A Night DoS in the Red Dragon Inn

[Koyliak]

I'm so sorry I had to miss it...my vote is for a DoF night next though.

[Elijah]

As much as I enjoy Joku getting in a ring to brawl with Koy, I think DoF should be the third one introduced to an RDI hosted event.

If the purpose is to try and attract more players, who happened to mostly have characters of some kind of scifi/fantasy genre attached to them, chances are their characters have some sort of "magical" powers they have only been able to write about probably so far in their time online.

With the basic 8 matrix of DoM, it gives a chance to see similar spells being done often in one night, a chance to build a basix matrix quickly. With DoF, that is way too many moves I think to bring in to throw at people for right now.

I think the more optimium way to attract more players would be the following kind of event.

Have the RDI chat room host a real RoH DoM Mega-cast tournement for RoH regulars, while also having an additional caller to call regular DoM duels during the tournement to have regulars duel newbies. I liked how Imp did the DoS night in the RDI where he didn't let any two RoH regulars duel each other but insisted an RDI newbie each time for their opponent. I think if we kept the Mega-cast to 6-10 regular DoM regulars it won't get too crazy.

The reason why I think this would be optimium for attracting a bigger more interested group of fresh blood players to RoH is two fold. One is they can see a way for their characters to combat online in an effective balanced game system in text based environment besides melee combat, which is rare. It's also a way to battle not using dice or relying on someone top be fair in cooperative combat role-play. And seeing a tournement in action and characters working together against other characters might spark additional interest of many kinds besides watching just two people go at it.

I think the reaction might be more favorable in generate RoH interest to a newbie watching seeing Xerzes or Wulfson get Wizard-bladed, Magebolted, Meteor-showered, and Artic-Blasted all at once, then seeing Joku and Koyliak Jab and Chop each other.

[JewellRavenlock]

Elijah, speaking as someone who got their first taste of the duels the other night in the RDI I would have to say that I think DoF would be better to introduce next rather then DoM.

I understand that the DoF matrix is bigger (I've been checking them out) so that makes it more difficult for beginners.

You are right in saying that many characters in the RDI are magical/fantasy/etc. I see that as a possible hindrance with DoM. Perhaps I don't understand exactly how DoM works but this is why I could see it being problematic. Any magic-based characters in the RDI have traditionally fought on cooperation based fighting (or speed). There has been no restriction in the way the mun's have described and used their characters magical abilities. Some may feel restricted in having to chose from the list on the matrix of DoM when fighting. In this way I find DoF less problematic because most characters are limited to certain physical moves when fighting even on cooperation-based fighting while magic is limitless in free form (kind of).

Did that make sense?

[Sylus Kurgen]

I guess I'll field this one. Alright..where the magic duels are held is the Twilight Isle...I assume you read about this, correct Jewel-mun? Well on the Isle those are the magic spells to choose from because there has to be a way for non-magical people to cast spells while on the Isle even if they cannot work magic outside of it. Does that make sense? And those are just the names of the spells for the matrix to work.

Duelists are allowed RP those spells however they wish.

Just ask around almost everyone you talk to will say this.

[Deluthan]

I think DoF would be a fun one to introduce next, so long as modifiers weren't used. It's easier to visualize and roleplay than DoM, which is more abstract, making DoF less intimidating for someone new to try.

[Harris]

I understand the fact that the DoM Mega Casting tournament was a blast from what I've read on the boards, but introducing these sports in any format other than the regular dueling format would only lead to deceive those new players interested. Specialized tournaments are the exception rather than the rule. Show them what a regular night consists of.

As for the order, I really don't think it matters if DoM or DoF is introduced next, as all three will eventually be introduced anyway.

[Elijah]

I cimpletely 100% disgaree with your assement, Harris. Regular dueling can be fun, and is most often the way things are done day to day. But don't you think they should get a to see a taste of what regular dueing and earning rank would allow them to qualify for?


I know all three duels would be introduced eventually, but I am just trying to think of ways to get newer players quicker in this forum. And I personally think a my suggestion might have a bigger impact than just a regular night of DoF dueling. It's just an opinion thought not fact.

As far as answering Jewel's player beyond what Sylus's player said. Yes you can RP what you want of the spells cast, but watching their effects is cooler to describe I think then melee combat. Plus, unfortunately in free form cooperative role-playing, people are not always truely cooperative and fair. Using matrix combat takes out the player trying to change up the rules if they don't like their character getting fireballed even though they had a Protection from Fireball spells cast on themselves. Too many players create characters that have such wonderous abilities that go beyond truely rolling dice in a chat room to determine combat results. Atleast with matrix magic combat it levels the "player playing field" so characters can interact more realistically in combat in RhyDin.

[Harris]

Corect me if I'm wrong but wasn't the DoS night a basic night where everyone dueled at the commoner level? And wasn't it a huge success? Whatever happens will most likely generate interest. I just don't want to deceive anyone into playing under false pretenses. Show them the basics because for a *vast* majority of their playing time that's what they'll be doing.

[Amaltea]

If/when we take DoM and DoF to the RDI it will be just like we did with DoS; at a commoner level.

It's easier to learn, less confusing and also easier for the volunteer caller who will be not just calling duels, but instructing players that have absolutely no idea what the duels are.

Let's keep things easy for everyone.

[Elijah]

Let's keep everything boring for everyone you mean? I thought we were trying to excite new players, not bore them? No risk, no gain.

We've already excited people with the basics, you are not going to excite more people withy more basics but just changing the move names and matrix results.

Again, this forum community has a great opportunity and we're going to half ass it and blow it. Shades of AOL management.

[Amaltea]

Let's keep everything boring for everyone you mean? I thought we were trying to excite new players, not bore them? No risk, no gain.

Had you been there*, you would have noticed that not only did everyone dueled at a commoner level but they also happened to have a lot of fun.

* Imp gave me a list of names of people present for the 3 hours to give them t-shirts. Elijah was not on that list.

[Elijah]

Yeah, but that was the first introductory event which should have been basic. The point is, as you show more you should indeed "Show" more is all I am saying. More of the same basic demo as the first demo to the same target audience will probably have less effect then the first time out is all I am saying. Its basic marketting 101.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Excitement of the mega casting might have been fun for those who know the sport, but as an introduction, it would be very, very confusing, and even a little intimidating for people who've never seen it.

Since Panther is being generous enough to allow exhibition dueling in his area, my opinion is that we should show people the same basics for all three sports first.

There is nothing to say that we can't explain about the Tournaments and special events, but I don't think a "special event" should be the first introduction.

[Tasslehofl Momus]

What I feel, not that people listen, is that if we are going to introduce the duels to the RDI, then we need to first *introduce* them. DoS night there started with basics, and even Brig and I did a commentary on the duel between Panth and Xeno, explaining shots, and possible moves, and what things did what.

I feel that the same should be done with Fists and Magic as they are introduced to the RDI. Everyone new will be starting at the commoner rank. Let them see what they will be starting with and get a chance to get use to those moves.

Yes, I'm sure many would like to see what upper ranks will gain, but that is something for another time.

Basic marketing is supply and demand.. you supply just a taste, and make them demand more. If they do this, then you can bring them in to see a normal night of dueling during the sports respective nights.

We've already got a few new ones to the Swords and Fists. *IF* the time comes that we feel another 'exibition' of, say, Swords is needed, then perhaps we can bring in our ranks and duel as we would on a normal night.

At this time, however, I feel that if/when there are exibition nights for Fists/Magic, they should be introduced at the lowest rank for all those involved. Then, after, they can either come in during the regular nights of dueling for each sports night, or we can hold a second exibition with ranks involved.

That's my buck fitty

[Tareth Thorn]

E, think of it this way...

When you get a free sample, it's something small, right? Something basic and new, think like a small sample cup at a grocery store. If the sampler decides they like it and want more, they must go find the product and take it home.

That's kinda the concept being used here. We do a very basic, very small sample in the RDI forum. If they like it, they can come here to get the full effect of regular dueling and exciting things like tournaments and the like. We're trying to bring them over here, not overload poor Panth's servers.

And likewise, I encourage folks who enjoyed the RP to head on over to the RDI after dueling hours close up. Dueling is a scheduled event, RPing is always open.