[MUD-Dev2] The Great Mud Survey

[Kwon Ekstrom]

Okay, snipped most because it doesn't bear repeating.

Maxi Rose wrote:
> *** WARNING! Much tl;dr ahead. Read at your own risk. XD ***
> I NEVER EXPECTED PLAYERS TO HUNT ME, KILL ME, TAKE MY MEASLY
> STARTING/PEASANT ITEMS, WAIT FOR ME TO GO BACK TO THE HEALERS AND
> RESSURECT, COME BACK FOR MY CORPSE, KILL ME AGAIN, AD NAUSEAM. I also

To me... this sounds like a poor pvp/pvm situation.  On most muds that 
are both pvp and pvm, there are some limitations on pk to prevent this 
sort of thing.

> Do you truly believe we who dislike PKing are just a few whiny, snivelling
> babies who need mommy to hold our hands when we play and help explain the
> bad parts so we don't have nightmares when she tucks us in at night? Do
> you believe a company like EA would make a PK-free area in UO if our
> opinions were so negligible, our voices so few and simpering?

No, I don't believe that people who dislike pk are just whiney 
snivelling babies who need mommy to hold their hand.  You certainly act 
the part though.  As for EA having non-pk areas... companies generally 
look at $$$ and little else.  If you can increase your profits simply by 
allowing non-pk areas, then so much the better.  I've played many games 
that have both a pvm and a pvp server.  Several web games have multiple 
instances running with slightly different rule-sets to cater to 
different types of players.  It's not surprising that most players 
prefer a non-pk environment.  They're safer and most people don't like 
risk.  Even as a PKer, I won't play if I have a limited amount of 
time... to get back what I lose if I do die.

> to be GREAT fun! I was MUCH more proud of myself for defeating a monster
> than dealing with any PK because at least a monster, I knew I had a
> fighting chance, if I just studied them well and used good tactics. I
> never beat griefers. The best I did was have to run away, leaving behind
> whatever cool stuff was too heavy for me to run with and live. I never
> considered it fun then. I don't now.

NPC's don't adjust their tactics to yours either.  If what you enjoy is 
whacking NPC's then that's your decision.  I prefer to kill players 
because sometimes PC's are smarter than NPC's.

I've run into situations similar to what you describe.  More experienced 
players picking on the newbies who don't have a feel for the game... 
While it may have taken several deaths on my part, I generally arranged 
for them to die.  In this case, have you tried talking to other players 
on the game?  I know if someone was consistently following me around, 
that's poor pk behavior.  I'd have arranged for people who don't like 
them to meet them somewhere.  It's an ancient tactic known as an 
"ambush".  I've often made lasting friendships simply arranging for a 
griefer to die.

Anyway, the point being.  There are good ways to do things, and bad ways 
to do things... and sometimes what is a good thing can look bad after a 
few bad experiences.  Being a pker myself, I have a long list of tactics 
to use on people who have all the advantages.  It doesn't matter if I 
kill them personally, only that they leave me alone.  Generally 
speaking, griefers are cowards.  Once you make them think you aren't 
easy meat, they won't chase you anymore.  Raising a stink however, 
rarely does more than attract flies (griefers).

-- Kwon J. Ekstrom