Spectator Option

[Merkinsal]

I thinks spectators should be allowed into the quest areas as part of a group. They would have floating cameras and could follow the party around and see everything a party member could. I can think of a dozen objections and issues without even blinking but I think this feature would greatly increase playability and enjoyment of the game for many, be very enjoyable way to spend time online, and increase and/or retain subscribed members.

Possible features

1. restrict number of spectators per group
2. leader of group chooses who can be a spectator
3. restrict areas cameras could access to the current locations of party members
4. limitations on spectators access to chat
5. limit the level of the spectator to the level of the group
6. spectator must have appropiate favor in the quest and can only view same or lower difficulty of the quest
7. party members would have to agree to allow spectators to to view the quest

There are runs I would like to have seen that for one reason or another I was not in. There was a server wide shroud run by clerics some time ago that would have been fun to see.

*edit* P.S. and ddo would have something no other mmo has.

[Turial]

Interesting...lots of potential pros and cons. Mind you I'm not opposed just not signed on it.

[Vizzini]

Wonderful idea!

/signed.

[esoitl]

meh, i would never use it personally

i don't log in to sit around and watch others play, let alone be paying to do so
it might float someones boat but not in my harbour

[Razvan]

We already have that...it's just we have to carry the "spectator's" soulstone in our backpack...no biggie!

[llevenbaxx]

Would be a nice tool for guilds to teach newer players difficult content without much wipage potential. That said Idont know what the fun of sitting there watching is. Could care less personnally.

[Merkinsal]

Maybe,

The way a quest is being organized there is room for only one of a class, you have that class and want to see how they do it.

A friend is running a quest and you want to be there but couldn't join the group.

Kill time between groups.

Chance to see groups do quests who wouldn't otherwise have room in the group or raid for non guildees or extra members.

Get to bet on how often someone will die.

Good laugh.

Good cry.

Better than watching tv.

[Merkinsal]

We already have that...it's just we have to carry the "spectator's" soulstone in our backpack...no biggie!

lmao. Ya, thats the way I saw much of Von 3 my first time through. Sorc in a box they called me lol. Good times. Good group.

[Merkinsal]

Add

Separate chat for spectators. nvm, guess we already have that with cutomized chat channels.

[Allistair]

lmao. Ya, thats the way I saw much of Von 3 my first time through. Sorc in a box they called me lol. Good times. Good group.

LMAO
That's how a lot of us experience VoN 3 the first time.
For some reason my "Friends" in my guild like to have the Newbies pull certain trapped levers.
Ah, good times! It's a tradition we still pass on to the newer players LOL

[Kreaper]

It would be used as a learning/training tool for guilds to use to figure out quests together and then to teach the rest of the guild how to run the quests. Don't know if that's good or bad. In a way, both.

[Issip]

So essentially my style of play would be unchanged except there's no loot at the end? It defeats the whole purpose of pyking!

In all seriousness I have no opinion on this, just chiming in to be a smart as as usual.

Issip

[Merkinsal]

It would be used as a learning/training tool for guilds to use to figure out quests together and then to teach the rest of the guild how to run the quests. Don't know if that's good or bad. In a way, both.

No doubt many would object if people didn't have to pay their dues and could learn a raid the easy way. Limits to number of spectators, who is a spectator, ability to turn if off, and the requrement that a spectator needs to have already completed the raid at that level I think answer that objection to some degree. Many will prefer not to use the option to fine turn their game plan, do not want their strategies revealed, and they don't have to allow spectators. I would probalby not use it at all for that purpose, preferring to learn in the quest and pay the repair bills and fail. But, yes some no doubt would use this as you suggest and that also would be perfectly fine by me. Each find enjoyment in the game in their own way and that is what counts. More enjoyment, more players. It's not like anyone is keeping score of who has done vod, for example, more than another. Just the opposite. Not enough are doing the raid at all lol.

Good Point

Add:

Spectator option not allowed on new content for x number of days.

[Memnir]

I guess I just don't see the point... you learn far more by doing than by watching.
And, if I wanted passive entertainment - I'd watch TV. If a guild wants/needs a teaching tool that badly - have a member download Fraps and make a tutorial. Same thing for zero Dev time.

[Aesop]

I don't have an objection to it. I can see its uses and I can see it as being a bit time intensive for development

Probably won't happen but I like the thought process

Aesop

[Merkinsal]

I don't have an objection to it. I can see its uses and I can see it as being a bit time intensive for development

Probably won't happen but I like the thought process

Aesop

I'm not a programmer but the process seemed to me could work by having the point of view of the floating camera be from one of the characters. The spectator would not see something the characters in game could not. The camera direction would be based on points on a compass and controlled by the spectator, not the changing direction of the character whose point of view was being used. That camera mechanic is already in the game in some form.

[Merkinsal]

I guess I just don't see the point... you learn far more by doing than by watching.
And, if I wanted passive entertainment - I'd watch TV. If a guild wants/needs a teaching tool that badly - have a member download Fraps and make a tutorial. Same thing for zero Dev time.

Given the choice between doing a quest myself or watching, I would be doing the quest in a heartbeat. But there are alot of uses, each to his own. A different way of looking at the game that would appeal only to those who would want to and affect no one else.

I remember when there were no frozen yogurt stores. (yes, there was once such a day) I love ice cream. So a frozen yogurt store opens. I don't go, [I]for years[I], because I like ice cream. To this day, I prefer ice cream over yogurt, maybe 10 to 1.

Then we found a frozen custard stand down the street. I did not even know what that was lol. Let me tell you, its great with fresh berries mixed in. My wife likes it with pecans and some other such nonsense. But, you have to try the berries, they are great.

Theres a point in there somewhere.

p.s. Most of the yogurt stores have closed, replaced by fancy ice cream stands with very expensive ice cream. I don't know why, but there it is.

[Merkinsal]

I guess I just don't see the point... you learn far more by doing than by watching.
And, if I wanted passive entertainment - I'd watch TV. If a guild wants/needs a teaching tool that badly - have a member download Fraps and make a tutorial. Same thing for zero Dev time.

If those would be the primarily uses that can be seen for this, I think very few would use it, not me anyway for those reasons.

Maybe Issip hit this right on the head. If his style of play is simply to tag along and get the loot at the end and not participte in the raid, which I think is his point lol, how would this be any different? How much fun would it be, really, to just stand around and watch with nothing to do? (Hey, clerics do that all the time j/k) I guess that would depend on the group and/or the reason I was there.

Anyway, it was just an idea. Struck me as being kind of a cool gadget to play around with, if it existed. Kind of like the internet on a phone. Never really sure how or if I would use that until I actually had it. Same thing could be said of fax machines and cell phones, but I won't say that because I don't want to date myself here.

nothing to see, move along please.

[Dark_Helmet]

I thinks spectators should be allowed into the quest areas as part of a group. They would have floating cameras and could follow the party around and see everything a party member could. I can think of a dozen objections and issues without even blinking but I think this feature would greatly increase playability and enjoyment of the game for many, be very enjoyable way to spend time online, and increase and/or retain subscribed members.

*edit* P.S. and ddo would have something no other mmo has.

So you want GOD mode opened up to spectators (they use it for the large tournaments so the audiences can watch - very popular in Korea)?

While cool (it would be fun to watch the drunk runs we have on Khyber or speed runs/contests in guilds), it might expend more development resources than it is worth (e.g. fix the **** bugs already!)

[Merkinsal]

So you want GOD mode opened up to spectators (they use it for the large tournaments so the audiences can watch - very popular in Korea)?

While cool (it would be fun to watch the drunk runs we have on Khyber or speed runs/contests in guilds), it might expend more development resources than it is worth (e.g. fix the **** bugs already!)

I did not know there was a god mode, greenhorn that I am I guess. That would be way too much I think and could be abused and take the challenge out entirely and no one should get an easy ride lol. My idea is a little less dramatic.

Ah, but speed runs and contests, now you're talking fun many would enjoy I think. The idea enables a different form of participation and interaction between players. I've noticed many people like to watch pvp in the taverns. This is a bit different with different dynamics (one of which is you cant jump down behind your buddy and blindside him/her with FtS and wail on them with a puncturing weapon, oh shoot, did i say that out loud?)