Customizable Item Shop

[Moshimo]

This idea has been hinted at in previous posts but I'm uncertain that it was properly addressed.

Anyone who has dabbled in MPC play has had the option to use the provided shop with access to certain items that can be customized with a quill. My question is whether or not this asset could be opened to the playerbase as a whole? Unlike the MPC shop, this player accessible shop would contain non-consequential items such as the collection of food, bottles, jewelry, and perhaps some miscellaneous items to be customized for the purpose of RP. 

As it stands, a large portion of the technical requests are most commonly item creation. If a shop existed that could allow players to create their own items, within reason of course, then this would alleviate the need for these requests and thus free up more time for the DMs to complete tasks more deserving of their time. Not only this, but it would help enhance the roleplay of certain characters whose professions may not be directly represented in game.

Naturally, this opens the possibility of cheesing. However, to that I say the large scale benefit of this shop to the playerbase would outweigh the possibility of having to report an item reaching beyond its means.

Granted, I have no idea of the possibility of this, or what it would take to implement it. All that I'm aware of is that such a thing already exists within the realm of MPCs.

[bunnie]

yea +1

[Skelni]

If possible, it would be nice I think.

Though yes, the vast concern of cheesing does concern me - When we request items to be customized with descriptions, they're read over by the staff and seen as reasonable and legal changings of what the item actually is. Having seen past examples of people trying to cheese themselves, their items and @markings and such, I'd like to believe this would be used responsibly, but I can see the trouble of abuse for it as well. And I'm not even sure of the technical aspect for it, I'm assuming items that can have their descriptions written over are designed like that in the toolset and not on the go.

[zDark Shadowz]

Or a quill that rewrites on anything for approved CC & DM or additional players who subscribed to be accountable for it.

There's a lot of items that'd have to be made and paletted for a store based system, and players like rewriting existing items they already have, crafted swords, amulets, baubles so a more flexible rewriting tool would be the way to go I think, since I believe that already exists in some form.

[Hemolymph]

[...] Not only this, but it would help enhance the roleplay of certain characters whose professions may not be directly represented in game.

This sold me on the idea. It would enable some fun concepts.

But yeah, it needs some kind of accountability or yellow text blurb that clarifies how far you can go, similar to the blurb you get when altering your character's appearance in the OOC lounge mirrors.

[No Safety in Words]

I'm all for this, and I think it would benefit both the playerbase AND the DMs by taking the load of item-requests out of the general request thread.

Playing a class that heavily relies on charms and trinkets they craft I found myself collecting random drop items a lot, stuff like bone carvings, animal bones etc., when my PC should have been able to just use the bones he pulled from various animals he killed. Those looted items lack a specific description and sometimes I found they even just despawn when left in the world for other players to find.

[Spazzer]

+1

I doubt this would even increase DM workload if there were rulebreakers with this, because this is removing the need for DMs to make items for alot of players.

[Anastian]

Although I like the concept, such access to customisation is risky as it hinges on people also knowing the setting and what can be accessed reasonably by the character, what cannot. Unfortunately, not everyone has read the source materials and fully knows at which point in history we are, and what happened behind the curtains, so a DM would be needed, ultimately, to validate a description. The proposal has merit but I feel like it's really difficult to achieve a good result. Was thinking of other ways of implementing it (maybe an ooc room where you submit the items and wait for a DM to pass by and approve it) but that sounds like a nightmare Dev side

[Spazzer]

Although I like the concept, such access to customisation is risky as it hinges on people also knowing the setting and what can be accessed reasonably by the character, what cannot. Unfortunately, not everyone has read the source materials and fully knows at which point in history we are, and what happened behind the curtains, so a DM would be needed, ultimately, to validate a description. The proposal has merit but I feel like it's really difficult to achieve a good result. Was thinking of other ways of implementing it (maybe an ooc room where you submit the items and wait for a DM to pass by and approve it) but that sounds like a nightmare Dev side

If you want a validate system, it's really not that hard.

Discord has bots in which you can set up ticket systems. Someone opens a ticket that only people with approved roles and the person who opened the ticket can see. When the ticket is opened and the DM team is pinged about it, they can go check on the ticket and look over the item, and give a quick YES or NO about the item. This wouldn't require a DM to log onto the client and make the item. If the pings are annoying to said DM, they are able to set their discord to Do Not Disturb or mute the pings of the ticket channels.

The Ticket Channel then can be archived, the player can write in the desc // *insert DM* approved item *insert date*, and if a made item is believed to be not valid, a player can ask a DM over discord the authenticity of a item they say in game. The DM then can go to the archive, and check for the player and date the item was approved.

Here is even a video example of the bot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwQvQ90RP94

[Anastian]

That's an elegant solution to validate the description, but to apply it in game automatically on the right item sounds complex. I don't know the amount of scripting effort needed

[Spazzer]

That's an elegant solution to validate the description, but to apply it in game automatically on the right item sounds complex. I don't know the amount of scripting effort needed

You don't have to apply it in game through some 'system'. The player who already was editing the description of the item goes back and adds the date and DM who approved. It's that simple.

[Purist]

What if having a high amount of RPXP gives you access to item shop? Thus the player and the character would have had their legitimacy towards enhancing RP validated.

[Maiyannah]

Elsewhere I scripted a ticket system whereby players submit customisation tickets, and if approved by a DM it automatically applies to the item (and if not, the player gets a note on it why)

[MAB77]

A much simpler approach would simply be to identify which RP items you feel are missing from conventional stores. We'll see to it that they be added if warranted.

At this time the ability to customize some RP props will remain a perk of AMPCs/MPCs. This being a tool to help them set up the scenes and plots they applied and got approved for. These players are monitored to make sure the tools are used properly. It would not be possible to apply the same level of scrutiny to the whole player base.

[softdrink]

A much simpler approach would simply be to identify which RP items you feel are missing from conventional stores. We'll see to it that they be added if warranted.

At this time the ability to customize some RP props will remain a perk of AMPCs/MPCs. This being a tool to help them set up the scenes and plots they applied and got approved for. These players are monitored to make sure the tools are used properly. It would not be possible to apply the same level of scrutiny to the whole player base.

I think most people would be wanting things like various teas, drinks and foods for RP reasons. That could be done by adding a writeable version of a cup, some bottles and plates with a useable effect so players don't need to throw them away after they're done.

[Moshimo]

I think most people would be wanting things like various teas, drinks and foods for RP reasons. That could be done by adding a writeable version of a cup, some bottles and plates with a useable effect so players don't need to throw them away after they're done.

Very much this.

With the rise of the player-run rental system, now more than ever is there a need for infinitely unique items that help improve the scene within these roleplay zones. Having even the simplest of things such as food and beverage options that could be rewritten should satisfy the need and cut down on requests. Additionally, this would serve to benefit players who are rarely able to match the availability of active team members and prevent their events from being halted or otherwise cancelled until the items are created.

Personally, I don't think there is a much heavier risk of cheesing possible in this scenario as opposed to any of the other customizable options currently available to players. Even so, when those are caught breaking a rule they are reported just like anything else.

[SardineTheAncestor]

^ It would be cool if players could put vendors in their own rental with items of their own design, and/or chosen from a generic list of items.

Mostly talking about RP flavor items.