Xandra
Prowler
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2005
- Posts
- 1,119
- Location
- In exile
- Society
- The British Empire
- Avatar Name
- Xandra "MadMaiden" Xandottir
Hi,
But how to do then? Maybe this way:
As we see, it would not be impossible to distribute such gifts in a fair, civilized and widely accepted way. There's just some basic traps to avoid. No rocket science, this was written in about 30 mins, where most time was consumed searching for the approbate keys on my keyboard, and speck chelling the result then ...
Because this isn't this elaborate and detailed, MA, you owe me only a HoF now. I'd happily help you out in a better way, just drop me a line. Accepting items, for instance the UL Nano Katana rotting in Marco's storage ...
Have fun!
PS:
For sure I'm of the opinion that it would have been the best to create a special kind of vehicle for this "celebration", no TT, no decay, that would just have a limited time of usage - 24h usage or such. And give them to all and any colonists, like the holiday presents!
Accompanied by a rich drop of limited car blueprints, maybe.
This way all would have been happy, all would have had a chance to taste blood, all of this effort resulting in the distributing madness would have been avoided.
After a few days all these vehicles would have been gone, and the participants having tasted the feeling would be running for getting a new one, giving a great push to our obsolete economy.
But this would just have been too simple I fear, and not suitable to the "Mess it up if possible in any way" agenda of MA/ FPC.
OK, let's be creative. Let's think. What options do we have? Let's have a look:In short, how could this be done so folks are happy without creating a new batch of upset folks?
- Having some official MA ppl handing them out, as done.
Bad idea. They'll get swarmed as soon as they appear anywhere, only the most ruthless of players would succeed in the unavoidable pushing, shoving and begging, and there'll be suspects in any case that they'd preferably hand the items out to ppl known to them.
. - Having some unofficial MA ppl handing them out.
Less swarming, but similar to above else. Distributing the gifts to ppl selected by MA employees (even if done most honestly) is a bad idea in any case, this will unavoidably create suspect.
. - Distributing the gifts in any way directly after a VU.
Bad, idea, as we can read all over the forums neither the download nor the patcher work sufficiently for many ppl, so all having problems this way would be in a bad disadvantage.
And to add whine to the cheese this is an international game, where you cannot chose a certain time where at least a huge majority of the players would be able to participate.
So whatever you do, you have to do it for an extended span of time to not frustrate anyone.
But how to do then? Maybe this way:
- A lottery.
Yes, I know, lottery's are forbidden in EU - but making one where there's no stake, done by the game company itself to distribute free gifts, would this really count as such a forbidden one? And even if, if the rule doesn't suit, it's easy for MA to change it - after all it's their very own rule ...
Posted it elsewhere already, why not give any participant a tradeable (!) voucher containing a random number between 1 and 999 (or better suiting numbers) with the VU? Then, starting a few days later, for some days, all 2 hours announcing "The next HoF value is the magic number!". After this message we'd wait for the next HoF, and whoever thinks his number is close enough could register it at the PA mission broker. The 20 (or so) numbers most close would win, would be announced publically, and could trade their voucher for the gift, with a timeout of maybe 1 hour.
Having the vouchers be tradeable, and given out a few days before the actual event would even create more tension and excitement, and would give a possibility to earn a serious buck for those not interested in the gift, and a chance to participate for those that wouldn't be able to be on line during "drawing time" - they could pass their voucher to a trustworthy friend.
. - Dropping them on the ground in remote locations, in small batches, over an extended time, then giving hints.
For instance having some invisible MA employees TP'ing around and dropping 12 at a time, 3 each in certain, predefined areas. Then just give a server-wide message hinting the areas, repeated as long as until all have been found. 2 hours (or more) later the next batch. Until all are found. This should last for at least 2 days, the longer the better.
All of these areas should be easily accessible to anyone, no PvP/ High level areas, because this would create unhappiness again.
Such wouldn't be rocket science, would give (close to) everyone a fair chance, and would create tension and excitement for quite some time!
. - Randomly dropping them in loot, independent of the loot kind & value - so they even could come with a bottle of sweat, or with the results of texturing/ coloring. Again distributed over some days.
Would work, but would IMHO be the least exciting possibility.
As we see, it would not be impossible to distribute such gifts in a fair, civilized and widely accepted way. There's just some basic traps to avoid. No rocket science, this was written in about 30 mins, where most time was consumed searching for the approbate keys on my keyboard, and speck chelling the result then ...
Because this isn't this elaborate and detailed, MA, you owe me only a HoF now. I'd happily help you out in a better way, just drop me a line. Accepting items, for instance the UL Nano Katana rotting in Marco's storage ...
Have fun!
PS:
For sure I'm of the opinion that it would have been the best to create a special kind of vehicle for this "celebration", no TT, no decay, that would just have a limited time of usage - 24h usage or such. And give them to all and any colonists, like the holiday presents!
Accompanied by a rich drop of limited car blueprints, maybe.
This way all would have been happy, all would have had a chance to taste blood, all of this effort resulting in the distributing madness would have been avoided.
After a few days all these vehicles would have been gone, and the participants having tasted the feeling would be running for getting a new one, giving a great push to our obsolete economy.
But this would just have been too simple I fear, and not suitable to the "Mess it up if possible in any way" agenda of MA/ FPC.
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