PThief Mechanics

[codetown]

Earlier today I had my pack stolen out of my inventory. It contained a sizable investment of my time in items.

When I later came across the thief, I was unable to attack the thief, instead being smacked by a demon and tripping on my own dagger. I was then taunted and told that my tokens had been used, and my goods sold, which they were, in the shops priced far above my financial ability to reclaim.

This event has left me with an overall negitive feeling about this game. Whereas before this it was positive and I always looked forward to being able to play. ]When an individual can in an instant remove hours of my time investment without me being able to just as easily recoup that lose is not fun.

I am not sure that any will agree that the mechanics around this are broken. It is my opinion that they are, and I leave hoping that some kind of positive change will be made in its wake so that others are not bitten by the same negitive experience that I had.

[Alberich]

[quote="codetown":3a6wbuyr]When an individual can in an instant remove hours of my time investment without me being able to just as easily recoup that lose is not fun.
[/quote:3a6wbuyr]

well, if you wheren't carrying crap around in a sack in inv.... that's why robes are containers

take it as a lesson, move on, and put stuff away properly next time - has happened to most of us at one time or another.

[Medios]

Alberich is right, you can store items in a container that you wear. If you get in touch with me(Medios/Minstrel/Dogs) I can help you reclaim some things and maybe get you set in the right direction. I dont know who your char was, but there are things that larger chars can do to pthiefs. As you have pointed out, pthieving mainly effects lower level players that are trying to "build". This is one item that concerned me, but imho it weeds out crybaby players that cant take a little negative gaming. If you strictly give up because one pack was stolen, then slothmud is probably not for you.

Mike

[Malison]

While attacking the pthief may not always work, some spells like web usually will. Just be sure when you use them that it's on the right person

[Guinex]

The idea of being able to attack anyone is great, it would allow me to attack people in safe rooms

[Guinex]

But more seriously i do believe that if you know who took your stuff you should be able to kill/loot them w/o being a high level avatar. I personally do not carry a bunch of stuff in my inventory but this whole, "you learned your lesson stuff" is getting old. Feel free to post names of characters that have stolen from you, and I personally will do my best to make sloth unenjoyable for them.

*smoke*

[Hobbes]

Everything codetown posted about pthiefing is correct and represents the feelings of more than a few players on the mud I'm willing to bet. He is bowing out graciously it would appear and not being a "crybaby". (Compare to the reactions of some following the recent monk nerfs.) It is very easy for an avatar to say put your stuff in a robe; I agree with Guinex, the you've learned your lesson argument is very old and lame.

I guess this thread irks me a bit because we push for more votes and then infer that some players are crybabies or need to "learn a lesson" when they offer an opinion that differs from that of the mainstream characters on the mud. It just seems silly to push for votes for Sloth when half the time the attitude that is conveyed to newer players is "if you don't like it, leave."

Anyway, like I said, I was just a bit irked. I feel better now. Carry on.

[Gimlet]

I somewhat agree, that new players who aren't familiar with sloth would have no idea that items can get stolen by other players (pthiefs)

How about a warning in the primer, or login screen for all characters that pthieving is allowed in this game. Or better yet, have the town guards (sashes, dwarven guards, etc.) offer reminders from time to time to watch out for items in our inventories. this would be a good way for the new players to learn, instead of having them lose items they worked hard to get.

sure, the ppl who have been playing sloth a long time shouldn't be getting their stuff stolen, so if they do get pthieved, they prob weren't very smart. but new players who aren't yet familiar with slothplay might get really turned off and leave.

[Harlot]

Love ya

[brady]

The only thing you should expect to get from voting is the satisfaction of knowing that you've done something small and positive for the game you spend so much time playing.

This forum is largely for the exchange of ideas and opinions between fellow players. Some have been playing for many, many, maaaany years and are thus, old and crotchety. Be brave and steadfast. They may all die soon.

[Weasel]

rofl

[codetown]

I believe that Gimlet's type of solution might be all that I am looking for.

Rule #2 states, No player looting. As looting is a synonym for stealing from reading this rule you would expect that stealing from another player would be against the rules. Upon further inspection this rule is actually referring to looting of a players corpse, but it could be clearer that stealing from a player is allowed.

I would sugest that a modification to this rule might be in order, adding a line such as:

"Note: Stealing from a live player is allowed, make sure to guard your inventory."

This is short sweat, and gets the point across.

Adding to the Oaf's message list would also be desired. They are good enough about telling you to move along, having them pipe up about watching your inventories would not be such a bad idea. It might also be worthwhile to have the thugs in town steal low quality items (such as food, or a couple of gold) from players and display a message:

"Shocked you notice that the Evil Thug picked your pocket. At least it wasn't something too valuable, take it as a lesson not to leave valuables in your inventory."

Just something to show new players that there is risk associated with having items in your inventory.

Further I believe that the possibilities of revenge agaist a thief are limitted and are stacked in favor of the thief. Being a thief should carry a higher level of risk.

An idea to improve the steal mechanics.

Tag stolen items for 24 hours or 6 hours of played time whichever is longer. During this time these items can not be sold or junked or consumed. And their rent cost is multiplied by 3. The basic concept is that the item is considered "hot" during this period and the thief must wait for the heat to cool off before it can be safely sold. The player whom had the items stolen will be able to attack the thief while the thief is holding the tagged item. The target player would also see that the tagged item was their item during the tagged period if they are able to see it.

I am not trying to be a "cry baby" here, I realize that this is a learn to play newbie moment, but it does feel like a very harsh lesson (go find a robe for instance). But, I am looking for is an improvement in the system so that the playing field is even between the thief and the victim. It is clearly unbalanced when a thief can steal items from you and then flaut the theft to you without you being able to retailiate. I feel that this deserves to be looked at. However if pushing for things to be balanced and more fun is considered being a "cry baby" I will happily wear that title.

[brand]

ahh, for the joy of the few or the many...

would i make the world poor just so i could be rich

gonna take a few days of fishing (for sharks!) to get to bottom of that one.

wait, where the $#@% is my fishing pole!

brand

[Medios]

[quote="Medios":251gaq25]This is one item that concerned me, but imho it weeds out crybaby players that cant take a little negative gaming. If you strictly give up because one pack was stolen, then slothmud is probably not for you.

Mike[/quote:251gaq25]

Does anyone even read my posts, I never called anyone crybaby. Just stating my opinion that if you give up after one small thing such as this then maybe sloth is too harsh for you. I guess the next reasons ppl will give for quiting is level/xp loss, or low poprates. Give it a break. I have yet to find out the name of the pthief either. This shows to me that punishing said person is not as important as "venting".

Mike

[Harlot]

I do think you protest too much...