnt a feature like that, I will just continue to have the password requirement. :)


[ You must login to reply ]