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05:33, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing.

Posted by Samus Aran
Samus Aran
member, 265 posts
Author, game designer
Part-time Metroid fighter
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:02
  • msg #1

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

When searching through game ads, the number of posts doesn't always correspond to the number of players in a game. Sometimes it'd be good to know while perusing the list how many players are currently in a game—if I see a game with 1000 posts but 4 players, I know it's been going on a while (and/or the players are very prolific). A game like that but with 15 players might move too fast Or maybe big groups aren't your thing, but a game has been going a long time and has many posts, etc. Could be useful.
GamerHandle
member, 811 posts
Umm.. yep.
So, there's this door...
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:06
  • msg #2

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

I would personally dislike this.  A number of GMs make use of secret, hidden, or 'standby' characters that look like PCs, but, are in-fact GMNPCs perpetrating ruses for the sake of the mystery/mystique/intrigue/whatever of the scenario.

This would horrifically throw-off the ratio which you are seeking.

Neat idea overall.  However, some flaws with regards to another notion: what about player attrition?  Nearly every DnD-style game suffers heavily from this (not saying only this type, just more familiar with DnD).  10 join, 4 leave instantly after 3 posts here, 2 more fall-off after about a month.  How would the game factor those?  etc.. etc... etc...
Samus Aran
member, 266 posts
Author, game designer
Part-time Metroid fighter
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:15
  • msg #3

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

I don't think those need be a problem. The number could just list the number of discrete players that have joined, not the GM's alternates. And player attrition is a thing, but often the GM removes them, and if not, well, that player is still technically a part of the game in terms of numbers.
nauthiz
member, 397 posts
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:17
  • msg #4

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Right now I don't think anyone but the GM can know how many players a game has.  Characters, yes, players, no.

I also don't know that, given the actual information you're trying to learn, knowing that would necessarily help.  It could also hinder as GamerHandle suggested.

Information like the average number of posts per week for the last month might be a more useful bit of information to know to discern what you're trying to learn.
bigbadron
moderator, 14909 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:19

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Additionally, some players will have multiple characters - it's quite common, for example, for games to use separate characters for IC and OOC threads.  In others a player will have one main character, and a second one representing a familiar, animal companion, or sidekick.  Should the system count them as separate players?
Samus Aran
member, 267 posts
Author, game designer
Part-time Metroid fighter
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:27
  • msg #6

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Hm. No, I'd think if it's going to list it at all, it should just list number of players, not characters. Just the number of players posting, whether they have one or multiple, should be sufficient.
bigbadron
moderator, 14910 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:33

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Unfortunately, whether or not players have multiple characters (or GMs have their own PCs) falls under the heading of "GM only" information.  So having ten characters in the Cast List, then telling everybody that there are only four players won't fly.
Samus Aran
member, 268 posts
Author, game designer
Part-time Metroid fighter
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 03:35
  • msg #8

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Ah, okay, I see your point there. We certainly don't want to ruin anyone's secrecy or evil GMly plans. What about something like an "average posts/day" listing?
This message was last edited by the user at 04:23, Wed 23 Sept 2015.
Shannara
moderator, 3590 posts
Whatever you do,
DON'T PANIC!
Wed 23 Sep 2015
at 10:13

Suggestion: Show number of players in ad listing

Two players have an OOC conversation of 20 posts. There are 2 game posts. The next day there are no OOC conversations and 1 game post.  That gives an average of 11.5 posts per day, for 3 game posts.

How does that do anything to tell you how active the game actually is?

Not to mention that the system would have to go into the game, count posts, and average them continually?
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