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15 minute AFK timer - Club 47 Socialization

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
15 minute AFK timer - Club 47 Socialization

With a 15 minute AFK timer, I don't see how people will be chilling out in Club 47 while surfing the web, etc. Cryptic needs to drop the 15 minute AFK timer or at least make it a couple hours.
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
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  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    15 minute AFK timer - Club 47 Socialization

    With a 15 minute AFK timer, I don't see how people will be chilling out in Club 47 while surfing the web, etc. Cryptic needs to drop the 15 minute AFK timer or at least make it a couple hours.

    I'd disagree. Nothing more annoying in some other games then certain area's of piles of AFK players that you have to navigate through. Plus, they're having some hardware capacity issues, so I don't seen the afk timer being removed until the new hardware is installed and running well. Although that is supposed to happen this weekend.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If you can be afk for too long, you can get full XP from some instances without even playing it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    perhaps they can remove the timer in just certain social areas.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    They should keep the timer. If you are off surfing the web, then you aren't playing the game. There are simply far too many people who want to actively play the game that allowing a player to be logged in without playing is unfair.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Tangent; I'm sure you have all noticed the officer standing/crouching on the table as you pass through Club 47 (appalling and unbecoming of an officer, I might add as he's obviously consuming Romulan Ale). My past few trips through the club I've noticed the same officer has been a different sex, unless NPCs are shuffling. Are NPC's rendered at random on the client side? Random quips from them appear to be, as I doubt other players are subject to "There goes @aggressor27, Sulu says he's the best o' the best" every time I strut by with my level 5 bad#@& self.

    On track; to piggyback off of what was already stated about AFK, as long as they keep one server there needs to be a timer. When this game's popularity starts to pick up we're back to looking at queues again, despite their server cap. And yes, XP leeches are an annoyance in instances, although it's worth it when a random swarm spawns directly over them and coincidentally they're back at the helm before they become a flaming wreck.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    15 minute AFK timer - Club 47 Socialization

    With a 15 minute AFK timer, I don't see how people will be chilling out in Club 47 while surfing the web, etc. Cryptic needs to drop the 15 minute AFK timer or at least make it a couple hours.

    One word, NO!! The 15 minute timer is fine.

    You are not leaving your toon logged on, while you do a little surfing, because you are too lazy to log out, and eating up my bandwidth doing nothing. Sorry, but the answer is still NO!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    They should keep the timer. If you are off surfing the web, then you aren't playing the game. There are simply far too many people who want to actively play the game that allowing a player to be logged in without playing is unfair.

    I have a lifetime sub. If I want to sit in space or the club doing nothing, that is my choice. Heck, I may want to dance AFK. The ability to waste time is pretty much a right in an MMO. :P

    In fact, I do sit in space listening to my audio books in the background. It's like a RP thing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    I have a lifetime sub. If I want to sit in space or the club doing nothing, that is my choice. Heck, I may want to dance AFK. The ability to waste time is pretty much a right in an MMO. :P

    In fact, I do sit in space listening to my audio books in the background. It's like a RP thing.

    This is like seeing someone at a theme park who bought a annual pass argue they deserve to stay on the rides as long as they want.

    Annual Pass Holder: "I bought this annual pass, so I'm going to stay on this ride over and over."
    Theme Park: "Sir, you can't do that. There are other people who want to ride this ride."
    Annual Pass Holder: "But I paid more, so I deserve to stay here."
    Theme Park: "No sir, you don't. You paid for entry into the park in advance and at a discount. That's it."
    Annual Pass Holder: "No I paid to own this seat on this ride, and I deserve it for the $100 I paid!"
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    So basically your making the argument that we are supposed to hurry up and an play and get out. Ridiculous

    Better yet, let's limit everyone's game time to only 2-3 hours per day. /sarcasm and even more ridiculous
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    15 minutes is too damn short. Just one of the long list of annoying things in the game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    I have a lifetime sub. If I want to sit in space or the club doing nothing, that is my choice. Heck, I may want to dance AFK. The ability to waste time is pretty much a right in an MMO. :P

    In fact, I do sit in space listening to my audio books in the background. It's like a RP thing.

    Im so sick of people with lifetime subs thinking they are superior!

    You bought the lifetime sub for the advantage of not paying after 17months in game. NOTHING MORE!

    The Borg pre-order bonus was a sweetner to get you on board earlier that is all you are the exact same as any other player. By your logic in 17 months time the devs shouldn't even care about you anymore.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Belion wrote:
    Im so sick of people with lifetime subs thinking they are superior!

    You bought the lifetime sub for the advantage of not paying after 17months in game. NOTHING MORE!

    The Borg pre-order bonus was a sweetner to get you on board earlier that is all you are the exact same as any other player. By your logic in 17 months time the devs shouldn't even care about you anymore.
    What??!? :eek: We're not superior?!?

    I think you're wrong. ;) #sarcasm
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    So basically your making the argument that we are supposed to hurry up and an play and get out. Ridiculous

    No I am saying that you are supposed to actively play the game or log out and let others play. And yes you character staying logged in is taking up resources that another player would use.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Belion wrote:
    Im so sick of people with lifetime subs thinking they are superior!

    You bought the lifetime sub for the advantage of not paying after 17months in game. NOTHING MORE!

    The Borg pre-order bonus was a sweetner to get you on board earlier that is all you are the exact same as any other player. By your logic in 17 months time the devs shouldn't even care about you anymore.

    I'd do the same even if I was paying monthly, so your point is moot.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    I have a lifetime sub. If I want to sit in space or the club doing nothing, that is my choice. Heck, I may want to dance AFK. The ability to waste time is pretty much a right in an MMO. :P

    In fact, I do sit in space listening to my audio books in the background. It's like a RP thing.

    Sure it's your choice..... for 15 minutes. :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    People used to stay AFK 24/7 in SWG. The resources and bandwidth usage is minimal for an AFK player.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    People used to stay AFK 24/7 in SWG. The resources and bandwidth usage is minimal for an AFK player.

    I think you forgot to add in there " but no one was actually playing the game, so it really didn't matter if they stayed logged in"

    As for the 15 minute timer, ya, I agree it is needed, the only problem I have with it is, if I have to go to the bathroom and I come back and I have been logged or something along those lines. I like the timer though because it flushes the AFK'ers out of the instances instead of sucking up the XP that everyone else is fighting to get.

    The Timer needs to stay in the game, there is not enough for the people that want to play and can't due to full servers as it is.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Cheaters have many methods of staying logged in and sapping xp. The AFK function does not affect the cheaters much. I don't think that is a valid argument as to why the AFK timer is in place.

    That brings up a good point though. I haven't seen any AFKers in combat, but if there was, it would be nice to click on them and do "report AFK" like in the WoW BGs.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    the issue with SWG though was afk spawn camping. you could level from 1 -80 never having played the game more then the 5 min it took to type in the macro. I used to take great pleasure in upsetting that rhythm for afk players. The fact of the matter is, there is no real reason you need to be logged into a game, when your not there. There is no rp reason, since your role playing, and even in real life, no one is working 24-7. they don't hang at a bar all day.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    it takes 30 seconds to log back into the game when you're ready to play...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    My main concern about the AFK timer is seeing people hang out in Club 47. I can only hope that in the future, people will stand there long enough on their own past the 15 minute timer in hopes that other people will come along and start a conversation. Otherwise you have people coming and going and not really anyone staying.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Great, you have a lifetime account... so do many other people, including myself. Everyone else is still paying so it's not all about you, get over it. And i don't want to be waiting at the loading screen because someone is busy surfing the net and not even playing the game. Or even if a player is AFK spamming messages about STO Gold with macro's while enjoying surfing the web.

    The server is overloaded at the moment so perhaps when bandwidth isn't so much at a premium they might tweak the clock a bit, but until then I agree with the other posters, quit clogging the drain.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Limulus wrote:
    My main concern about the AFK timer is seeing people hang out in Club 47. I can only hope that in the future, people will stand there long enough on their own past the 15 minute timer in hopes that other people will come along and start a conversation. Otherwise you have people coming and going and not really anyone staying.

    You know, if this were really that much of a priority to you, maybe start a chat channel called Club 47? Then, you could coordinate with people in the different instances, and all meet up at Club 47? Then, you don't have to worry about the AFK timer kicking in, while you wait for someone in your own instance.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Jean_Deaux,
    Yes, you are exactly right. The cause of queues is the 100 or so RPers who may go AFK dancing. : /
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    You know, if this were really that much of a priority to you, maybe start a chat channel called Club 47? Then, you could coordinate with people in the different instances, and all meet up at Club 47? Then, you don't have to worry about the AFK timer kicking in, while you wait for someone in your own instance.

    That's actually a good idea. Not sure how to get people to join the channel though.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Out of curiousity.. those of you who would like to stay in game while not actually playing.. what is your reason for wanting to stay logged in? What is the purpose for being logged on when you aren't even playing? I'm not attempting to flame here or anything.. I genuinely want to understand why its important to you to be able to stay logged in while not actively playing the game, etc.

    The title of the thread mentions socialization.. but how does one socialize while AFK?

    I'd like to hear the full argument from those wanting the timer removed, because its not likely to happen if its just "because I want it that way", so what are some valid reasons?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Brynthe wrote:
    Out of curiousity.. those of you who would like to stay in game while not actually playing.. what is your reason for wanting to stay logged in? What is the purpose for being logged on when you aren't even playing? I'm not attempting to flame here or anything.. I genuinely want to understand why its important to you to be able to stay logged in while not actively playing the game, etc.

    The title of the thread mentions socialization.. but how does one socialize while AFK?

    I'd like to hear the full argument from those wanting the timer removed, because its not likely to happen if its just "because I want it that way", so what are some valid reasons?

    Ok for example, you park your character in Club 47. Lets say 10 people park their characters there with the hope that more people will show up later to chat, dance, whatever. In other MMOs, Goldshire, Cantina, wherever you park your avatar and other people will eventually show up and start socializing while some will be on/off AFK. This is not a new concept. It's been in almost every MMO I have ever seen.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    So if I understand it correctly, you're going AFK simply because you're waiting for others to arrive so that you have the opportunity to socialize. You're wanting Club 47, Quark's Bar, Club K7, etc to become social hubs (and I'd guess Risa, Vulcan, Andoria as well), but its hard to get people to start hanging out there if they don't already see others there waiting to hang out and socialize, and if the game keeps kicking you out from going AFK, then people have less chance to see others to socialize with.

    For the record, given that reason, you've got my vote for a longer duration AFK timer while in designated social areas. The reason I say increase the duration is because, if the intent is to socialize, then one should also be making an intent to socialize with players who stop by or pass through. You would think occasionally you'd turn your camera to see if you missed someone coming in, or occasionally mentioned something in Zone Chat trying to draw others to the area (at least until these areas start becoming social hubs on their own.) Also, as mentioned above, creating chat channels designated for those areas might be a good idea and help to draw others to the area.

    Most importantly though, everyone is out leveling right now.. the game is fresh and its all new to them. Eventually, they'll find their way to the social areas once the newness wears off. But if you truly want people to start using those areas sooner, you're going to have to be a bit more active in doing so. Sitting their AFK while you web surf most likely isn't likely to encourage anyone to stop and chat with you (and who's to say they didn't try, but you were too busy reading threads??)

    Long story short.. I agree, you should have a little more leeway with the AFK timer in areas meant for social gathering.. but you're also going to have to do some of the work yourself and not expect it to just come to you.. that's my two credits on the subject.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Brynthe wrote:
    So if I understand it correctly, you're going AFK simply because you're waiting for others to arrive so that you have the opportunity to socialize. You're wanting Club 47, Quark's Bar, Club K7, etc to become social hubs (and I'd guess Risa, Vulcan, Andoria as well), but its hard to get people to start hanging out there if they don't already see others there waiting to hang out and socialize, and if the game keeps kicking you out from going AFK, then people have less chance to see others to socialize with.

    For the record, given that reason, you've got my vote for a longer duration AFK timer while in designated social areas. The reason I say increase the duration is because, if the intent is to socialize, then one should also be making an intent to socialize with players who stop by or pass through. You would think occasionally you'd turn your camera to see if you missed someone coming in, or occasionally mentioned something in Zone Chat trying to draw others to the area (at least until these areas start becoming social hubs on their own.) Also, as mentioned above, creating chat channels designated for those areas might be a good idea and help to draw others to the area.

    Most importantly though, everyone is out leveling right now.. the game is fresh and its all new to them. Eventually, they'll find their way to the social areas once the newness wears off. But if you truly want people to start using those areas sooner, you're going to have to be a bit more active in doing so. Sitting their AFK while you web surf most likely isn't likely to encourage anyone to stop and chat with you (and who's to say they didn't try, but you were too busy reading threads??)

    Long story short.. I agree, you should have a little more leeway with the AFK timer in areas meant for social gathering.. but you're also going to have to do some of the work yourself and not expect it to just come to you.. that's my two credits on the subject.

    Ya, you said it pretty well. When the game is back up and running, I am going to look into setting up a chat channel for Club 47.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    What does Club 47 and/or socializing have to do with going AFK > 15 minutes and surfing the web? Am I missing something?
This discussion has been closed.