Current News: May 07, 2009

[CaptainGreenGene]

While I appreciate the story line they must be kidding with this cheap theatrical buildup. Do they really expect us to play along if one of these guys starts talking to us? I would have some questions for them and they can forget asking me anything.

1) When is the new content coming out?

2) When can I get one of those nice EITC uniforms?

3) I need a bigger ship, do you have one I could borrow?

4) I can't pronounce "Marceline" let alone tell you where they are, can you?

5) Why couldn't I log in today and why did I have to wait on hold for 30 minutes to find out the site was going through a maintenance cycle?

Finally, where is the kraken and how did you get that black spot on your hand?

[Juliana Maria]

Originally Posted by CaptainGreenGene

Finally, where is the kraken and how did you get that black spot on your hand?

Hehe.. I like that one! Nice CaptainGeenGene

[Aaron McEagle]

I have been with the Black Guard. There were three little level 12 at first but then all of a sudden... THERE WAS LIKE A HUNDERED ALL LEVEL 37!!!!!!!!!!! So our GM ran and we attuned many Black Guards.... but they all jumped on a ship which they got to tp away... To bad we cant hurt them or they be dead ROFL

[The Commodore]

LOL

"Potential Conversation"
Black Guard: You know where Captain Walter is?
Me: Yes
Black Guard: Well, where is he?
Me: Wait, what were we talking about?

Rinse and Repeat for some laughs.

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by CaptainGreenGene

While I appreciate the story line they must be kidding with this cheap theatrical buildup. Do they really expect us to play along if one of these guys starts talking to us? I would have some questions for them and they can forget asking me anything.

I don't think they expect people to play along but I think they hope people do. One of the things I like most about MMORPG's is the role playing portion of the acronym. It's hard to find people who play MMORPG's that actually take the role playing aspect to heart (either because people feel silly RP'ing or just don't like to). What Disney is trying to do is bring a little more life into the game by posting story lines & lore and even having some of the story line be interactive with the players. I'm admiring that and if I come across the Black Guard and their interrogation, I will play along and have fun with it as I just don't think it's appropriate to bombard them with unrelated questions and demands when they're trying to do something interesting that some people would actually appreciate.

I doubt a lot of people share my view on that and upon seeing a Black Guard player, they will immediately get everyone to come to their location and start with the usual questions and/or nonsense that the GMs get asked whenever they hold an event, ultimately turning the event into something it wasn't meant to be - a lagfest and severely off-topic. I know the GMs try to play it off in stride but it must be at least a bit frustrating to them.

It's obvious a lot of people don't think these cheap theatrical events are of any use and demand to just be served content. Everyone has a right to their own opinions but this is a type of content. Al beit not the type that includes a huge patch and a months worth of quests but still content in its own right. I welcome some interaction from the staff and if done right, content like this could set POTCO apart from other games in a positive way.

[Batleth]

UPDATE: It's rumored the Black Guard will be roaming the town of Port Royal during the hours of 3:30PM - 5PM (B named Oceans) Friday, May 8 and 11AM - 1PM, and 2PM -3PM Saturday, May 9! (All times Pacific.) Be on the lookout Pirates, report any sightings!

[Basil Dreadflint]

I agree with Sven. I like the idea, even though it doesn't give any new content as far as rep, weapons or quests. It does give us a chance to role play.

The only problems I have are:

A) The unfortunate timing. Going home rush hour and dinner time today, and 2 to 4 and 5 to 6 (Eastern) on Saturday, The weekend.

B) The shortness of the event.

C) The limited notice. Why did they wait until today to announce this?

They should do things like this at various times, and multiple days over a week time period. Give everyone a fair chance to be involved.

Also, I'm hoping this is a preliminary lead in to the upcoming new release that is coming. Remember, they always do something just before a new release. Load up the ocean around PDF just before the new PDF. The heavy EITC presence on PR just before the new PR. Etc.

[Sven Niscadae]

Agreed Basil. I'm not going to even be online tomorrow for this since I have other obligations during those times. I was out tonight so oh well. Wish they would have made it at random times in random places... or else you get what you see above in Sven O's screenshots when you name the time and place. Lots of people... and chaos. True I wasn't there but that's what it looks like. Kind of looks like the GM had to improvise with the running.

[CaptainGreenGene]

Originally Posted by Sven Niscadae

I don't think they expect people to play along but I think they hope people do. One of the things I like most about MMORPG's is the role playing portion of the acronym. It's hard to find people who play MMORPG's that actually take the role playing aspect to heart (either because people feel silly RP'ing or just don't like to). What Disney is trying to do is bring a little more life into the game by posting story lines & lore and even having some of the story line be interactive with the players. I'm admiring that and if I come across the Black Guard and their interrogation, I will play along and have fun with it as I just don't think it's appropriate to bombard them with unrelated questions and demands when they're trying to do something interesting that some people would actually appreciate.

I doubt a lot of people share my view on that and upon seeing a Black Guard player, they will immediately get everyone to come to their location and start with the usual questions and/or nonsense that the GMs get asked whenever they hold an event, ultimately turning the event into something it wasn't meant to be - a lagfest and severely off-topic. I know the GMs try to play it off in stride but it must be at least a bit frustrating to them.

It's obvious a lot of people don't think these cheap theatrical events are of any use and demand to just be served content. Everyone has a right to their own opinions but this is a type of content. Al beit not the type that includes a huge patch and a months worth of quests but still content in its own right. I welcome some interaction from the staff and if done right, content like this could set POTCO apart from other games in a positive way.

To bring my point home, what a mess it was when they showed up. Who can talk, who can interact? You just stand there and listen to the song and dance without any ability to really participate. Now if they let us all kill him then I'm all for it, but since you can't do that what's the point? Role play only works if there is control and limited numbers of players at a time. That's never going to happen so I stick to my original position, this is all a waste of time that could be used better on content instead of stalling until the content arrives.

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by CaptainGreenGene

To bring my point home, what a mess it was when they showed up. Who can talk, who can interact? You just stand there and listen to the song and dance without any ability to really participate. Now if they let us all kill him then I'm all for it, but since you can't do that what's the point? Role play only works if there is control and limited numbers of players at a time. That's never going to happen so I stick to my original position, this is all a waste of time that could be used better on content instead of stalling until the content arrives.

True, the eventual outcome of this event is a bit disappointing as stated. However it seems this useless event provides a little more story. Role play did happen but it's sad that the role playing was mainly done by the Black Guard players and Marceline with minimal changes in the course of their act. As I've said above, the execution of these interrogations could have been played out differently if the interactions with the Black Guard was more random in time and place (i.e. not announced ahead of time so a big crowd can watch dinner theatre). It was naive of me to expect a more well thought out plan from them. Just from reading the original announcement (without the servers/times), I had assumed and hoped for something better but alas. That said, a little interaction with the staff should be welcomed.

I don't disregard your point that it didn't execute well at all, but I'll stick to my original position of keeping unrelated topics, questions, and spam out of GM events and to attempt to at least give them the benefit of the doubt & do their thing as they've planned. I don't believe it's necessary to make events like these worse off by bombarding the GMs with that type of discussion when the intent of the event isn't for that.

Again, these type of events are a type of content. I hope that what they're doing with these events will enrich the story line and help marry the chapters together while we wait for the next one.

[swashbuckler II]

I know where walter is.......

[CaptainGreenGene]

I also know where he is. The unfortunate part of this is who really cares at this point. If you want to know where Walter is, put yourself in his shoes. If the entire game was looking for you, where would you go? Simple answer is offline. Captain Walter is boxed and will not log in or be seen until the new quest line is open. That is my opinion only so don't go asking me where I read that.