OOC

[hedgeknight]

I know I am in the minority on this topic, but I will simply never understand the need for a player to be prompted to participate in a game they are already involved in. Especially in a game like this where 20+ posts are coming in each day. (where did you think we went)

Since I know GW isn't the only player who uses it, I ask anyone willing to shed some light on this topic for me..... Is it really that hard to jump on the web page every couple of days and check into the games you're in? Is there something I am missing about this? Because I hear this excuse from players every couple of months and no matter how many times it happens, nothing ever improves. People continue to use it no matter how many times this happens.

It's actually baffling to me, but I am old, so maybe that has something to do with it.

This^^
Agree 100% - As a DM and a player, I don't need a notification system for posts because I check the threads almost every day unless I'm extremely busy. I may not post every time, but at least I check to keep abreast of what is going on.
If you're unable to do that, well...

[Rex]

Occasionally it misses a notification to me, but it almost never misses it twice in a row so the next person to reply sends a notification out that I get. Since we are talking about the slower moving games it isn't as big a deal to me as a game that interacts everyday would be. This just happened in a game I am in, but was actually caused by someone editing a previous post which never sends a notification. Usually if I miss something in one of the faster moving games it is on me not the notification system. I was running short on time and tried rushing through stuff or something like that. The notification system isn't perfect but I make more mistakes then it does in general.

[OGRE MAGE]

Agree 100% - As a DM and a player, I don't need a notification system for posts because I check the threads almost every day unless I'm extremely busy. I may not post every time, but at least I check to keep abreast of what is going on.
If you're unable to do that, well...

Agreed!

Seems like a simple common courtesy to the person putting in most of the work.

[Scott308]

I've never used the notification system. I just try to check in, although I do sometimes space out and not check in for a few days. I was really bad about this in Inferno's games. Sometimes the problem is I want extra time to think about something then someone posts an action that will completely render my plan useless, so then I think about it some more...then I get a message from Inferno saying he's updating and needed an action by a deadline that I just missed.

Right now, this game is busy and moving pretty quickly, so I try to keep up as best I can so I don't slow everyone else down.

[GreyWolfVT]

Since some of the games only post once or even less per week I would probably forget to check on them if I didn't use the notifications.

This makes some sense to me, but do you ever find yourself not receiving notifications in the slower games?

In your case, you would see the posts eventually if you check in daily, but how would someone who doesn't check in know if they weren't receiving notifications?

I have one or two players that have been in most all of my games that claim they never get the notifications or emails. Sometimes for months at a time and they don't post when they aren't getting the emails so I suppose yes some of us do get busy enough in RL that we cannot take the time to login here every two days consistently. But that's just me condoning an excuse I suppose. It doesn't matter it's my fault, anyway I have plenty of other things to do some weeks I have zero time for anything on here and have to skip 2-3 days. I'm married and have 2 teens that is to be expected when we have one car and nobody but me drives... again that is a me issue. I will try to get better and if I am not keeping up feel free to politely ask me to bow out and I shall do so sir.I don't want to hold the game up or anything. I was just very excited for a new game and to be back in one of your games Rob.

[Monsieur Rose]

The emails seem hit or miss, and from what I've noticed maybe only send out an email the first time the thread has had a post, not for each post.

The notifications at the top right are more reliable, alerting on the first new post, and then again on the second.

But, and this is a large but, you need to be subscribed for it to work. And unfortunately, when you aren't subscribed, the box at the bottom is checked and says "subscribe forum". When you aren't, it is unchecked and says "unsubscribe forum".

Adding to the fun, each section needs to be dealt with. In this game, there are four separate sections to subscribe to. The main group, the completed missions, your personal one, and the areas of the keep. Each has a distinct subscription.

So yes, relying on notifications requires some action on our part.

[Rex]

The emails seem hit or miss, and from what I've noticed maybe only send out an email the first time the thread has had a post, not for each post.

The notifications at the top right are more reliable, alerting on the first new post, and then again on the second.

But, and this is a large but, you need to be subscribed for it to work. And unfortunately, when you aren't subscribed, the box at the bottom is checked and says "subscribe forum". When you aren't, it is unchecked and says "unsubscribe forum".

Adding to the fun, each section needs to be dealt with. In this game, there are four separate sections to subscribe to. The main group, the completed missions, your personal one, and the areas of the keep. Each has a distinct subscription.

So yes, relying on notifications requires some action on our part.

Agreed, it requires that you understand how it works and you need to subscribe correctly. As I said, I also don't use the email notifications at all.

[OGRE MAGE]

See, I didn't know any of that.

So, if you don't have the correct settings selected, you might not even get the notifications in the first place?

Interesting.

I think I will stick to checking in manually.

[OGRE MAGE]

" But I don't recall Sabine mentioning a roving band of murder-hobos."

Not yet....

......but you just got here.

[Rex]

I wasn't necessarily planning on killing them, just chopping one of their hands off for extortion/theft. He is a LG and a former guardsman after all.

[Scott308]

There, now Crobeus has some to deduct the next time he goes after an indomitable foe.

Hey, Crobeus hurt it and he survived- barely. He learned not to mess with really big, scary monsters at low levels, especially when there are only two of us.

[OGRE MAGE]

I will admit, yanking the antler out of its eye was a pretty good idea.

[Scott308]

I had a 50/50 shot at which way to go with that. In hindsight, maybe that was a bad decision. But that's how you learn.

[GreyWolfVT]

I feel bad for Thirteen in that whole battle, he managed to save Crobeus just to get ripped in half and consumed.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bandit County
The Next Fork
Mid Morning

Some members of the group point out the misty visage of a stone tower they notice periodically between the hilly outcroppings in the distance, though not everyone in the group can make this out. Bugs flatly denies the possibility it being there at all, since the old Lord of these lands would never allow such a thing.

Pounding a stick in the ground with an agreement to pull it back out on the way home, the groups split up to go their separate ways. Crabgrass denotes the worth of intellect, his knowledge of multiple languages should come in very handy if the caves are indeed filled with a multitude of different humanoids.

With the promise of sharing stories over ales in the tavern soon enough, the party splits ways for now, hoping to see each other again in a few days time.

Unless you have anything further you’d like to add here, you can follow these links to your next adventures.

Renna/Unknown Cave Group: https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... hp?t=13012

Loyn/CoC Group: https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... hp?t=13011

Not to beat a dead horse here, but I want to ask for a bit more information about the notification system.

I noticed everyone found their way to the new threads without issue this time.

Does that indicate that placing the links as I did in the post above is sufficient? Or is there anything else I should be doing?

[ravenn4544]

That worked for me. The notifications are completely hit or miss. Mostly miss in my experience. For me, it's a matter of checking in often to update my posts. And, of course, when I check in and then decide to ponder my action or to wait so as not to be the first one posting constantly - I need to remember again to come back and post. Remembering is hard

[OGRE MAGE]

Remembering is hard

The notifications are completely hit or miss. Mostly miss in my experience.

I have heard this from many other people as well, just not the players who swear by the system.

[OGRE MAGE]

Pim shakes his head "....but I heard the crossbows really well."

[Rex]

The links were perfect for me. Even if the notification system is working, a back-up can never hurt and since some admit they are not even trying to use the notification system it is really going to help them.

[Monsieur Rose]

And, of course, when I check in and then decide to ponder my action or to wait so as not to be the first one posting constantly - I need to remember again to come back and post. Remembering is hard

This.

I tend to use the notifications to jump to that post in a forum, then after that, go to the 'home page' of that game and look for more red. So a hybrid.

It looks like linking to the new threads works, at least to get people to post the first time. Sorry it causes more work.