Blade & Stars - Attack of the Dopplegangers!

[kleomenes]

Paid a visit to the Blade & Stars and there were three Balanta Whiteshields! I suspect this is a bug.

[Theodore01]

Seen two Tuth sitting inside 'room1' at the Blushing Mermaid.
One was sitting on a chair, the other one on a invisible chair.

[kleomenes]

Its not that my character is on a pub crawl (wonderful update btw!)

Multiple Balanta's in the Helm and Cloak!

There was a Tuth in the Blade & Stars as well, and I note he's in the Blushing Mermaid.

I noticed certainly in the Blade & Stars the interior was small enough that the walking around NPCs were just getting stuck on things or standing inappropriately close. I wondered if that might be turned off? It feels a little immersion breaking.

(Also in the Helm and Cloak, Aello's inventory pops up momentarily for some reason when you speak to the barman and ask to see what he sells)

[Nomster]

I am not liking all these walking NPC's at all. I love the areas but I find the walking around a great distraction to RP. I want to focus on the RP I am having with another player, not all this walking! It adds nothing to my immersion. Something which I think adds something, are the NPCs in Ulgoth's Beard set to sit down at a tables and converse, drink etc... but they are stationary and do not come off as a distraction.

It is also incredibly awkward when you are sitting at a table and an NPC randomly walks up and stands behind you... or on you... or steps to the middle of your table (they seem to access areas you can not normally walk to). If any other player would do that, they would be told to SHOO or something. But we are challenged by the "do not metagame NPCs" rule and to -have- to acknowledge NPCs. But some of these walking stuff is just so ridiculous so for sake of RP, it is just easier to agree with all present that "ok... let us just... ignore these NPCs as it is the 10th time this guy has tried to sit on my lap?"

Another odd thing is that these NPCs just appear and vanish while you are in the same room. Suddenly, there is just a guy "Teleporting" inside.

BTW,
There is a guy inside the Flaming Fist HQ called Deserak. I think he is there to be talked to about handing people over etc or such things but he walks around so much too!

[Duster47]

Investigating some adjustments on spawn-rates and how much AI the NPCs get. Be patient.

[Nomster]

How those walking NPCs are dealt with who insist on interrupting private conversations and sitting on people's laps:

Angry Mystran Priestess: //Zorl you are totally one click away from Greater Ruin! Now get out!

[Luna]

I'm fixing and should get an update out tonight.
As Duster said.. some of the spawners had the min/max a bit out of balance.

[Luna]

Duster fixed it.
I may not be able to push this out until tomorrow night.

But we will get it fixed.

Thanks

[Nomster]

Thank you, Luna and Duster for looking at it so swiftly. It is something we can live with, nothing game breaking really but it is... weird.

[Duster47]

Is this any better since the update a few days ago?

[stevebarracuda]

Is this any better since the update a few days ago?

No one responded publicly Duster, so I thought to let you know, that, today, I was in the Elfsong for hours and during that session, many different NPCs were double spawning, or getting stuck in the KEMO benches, or appearing with lanterns in hand, and just in general wacky behavior that forces the Players to either totally ignore the NPCs, or, make silly IC comments about them.

Yeah, kinda annoying, but also sad, because I really like the idea of spawning NPCs, coming and going and the like, but damn if they don't ALWAYS get in the way, or stand on your PC, or just act very anti-social!

Oh, and btw, at one time, there were 8 or so NPCs in the Elfsong, having spawned like crazy at one moment—like winning the NPC lottery or something. Was kinda funny, seeing the Elfsong packed with PCs and NPCs alike. Cheers.

[Nomster]

I was not sure when the update was added precisely and have not RPed in a public inn area when I have been certain the update was added.

The barmaid in Helm & Cloak was walking around when I just rushed past. Or rather, getting stuck in chairs.

I too like the idea of it but having spent many hours RPing in those environments, I say the annoyance factor is far greater than the enjoyment factor. Keep the cats, remove all other NPCs! Add them as static, non-moving ones as they used to be. At least there are no issues when there is a double spawning of cats as they all look the same! (But really, more cats made the city feel a bit more like in lore in some way).

[Duster47]

FRA #285: No good deed goes unpunished.

[Duster47]

How about if only the barmaid NPC walked around? IIRC, she only appears in three separate taverns (sisters! ).

[Hidennka]

The barmaid in Helm & Cloak was walking around when I just rushed past. Or rather, getting stuck in chairs.

She is also very lap friendly, as we found out. Awkwaaaard.