Sarlona Inquiry: Is voice required in DDO?

[Rason]

I'm just curious, with the merger, with what people believe: Is a headset or microphone required to have fun in Dungeons and Dragons Online? Can you play it without a microphone and still come out on top?

Reason I ask this is by choice I don't use voice. I can if I wanted to, but I choose not to. I am a good team player even without a headset yet this becomes a problem with groups at times, eventhough I was in a very good group tonight, one person made mention that because we had no headset, we did not know about a trap.. mind you, the group did state no voice when created, so I guess people are blind some nights :P Either way I'm a RPer, so I guess I tend to rely more on the typing portion and relying on your friends and teamwork.

What is everyone else's opinions/experiences/etc on the matter?

(I apologise for the slightly *****y tone but it aggrivates me that people expect everyone to have what they have i.e. headsets, high end PCs, broadband, etc)

[Katrina]

You don't need a mic to be sucessfull in a quest. I headset frequently becomes damaged and I can't talk and have to type but I do just fine. It helps in instances where you just can't type fast enough (i.e. the docent pickup in pop) so it's always a good idea to have it active just in case.

[Zor_El328]

i used to use a headset then it broke so i was without one for bit, in my opinion it is much easier to have a headset, esp when ur the leader of the group or telling people where to go/what to do. try explaining the level pulling to get to the underwater part in the maze of madness to noobs without a headset....just chaotic its hard enuf with a headset how hard is it to just have everyone at a freakin lever...anyway i like my headset and if it ever broke again i wuld def not wait even a day to get a new one =)

[Lethelyn]

I type more often than I speak on my mic but like katrina said, it's very useful in some situations. You don't have to have one to be successful, it just helps out.

[Smoosh]

I'd argue that barring special circumstances (e.g. Deaf or Hearing Impaired) that a Mic is not required but being able to hear is if not required than encouraged int he strongest possible terms.

The good news is that you can enable voice chat to hear even if you can't speak. It is far easier to coordinate a quest using voice than it is to type.

[Zenako]

You also need to differentiate between using a headset/voice and actually speaking. Unless someone has a hearing impairment, I would really expect anyone in group to have the teams voices coming over their soundsystem (be it speeakers or headset) since it is a LOT faster to speak out something while keying in commands or casting spells than to try typing as well. If this was a turn based game, I would have far more acceptance of waiting for everyone to type in chat about what to do, but it is not and the mobs will not be waiting once engaged. You can be very effective without talking and I have seen many quiet characters do quite well. If you are not the leader or strategic decision maker, you can be a silent bob and get along fine. Just do what is expected of your character (fighters fight, casters cast, bards sing, etc depending on your build and twinkage...).

I know I always call out info on voice chat with my Cleric, like Raising X, so that someone else does not waste a scroll or ring charge doing it at the same time. Or for buffs and resists. Best to coordinate and sometimes things need to happen in the heat of battle. Or letting party know that is NOT your blade barrier or Wall of Fire so they do not run through it carelessly and get chewed or burned up.

[Vaarsuvius]

aye having voice chat on is better in my opinion if only to hear the other players but it doesnt mean you have to speak I play with several people regularly who prefer to type chat, although I hae seen parties specifically raid groups where all but 1 or 2 dont have voice on and they tend to get ignored not intentionally but speakers dont always look at chat windows.

[Darkwolf]

I don't think the issue is a mic. If I'm reading between the lines correctly, you choose not to enable voice chat at all for RP purposes. Is that right?

If so, I strongly recommend enabling it so that you can at least listen and hear the little things, like the rogue saying 'Watch it, trap!'. I think I understand that this detracts somewhat from the pure RP experience, but unless you are in an RP group you will miss out on important information.

Which can lead to people thinking you are a bad player, even if you are very good.

[Smoosh]

I don't think the issue is a mic. If I'm reading between the lines correctly, you choose not to enable voice chat at all for RP purposes. Is that right?

If so, I strongly recommend enabling it so that you can at least listen and hear the little things, like the rogue saying 'Watch it, trap!'. I think I understand that this detracts somewhat from the pure RP experience, but unless you are in an RP group you will miss out on important information.

Which can lead to people thinking you are a bad player, even if you are very good.

I'll vehemently disagree that this is an RP discussion. If anything Voice chat enhances RP not detracts from it. If you are role playing typing and reading is far less immersive than speaking and hearing.

[Beergut]

I played for 3 months without a headset and it was cool. I ran into problems trying to type and play but it was nothing insurmountable.

I did buy a good headset a week ago and, in my opinion, it's more fun to play with it. It's a hell of a lot easier to talk than type for me. In addition - it keeps the volume down so I can play and my cute little girlfriend can still watch TV.

[BuzzSaw]

As long as you can hear what the plan is....I'm good.

But I do enjoy all voice too!
Buzz

[Pfamily]

Having a headset or turning on speakers (if possible) so you can at least hear the in-party voice chat is very useful, and most players will look at a chat panel for answers to Q's in-game. Ultimately, it's your game to play, so play it the way you want and I believe the majority of folks playing with you will easily adapt to your style.

Enjoy!

[Yvonne_Blacksword]

meh...have it..don't have it..

Just don't abuse it.

Did a cute little PUG last night. I barely spoke.

Usually i refrain till something important comes up...in a PUG,...unless someone else starts it!

Leader was trying to get his mic to work. Without success.

We did 5 or so quests with narry a word.

Then a loquatious WF joined us and I had someone to engage.

Do I abuse it?
umm...sometimes?

Note: We with the VC have gotten used to everyone at least hearing what is said over it.
If you don't have it or intend not to use a listening device...Please let us know?
Some times we might need to pass information and we might forget you can't hear us.
<sigh>

[Lost_Leader]

As a couple people pointed out above, having a mic is not required. If you do not have a mic, I hope you are pretty quick on the keyboard, though.

In almost every higher level dungeon, and many lower, if you are running with a full crew you will need to have voice chat enabled so that you can hear the directions given. If you are hearing disabled and cannot hear whats being said, be very sure to point this out to your groups. They will probably need to modify their playstyle to compensate, I know I would as I tend to use voice more than half the time. I also use voice for explainin situations, and in some cases (like timing the dragon-giant deaths in a scale run) communication is required.

So my opinion: Mic not necessary, though it will make your life easier, especially as a group leader. Being able to hear others is necessary, except for those who have a disability, in which case their communication about this fact is necessary so that the group can be sure you are getting all the info that you need.

-I have grouped with people who had their music blaring away and missed key instructions. It caused issues for the whole group and in general made for a memorably bad pug experience. Now if I have a groupmate who doesnt respond at all to voice instructions (assuming they havent said anything about a hearing problem) I will get rid of them as soon as possible. It just isn't conducive to a fun group.

[Invalid_6]

As long as you can hear it doesn't matter to me.

I type sometimes when I'm busy talking to someone else.

I'm in TS when I play and have been since I started PC gaming. It's natural for me, but not for everyone. If you don't want to don't, but I don't think it's a bad idea to have it handy just in case.

As for warning about traps... I have a hotkey set up on my G15 to type "STOP TRAP!!!!" in case I'm in a non-talking mood. It's nice to have some warning system available at the touch of a key.

[Kargon]

Kargon only use micromaphone for 2 thing: Make kargon sistamer trick party think kargon are girl, and play benny hill musimic when TSE goiming horrimably, horrimably wrong. Kargon alwamays listamen to party chat with speakamers though.

[Jarlaxel]

yes you can have fun without a mic and yes you can still come out on top. However, having a mic makes running through certain quests quicker and more convienent. For example, in the cruicable it helps if the person explaining the maze has a mic. Having to type the valve/door instructions sucks.

[Laggin]

The ability to speak, not nessessary.

The ability to hear, a must I think.

Sorry this game is about teamplay, if you wanna feel like your playing by yourself go play solitaire.

Also when I play cleric you have to ask me to heal, and if you can't talk I can't hear you.

Laggin

[Dragonhyde]

Don't feel a mic is required. But it is nice to make certain the group knows to check the party chat...not everyone thinks to look right away.

As I discovered this week there is also a third option with outside game voice chat...ran as a pug with a guild that used one and they would forget that others were not privy to their conversations. This is fine for everything but vital quest info like hey cleric I have major con damage. They just couldn't understand that we never heard their screams

[Marrra]

I have a hearing problem. There isn't much point me turning voice on at all because I wouldn't be able to understand you (though I speak just fine). I make sure when I join a PUG that I mention that I have a hearing problem and ask if that will be an issue. Most of the time I get a 'no problem!' in reply, but I have also been kicked out of groups because of it. That doesn't bother me as much as the times when they accept me and then proceed to pretty much ignore me through the quest, either forgetting or not caring that I can't hear.

Just a point of note for people - if someone doesn't have their voice on it's usually for a good reason. Give them the benefit of the doubt and cut them some slack, please?