How many times a day do you check your characters?

[Phalynx]

This survey follows on from the discussion about combat. An underlying assumption seems to be that players play cantr slow, checking their characters rarely, therefore making a slow combat system necessary in order to prevent the addicts that check every other minute when they are not asleep from having a massive advantage. I want to test this assertion. How many players check in so infrequently that changes would make a difference? (Of course vacations present a problem).

By the way the poll cannot cover all options so vote for the one that's nearest your general pattern.

[the_antisocial_hermit]

I can't really answer by those options. I know you said all options aren't covered, but I think the 'none of the above' ought to not have that last qualifier stuck on it (that kind of defeats the purpose of the option, doesn't it?); it should be two separate choices or simply 'none of the above'.

'None of the above' would be my choice, except that I have lots of access all the time (connected pretty much 24/7, online most of the time I'm not sleeping, even online at work), and that is what disqualifies it as a choice for me; I just sometimes don't feel like checking for a long time and won't check but a couple of times a week, if even that (more like once a week, and then I don't really check my characters), or I will check every hour or couple of hours or every two minutes some months.

It's all dependent on how I feel at that particular time.

[Marian]

I voted for none of the above - I'd probably be one of the 'check it every 2 minutes' type if I was around my computer more. As it is it mainly depends on school and work, though I'm kind of like antisocial hermit too, sometimes I get caught up in RL stuff and don't feel like checking my chars even when I have time.

(I usually try to force myself to though, I've found that the longer I'm away, the harder it is to make myself care about getting back into the game and have almost lost my account a couple of times because of this...)

[SekoETC]

When I'm busy with something, I may go several hours without checking Cantr. But when I'm just lazying around, it's usually like check Cantr, read new posts at forums, chat with people, check Cantr again, check forums...

It would be nice to have a program that records patterns. Sometimes logins come in bunches, don't necessarily last a long time, you just check if there's any new events and end up noticing the few there were were actually some people whispering or hunting. And sometimes you might be busy and stay logged in for an hour.

[Phalynx]

In fairness Hermi you can't go planning changes around how people might feel....

I figured the none of the above would cover it, but wanted to add the comment because I know some people struggle to get online and would check in a more regular pattern if they could.

[the_antisocial_hermit]

In fairness Hermi you can't go planning changes around how people might feel....

I figured the none of the above would cover it, but wanted to add the comment because I know some people struggle to get online and would check in a more regular pattern if they could.

I never said that a person can. I never said a person should. It's a poll; you wanted answers, that was one. An answer isn't the solution to a problem, it merely sheds some light on what possibilities that aren't covered are out there. You asked how often we check our chars. I check mine based on how I'm feeling. Others do, too (actually everyone does to some degree; you don't feel like checking, you don't). It's not going to be based simply on how much access you do or don't have, either.

As there wasn't a sufficient option, nor a neutral option, in which case most would explain their answer anyway, I was explaining what drives my motivation for checking my chars much of the time. If the 'none of the above' answer had been simply what it should be, I'd mark it and still have explained, as generally in these polls that's what people want to know about instead of simply seeing the statistics of 'none of the above'. ("None of the above!? If it's not this or this or this, then what is it?!")

'None of the above' should never have a comment by it, or that changes its flexibility to cover what wasn't covered. It really robs it of any flexibility that it otherwise would've had.

[Phalynx]

But I don't give a toss what motivates you or anyone else. This is in reference to the direction that the discussion about combat is taking. I want to know how often people check. If you can't fit into a pattern either approximate or don't vote.

This wasn't intended as one of those 'get to know you' tell me all about yourself and your motivation threads. I just wanted more of an impression of how regularly people log in.

Quite frankly if you don't have an overall pattern to your use then as I said before then your opinion is not relevant to this particular thread.

However I will now move aside and let you all brag about how much, or how little, you check your charaters. How it used to be a lot more but now you're bored with the game, or you don't like skills or you have unstable personality disorder.

WHATEVER!

[the_antisocial_hermit]

What is your problem? I was merely stating an opinion, not bragging or trying to "let you get to know me" or whatever... No need to get an attitude with me for misunderstanding what you wanted. It wasn't something to get so pissy about. I thought you wanted opinions, but I guess not. Now I remember why I don't hardly ever post any opinions, because I'll just get bitched at for posting an opinion that isn't relevant in whoever's opinion. Doesn't matter what opinion, whether it's relatively neutral or not, it's just never good enough is it?

[nitefyre]

Ayappadapadoo.

You both have valid points, so there's no need to string each other up over a questionable poll (but I do know a few hangers...). Every opinion and criticism is applicable as long as it exists, and is probably more valid than less when it is "unconformed" (such as Hermi's reason). That's a major problem of polls in general....

Anyway, back to civility:

I think I check the forums (CD-wise) more often than I do the game, and that is maybe once or thrice a day (afternoon,evening,night) unless there is some ongoing action or interesting forum topic (few and far between!). Sometimes I just spontaneously log in because of the old habits kicking in...back in the good ol' days.

[tiddy ogg]

Of courrse, the results will be skewed, as it is most likely the only ones replying will be the frequent players, and of those, only those, obviously, that look at the forums. The results so far don't tie up at all with the experience ig of the majority of chars being sleepers.

[Phalynx]

I disagree entirely... with the poll giving 40% checking once or twice a day or less (so far), despite these likley to be those that are on the forums and therefore most active players, it acutally confirms the sleeper problem. Remember just because someone checks in doesn't mean they generate a visible event...

Early days yet, but this would lead one to conclude that system of combat that gave and advantage to the more regular checker would in consequence significantly disadvantage a significant number of players.

[Chris Johnson]

Very skewed ... the problem doesn't lie so much in your question wording but in your sampling methodology - the results are probably reasonably representative of the active english speaking forum users (well of the 44 who have currently responded) but thats far from representative of either the current player base or probably more important the total player base including lapsed users or potential players oh well it's still fun and a good tool to generate comment but I'd not want to base game design totally on this poll.

But then again - what do I know ?, the amount of time I work on Cantr seriously bites into my job as a Statistician specialising in survey design & analysis

[Phalynx]

OK I consider myself told again... sorry for wasting everyone's time... I just found all the bizarre and presumably impractical (my knowledge of programming extends to half remembered BBC basic) talk of different systems and influences a little frustrating in the thread about combat...

[Frits]

Early days yet, but this would lead one to conclude that system of combat that gave and advantage to the more regular checker would in consequence significantly disadvantage a significant number of players.

This conclusion can already be drawn, chars that are better being taken care off in general have an significant advantage over the other chars. There's no need for this poll. (disregard the latter statement if you read it Chris, it's of no use to you.)

[deadboy]

I am one of those who sometimes logs in often, but sometimes has no connection, or simply doesn't feel like playing because I am busy doing something else, for days, or weeks, on end, and doesn't log in for long periods of time then. I voted for the last option