Jevik

An IC only channel? How the hell does that work? Are you RPing that you're all telepaths that can communicate across the entire EL world?

First off, I want to be perfectly clear that this isn't a bash to other players, or the game design. It is meant as constructive criticism. I'd also like to make it clear that I really do think this game has a lot to offer, else why would I bother posting this, or play the game for that matter? Let's talk about the basic game design of EL (as I see it). The game, simply, is not enjoyable to level up in. However, the game *is* enjoyable to gain new levels in. What I mean by this, is that it's fun to get new levels in stuff -- it's cool to be able to make that new potion, or cast that new spell, or fight that new monster. However, the process of levelling up until you can hit that new content is horrendously boring. You don't notice it at first, because you hit the new content fairly quickly at the lower levels. Also, if you get bored of one stream (say combat), can switch to another (say manufacturing). But around 30 or so, you hit a brick wall. Things slow *way* down. And then again at around 40-50, the pace of new content hits another brick wall. Let me rephrase that -- it slams balls-first into another brick wall. And you're stuck doing the boring process of levelling up, for weeks at a time, until you can get to new content. And then at higher levels, you don't level up to get new stuff, you basically level up to be the best. All MMORPG's face this problem. And the general solution that they have is that, when content fails, community picks up the slack. Unfortunately, for the most part, EL is designed to not have a community. In fact, players are useless, or worse than useless in most cases. Hunting is the big example. It's far, far better to hunt on your own; it's not just that other players can't help you, but they in fact HURT you by taking spawns. Other players are literally only useful for economy purposes. . . buying or selling you stuff to and from. Although this will change with guilds, as Entropy has mentioned. Most games force player interdependancy right from basic game design, usually one of two ways. The first is by hard limitations: Class-based systems where a single character can only do a fraction of what's needed on their own. Sure, it's usually possible to get by on your own, but it's a hell of a lot harder and frsutrating. Others go by a more soft method. You can do what you want, but the total amount of what you can do is capped, so it's usually far more worthwhile to specialize in one or two things and get others players to help you. Here's the point where I cop out. I don't have a solution that will fit into the current game architecture. But I hope that the points raised will at least spark some thought on the matter. Jevik

It's December, the month for giving away stuff, and for students to have too much free time. So, here is the deal: If enough people vote on www.mpogd.com to get Eternal Lands into the top ten, I'll hold a lottery to give away one million gold. If EL stays up there long enough, I'll give away another million. I haven't worked out all the details, but here's a few of them. I'll probably set the date of when it's valid to be a week or so into December (so we don't get a couple hundred votes, get an easy top ten placement, and let it slide for the rest of the month.). I'm thinking the period to qualify for "if it stays up there long enough" should be another week or so. Also, you can only vote once per day, so don't spend an hour stuffing the ballto box, it won't work. As for the methods of collecting names for the lottery, I'll have to work on that. Also, I can't make sure the people submitting names for the lottery are actually voting, so this is sort of an honour system. So on that note, get to the voting booth. Remember, only one vote per day. Jevik P.S.: If anyone can think of a better way to give away the cash, feel free to suggest it. If anyone wants to help organize the lottery, give me a shout (you can't win the lottery if you help run it, btw). P.P.S.: I do have the money, but if you PM me asking for a handout, you're disqualified from the lottery.

Exactly the problem. The best fit I can think of would be skill specializations at certain levels, and players who are above those levels could retroactively assign their exp to things. Jevik

Not meant as a bash, as you're obviously trying to get in touch with old people. But it's going to spark a round of "I'm the oldest" from the veteran players. Ugh. Jevik

Take it to Flames. Jevik

Leather patns drops have become very rare. Prices are going up. Jevik

500k was won by both MikeH and CricketGod. You have a week to claim your prize or I do another draw for it. One million gold was won by JimBob. Jevik P.S.: Never in my time here have I ever been the subject as to so much grief, harassment, and hostility as because of this lottery. Giving stuff away sucks.

The odd thing is, if the vote was allowed to go on for another half hour, WSC would have swept it. At the time the new storage was added, it was 4-4 bettween WSC and VOTD. Jevik

Because people, for some odd reason, preferred one in VOTD. Jevik

Here's a crazy idea. Make combat not so incredibly mindless that an unattended computer is just as good at it. Jevik

I got all of them, but that's probably cause I've taken many linguistics courses and read both phonetically and lexicographically at the same time. Jevik

Okay, let's put it in the ass end of Grubani, that's pretty deserted. Jevik

Ignoring such things as inns and general stores, which seem common to nearly all... WSC -- Flower shop, magic shop, iron ore. Grahms -- Magic shop VOTD -- Flower shop. 1 minute from Portland storage Lakeside -- ...., one minute from Portland Treetown -- Fur vendor Isla Prima -- #beam me up (but for how much longer?) Crystal caves -- Shorter walking distance for mining

WSC would be great for making iron/steel bars, and for pots (flower shop), not ot mention less essence hauling. On the other hand, Treetown would be nice for summoning.... Jevik

I propose that to play EL, one must be hooked up to electrodes. Whenever someone says something stupid over the channels (as determined by my judgement), they get a little shock. Who's with me? Jevik

When making an omelette, you need to kill a few people. I mean, break a few eggs. Jevik

I don't think that their stats are being changed correctly when they are using equipment. For example, when a Female Orc has a battle hammer, they seem to hit *far* more often than when they don't. Since battle hammers have a -3 to hit, this seems a bit fishy. Jevik

Nah, I figure, the less known about game mechanics, the better. It would have been better if Entropy responded with "You're wrong, dumbass." Jevik

I've seen some confusion regarding the command list, so here's the expanded version. In all examples. the guild name is "Jevik's Angels" and the character name used is "Jevik" #make_guild #destroy_guild #set_name <guild name> Example: #set_name Jevik's Angels #set_desc <description> Example: #set_desc We's badass mofos. #set_url <URL> Example: If you can't figure it out yourself, you don't deserve a guild. #set_join_info Example: #set_join_info We must like the cut of your jib. #join_guild <guild name> Example: #join_guild Jevik's Angels Note: The guildmaster will NOT receive a messag informing him someone wishes to join. #leave_guild <guild name> Example: #leave_guild Jevik's Angels Note: Again, the guildmaster will NOT receive a message informing him someone has left. #accept <charadter name> Example: #accept Jevik Mote: Accepter will get mesage, acceptee will not. #remove <character name> Example: #remove Jevik #change_rank <character name> <new rank> Example: #change_rank Jevik 15 Note: You will get a mesage, Rank must be 1-19. #gm <message> Example: #gm This is a guilld message.. Sends a blue message to eevryone in the guild. Requires privilege 5. #guild_info <guild name> Example: #guild_info Jevik's Angels Anone can use this. #jc guild Joins you to the guild channel. This is from Forve and I testing guild commands. Pretty sketchy for now, but some people were confused, so we posted it. Jevik

I dunno, I'll post it of course, maybe I can bug a mod or two to announce it when teh drawing is held, and etc. Jevik

Of course. How stupid of me. Jevik

How about this, to cut down on the packets sent and not have totally automated harvester. You click once on the harvestable item, and you start mining away or whatever. Once the server determines that you got 10 or what not, the server sends you the message to stop. To start again, you have to click again. If you try to do something else before your ten limit is reached, then it stops and adds however much you got up until then. So unless you can make a cup of tea in about 15 seconds, then you can't go and do that. But it'll cut down on packets sent by the same amount, not to mention carpal tunnel. And how knows, it could encourage more socialization. Jevik

Read the instructions. Send a forum PM to me.

All entrants should have received a confirmation if you sent it in before January 24th. I will probably be holding it soon as there have been no new entrants for a while. Since the total amount is 18, you all have a good chance of winning. Jevik