Sign In

### Topic

#### Plans for reopening? (chat instances, etc)

So, I'm not sure I'm the only one who has noticed an increase in freaked-out-edness on the forums since we got invites back. Now, I'm definitely not advocating the game stay closed or anything. That would be really stupid as well as not fun. But I'm wondering what kind of plans Tiny Speck has for when the game opens to everyone.
I think the forum stuff will probably die down on its own. But the things I think Tiny Speck may need to address are things like:
* Trade channel may need to have several instances to avoid it becoming too busy to keep track of anything
* Global may need several instances. Possibly split between an off-topic-ish type of chat and an about-game sort of chat?
* Live help may need a bit of a different branding, as has been talked about in the forums before. I have heard it is already split into instances (edit: see first reply) so maybe this would not be as big of a problem... but I can't help but think we don't need to be telling new players how to get salt when the encyclopedia link is right up there and http://wherecanigetsalt.com/ is linked to in the item description. I'm sure this will be controversial but I do personally feel that the encyclopedia should really be used and I mention it in this context because not only do I think it's good for players, but I think it might good for the overall atmosphere of live help also.
* Other things I am forgetting at the moment because I am tired.
When new players arrived, I was so excited :) I try to keep a food pile under a gnome saying it's for new players, for example, and I've tried to help out some in live help, etc. But I am wondering if, when the game opens to everybody, it's going to be so crazy that I'll just want to hide for a while.
I'd love to hear what you all think about this!

Posted 4 months ago by diaveborn ♥ | Permalink

### Replies

- You should check out this thread from last year prior to the first launch, it was mostly about Global. Help is not currently instanced, but we have done so based on need. That will likely happen again after relaunch.
  Posted 4 months ago by kevbob | Permalink
- Ooh neat - thanks kevbob!
  Posted 4 months ago by diaveborn ♥ | Permalink
- People have different styles when it comes to getting information. Some like reading/research, others like talking to other players. People also have different needs when it comes to chat, with some enjoying relaying information and others just wanting Noob-B-Gon sprayed everywhere. I think there's room for us all. The off-topic/on-topic globals might be neat-o though.
  Posted 4 months ago by Osprey | Permalink
- maybe they could split live help into newbie, intermediate and advanced.
  or you could just close the live chat help room when you start getting annoyed.
  personally, i've closed it because some of the replies to newbie questions are so rude.
  RTFM! Don't ask that here! waaaaaaaaaaaaa newbies are invading my help chat with questions about the location of salt!
  Posted 4 months ago by Bam-Chikk | Permalink
- Not talking about annoyance so much as just wondering if there's going to be so much going on in the chats that it'll be hard to keep track. (and as far as "rtfm" I *do* know guides in the past have said that it's nice to give hints or suggestions rather than outright answers so I definitely will sometimes point out the encyclopedia or whatever, but I try to do it not rudely)
  I love the idea of "beginner" and "advanced" live helps.
  Posted 4 months ago by diaveborn ♥ | Permalink
- I'd be against instancing the trade channel, someone is selling what you want to buy but is on a different instance. It'd be fine for common items but when talking about specialty goods, blah...In any case make it visible that it is different rooms; basic goods, processed goods, cafes, and collectibles.
  Of course people could be selling/buying from multiple and have many windows open.
  As for global, I joined about a month after 1st launch and it didn't seem to be too horribly busy. Certainly not to the point that it was hindering conversations. Maybe I don't play peak times.
  Posted 4 months ago by M<3tra, obviously | Permalink
- Or you/we could split up the Trade channel in different section or a different "sub-chat" tab (like the updates tab, when you click on an update it brings you to a different area and let's you respond on that update) so the trades get filtered better.
  Posted 4 months ago by Rutger | Permalink
- I'd be interested to hear what the community's opinions would be on the 'random vs regional' question now that our houses are not attached to specific regions of the world, although I think that I might still opt for the answer of 'both' that I'd ultimately settled on in the original discussion.
  I think that the about-game and off-topic-ish suggestions of the original poster are a good one, and I think that a 'gentle' chat channel for new players like the one that they have in KoL could also be a good fit. and speaking of KoL, how about a channel for player-run games and other activities? something like the announcements forum but with more life and immediacy.
  The point about making sure new players see the encyclopedia, and now the snazzy new info-gathering mode, is also a good one. I think the tutorial points people at the encyclopedia, but a pointer in the Live Help disclaimer would probably also be a good addition. Maybe also a quest to demonstrate how to find a route to a nearby vendor or shrine using info mode?
  Posted 94 days ago by katlazam | Permalink
- Maybe we can also separate the global channel into the quest/badge channel, for people who wants to complete quests / help around.
  Slightly off topic, more quest/badges can't hurt :D It breaks us away from the usual grinding. And from my experience, quite a proportion of glitchen (like me) like to mind their own business, so without quests, you'll never meet these special, usually nice people (too shy/don't know the etiquette/under the false impression that glitch is like other MMOs out there where people are nasty)
  Or a party channel, to announce quoin sharding party, cubimal racing, games, fox brushing/mining, charades etc etc.
  Posted 94 days ago by purple goldfish | Permalink
- I don't think there is any need to impose artificial structure on the chats. I'm sure that group channels that suit players needs/interests will evolve again. I spent most of my time in the New Streets group, which served as a big, friendly chat channel when there weren't any streets under construction.
  Posted 93 days ago by Lucille Ball | Permalink