Topic

Key spawn spot etiquette

There's a player in a key spawn spot who's clearly been waiting for the key, but has gone AFK.

They might've been there a while, as they're now standing on top of the key.

I've come across this a couple of times, and I'm curious... what's the etiquette in this situation? :)

I tried IM-ing the player, but it's been 20 minutes and they haven't responded.

Is it okay to take the key, or should I look for another spawn spot? (I know if I take it, chances are that the player will return at that moment and be annoyed I swiped the key they were waiting for. :)

Posted 11 months ago by bluey Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Take the key, leave them a note. If you feel bad, post them an Awesome Stew or something.
    Posted 11 months ago by Smashlee Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Or even give them something of comparable value of the key.

    Pay it forward is best.
    Posted 11 months ago by MeherMan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You snooze, you loose.
    Posted 11 months ago by Carnivale Justice Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think it is polite to wait for a player that was there first. However it is equally polite when key camping to pay attention. Waiting a few seconds is exceptionally kind but anything beyond that is excessive in my opinion. Maybe rk them first and it will get their attention?

    The key is public property until it's in someone's inventory. I haven't key camped in ages but the few times I did and went afk I knew it was my own fault if I came back right when the key disappeared into someone's bag. Any reasonable person should understand that.
    Posted 11 months ago by SkyWaitress Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think IMing the person and waiting 20 minutes for them to reply is sort of a waste of time, if you had taken the key 5 minutes after IMing them the key would have already respawned. :P

    You're right about the chances of them waking up the exact moment you take the key though. :D

    I guess IMing a AFK person and then wait ~5 minutes for them to respond and take the key if they don't is fair play. You don't have that many rights over the key when you're sleeping on it.
    Posted 11 months ago by Pattonage Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As teal-whites are below 800 -- take it -- and leave something cute :)

    10 minutes later, when they come back from their shower, there will be another.
    Posted 11 months ago by here Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You've already gone above and beyond the call of duty by IMing and waiting 20 minutes. Take the key, another will be along shortly. I like the idea of sending a drink or stew if you want to be extra nice. :)
    Posted 11 months ago by Laerwen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't have much experience with this but I would want only a few (~10) seconds before taking the key.
    If they are afk and not paying attention when it spawns I would say they are not really camping but merely sleeping...
    Posted 11 months ago by Vic Fontaine Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you don't mind waiting for another and want to be extra polite you could give them the key. Be sure to leave a note detailing how generous you are.
    Posted 11 months ago by Frandroid Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Personally, since I am fortunate to have lots of online time, and there's plenty of stuff to do that doesn't involve keys... If someone's asleep and waiting next to a key, I'll pick up the key and give it to them.  Then carry on with my life. 
    Unless they're someone I recognize as a key hog, the sort who's always at that particular key spot waiting for keys.  When I encounter that type, if they snooze, they loose. 
    Posted 11 months ago by Ebiler Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I ended up taking the key and letting them know I'd taken it (so hopefully it'll spawn again before they're back, anyway), but next time I like the idea of giving them the key then waiting for the next. I was too focused on not touching the key at their feet, so it didn't even occur to me this time, but it's a nice option if you have time to wait. :)
    Posted 11 months ago by bluey Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would personally RK them, and then if they don't come back, just give it to them. :P
    But I don't think it's especially bad to just take it. Really depends on how much time you have to wait for another. A lot of people will be really grateful if they afk and you help them out, though. :3
    Posted 11 months ago by Juria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If I am wondering if someone is truly afk or just busy in another window of their browser, I play a music block for them.  Usually people have the music turned down lower than the effects volume, but the music block plays as an effect, not background music.  It is usually loud enough and long enough for people who are at their keyboard but not paying attention to come back to the game window, but it is not too annoying or intrusive provided you aren't spamming them with music blocks.  I find that RK is a short sound that is similar enough to other "sprinkling" effects that it still can be ignore-able if you are concentrating on something else, as are the sounds associated with newly opened IM windows.  If they are really afk, they don't respond and I go on with my business.
    Posted 11 months ago by Scarlett Bearsdale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have watched (eyeballery) keys spawn at the feet of AFK campers.   The key sat there for a minute or so and the player woke up, took the key, and then went back to being AFK.   Since then I don't worry myself with the feelings of AFK key-campers.    I am personally convinced that at least one I've watched was an alt being played on a second screen.  

    Really, if *they* aren't paying attention, and *I* am, why am i supposed to defer to them?  The implication there is that I should be expected to pay attention on their behalf.  Screw that.   The key should go to whomever is there *and* paying attention, with deference among multiple people who are doing so.  
    Posted 11 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you are sure he or she is waiting for the key, you could pick it up and give it to them - a nice surprise for when they return. 
    Posted 11 months ago by riscy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That is extremely considerate of you to even post this topic!  :)  The way I feel about it is that if I've gone AFK, anything that spawns near me is fair game.  If I'm in need of a spawn item, I tend to busy myself with other things (like RL work.... haha!) and check the game screen periodically.  If someone who is equally in need of said spawn item comes along while I'm not technically "in the game," they are well within their rights to take the item.  However, if I come to a spawn spot and see a conscious glitch waiting for the item, I just find something else to do (in game or in life) to avoid making the other player uncomfortable.  On occasions when I don't feel like doing anything else, I'll IM the other player and let them know that I 'm happy to wait for the next spawn so that there is no tension.  

    I'm actually very interested in how this topic translates to herb garden etiquette.  It seems that there are those who feel that taking herbs from a waiting player is "stealing," and others who feel that all herbs in the community gardens are fair game.  Are spawn items different?  On one hand, they are community property until someone picks them up.  But on the other hand, no player had to pay money or do any work in order to cause the spawn...
    Posted 11 months ago by Little Violet Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Bear in mind that these things aren't some valuable and rare commodity that will lead you into a better life. It's just a flaming pixel key that spawns over and over. It's not worth giving up hours of your life (or much thought) in order to acquire one. If someone is there first and grabs it that's great; if they are there first and afk they can get the next one. Some people just seem to gather keys to sell.

    One day I was paused, rearranging my bags, and a passerby, thinking I was needing a key, dropped one on me - ha! 
    Posted 11 months ago by Osprey Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've been trying to rearrange my thinking about community gardens, and so far I am just at the point where I can see that I personally should not use them as their intended purpose is at odds with my expectations. 

    Spawn items are community assets for anyone to take, much like crops/herbs in community gardens, though aligning the two things makes my brain rebel a bit. The person who is considerate and gives precedence to another obviously there first is the same for keys and crops/herbs, whilst the person who grabs first and considers no one is also the same for keys and crops/herbs. Since there's no real gain or loss it becomes a mechanism to discover which type you are; if you are unhappy with the information you can decide to change, if you are happy then you are good to go.
    Posted 11 months ago by Osprey Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Now that teal-white triangle keys have started to sell at auction for more reasonable prices (I remember when someone tried to get 17k for one...LOL endlessly at that!...and when they averaged 2-3k each), there are fewer players trying to key-camp to resell. 

    FWIW, I find that I have no problem picking up 3-4 keys without competing for them with anyone else, AFK or otherwise, because I mine very early in the morning EST (4 AM) sometimes. Insomnia has its uses. Once you have a whole mess of them, it's not a big deal to let someone else have first grab. 

    Also, I often swing by key spawn spots AFTER I have been to a locked mining room. If someone is waiting, I keep going; if not, I have a key in inventory to let me and friends in next time or to give away to lower levels / noobs / people wanting to mine in locked rooms NOW when I am in a mood to mine solo.

    I have, in the past, had about 40-50 TWT keys in my cabinet at home, simply because of my habit of mining at odd hours and having no one else around interested in those keys at those times. I've given most away by now. They really are not that hard to get if you go at off-peak times.
    Posted 11 months ago by ✰ Lorelei ✰ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't see it as fair to other players to park my character at a spawn, go do something else, and expect to somehow have "dibs" on the item if it spawns while I'm AFK.  If I want the item, I'll be at the keyboard ready to grab it when it spawns.  As a result, I will usually take an item that has spawned under another player who is AFK and hasn't grabbed it in a few seconds.  I figure another will spawn for them when they get around to returning to the computer.

    I see community gardens as a little different. I much prefer a true community garden where you take whatever is ready and plant another seed, but that's not how they work right now. If someone is using guano trying to grow herbs, I understand them feeling a sense of ownership even if they have briefly gone AFK.  Like Osprey, I avoid them because I don't much like the way the community gardens are working right now.
    Posted 11 months ago by Lucille Ball Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I usually IM the player and wait like... a full minute.  That's what I would want someone to do for me, just give a few seconds.  But it's not like it takes THAT long for another to spawn.
    Posted 11 months ago by FaerieInGrey Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just take the key.  I wait maybe a few seconds because I don't like confrontation, but Keys are not scarce (and really haven't been in all the time I've been in this game), and the sooner one of you takes it, the sooner it'll respawn, which means more keys in the world for everyone.
    Posted 11 months ago by Zauberberg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The rules: First to click "Pick up" gets the key

    My approach to courtesy: Drop a message in local chat. I no reply, I snag the spawn item ASAP. Otherwise, negotiate who gets the key, with deference to who's been there a while. The conversation is generally more valuable than the key regardless :) Also, if it's TWT keys we're talking about, if everyone wants into AB/NN the can follow the keyholder in, using just 1 key.

    I've frequently camped & chatted for a while at one spot, and we'll just pick up the spawn round-robin fashion [I'll frequently pick it up immediately myself and then give it to the next person]
    Posted 11 months ago by Sturminator IX Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you ever see me "camping" anything and not responding when it is there, take it!  (though this will usually be high-value quoins, not keys - the principle is the same).
    Posted 11 months ago by Humbabella Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've encountered glitches like that.  They stand there all day, collect all the keys, and sell them at auction.

    Take the key and run.
    Posted 11 months ago by E D D I E Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was mining in Callopee standing next to a spawn spot - and had been there for a good few minutes, not realising, when another glitch came running up. They paused, and I thought they were preparing to mine, so I picked the key up - to be treated to the remark - 'That was mine, you suk' 
    I was so taken aback I almost didn't give them the key - if they had said 'excuse me do you really want that' I would naturally have handed it over with an apology. I just couldn't be bothered get into a slanging match. Manners cost nothing......
    Posted 11 months ago by White Tiger Subscriber! | Permalink
  • White Tiger, I ran into a similar situation recently and I realize I handled it badly because my attempts to explain my side of the story ended up having the other person cut off the conversation before I could offer to make it up to them.

    As a result, my approach if this happens again is going to be to offer to remedy the situation to their liking (give them the key, in this case) and then ask them nicely if they will try to consider the possibility that some conflicts are the result of misunderstandings or different perceptions of situations and not jump to the conclusion that anyone who does anything the don't like is an idiot or a jerk.
    Posted 11 months ago by Humbabella Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Since the respawn times on the keys are quite short (not like you have to wait hours), if whoever is standing there is not active? I give it a few seconds, then take the key, and go about my way. It may be callous, but it's not my problem if you step away from the computer or are doing other things. Clearly, there are other things more important than the key you were 'camping' for.

    Besides. Anyone who gets into a snit about a key... well. There are better things to get worked up over. If I lose a key to someone else, I move on. It's not the end of the world.
    Posted 11 months ago by Saiai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My approach is...if they're not paying attention, they don't want the key. If I go AFK I expect people to go about their business too ;)
    Posted 11 months ago by Saraphim Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 'That was mine, you suk'

    I would have simply asked them:  When, pray tell, was it yours?
    Posted 11 months ago by Razzal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If they're AFK for longer than 30 seconds to a minute (keeping in mind that 30 seconds is always longer in practice than it sounds on paper), I tend to take it and go on my way.
    Posted 11 months ago by Pomegrandy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What a sweetie you are to be concerned about this :) I only camped a key spot once, a teal white triangle one. I waited 10 minutes and when it finally re-spawned, I went to pick it up and *poof* someone teleported in and snagged it. "Aww, snap!" I thought it was actually kind of funny, and bought one at auction instead.
    Posted 11 months ago by N2ZOrtolanaBlue Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would take the key and maybe leave a few things behind for them, they clearly are doing something else in the real-world so I would just take it, they can wait for the next one :)
    Posted 11 months ago by Miss Purple Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well, from the other person's point of view, I can say this. When I'm waiting for a key, I often get bored and multitask. If someone takes the key while I'm not paying attention, I probably won't know about it, but if I do find out, I won't blame them for assuming I'm just not there. It'll respawn eventually, or I can buy one off auction, or wait for someone to let me follow them in...it's not a huge issue if "browsing another window" is mistaken for "takeout just arrived!"
    Posted 11 months ago by Kestin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A new key cannot spawn in the spot until the spot is cleared.  So waiting there watching a key sit in the spot is actually anti-social.  If you really think it isn't your key, pick it up and drop it nearby for somebody to pick up, so a new key can re-spawn to also be picked up.  If it's really a dilemma deciding if it is 'your' key, I'm sure eventually one will spawn there that is 'yours.'  But not if nobody is picking the one up that appears at the spawn point regularly. 

    I have this humorous vision of a whole crowd of glitches surrounding the key in a moral dilemma, none of them picking up the one key;  spending as much time there in moral turmoil as it would have taken for a key to spawn for each of them.
    Posted 11 months ago by Razzal Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Look for keys really really late in the middle of the night and no one is there. Keys keys keys for everyone late at night. I'll take one, do some mining, see that no one has been up there, I go and take another key. 

    Night Glitching is the best.
    Posted 11 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink