Hi all,
I was watching the end of Vress' recent stream where he did a bit of exploring and was just enjoying it so much; however, when he went to talk with the named guard, I expected a dialogue window to open up when he began to talk to him, but instead it was all being handled inside the chat log. This was a bit of disappointment for me because it seemed so "out-of-date" to handle it in that way. They have this beautiful world with all these new ideas and modern aspects, yet, still have dialogue between NPC's within a chat box? It just seemed out of place. Are we to expect the launch version to keep all the dialogue within a chat box? I understand that "that was how it was in EQ!" and also, that's it's pre-alpha, but I think that is something that we could do without. I'm more familiar with EQOA and WoW, so that may be why I'm use to having an actual dialogue box on my screen, but it just seems so trivial and non-immersive to have this "MUD" system of NPC dialogue within such a modern and up-to-date MMO. What are your thoughts?
Side question: What about combat logs? For me, when I see them, it's as if I'm trying to read the chat of a really popular streamer and it's going too fast that it's pointless. Do you think it's a necessity? I'm of the opinion that it's nice to have when you want it, but it shouldn't be needed or expected to be used by all players (the meta...). Just my thoughts
Neyos said:Hi all,
I was watching the end of Vress' recent stream where he did a bit of exploring and was just enjoying it so much; however, when he went to talk with the named guard, I expected a dialogue window to open up when he began to talk to him, but instead it was all being handled inside the chat log. This was a bit of disappointment for me because it seemed so "out-of-date" to handle it in that way. They have this beautiful world with all these new ideas and modern aspects, yet, still have dialogue between NPC's within a chat box? It just seemed out of place. Are we to expect the launch version to keep all the dialogue within a chat box? I understand that "that was how it was in EQ!" and also, that's it's pre-alpha, but I think that is something that we could do without. I'm more familiar with EQOA and WoW, so that may be why I'm use to having an actual dialogue box on my screen, but it just seems so trivial and non-immersive to have this "MUD" system of NPC dialogue within such a modern and up-to-date MMO. What are your thoughts?
Side question: What about combat logs? For me, when I see them, it's as if I'm trying to read the chat of a really popular streamer and it's going too fast that it's pointless. Do you think it's a necessity? I'm of the opinion that it's nice to have when you want it, but it shouldn't be needed or expected to be used by all players (the meta...). Just my thoughts
I'm not sure if there will be any addon support, but the combat log is helpful. It will aid in parsing, as well as understanding fight mechanics. At least they separated out your own in/out dmg vs the group.
As far as the questing, perhaps they could add in separate dialogs to streamline the UI a little, but don't expect quest markers or much in the way of quest help. You'll likely have to do a lot of the discovery leg work based on the information given by the NPC.
but don't expect quest markers or much in the way of quest help
Thanks for bringing this up. I am fully aware that there won't be any hand-holding when it comes to questing, and that is great! I just expected a bit more interaction on the screen when talking to an NPC than just some text in a text box, down in the bottom of my screen. In EQOA, when you approached an NPC and pressed the appropriate button to engage that NPC, a window opened up in the center of the screen displaying the dialogue/text for that NPC, and you would press another button to continue the conversation (it was a console game after all). To me, that was enough to feel like I was actually talking with that NPC because I moved the conversation when I wanted to (by pressing the "next" button or whatever). That's what I was expecting I guess. Not just a "vomit" of text in a text box that required no interaction from you to move the conversation. Maybe that makes sense :)
If you noticed, later when they were becoming a keeper there was a dialogue box that poped up. It wasn't all in the chat window
Either way, I hope there is the option to turn off the dialogue box. I prefer it simply in the chat window. Its less clutter that doesn't block the screen. I'd prefer to avoid pop ups on my screen as much as possible. (I am a bit concerned about the perception system in that regard).
Keno Monster said:I don't understand why anyone would want a temporary chat popup for something like a quest interaction. I'd rather have that in text in a chat window that I can scroll back up and look at. There will probably be a toggle for this kind of thing.
Yeah, most RPG's give that to you in the form of a journal of sorts. I don't care either way, but I doubt they'd give you a brief text box with no record of it saved somewhere for later referece. At least I would hope not!
It does seem as though they are designing a quest dialog box though. We got a snippet of this in Vress' recent stream.
Parascol said:Keno Monster said:I don't understand why anyone would want a temporary chat popup for something like a quest interaction. I'd rather have that in text in a chat window that I can scroll back up and look at. There will probably be a toggle for this kind of thing.
Yeah, most RPG's give that to you in the form of a journal of sorts. I don't care either way, but I doubt they'd give you a brief text box with no record of it saved somewhere for later referece. At least I would hope not!
It does seem as though they are designing a quest dialog box though. We got a snippet of this in Vress' recent stream.
Frankly, I don't think there should be a quest journal of any kind.
I don't particularly enjoy the chatbox-only type of quest giving, but wont really be upset if it stays that way.
I think what I'd prefer would be a sort of hybrid approach between chatbox and quest dialog. With the quest dialog model I see in most games these days a window pops up with the NPC text and you have a few set responses that are usually a full sentance sort of thing. I'd like to have a window open when I hail an NPC that has its own input box, the NPC dialog would pop up and then you type your responses and then maybe have the option to save that whole dialog to your journal when you are done on a new page with a few interactables like a bookmark to reopen your journal to that page, the ability to turn pages forward and back and enter a page number to go to, a highlighter tool so you can highlight bits you think are important, maybe be able to add a checklist of things to do but not have it auto-populate that could be crossed out/checked off and a checkbox at the bottom for completion checkable only by you, perhaps with the ability to add notes to the page as well. Basically the things you could do with a real, written, journal without having to write everything back out, you wouldn't lose it if you wanted to clear your chat log or on logout.
Basically I just like to have a window to focus my attention on that I don't look at for other info or conversations with the ability to save the conversation. I don't need to have the quest requirements lined out and automatically checked off as I accomplish them or put the item in my inventory. I don't need to have a tracker button that puts a blurb about that quest on my screen all the time.
Keno Monster said:Frankly, I don't think there should be a quest journal of any kind.
You don't want a quest journal. But you want chat box quest dialogue so you can re read the text.
But that's all a journal would do...
I'm confused.
Unless you bring up immersion, which is the excuse for alot.. then I would understand.
I'm confused too. Having a journal isn't something that's some earth-shattering convienence game breaker. I think it would be useful, but it's so low on the priority list I wouldn't be upset if there wasn't one either. It just means I will have to maintain a separate document on a different monitor is all.
I bet there will be some sort of perception quest log since the perception triggers will be at certain locations without any sort of context and you will need to look back and see what the text was. And if you camp and come back you wont be able to scroll back up and view it. Most games have a form of journal as was stated before.
Yeah I'm not sure what's wrong with a journal.
My avatar forgetting things won't feel particularly immersive or heroic or fun.
I'd kinda like everything ever said to me to be in there so I can read it again in downtime and make sure I got everything of note and just enjoy the lore and background more.
Especially since you're quite often in a group and not everyone will be on the same stage or even have the quest or whatever. They will want to get moving and you're like "wait I have to memorise this quest description because I'll never see it again!".