Restrings

**morgaine** · November 5th, 2006

Someone posted an idea about putting in a mob that could restring items. This I feel, Is a very good idea, as it further personalizes characters establishing greater pride in what we have.....Maybe it would be possible to exchange lq's and mobhunt points for restrings. I suppose if this was abused, and people used unapproprioate restrings... they would loose their items as punishment.

**Cordir** · November 5th, 2006

Respectfully, there's a *vast* array of ways this can be abused. I would rather see immortals get more restring credits (subtle, aint I?! :grin

, or more quests run where restring credits are a prize, than a mob that could do them.

There's a couple very important rules governing restrings, and having a mob do them could lead to a lot of circumventing of the rules.

Examples:
1) The item must have a keyword that is in both the short desc, and the long desc. No 'ninja' keywords that make no sense, or that can't be figured out logically and quickly.

2) No restrings that directly reference other players without their consent. For example, I can't create an item for one of my followers that was:
(Held) the bloody severed head of Orpik.

3) No restrings that are grossly sexual or ickky, have foul language, etc.

hope that helps provide another viewpoint,

- Cordir

**morgaine** · November 12th, 2006

perhaps it could work differentally then, where I would enter the proposed restring information at the mob, which would then be approved by a god +, and then be placed into effect. Restrings could take place without scheduals lining up.

**Furnock** · November 13th, 2006

I like the idea and I hear an understand the concerns of Cordir. However, if the populous is trusted with Inscribe, why would we not be trusted with some form of Build your own restring. It's a sure bet that if I filled the pit with jewelry inscribed with "Flarn,Filth, Flarn and More Filth" I'd be requested to vacation elsewhere. The same thing with Titles. They should be tasteful and in-game relevent. If not, we're asked to change them. Further abuse leads to Title-Lock and trips to the Cooler.
The rules would be simple.
1) You earn restring credits based on a pre-defined criteria.
2) You turn in restring credits AND the item to be restrung into the mob with the restring text fields filled out in some RP way.
3) TFC Staffer reviews request and determines if the request is appropriate by comparing the request to a documented set of metrics.
4) If appropriate, the restring is completed by the Staffer.
5) If inappropriate, the restring request is rejected and at least the credit is kept, if not the item itself in the case of gross negelegence.

IMHO
I'm not a big fan of re-strings for myself. I'm regularly entertained by other's creativity. I've always wanted a Jester's Hat or a container renamed Furnock's Freshest Corpse of Furnock or similar. As a character my eq has never been my eq. It's on loan and soon to belong to someone else, a big nasty mob or that great dry sac void in the sky/dirt.
Restrings bring a sense of permanence to something that is quite temporary. A restring puts numismatic value on something that may or may not have a real value. Not only did I loose a +3 dam Item, I lost an item that reminds of that one time I was cool that one day.

**Thor** · November 13th, 2006

Originally Posted by Furnock

However, if the populous is trusted with Inscribe, why would we not be trusted with some form of Build your own restring.

I'd like to point out that restring is not even close to inscribe. Apples and oranges. Restring is extremely powerful. You change the way the item looks and its key words. You can't do anything close to this with inscribe. Imagine trying to steal a bag from someone and that's called "Furnock's fresh corpse" has a keyword of "xyz". With inscribe, you can't change any of those things. (Remember the death magic mushrooms.)

All that being said, I do like the idea of players being able to earn restring credits (aside from quests, etc given by their FLIs) and use them when they see fit.

As far as TFC staff approval, I'd be in favor of that. Perhaps when an immortal logs in they get a message like:

Code:

There are 2 restring requests pending.

And the immortal could chose to review those requests and accept or deny them based on the current restring rules.

Code:

>restrings list

Pending Restring Requests
1) Keywords: hammer
    Short Desc: Thor's hammer rests here.
    etc...

>restrings approve 1

Restring 1 approved.

We could even add an immortal field (a field that only an immortal would see when looking at the item) to a restrung item that would indicate who gave the approval for the restring. The immortal wouldn't even need to know which mortal requested the restring. (Unless of course the mortal chose to include something giving the owner.) (eg. "Thor's Hammer")

My main concern would be the way that restring credits are acquired. In my opinion it would need to be something fairly difficult. It could even be level based. But I wouldn't want to see it something like 1mil gold for 1 restring credit. Something like that isn't hard to come by, it just takes a little time.

**Furnock** · November 14th, 2006

Originally Posted by Thor

I'd like to point out that restring is not even close to inscribe. Apples and oranges. Restring is extremely powerful. You change the way the item looks and its key words. You can't do anything close to this with inscribe. Imagine trying to steal a bag from someone and that's called "Furnock's fresh corpse" has a keyword of "xyz". With inscribe, you can't change any of those things. (Remember the death magic mushrooms.)

I understand that they are apples and oranges but they are both Fruit. Both are ways for the populous to add flavor(still working with the fruit refernce) to an item with the posibility for abuse. If we are allowed the trust with apples and bananas (the more innocuous Title freedom and rich in Potasium), I am requesting the same light be put on oranges with well thought out methods and restrictions to prevent sophomoric shenanigans.
All I was saying, in short, is that the field should be level. The expecations and enforcement of those expectations should be understood across the board and ideas should not be limited/squelched because of the posibility for abuse alone. I did hear more than that. I do like what you have in mind for the Immortal approval. Thanks for the visuals, quite helpful.

I support the proposal, my idea for the front end and your idea for the back end. I am especially in favor of anything that supports and promotes FLI+ interaction with the user community. We have a proposal all we need now is support from the Steering Commitee. Let's get the required funding requests and ROI analysis up to Finance. Once approved, have the developers to log their time to the new project. Check with infrastructure to determine if we have the resources to support the increased load. Uh-oh my work voice is coming out. You get the idea. Let's get input from the Tyn-man and see if the spaghetti sticks.

Furnock
Current Mood: Mischevious
Currently Listening to: I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts - Tiny Tim's Greatest Hits.

**Tynian** · November 14th, 2006

Not surprisingly, my point of view is a little different than most.

I look at restrings as a reward, and one of the few lasting ways a FLI can reward a follower. They're also pretty nifty general quest prizes.

The reward aspect is why we currently dole out few restrings to the FLIs. And, to adapt an expression from "The Incredibles," when everything is special, nothing is special.

As it stands now, restrings are an Immortal boon. I'm uncomfortable with making restrings a "vending machine" function.

I'm not exactly saying no, but that's where I'm leaning. Restrings should be uncommon. I'm not in love with the idea of creating a whole new approval system, just so mortals can do their own. And finally, I think it removes an element of incentive to join a following (which could be either good or bad, I suppose).

Who's with me??

**Anonymous Mammal** · November 14th, 2006

Who's with me??

Do we say "aye" or something?

Aye!

**Pol** · November 15th, 2006

Count me in as part of the "not fond of this idea" faction. It's one thing for in-game functions to supplement some services (like ID's or bribing debt), quite another for them to replace the role of an imm or another player completely.

Pol O'Song

**Furnock** · November 15th, 2006

It's the trouble being a Gemini, I can stand in support of something and completely understand the oposition.

I'm not sure this idea was ever meant to replace or diminish the uniqueness of restrings. At least in my mind. I even mentioned in one of my postings that I am in favor of anything that increases and enhances the interaction between the player community and the FLI+ community. I picture this idea as more of an interface to help complete the process in a more timely fashion. Given that TFC hosts players from around the globe and reduced population, it may be hard for an Imm and a player to connect on finalizing a restring. This function could be useful.
Restrings should be held above Artifact Magic and restring rewards should be given with that spirit. I do not picture them given out as a prize for a random TFC trivia contest but one of the more epic multi-player, multi-day quests would be appropriate. FLI's grant them to followers who are worthy etc. This is a function of the game I would not utilize but I am in favor of it.
However with lack of Top Down support, it would be futile to continue to push. Efforts can be expended elsewhere on supported ideas to enhance the game and bolster the user community.

**Belsambar** · November 24th, 2006

I'm not saying it should be automated....but there should be more ways to earn them....

....such as my quest idea for points for restrings, flags, +1 stats, etc....

((reference: Ideas formerly posted on Idea list by me, in forums :P))

**Anandunaiss** · December 6th, 2006

i think out of all of my characters i might have had one restring once, but then i think it was just a health ammy or smthn like that that i borrowed to get a mob or jsut for one afternoon (in RL). i put my voice in with Tynian in that restrings are rare occurences and are really cool to see and even own if u are lucky. to refer back to Furnock, i usually dont live long enough with my characters to enjoy full use of a restring and show it off. (or at least if i did show it off, i wouldnt live long afterwards if it was a half decent item :P ).

**orpik** · December 9th, 2006

I'm with tynian on this one. Restrings are the main prize type item that an fli can reward its followers worth. Furthermore, you would not want pkers to have the power to create restrings as there are sooo many nasty things we could do with them.

**Anonymous Mammal** · December 9th, 2006

Originally Posted by orpik

Furthermore, you would not want pkers to have the power to create restrings as there are sooo many nasty things we could do with them.

Correction: There are sooo many nasty things YOU could do with them. Other people have enough sense to not try to circumvent the rules or use some form of trickery that borders on cheating.

**orpik** · December 10th, 2006

Um you are advocating to make it legal, not me. I am just pointing out why it would be a very bad idea. There is no reason to level accusations against me.

**Pez** · December 11th, 2006

All I have to say is: "Kobayashi Maru"

For my money, the more nasty things available, and the more grey areas to exploit, the more fun, challenging, and open to creativeness the game is.

Anticipation of all events, with the goal of "leveling the playing field" is simply a recipe for boredom and stagnation. I have (and always will!) advocate a more dynamic and unpredictable game environment. This goes for restrings as well.

Pez et. al.

**Thor** · December 11th, 2006

While I agree that no being able to figure out every single thing in the game can make it more fun, the abuse of restrings could potentially drive away more people just from total frustration. Imagine, as a thief, you peek at someone's inventory and you see "a bag." Then you try and steal that bag, but you can't because the keyword is something ridiculous like "111." Those types of things would really have to be watched. But, in my opinion, things like a magic mushroom that's really a death pill do make the game more exciting. There's nothing like a little excitement in wondering if this mushroom could be your last.