Depending on what platform we use... whether it be SA-MP, open.mp, GTA:V or whatever, I have a proposal to prevent some metagaming:
Summary: Every user is assigned a unique ID to their character upon login. This ID will change for each character, however, will randomize every login. This will allow for us to remove visible names above people's heads, and replaced with IDs or simply "Stranger [ID]." These IDs are assigned when your character is logged in. It is randomized between 10000-99999 between each login.
Function: Upon meeting a new person, you can either /setname [stranger id] for them [people can lie about their name], or automatically get their name when they /showlicense [stranger id]. When people perform an action or type in chat, it will show up as Stranger [UNIQUE ID FOR LOGIN]. The user having their nickname set will get a notification, stating, "someone set a name for you." People will know what their stranger ID is when using /getmyid in order to aid in any confusion.
Caveats: Staff will know who the player is regardless of who the stranger is ONLY while in staff/admin duty. People's IDs change with each login, therefore, people can relog to change their ID. You can only /setnick people within a certain radius (i.e. 10m).
In addition:
/b or /pm will use your master account name or stranger ID, whatever is easier for devs
Please discuss. Metagame can ruin the immersion for people who are here to take roleplay seriously. Please consider this suggestion!!
sounds good, but how would this work in regards to law enforcement or others that have a name badge on display? could be cool if it was able to be toggled on and off by the player.
sounds good, but how would this work in regards to law enforcement or others that have a name badge on display? could be cool if it was able to be toggled on and off by the player.
/showbadge or /readbadge (similar to /showlicense) can be implemented depending on how close you are to the player. This will override the stranger ID and set it to i.e. A. Beneitz #231 (all dependent on the Faction and how their badges work)
Think of it as a "living system," once you get to know someone you can get their full legal name or they can keep lying to you and using a fake name. This can also introduce fake licenses.
Thought you mean completely remove the name tag after reading the title and was gonna suggest something like this, but you already did, definitely agreed.
This seems like a solution for something which really doesn't have much of an effect.
Explain the worst things that can happen from you knowing someones nametag and 'metagaming'.
If you metagame their name you will simply be reported. This seems like we're leaning more towards script than common sense IMO.
You can metagame and people won't know. Reporting is not always an option either. Better yet, you can't trust everyone to NOT metagame. Here are some pros & cons:
Pros:
- Prevents initial metagaming
- No one has a name hovering over them initially
- harder to identify people to prevent inherent metagaming (unconscious bias of skewing your roleplay to the point where you get to know the person on purpose due to X, Y, and Z.)
- less burden on Staff for handing metagaming reports
- everyone doesn't know everyone
- Prevents initial *desc. of Billy Wilkinson* and prefers to use stranger ID and/or clothing/skin they're using.
Cons:
- You actually have to /setnick everyone you meet.
- May cause confusion in chat... then again, you need to meet someone to recognize what they're doing/who they are.
It’s samp not everyone looks the exact same, you may get a description of someone being a black male topless with maroon pants and a beanie but several other people may use the OG Loc skin and you might not find the exact guy you’re looking for, it just wouldn’t work in SAMP because everyone looks the same.
It’s samp not everyone looks the exact same, you may get a description of someone being a black male topless with maroon pants and a beanie but several other people may use the OG Loc skin and you might not find the exact guy you’re looking for, it just wouldn’t work in SAMP because everyone looks the same.
This is how people are "misidentified" in the real world. There's so many people in the real world, people get misidentified all the time when it comes to legal issues, or so-forth. We will also have custom skins later down the road.
This promotes interactions with players as well. You must get to know your community / people around you to avoid getting misidentified, or mistaken for the wrong person... just like in the real world. We're trying to make this an immersive experience.
You can metagame and people won't know. Reporting is not always an option either. Here are some pros & cons:
Pros:
- Prevents initial metagaming
- No one has a name hovering over them initially
- harder to identify people to prevent inherent metagaming
- less burden on Staff for handing metagaming reports
- everyone doesn't know everyone
Cons:
- You actually have to /setnick everyone you meet.
- May cause confusion in chat... then again, you need to meet someone to recognize what they're doing/who they are.
- Prevents initial *desc. of Billy Wilkinson* and prefers to use stranger ID and/or clothing/skin they're using.
You're saying metagaming but metagaming in what sense? I cannot see what would be such a problem that would cause people to rather rely on script than common sense.
Everyone doesn't know everyone in the first place, that's basic RP etiquette.
Less burden on staff, Metagaming report are hardly ever complicated so to refer this onto the script rather than man-hours is a little lazy and cutting corners.
I feel like sure, this addition would be cool on an RPG server but this isn't what the server is going for is it? At least in my understanding.
Providing descriptions of 'names' over /me's is subpar anyway and shouldn't be allowed by admins. No reason to make a script to go around this.
In what way do you need to meet someone to recognise what they're doing? I can imagine this actually encouraging trolling to be much more frequent.
How is 'not' having a name hovering over you a pro?
You're saying metagaming but metagaming in what sense? I cannot see what would be such a problem that would cause people to rather rely on script than common sense.
Everyone doesn't know everyone in the first place, that's basic RP etiquette.
Less burden on staff, Metagaming report are hardly ever complicated so to refer this onto the script rather than man-hours is a little lazy and cutting corners.
I feel like sure, this addition would be cool on an RPG server but this isn't what the server is going for is it? At least in my understanding.
Providing descriptions of 'names' over /me's is subpar anyway and shouldn't be allowed by admins. No reason to make a script to go around this.
In what way do you need to meet someone to recognise what they're doing? I can imagine this actually encouraging trolling to be much more frequent.
How is 'not' having a name hovering over you a pro?
In what sense? Sorry. I don't get what you're getting at.
We can't always rely on people to not metagame. People don't always follow RP etiquette either. This is a preventive measure so people can enjoy their roleplay without the fear of most forms of metagaming. This removes that factor. It is not a game-changing thing, either. One must work to get to know who is around them. It removes the laziness factor too. ?
I can see it from your perspective, however, I am looking at this from a staff perspective as well including work on several other communities in the past.
Think of how this would work regarding ROE and faction rosters?
It adds more work for other parts of the staff.
I feel like we shouldn't look at this through a black and white lens.
My main point was being, what is the worst thing someone can do by simply knowing your name above your head? Call you it IC?
EDIT: If people are that worried about their name being metagamed. /mask is a thing in most RP servers. This shouldn't be base standard however. Or at the very least make it a toggled thing.
Think of how this would work regarding ROE and faction rosters?
It adds more work for other parts of the staff.
I feel like we shouldn't look at this through a black and white lens.
My main point was being, what is the worst thing someone can do by simply knowing your name above your head? Call you it IC?
If you're in a faction whether illegal or legal, they will definitely identify you as someone or something either through a nickname, or your full legal name through their hiring process. When it comes to RoE, we don't have rules implemented on that nor is that part of the discussion yet - we will have death logs. If you are continually getting attacked by the same person, report it. They can't hide. We will also implement a way to flag suspicious deaths by the same person/master account if deemed necessary.
The "name over the head" thing has been the standard for roleplay servers on SA-MP since 2008. It's old. It creates an inherent bias when it comes to roleplay. I am not going to construct a whole thesis about it, however, it is an ideal measure to obscure names when it comes to preventing most metagaming.
I totally agree and highly support this suggestion through, hiding names above their head will definitely help within RP (for those whoever will take RP serious) will get how much it is going to be better and helpful.
