Game theory:

[Armulus Satchula]

I can't remember last time i saw someone taken to jail. Its like one happy place. I want something exciting to happen there.

[Lumin]

Buildings are sad, lonely places. I don't know how Cantr even has the level of technology it does when all those machines require chars to slave away in silent factories.

I wholeheartedly agree that there should be more RP in buildings. I don't know why it is that you can have eight people in a village and a decent level of conversation, but put those same people in a factory and nobody says a word for days unless they're asking for food or something.

One of my chars has been formulating ideas for stories in her head and might be building a theaterhouse one of these days, though I have to wonder if I can get an audience to show up...

[Surly]

Go to Zuzi... there always seems to be an audience of some sort there...

Of course following this advice would be a CRB unless you were told the same in IC... But of course, you know that...

[Lumin]

Well, IC, she would probably go to the booming metropolis that is Pok.

Somehow I don't think this char wound up in the best place for someone with a bent for culture and art...

[Yo_Yo]

What can I say. I just enjoy killing. With most of my characters that is

And as for the Nosse.... I just don't like do gooders. Then again, I always root for the badguys in the movies.

And as for killing the entire region, well I have plans for that too.

It's been a while, so the stockpiles may have dwindled, but I personally knew what was inside the KSF. I use to run it for a while when Maynard Leeward was temporary Leader. Man... I wish he didn't let those dumb townfolk run it...

[The Industriallist]

I wholeheartedly agree that there should be more RP in buildings. I don't know why it is that you can have eight people in a village and a decent level of conversation, but put those same people in a factory and nobody says a word for days unless they're asking for food or something.

Is it those same people, or is it the same number of people?

A lot of characters who contribute a lot of the RP that some people seem to want to see, would never consider working in a factory. That would involve curtailing their socialization for petty possesions.

It's the problem that characters often lack any sort of balance between desire for wealth and interest in interaction...

[Lumin]

In this case I was talking about the same eight people, but you definitely have a point. A lot of times it seems like characters are one extreme or another; either nearly comatose drones who do nothing but work or travel and don't bother to talk, or the chatty sort who only want to stand in the middle of town and write long emotes. Since it is possible to RP and work toward a concrete goal at the same time, I'm surprised we don't see more people doing both...

[The Sociologist]

I wholeheartedly agree that there should be more RP in buildings. I don't know why it is that you can have eight people in a village and a decent level of conversation, but put those same people in a factory and nobody says a word for days unless they're asking for food or something.

You know, that's one of the truest and most observant--and also sociologically most interesting--comments I've read in a long while. I've really tried hard in New Xanth to set up a whole indoor community that's actually bigger than the outdoor community, and yet it still tends to produce exactly the result you describe.

Must say, I'm at a loss.

[mortaine]

When you are outside and your character name on your list turns white, you have to check it to make sure you weren't attacked by an animal or a thief.

When you are inside, especially if the door is locked, you don't have to check to make sure your character isn't dead. Or, at the very least, you know if a thief attacked you that they won't be able to do so again until tomorrow.

That is why there is more activity outside. Animals can attack you repeatedly (or used to), thieves can hit-and-run you, and you can go from fine to dead in the span of a few hours.

[SekoETC]

Obviously you haven't been to Siom Steelworks... And it's not just about Holly keeping a monologue, the others talk too, when they're not sleeping.

[Jos Elkink]

That is why there is more activity outside. Animals can attack you repeatedly (or used to), thieves can hit-and-run you, and you can go from fine to dead in the span of a few hours.

Surely players care about more than just survival! ... I mean, why would you spend time playing Cantr if the only thing is to avoid animal attacks and thieves ... So the fun comes when you start setting larger targets or start to roleplay more, which can be done both inside and outside buildings ...

[Lumin]

You know, that's one of the truest and most observant--and also sociologically most interesting--comments I've read in a long while.

Thanks! Cool, now I feel all smart and stuff.

I've been trying to think of explanations for SBS (Silent Building Syndrome), and the only things I can come up with is that:

1) There are just more people outside, simple as that. When you've got a group of twenty plus, somebody's eventually going to talk. Conversations happen, relationships develop, etc.

2) More things happen outside. Even in a slow town you've got travellers, newspawns, animals, and hunters, any of which might provide for a topic of conversation if nothing else is going on.

3) There's pretty much a universal taboo against going into a building without permission. I'm not sure how much effect this actually has, but I know that my chars rarely go inside and generally I only know what a fraction of the buildings in a town are even for.

4) Cantrians are workaholics. They always want to have a project going. Of course, this doesn't explain why things are so quiet in a factory setting, but I think it's the reason why people rarely go into buildings just to hang out. Outside they can chat all they want and still be gathering resources, but going inside to talk to someone means you might be standing there twiddling your thumbs a day and a half while waiting for them to respond.
So if something important needs to be said you often see people take the 'duck in, ask a question, duck out' approach, followed by 'duck out, answer the question, duck in'. Not exactly conducive to roleplay or even a short conversation.

[Lumin]

Oh look, and I just thought of a possible solution. (Dang, im gettign smarder an smatrer evrey minit! )

Maybe whispers shouldn't be so infallible. When talking privately, there could be a random chance that you'll blurt out something just a little too loud and everyone will hear you. Thus, if two people are having a private conversation that's actually private, they'll have to go into a building.

This might curb the excessive whispering in town, as well as doing something about the unrealistic whispered sex right in front of everybody we were all discussing recently.

Im a genuis!

[kinvoya]

Maybe whispers shouldn't be so infallible. When talking privately, there could be a random chance that you'll blurt out something just a little too loud and everyone will hear you.

This already happens plenty, resulting in some very informative impromptu sex education lessons!

I think the main reason people don't talk much indoors is because they go inside to rest from talking and listening. It's a part of the unique Cantrian social dynamics. Working inside is a form of relaxation meditation.

EDIT: Lumin, you are a genius for inventing the term SBS (Silent Building Syndrome)! Too funny!

[Nixit]

Obviously you haven't been to Siom Steelworks... And it's not just about Holly keeping a monologue, the others talk too, when they're not sleeping.

Indeed! That place is crazy, especially with the spacial issue.