Well, unless absolutely impossible, I help. I have, back in EQ, called my whole guild to come help. Or at least a corpse dragger or whatever was needed.
I've also stayed up way too late back in the day, when I still worked, to help players not in my guild, just because I could and the guild wasn't raiding or asking for group members to do something.
Guild first, but on my own time why not? Besides, I'm retired, I have lots of free time now. :)
Kilsin said:Scenario - You come across a stranded player who needs your help but you don't have much time until you need to log off, what do you do? #MMORPG #communitymatters
vjek said:Stranded? What does that mean? How did *I* get there if they are stranded?
I have to agree with vjek on this one..how does one character get stranded but another doesn't? And how are you defining stranded in the first place? Is the person just some place they shouldn't like being level 10 but exploring a level 50 zone or physically stuck in the geometry?
If the former, I'd toss a few buffs and an invis and wish them luck and if the latter I'd just tell them to contact a GM.
From my first days of logging in to EQ way back, over 15 years ago, I asked for help...A LOT and ya know what, players helped! It was these selfless acts that made the game wholesome and heartwarming. I would help any others asking for help, becuase I owe it to the community that supported me. Thanks all.
Unless I had IRL aggro, then you're on your own! >.<
Hmm stranded? I guess it depends on the death penalty. But if you respawn with your gear then I would just say die and respawn. If it is like EQ then I can definetly see someone stranded and would be more inclined to help them. But I don't see any scenario other can the aspect of corpse running to get your gear back that can be considered stranded.
Depends on what I was planning to do before I logged off, which the question indicates will be soon and non-negotiable.
If I had committed to do something with someone else I would probably just continue on, sending a "sorry I am about to log off" message. I am not a great believer in skipping out on a commitment because someone asks for something else later on. I said "probably" because if what I was doing wouldn't help the person I was going to very much and the stranded person was going to lose a *lot* if no one helped I might go the other way.
If I had no prior commitments I would weigh the benefits of whatever I was planning to do against wanting to help if I reasonably could. If I had 15 minutes to do something that would get me a boatload of experience or a really choicxe item and that wouldn't be available the next time I logged on I might send the same "sorry" message and do it. Depending on why the other person wanted help.
But so much depends on how the community actually works in Pantheon on that server. If it is small and closeknit and reputation matters a lot I would be more likely to stop and help. I know that is one of the goals but not all goals are accomplished. So often in other games I see people begging over and over for things that they could easily do for themselves with not all that much effort. This has instilled in me a firm UNwillingness to automatically help when asked merely because of the request - I focus on how much the person really *needs* the help rather than how much they *want* the help.
But I will be delighted if Pantheon goes in the other direction and this bias on my part starts to disappear.
I see this as a puzzle.
If I was alone in that area, and found someone stranded. I would not be alone in that area unless I could handle the environment (I am thinking like an errant passenger ported to Cazic Thule at level 20) and if i made it to the area where the person was stranded, it can be assumed that I can exit that area fairly quickly as well, so I would escort depending on 2 things: 1. if I had just zoned in and went to that area, I would escort out and then camp. My reasoning for being in that area was my personal plan to do somehting there the next day. 2. if I was solo and worked my way down to that area, I would not be camping soon, so I would look for ways to engage community to help (guild/general chat/ "/who all" in zone) but I would not be able to spend the time, clearing the way back up to escort.
If I was in a group and we worked our way down to that area and we were going to camp at a "safe" spot because we were planning to meet up the next day. I would see if there was something quick we could do to get them out, otherwise do what we can as far as buffs and say sorry, we are camping. All the while asking for specifics on how they got there. the specifics may cause us to judge/chide the person depending on their level. I woud be interested in how they got there from the obvious assessment that can be made just from observation of the area that anyone can do that it is a dangerous place and knowna s a dangerous place. If I am convinced that it is a bug- then I would reccomend that perosn to contact GM.
Since there might be no fast travel and limited ports, if we had a porting class we would have to decide if we wanted to leave one, port the stranded stranger, and have the one group member left behind wait untill the remaining group of 5 made it down to that spot the next day. Depending on how long it took 6 to make it to that point would determind if we could help the stranger or not. It's ok to say no.
Then again, this stranded stranger may have found a bug or hole in the world accidentally. All the while asking for specifics on how they got there. If I am convinced that it is a bug- then I would reccomend that perosn to contact GM.
It really depends.
When I first started playing EQ I remember a random person coming up to me while I was killing firebeetles and they handed my 15plat. I didn't ask for it, they made some nice conversation, and were on there way. 20 years later that moment has stuck with him. An act of kindness that person probably forgot about the next day yet impacted how I view and treat people in a MMO forever. Short of a family emergency I would assist the person in any way I could. If I'm just going to be 30 minutes later than I planned I can deal with that.
Taking a few unplanned minutes to assist someone in a MMO could likely impact their enjoyment of the game forever. However... if I HAVE to log due to family obligations there is nothing I can do. I'd tell them to add me to their friends list and next time I'm on I'll help.
I help, in any way I can. In a situation where I'm logging for bed due to work in the next morning, a 5-energy drink the next day will solve that. If it's beyond my abilities to help I look for friends, guild members that can help. If it's simply not possible right then to help I try to schedule a time the next day or next time I'm on that I can help.
THESE kinds of things are what a good game is all about for me, it's not the leveling, it's not the raiding, it's being a Hero. THIS to me is the definition of an emergent player made quest. Why would I want to do a pre-defined NPC escort quest when there is a PC right here that the path forward to complete the "quest" is not pre-defined. The reward for an NPC escort quest is a bit of gold or experience (exp= you just get older) the reward for a real player escort quest can often lead to a much greater and longer lasting reward.
Be a Hero!