Turn 2310 - Game over?

[Tiamo]

OOC discussion about ongoing in-game events (like unexplained murder) is a CRB. That should NOT be encouraged or even supported in any way.
In fact, the same goes for requiring an explanatory message.

Murder happens, accept it.

If you want to diminish the amount of unexplained murders, give characters less reason to kill, give them a viable in-game alternative. And make some kind of protection possible, like having bodyguards performing a 'protection project' on the VIP. For a wage of course.

[joo]

For a wage of course.

But of course that would never be enforced by the game mechanics, right?

[Tiamo]

Of course not, like any in-game activity protecting someone else is entirely voluntary.

Creating this kind of possibilities would mean some code changes though, which seems impossible lately.

[viktor]

about the machines and insane rates of collection..... these machines are in the game so as to support massive populations. what's left is not quite as many players needed to half fill one island to overuse the machines but we all need to recruit more players, hey i try every chance i get, some get right into the game, some end up starving off thier couple chars or timing out, but hey don't be afraid of looking like a nut who can't but play cantr all day, some of the multitude of people you coax into the game will pick it up like a bad habit THEY WILL!! so everyone get out there and get recruiting, it takes all kinds to make the game interesting and it's the only viable way to compenasate for the complaint of being able to collect too much.

[ilumino]

I wonder if people are leaving Cantr for another similar game.

[*Wiro]

I wonder if people are leaving Cantr for another similar game.

"Like Cantr, only better:
http://www.faerytaleonline.com"

... >_> I'll play though. Bookmarked it and will check it now and then to see when signing up becomes available.

[Doug R.]

I wonder if people are leaving Cantr for another similar game.

"Like Cantr, only better:
http://www.faerytaleonline.com"

... >_> I'll play though. Bookmarked it and will check it now and then to see when signing up becomes available.

Wow, I'd never play this. The font is so small, it hurt my eyes just trying to read the front page.

Reading the FAQ, I wonder if this hasn't been made by some ex or current Cantr players. It seems too much like Cantr, with the addition of babies, magic, and monsters - Cantr customized.

[*Wiro]

I wonder if people are leaving Cantr for another similar game.

"Like Cantr, only better:
http://www.faerytaleonline.com"

... >_> I'll play though. Bookmarked it and will check it now and then to see when signing up becomes available.

Wow, I'd never play this. The font is so small, it hurt my eyes just trying to read the front page.

Reading the FAQ, I wonder if this hasn't been made by some ex or current Cantr players. It seems too much like Cantr, with the addition of babies, magic, and monsters - Cantr customized.

It's made by the guy who has it in his sig. (Ilumino)

[Doug R.]

I just figured that out

[joo]

When I first read about this game, I instantly decided to ignore it, but then, curiosity got the better of me, especially when I read how similar it appeared to be to Cantr.

I had no idea that such a game was in development. It almost seems to be... Cantr, but... better. Now I know that the term "better" is not usually used in the same sentence as Cantr, except when it is applied to Cantr its self, but this Lumin really sounds like he has thought this out.

Of course, it is obvious that he wants to make a better version of Cantr - I read this forum topic and it outlines his plan pretty well. Also, you can see how he is clearly critical of some of the current flaws in Cantr in this paragraph:

Finally, the most revolutionary aspect of FTO will be the introduction of family trees. This is a critical part of this game - not something on the back-burner for later. Players are not warped into the gaming world requiring role-players to explain the phenomenon as some kind of magic trick, but each new registrant will be logically placed into a family.

There are also some key differences to Cantr, which might repel some players of the original Cantr:

As the name implies, this is a fantasy world - a high fantasy world to be precise. Fantasy non-player creatures, both good and evil will be found inhabiting the land. They will have some degree of intelligence and know where the best living places are at. Although rare, magic will also exist in different forms and will be an integral part of the game. Magic is considered to be very special in the world of FTO, it cannot be learned simply by studying it. Only those born with the gift may use it.

However, I, for one, do not mind if there is a little magic to the game, as I am attracted to fantasy games.

One more important aspect of the game is that everything that takes place within the game world must stay in the game world as much as possible. I will leave it up to the player-base to enforce this rule and guard in-game secrets. This means, digital distribution of maps, strategies or online wikis is prohibited.

Now this next quote is something that I am slightly sceptical about. Not only does he intend to develop and maintain the game entirely on its own, also, he plans to "dungeon-master" the entire game world. I find it hard to believe that he'd be able to keep track of enough of the game's events to do a good job of this, and keep it "impartial." One of the things I like about Cantr is its uncompromising fairness and the strictness of its rules.

Once launched, my role will move to part-time Dungeon Master where I will have a real effect on the in-game story and events. I am also building a comprehensive back-end system that will monitor everything from global weather patterns to real-time player actions and events. This will allow me to contribute in a meaningful way to the balance of the game. It also means I can throw in special events and plot twists to keep players constantly challenged and surprised. Computer algorithms alone simply cannot create the level of immersion I am aiming for.

However, the worst problems with Cantr are indeed cause by the opposite of what he's going to do -- because the power to change the game is spread out between a bureacracy of different staff members, and every while the game's balance is upset by drastic changes that need to be made because of unchecked gradual change in the game... however I for one cannot say which approach is better.

So in conclusion I think that it would be both foolhardy and arrogant to ignore this new player, especially since he has a stronger motivation to make this game succeed than Jos had to make Cantr succeed (I'm not criticising Jos, just saying that he has something to compete with now).

Rather than considering this as a new game come to replace Cantr, I'd rather see it as the natural evolution of the concept of Cantr, formed by a new mind with new idea. After all if this game happens to succeed. It, minus then new features implemented will essentially be the same game as Cantr.

I'm certainly going to play it if and when it comes out, and if it is as good as or better than Cantr, I may continue to play both. I've never been one to put all my eggs in one basket.

[joo]

I haven't really tried much of Cantr, cause the interface is really pretty bad and thus, couldn't bring myself to spend time on it. I really hope this will be the RPG that I've been looking for. Do let me (and us, rest of the forum members) know when the beta is up, and I will be there.

Wow, I think this post answers the question of why Cantr isn't getting new players pretty well... although it could also have been written by Lumino himself to keep people away from Cantr.

[Doug R.]

The interface never really bothered me. I was so taken with the concept that I never cared.

[BarbaricAvatar]

The interface never really bothered me. I was so taken with the concept that I never cared.

Ditto

[Tiamo]

This is another Cantr-'clone'. It is being playtested, though still in alpha-phase.

Both clones seem to have an 'adventuring' feel over them, rather than the uncompromising roleplaying-and-society-building-feel Cantr has. One by creating external challenges (exploring the world, slaying monsters), the other by allowing different characters played by the same player (having family ties) to fully cooperate.
I do like the concept of 'real' family ties within the game (IF it will work out, i am not sure it will), and the creation of a recorded history (already thought of this myself for a political game i am contemplating). Also, the 'free-roaming' topology in 'generations' is more appealing to me than the rather crippled location-and-connection system Cantr uses.

The Cantr concept is still unique, i feel, but the Cantr gameplay can be improved vastly, which would also improve the attractiveness of the game to possible new players.

[DylPickle]

That's why some of the more programming-inclined players should bound together and make a Cantr 3 for us, if you please. :p The roadmap topic is up there stickied for all to see. Get to work! :p