Would you like a "universe"-like open chat channel?

[iwojimmy]

at present, I keep Universe muted while I am active in the game, and then jump in while digging or similar to offer help or guidance.. this works for me, and I would imagine using the same setup for a general chat. However I am a little worried it will dilute the purpose of Universe, as fewer people would then watch /u and be willing to help the newbs.

Also, I cant see how it fits into Ryzom in a world/consistancy/ (RP if you like) kind of way.
Faction Chat - yes, OP battle side chat - yes, world barter/LFG channel - probably not..

If they give us the current temp-inventory bug in order to stop people teleporting home with one extra handful of mats, and removed multi-stable packer access.. you get the idea that making life easier for homins doesnt feature highly on their priority list

[cssteveo]

For a game that survives on the strength of its community, a general chat channel is imperative! I'm a socializer by nature - if I can't easily chat with people in an mmo, no matter how great the gameplay is, I'd rather save the subscription fee and go play one of my console games.

[kiwi2]

I probably would not use an open universe chat channel. I think we have enough chats as it is. Any more would probably give me a head ache. However, so those who like to chat with the rest of atys, it might be a good idea. I could take it or leave it I guess. Just don't expect me to use it much.

[motan]

i'd rather not have such a channel as i believe it would increase lag

[cygnus]

There is certainly a need for an open universe chat channel, that is obvious from the "general discussions" that go off now. I often mute Uni chat because of this and tend to join in when digging etc to try and help people out but even though I respect the rules for the channel I often find myself chatting with others as well.

It can be hard work if there is a lot of general chit chat going off and I can understand GM's getting involved and trying to keep the channel quieter. My personal view is that it should be renamed as "help" not universe and another channel should be setup for global chit chat.

That way those that want to help can do so and everyone else can chat away without fear of the mute bat. Ryzom is quite good at self policing so I am confident it would not degenerate into a sales/begging for stuff channel.

[dakhound]

no! (to original question)

universe chat is so bad I turned it off already so another one and I cant imagine the general spam/crap that will be posted there

[mikadou]

Then you just turn it off, easy fix.

Don't keep the folks who WOULD appreciate it unable to get it, when it would be simple for the folks who don't want it, to opt out.

For a game that survives on the strength of its community, a general chat channel is imperative! I'm a socializer by nature - if I can't easily chat with people in an mmo, no matter how great the gameplay is, I'd rather save the subscription fee and go play one of my console games.

The sums up my point of view exactly. When I first got to mainland, it was excruciatingly silent, compared to RoS. As someone who's 50% Socializer in MMOs, it was borderline dealbreaking.

[johntf]

I think in theory its a good idea but I would be to difficult to effectively enforce and keep childishness out of unless say it where only available to characters with at least one skill level over a fixed and relatively high but not inacessesible figure like 150. And perhaps when a person violates certain offensive language /sentiment rules on it then even if gms aren't on or guides screenshots could be taken and sent in and when a person commits a serious enough offense or several minor ones they could have the chat function removed permenantly from them (like forum bans just none of this banned for 2 days rubbish that never works).

However thats still a complicaited system to set up and maintain really, but I agree ryzom can be a lonely game especially for those of us who quite frankly don't want to roleplay 24/7 I do it if I have to but I do not wish to do it permenantly this game is here to help me relax not force me to do one thing or the other.

In total I'd say nice idea but I can't see it being implementable for various social/effort requirements that it would need to work. Personally I find universe chat fine but I've only seen it for two days ish and occasionally there is someone annoying and new on it and well it is tempting but I try my best to ignore them. As for people saying it ruins the immersion of ryzom I see that as a rather strang thing to say, when your staring at a monitor and typing to speak and well it's not that hard to manage ic and ooc without getting confused well at least not for me.

Maybe Regional chats (ie matis lands, tryker etc) or faction specific ones (including neutral damnit) would be nice but once again face the same problems as a global and since there's more of them in number they would be harder to police/control.

[ashling]

As for people saying it ruins the immersion of ryzom I see that as a rather strang thing to say, when your staring at a monitor and typing to speak and well it's not that hard to manage ic and ooc without getting confused well at least not for me.

Roleplayers come in lots of different tastes and tolereances about ooc chat around them. While I don't understand how or why it is so annoying for some of them it doesn't really matter because I can take my ooc to team, guild or tells and we can all have our fun without steping on others toes.

One potential problem I see if a general chat channel was created like universe there is the danger new players will ask questions in there instead of in uninverse because they see all the other people talking in it and think they have a better chance of an answer there. Not a big problem to have to direct them to universe instead but might build up to annoying if enough people ask. Otherwise I like the idea if it can be turned off for those that it bothers but I'm ok without it being added as well.

*edit* and hopefully it's ok to throw my two dappers in on this even if only my second day on the mainland

[kyesmith]

I like the idea, i think ryzom is so different from WoW that the horrific spamming wouldnt be such an issue, it would save people looking for a team treking around every region and asking, the current "universe" chat is a good idea and gives newer players the instant help they need from the people that know best, the players