Game theory:

[boomhaeur]

"or would it calculate for each individual present per whisper so when whispering, a few people nearby may overhear you, so that in a larger and more crowded town square or such, any whisper there'd likely be guaranteed that at least a few people overheard you?"

I think this one wins the "How do we cripple the server as fast as possible" award.

Interesting idea, but unless you want to shell out for a nice big server farm to run the game it probably ain't gonna happen

[kinvoya]

I think it would be very funny and intiguing if the whispers were occasionally overhead by some or all of the townspeople but the whisperers weren't aware of it. This would be more realistic and add a lot of dimension to secret secrets like affairs and plots getting overheard.

Other chars could then pretend they didn't hear if they wanted to and make their own plans to foil the plot but there would also be the possiblity of some clueless char going, "Hey! These guys are planning to kill the Queen and take over the town!" Chaos ensues! Diamond encrusted weapons spring into action! Whoo hoo!

[The Sociologist]

I'm not sure if inadvertently overheard whispering is really a cure.

One of the problems I have is that buildings cut people off altogether from "outside" and yet outside is just one big place. If those in a building, or at least in some rooms in a building (eg a "front porch"), could see other people arriving and leaving the town, or picking up things, hitting animals or people, and suchlike, then there might be more interaction. In other words, "windows".

There might then also be more encouragement to town elders, police officers and the like to spend more time indoors, which might in turn cut down on excessive public whispering and the like, especially where affairs are being conducted.

Also, one could perhaps have the possiblity of outside "fields" where one could continue harvesting and see all the above limited list of things, but not have every whispering or talking event reported. Such fields might also provide some security for private-sector harvesting machines and the like. There might even be an additional "shouting" mode or town bells and suchlike.

At the moment, we have an "either-or" situation. Outside and noisy, or indoors and completely isolated. This definitely caps the ability of towns to grow, and especially to grow private industry or enterprise. I suppose my suggestions imply a more sophisticated town "geography" than the traditional MUD rooms permit, and the result may not appeal to all.

[Solfius]

Also, one could perhaps have the possiblity of outside "fields" where one could continue harvesting and see all the above limited list of things, but not have every whispering or talking event reported. Such fields might also provide some security for private-sector harvesting machines and the like. There might even be an additional "shouting" mode or town bells and suchlike.

Jos thought of that one before you
It has been on the drawing boards for a while as it's a big change

[Lumin]

One of the problems I have is that buildings cut people off altogether from "outside" and yet outside is just one big place.

Good point. It's like every building in Cantr is completely sound-proofed and shut off from the rest of the town. There could be a massacre going on outside, and your char wouldn't have a clue.

It would be nice if you could be aware of at least some of the actions that went on just outside, though you shouldn't be able to see and hear every everything. Like you said, you could see things like people coming and going, hunting, or if someone gets attacked, but wouldn't notice anyone talking or whispering.

And those who wanted complete silence could still have it by buildign an extension. Things outside could only be seen from the main room.

(Or conversely you could have buildings remain the same unless a window was added allowing people to look outside, but I imagine glass is pretty tough to get, while anyone who can manage to make a building can add another room...)

[kinvoya]

I've always wanted to be able to be sneakier about things. It would be nice to have some sort of "silent and invisible" state that chars could opt to go into where they could enter and leave buildings, hand over goods and resources and actually whisper to people without anyone knowing about it. BUT there would be, say, a 20% chance that it would show up and be identified as the person "sneaking inside" or "whispering furtively" or "serupticiously handing *item* to *person*.

This would be so much fun I can't even stand to think about it. Right now things are way too visible. People could really sneak off to have affairs or secretly plot or smuggle or steal things but with a real chance that they will be caught. People could also sneak into and out of towns and could secretly attack with small weapons like knives. Town protectors would have to be a lot more vigilant.

The bad part of this is the idiot chaos causing players would really take advantage of it but, much as I hate them, that would actually be more realistic, too. There are always people on the fringes of society causing trouble for the law-abiding citizens and they don't normally do it in plain sight.

[Solfius]

good idea kinvoya, i like it

[Lumin]

I don't know how feasible that would be to actually implement, but I've always thought that thieves had it rough. Cantrian stealing is always of the 'grab and run' sort, with everyone seeing it and being able to recognize you from then on. There's just not a lot for those of us who prefer a slyer, more sophisticated character to do.

[Nick]

I've always wanted to be able to be sneakier about things. It would be nice to have some sort of "silent and invisible" state that chars could opt to go into where they could enter and leave buildings, hand over goods and resources and actually whisper to people without anyone knowing about it. BUT there would be, say, a 20% chance that it would show up and be identified as the person "sneaking inside" or "whispering furtively" or "serupticiously handing *item* to *person*.

No offense to you, but I hate suggestions like this.
Why do people even bother making suggestions this complex?
Or maybe some people just don't think about their suggestion in a programming point of view before posting it.

[kinvoya]

No, I have no concept of what is hard to program or not so I just make suggestions as they occur to me.

Since this is general discussion I think we should all feel like we have the freedom to do that without being subjected to snotty commentary about the value or feasability of our ideas.

If this particular idea isn't possible then maybe it will eventually result in some other lightbulb going on in someone's head.

In the meantime...this is discussion. DISCUSSION! No offese to you, Nick, but you are often very oppressive to others on the forum.

[Nick]

No, I have no concept of what is hard to program or not so I just make suggestions as they occur to me.

Since this is general discussion I think we should all feel like we have the freedom to do that without being subjected to snotty commentary about the value or feasability of our ideas.

If this particular idea isn't possible then maybe it will eventually result in some other lightbulb going on in someone's head.

In the meantime...this is discussion. DISCUSSION! No offese to you, Nick, but you are often very oppressive to others on the forum.

Snotty? I was being nice.
Your idea sucks. A lot. Now don't say I'm being rude, because you're the one spewing insults.

[kinvoya]

Well, it apears that we both took offense even though we so carefully warned each other not to.

[Revanael]

Don't you just love misunderstandings?

Back on topic: Kinvoya's idea sounds good... in a way. Ideally, Cantr players would not need many of the restrictions we have. But people are human, not ideal. This idea could be good... but people could easily find ways to take advantage of it, I would think. However, it would be a big addition, I think, probably unpopular, and I'm not sure it really fits with the idea of the game.

I'm not sure, in other words.

[Yo_Yo]

Lol, that was on topic? I made this thread about a theory I had. So far no one has tried it to see if it works.

[Lumin]

Don't worry, I liked your theory, even if the thread has been slightly derailed.

I'm going to try it, but I already have four characters when I shouldn't have more than two. If one of them dies I'll be creating a new one, "Not KDS".