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Suggested Redesign for VTK System
thezer0flux
Member Posts: 412 Arc User
Wait! This isn't a rant thread. Please hear me out before you post/ignore.
While I believe completely removing the VTK system would be more beneficial to the community than keeping it in its current form, I fully understand there are those rare times when kicks are necessary (e.g. disconnection/AFK and trollish behavior). I made a post in another thread discussing the current VTK issues that lays out the concept for a new system I think is a good compromise between those that want to remove VTK and those who want to keep it. Because that thread has all but run its course, I've started a new thread on the topic in the hopes of getting more player feedback.
The core design goal behind the new VTK system idea is to add risk for the people who abuse the current system, thus drastically reducing the incentive to kick without good reason while still allowing parties to manage membership. The chief risk-inducing mechanisms are added costs for initiating a VTK and immediate penalties for attempts to abuse the system. The rules of the new system are:
(I'd actually favor an insta-kick after one failed VTK attempt, but in the interest of compromise, I stuck with two for those cases when a kick that should have succeeded fails because people hit the wrong button or were in a menu and missed the VTK dialog.)
This kind of system would effectively mitigate the risk of abuse. The added costs would make many abusers think twice about initiating a VTK at all, and it would quickly drain the required resources of abusers who keep trolling despite the increased costs. Either case results in the eventual reduction or elimination of their desire or ability to continue abusing the VTK system. Additionally, the insta-kick after two failed VTK attempts would make abusers rethink their tactics because failing to do so would result in their not being able to play any dungeons/skirmishes at all.
As an added bonus, this kind of system is an effective AD sink and would help keep inflation under control. Yes, there would still be a few people who abuse the system for the lulz, but the net result should be a significant reduction in VTK abuse. And for those few trolls with deep pockets and/or poor math skills who will gladly pay just to be jerks, this system would open yet another avenue for Zen sales (aka more revenue) for Cryptic/PW, so it's a win for the developers as well.
Overall, I think this kind of system would serve everyone, both the people who don't abuse VTK and want to keep it as well as the people who are sick and tired of the VTK and want to see it removed. Of course there are other changes that would enhance the effectiveness of this system, such as allowing direct party invites to dungeons/skirmishes for friends and allowing parties to set class/GS requirements for the group so the queue system wouldn't send them randoms they don't want, but I left that stuff out because it's really separate from the VTK system itself. What do you think? Is this a good compromise? Am I overlooking something? Let's talk about it.
While I believe completely removing the VTK system would be more beneficial to the community than keeping it in its current form, I fully understand there are those rare times when kicks are necessary (e.g. disconnection/AFK and trollish behavior). I made a post in another thread discussing the current VTK issues that lays out the concept for a new system I think is a good compromise between those that want to remove VTK and those who want to keep it. Because that thread has all but run its course, I've started a new thread on the topic in the hopes of getting more player feedback.
The core design goal behind the new VTK system idea is to add risk for the people who abuse the current system, thus drastically reducing the incentive to kick without good reason while still allowing parties to manage membership. The chief risk-inducing mechanisms are added costs for initiating a VTK and immediate penalties for attempts to abuse the system. The rules of the new system are:
thezer0flux wrote: »
- The cost of initiating a VTK should be a percentage of your total AD (perhaps 2 percent) or 10k AD, whichever is more
- Zen could be used for payment as an alternate option (perhaps 100 Zen)
- Succeed or fail, there would be no refund for initiating a VTK
- Initiating two failed VTKs in a single dungeon/skirmish results in your immediate removal from the dungeon
(I'd actually favor an insta-kick after one failed VTK attempt, but in the interest of compromise, I stuck with two for those cases when a kick that should have succeeded fails because people hit the wrong button or were in a menu and missed the VTK dialog.)
This kind of system would effectively mitigate the risk of abuse. The added costs would make many abusers think twice about initiating a VTK at all, and it would quickly drain the required resources of abusers who keep trolling despite the increased costs. Either case results in the eventual reduction or elimination of their desire or ability to continue abusing the VTK system. Additionally, the insta-kick after two failed VTK attempts would make abusers rethink their tactics because failing to do so would result in their not being able to play any dungeons/skirmishes at all.
As an added bonus, this kind of system is an effective AD sink and would help keep inflation under control. Yes, there would still be a few people who abuse the system for the lulz, but the net result should be a significant reduction in VTK abuse. And for those few trolls with deep pockets and/or poor math skills who will gladly pay just to be jerks, this system would open yet another avenue for Zen sales (aka more revenue) for Cryptic/PW, so it's a win for the developers as well.
Overall, I think this kind of system would serve everyone, both the people who don't abuse VTK and want to keep it as well as the people who are sick and tired of the VTK and want to see it removed. Of course there are other changes that would enhance the effectiveness of this system, such as allowing direct party invites to dungeons/skirmishes for friends and allowing parties to set class/GS requirements for the group so the queue system wouldn't send them randoms they don't want, but I left that stuff out because it's really separate from the VTK system itself. What do you think? Is this a good compromise? Am I overlooking something? Let's talk about it.
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