Topic

Unwritten "rules"

So, I noticed in other threads that there are some unwritten "rules" that some players have come up with that, when broken, irritate the heck out of them. I remember the same thing happening in Faunasphere, which seemed to only result in lengthy arguments and alot of very angry people. Although common courtesy is something that should be expected from everyone (but don't be surprised if some players don't show it), defining specific rules of behavior that not everyone is privy to (no matter how "obvious" it is in your mind) will only result in alot of unnecessary stress, IMHO. It will get a million times worse when the game goes live, by the way. Here's a list of the ones I've seen, including my personal opinion on each one:

1) Thou shalt not pick items up from the ground that are at another player's feet.
    --- I am ashamed that I did this once or twice the first day I played, without thinking. It didn't occur to me at the time that the person may have left it there temporarily with the intent of picking it up again later. Now that I see there may be a reason for a player to do this (I didn't at the time know how limited our inventory was), I don't do that any more, and I see how it is common courtesy not to. However, some newbies (especially) may not know what they're doing (like me). This is the most understandable of all the unwritten rules, but anyone who drops stuff should realize that there is a chance someone else will grab it (either obliviously, or maliciously).

2) Thou shalt not mine a rock that someone else is mining.
    --- The game makes it possible to do this, so it's obviously not a hard game rule. I didn't see a problem with doing this until I read in the forums that some people were irritated by it, and wanted to be able to sit on one rock all by themselves until it is gone. After seeing that, I stopped doing it, but don't expect other people to automatically know this unwritten rule (or even agree with it).

3) Thou shalt not scrape barnacles unless you are part of a group in the area that is doing so, and are coordinating with them about which ones you are allowed to scrape.
    --- I just read about this one a few moments ago, which is what sparked me to start this thread... All I have to say is: Really? WOW! .... how are people outside your group suppose to know this? And do you really think this is fair? Really??? hmmm.... Maybe we should have the same rule for everything else one can gather in the game. Why stop at barnacles? Please, let me know if I'm misinterpreting this one.

Posted 20 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • Liridona

    The game has changed since this thread was started.  Now, if someone is mining and you help them mine, they get more rocks.  And you get more rocks.  Two of you mining one rock results in both of you getting more rocks than if you took turns.
    Posted 18 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ah, that's good to know. I've still heard very recently of people still being pissed off if someone mines with them, so I wasn't sure what sort of effects group mining had...
    Posted 18 months ago by Liridona Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The person that is being "helped" gets a rock or two extra. The helper gets nothing. The rock is used up twice as fast, so in the end everyone gets less out of one rock, which can irritate people that wanted to get a full stack from a single rock. If you are cooperating mining several rocks in a row, however, the extra rocks will add up and it will end up being beneficial to both players. If there are more than two mining the same rock, the bonuses are even larger.
    Posted 18 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, it's still being debated just how much net benefit there is to sharing a rock, or if there is even any net benefit at all. Meaning, some people seem to believe that sharing a rock will help both players get more than 50 chunks of whatever whereas many others believe that, even though there are more chunks produced between the two (like, 70 total, mayhaps?), that only leaves each player with 35, and thus less rock than they would have had they been mining alone. I'm not sure which one to believe, myself, to be honest, but I'm at the point where I've mined so freaking much that I honestly don't care who comes along and tries to "take" a rock from me. Though, I still try to never mine a rock that someone else is working on. Which leads me back to the question of whether or not I SHOULD help others mine because it MAY give them more rock and I may some out of it, too.
    Posted 18 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Also:
    "The person that is being "helped" gets a rock or two extra. The helper gets nothing. The rock is used up twice as fast, so in the end everyone gets less out of one rock, which can irritate people that wanted to get a full stack from a single rock. If you are cooperating mining several rocks in a row, however, the extra rocks will add up and it will end up being beneficial to both players. If there are more than two mining the same rock, the bonuses are even larger."

    Really? See, that's a 3rd understanding of shared mining, and I still don't know which is true... I'm really confused by it all, lol.
    Posted 18 months ago by Cerulean Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't know, Cerulean--I'm certainly not an expert. This is just what I noticed when attempting it a couple of times, and also what I gathered from other posts in the forums. I only mine on occasion, so the whole issue isn't a big deal for me.
    Posted 18 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Here's the only thing that chaps me -- people who are rude.

    I've been part of barnacle parties. I have been harvesting alone and asked to join a group. I have asked if I could join a party of folks. And I have also shown other players about group harvesting. My only chap in that last one is when someone has said - yeah whatever (in action or word) and blown me off. In that case I figure - well - I guess you won't  be on my list of invitees for a housewarming party and let it go. 

    I accidentally picked up some rocks someone else had mined not realizing they belonged to the person mining the rock. The comment was made, "I guess there aren't other rocks to mine." I had no clue what that meant. I was a new player. Had the person said, "I left those there while rearranging my bags. May I have them back?" I would have been embarrassed and given them back with interest. I didn't realize until later in that game day what a dunce I was. To whomever that person was - if you are reading this and I did that to you - please forgive me for my n00b ignorance that resulted in rudeness. I don't recall your name or I would have righted that wrong by now.

    I have also given random gifts to n00bs. Some realize it and say thank you. Others don't say a thing. I don't judge. It was a gift. Take it or leave it. 

    I received some messages from a player who said I stole their blender. I don't recall stealing anything. I recall picking up a bunch of things lying around on the ground, unattended, on the day in question. I have no idea if this person owned a blender that was on the ground no one was near any of the items I picked up. But I sent a blender anyway, through the mail because I felt like it was the right thing to do. *shrug Maybe I was rooked. I don't care. It's a small cost to be something other than an asshat if I was indeed wrong.

    Do I expect the same from others? LOL! No. Do I wish others were kind, polite and communicative? You bet. But English also isn't everyone's native language, there are cultural differences and sometimes I'm just a sunshiny earth mama who gives because she can. 

    I'll rock it how I choose and if it's cool with you great. If not, rock on with what works for you. Just don't rain on my parade or I'll go all mother nature on you -- fo sho.
    Posted 18 months ago by g33kgurrl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You guys are gonna have a hard time playing with New Yorkers. 
    Jks lol
    Posted 18 months ago by Ben Affleck Subscriber! | Permalink
  • lol Jjjon.

    I was the only girl in a family full of boys. A big Italian family at that. I'm a licensed third mate who worked on a tanker and piloted a tug boat. I crossed the equator. Sailed through the Panama Canal. I tied my own knots on a bosun's chair and floated aloft on in that chair whilst chipping and painting with the seas tossing about below. I dealt with 15-20 foot seas...etc etc. before coming shoreside and becoming a geek by day...and night.    And I still looked good doing it. :D :D :D

    I don't think I'm too worried about New Yawkers. 
    Posted 18 months ago by g33kgurrl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It is a little funny how we expect others to play as we do.  It's the same in RL.  We always expect others to have the same behavior as we do.  It's Human I guess.  One of the best pieces of advice i can give to a Newbie is that they should not expect anyone to play the same way they do.  Once you understand this and are wary of what others might do, you can play smarter.

    If you need to rearrange your inventory, do it at home if you have one.  If you don't have a home, try to find some obscure location to do it.  You should be very aware that anything on the ground is "fair game" and someone may come along and pick it up.  Once it leaves your inventory it is no longer yours until you pick it up again so don't drop anything important (your orb, emo bear, etc.)  Drop only what you can afford to lose.  It's OK to ask for items to be returned but don't expect that and you won't be disappointed.

    The mining thing has been well covered and I have never encountered the barnacle problem (which may be moot now anyway?).
    Posted 18 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Common courtesy is always the best unwritten rule to follow. The old, say hi when someone says hi to you, help someone who clear has no clue how to milk butterflies, and ask before you pick up stuff at someone's feet. And, acknowledge the risks you take by leaving stuff on the ground in the first place.
    Posted 18 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @g33kgurrl In defense of new players not saying "thank you": some people are shy and don't know what to say when someone gives them something out of nowhere... like me :)

    This reminds me of a campaign that ran here in the Netherlands: "beware, kind" ("pas op, aardig"). To "warn" you for nice people, since apparently we are so used to assholes that we don't recognise kindness animore. The campaign featured a woman who ignores her greeting neighbor, two men assuming the cookie they got was spoiled, two cyclists fleeing from a farmer who wants to give them directions and a woman thinking someone is harassing her... "kind people, how do we handle them?" I can't find an English version, but here's the Dutch video.

    A Glitch version of this campaign would be absolutely hilarious! :D
    Posted 18 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Some of us can't type (ME!).  By the time I misspell "Thanks" and retype it and press Enter the person I am thanking is long gone.
    Posted 18 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @KitkatCat: +1000

    (This is Rascalmom today, not Hank.)
    Posted 18 months ago by Hank Tudor Subscriber! | Permalink
  • + 1 at the original poster...sorry I haven't had a chance to read the other posts yet, but i just wanted to point out that handled well, or even just by serendipity, some of these situations can actually work out nicely with a little communication.

    Regarding the picking up of stuff by someone's feet - once this happened to me and I asked for whatever it was back..I think it was some gases. It turned out that the person was new - and had no use for gas - and was happy to give it back, they didn't realise it was mine. As we had got into conversation and they were so nice about it I gifted them a bag which they did need, and tried to be generally helpful...so you know...it doesn't always have to go sour.

    But basically I agree...as I had dropped the thing really, if someone had taken it and gone off with it..l I suppose it was at my own risk...I really wouldn't want them to change the mechanisms of picking up stuff on the ground.
    Posted 18 months ago by Violet Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Victoria -- I completely understand. I am not criticizing. Glitch can also be somewhat overwhelming to n00bs. It was to me. I was so caught up in wonder and awe and excitement and such that I forgot to pay attention to other things. :D
    Posted 18 months ago by g33kgurrl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • At various points I've seen some people get very sniffy about communications that must occur in chat - and I don't know about anyone else (and I admit it's getting better lately) but with the way chat lags and doesn't register all the letters a player types, sometimes it can be almost impossible to communicate.  With the best intentions in the world, it's hard to be properly polite when yc eup lokg lk th.
    Posted 18 months ago by jasbo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "A nice unwritten rule should be forgive new players in Glitch  Posted 73 days ago by xoxJulie | "

    I think that should be the nr 1 point of advice, a bit different though. (Further, I'd rename the topic to : Some points of advice to consider for newbies - if people aren't aware of something they can't change it. I made lots of newbie mistakes as well.

    1.) Don´t assume the worst or think of negative reasons someone doesn´t behave according to what you consider `proper behaviour`.
    2.) Don't be afraid to talk, or to adress people. Start in a nice way though :)

    Most people assume the worst when someone picks something up from their feet, or don't say thank you, or don't respond. It's almost natural behaviour. Maybe we should put together a list of why apparantly rude behaviour isn't meant like that?

    - They are not yet aware of the game mechanics,
    - They are wondering where all those hearts and lips and bear came from, only to figure out the source long after the player has left the level
    - They are slow to select their own emobear and properly target the player to hug in return
    - They are slow in selecting the player to start a chat / use actions
    - They don't know you dropped the items but still needed it,
    - They are slow in typing,
    - Their kid started crying just a few sec ago so they got up and went afk very fast
    - They didn't notice the chat because reading a forum on another screen, or even some tooltip of quest or crafting recipe)
    - They cannot respond due to a crashing pc
    - They cannot respond due to an item being stuck at the cursor and not being able to select chat (or stuck in chat and not being able to use an item)
    - They cannot type (fast enough) due to a cat sitting almost on the keyboard and a baby on their lap,
    - They cannot type fast enough due to eating something (sticky),
    - They don't understand it was them being adressed,
    - They are hypnotized by the television that's on as well (because bf watching) and they didn't want to watch tele but can't help themselves, and only occasionally turn to the screen to meditate, plant, mine, or whatever, before returning to television. (This reason can be discovered by observing the person for about 45 minutes, if there are a several times about 5 minutes of activity then there are commercials on television.
    - They thought you were an npc
    - They been talking to you in the wrong chat channel

    (many of the above happened to me, and I'm probably still missing loads of reasons).
    Posted 17 months ago by Miriamele Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Good post @miriamele! Once again, a reminder of the importance of first applying  Hanlon's Razor
    Posted 17 months ago by Mac Rapalicious Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Great post @miriameleMost of the above has happened to me at one timeCan I add-browser crashes half way through chatting to someone new and oops logging back in can't remember how to spell their name or don't know how to reconnect in game-this is my 30th attempt to jump up on that rock/barrel to get at that tantalising quoin dangling just out of reach above meI am sure there are plenty more to add
    Posted 17 months ago by Phochai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Simplest advice to people being upset at others for "something" is - Get over it!  1. it is a game and 2.  Your an adult - probably.  and 3.  It is a game.  and 4.  Get over it!
    Posted 17 months ago by Accy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My personal unwritten rule: keep your drama out of the forums.
    Posted 17 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Miriamele: +1 

    I rarely manage to hug / kiss / give a present back because of my abysmal coordination... =/ 

    I never expect something in return when I kiss / hug / bestow / give presents.

    That's kind of my unwritten rule number one in Glitch: it just feels nice to be nice. =)

    About the rude behavior of some people... well I live in Paris so I'm quite used to experience rudeness. -_-" 
    I agree with Accy. It's better to get over it. You're just gonna ruin your own mood if you care too much & take it personnally. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Moumoushou Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Miriamele: Super post. Totally agree:)
    Posted 17 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Shepherdmoon, great post! You, as well as well as others replies have answered many of the questions I had in my head and had not seen anything in writing regarding those "unwritten rules". 
    Thanks everyone!
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I hit save twice so previous message was sent twice. Has now been changed to "thanks again"! lol
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "A nice unwritten rule should be forgive new players in Glitch.  Posted 74 days ago by xoxJulie"

    Why not have newbies have some something subtle to indicate that they're fairly new? Like a glow or rollover or something above their heads.  So more experienced players aren't *too* harsh on them. I know you can click on them to get a small profile, but that's so much effort and it's never obvious that they're not just jerks, they're just new ;P Could avoid awkward, upset newbies. 

    (Though on the other hand it could just single them out?)
    Posted 17 months ago by Captain Mouldy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • #1 I haven't experienced. When I see things dropped at people's feet, I just assume they are having limited space issues and drop them an empty bag if I have one. Since most new players will experience this many times till they get large bags, I can't help but assume they'll figure out what's going on when they see items dropped at people's feet.

    #2 While I never do this because I know it does bother others, it doesn't really phase me when people do this. Rocks respawn so frequently, there's never a shortage. I'm guessing that when the game launches, we might not have the same abundance of open rocks to mine, so we might not even have the luxury of this being an issue at that point.

    #3 Sounds like a really bad rule. That makes barnacles off-limits for anyone who isn't interested in group-play. I don't like the idea of having some sort of barnacle scraping mob or union who have sole rights to all barnacles.
    Posted 17 months ago by Eureka Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is a good thread about "unofficial rules", it appears that we need to respect one another, say please and thank you and may I? in other words; Just be kind to one another.
    However there is also talk about setting policies, police and it sounds to me that in this
    BEAUTIFUL NEW WORLD CALLED GLITCH; we want to make it like our real world! 
    Let us think carefully!
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm a noob. And I think I've made plenty of mistakes. 

    The one I can't quite figure out is sharing mining. Personally, I want someone to help me mine because it means I get more sparkly rock (right?). I've taken to asking if I can help someone  mine before I jump in... but I'm not even sure if that is okay (maybe they'll feel forced to say yes?).
    Posted 17 months ago by emdot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Mining for me is not fun! I need currants thus I mine. It costs mood and energy and so it uses up a lot of food and drinks to keep them up!  I for one do not want to share mining because it means that there is a possibility I will lose the Gem that might be in the rock I am mining and it means that I will only have to go find another rock!  I can't see someone wanting to "help" me mine when there is another sparkling or beryl rock right next to the one I am mining? I don't understand?
    Now---on the other hand, if there is no other rocks available to mine; by golly welcome to mine with me, because I share! We both need to mine so anyone is more than welcome! and I will enjoy the company too!
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've noticed a lot of partially mined rocks the last couple of tests and when i see them, i finish them off.  not a big deal really.  i don't mind at all and i don't waste a lot of energy that way either.  And now i see that i am performing a community service!
    Posted 17 months ago by Cat A. Tonic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Joy,

    The chance of getting a gem is based on your own skill levels.  It doesn't lessen if someone else is mining with you.
    Posted 17 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I even get more gems if i mine in party. Maybe not so true, but i like to think so. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Lilla My Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Joy, you can also just drink earthshakers, which grants a buff so that you don't use up any energy mining.
    Posted 17 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • About giving new players a more glow or some other feature so they're more easily recognized:

    Also experienced players can behave not according to common morale, maybe due to reasons stated in a few posts back... (crashing pc, crying baby, too busy reading a quest, trying to interact with a butterfly and accidentally interacting with lots of others stuff from other people etc...)
    So don't blame it all on the newbies ;)
    Posted 17 months ago by Miriamele Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you WindBorn! I learn something new everyday and the game is closed! Goes to show me how awesome you all are! 
     Lila if a mining party gives more Gems, then lets Parteee already! LOL
     Zeeberk I am still learning to make earthshakers I will try them!
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Of course, Joy, there is the Mmwwaaahhahaaa evil No-No powder.. this can help you mine tons of rocks.. but there is a price to pay of course :D
    Posted 17 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Princess FI !! MUUAH! my Dear friend! <smile>; I will try the evil "no-no powder".. 
    Posted 17 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Rule # XR
    Glitches don't like rules, so just be nice and when something does something that makes you sad let them know. If they are mean to you then you know to avoid them in the future. If they are nice you might make a friend!

    Most glitches Mister Cake has met fall in the second category :=)
    Posted 17 months ago by Mister Cake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I must confess that I have much love for Mister Cake. I read this thread so I could see what he says. He always makes me happy. ♥♥♥ to Mister Cake.
    Posted 17 months ago by Mac Rapalicious Subscriber! | Permalink
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