In-game mail system and the challenge

[Jeyk]

I was just reading one of the threads on the masks and Walrus replied to it with this:

"I can't guarantee that we'll use the Halloween 2005 masks again any time soon. However, your response to the Masquerade has given the team some things to consider. We've got a lot of other things to work on, but certainly are interested in how this event was received.

For now, if you've got some room to store them, hang on to the masks. Especially given the impending implementation of SOE mail in the game. <hint, hint>"

So I guess we do get some storage room after all.

http://mxoboards.station.sony.com/matrix/board/message?board.id=general&message.id=37956#M37956

[Fuse]

ok, back to the tittle of this thread.... let's start getting ideas for how we may be able to use this in our recruitment. I'm still wondering if ket would be open to the idea, and how possible it is to modify the challenge, comsidering the complexity it is now.

An obvious challenge would be "We are needing a very special, rare frag/ammount of collector items/whatever in order to decode such and such. Get it/them for us and you will prove yourself worthy of another quest and be a step closer to yaddayadda".

Another is that they get a hint of an item from our challenge and have to send it to a certain user (we'd obviously have to make a user for this and monitor it daily). Then have that person update thier info on the challenge.

I understand that we can not do this for the hundreds+ of people who try the challenge, so perhaps make this a last step for the interview. Say once they get the code adn they technically have the interview by our current standards, they have to get a peice of our uniform and send it to us, or another item we make special. I would also suggest they have to get a high-class item like a hampton-green-weapon to prove they are well suited. Obviously that depends on level.

What do you guys think?

[Anonymous]

My brain hurts.

But it sounds like a good idea anyway, if I understood it right

[Manic Velocity]

I like your idea Fuse.  One of my ideas was to simply send them an encrypted message via the mail system that they would have to decode.  The decoded message would be the riddle that they have to solve.  The answer to the riddle would then be put into the web-based challenge.  The reason I'm doubting this method is because I don't think it would be easy enough to make it automated.  One of us would have to physically get in-game and send an encrypted message to any potential who reaches that stage of the challenge.

But I like the idea of having them send us a certain item.  It would certainly make it easier for us to just check which item they had to get, and then see if they delivered it.

Another thing we could try would be to send them messages that require them to complete certain tasks.  Kinda like when Neo received the cell phone in his office.  "Go here, do this, etc."  Again, the automation factor comes into play.  It would require more effort on our part to come up with various tasks for them to perform.

The in-game mail system will no doubt have massive RP potential.  We should use that to our advantage.

[Anonymous]

It could also be a help to the Zion Mainframe communication.

[Anonymous]

I dislike the idea of it being a hard-to-get boss item, as the policy is that level doesn't matter, however, this would preclude someone applying as a level 10 (like I was) from being able to complete the challenge.

[Anonymous]

How about, just throwing this out there, we combine that idea of an in-game meet with the mail system.  A mail with a time limit in it, containing the location and time to meet pre-interview bundled in a riddle.  Make it by the deadline or lose your chance at an interview.  Before they begin the entire quest they could give the time and dates they would most likely be online, so it wouldn't exactly be unfair as such...??

[Fuse]

Dest, I was just comming here to write about that... I'm not sure the details about what would be easiest, but I think combining the mail sys with a meet would be great. The main issue with all this is getting enough FA on at the same time. I'll write more later, lunchtime!

[Anonymous]

Liar, you just wanted the glory for my idea.  I'll fight you for it!

Put em up!

[Anonymous]

When its released I will start by sending an email to everyones Inbox with Knock Knock (insert name here) lol j/k...
This email system does have an rp element to it and its a great way to spread the word about player events ingame aswell as sending quick emails about a battle that is going on.

[Fuse]

I can already sense that we will get spam game mails from every other mach/merv faction...


Especially TBone. That sucks.

[Anonymous]

Maybe there'll be a block list...?

[Lithium]

Yeah I am willing to bet a block will be built into it. And if players spam it is probably a serious offense that can be CCRed.

[Anonymous]

cross-server email trading system... blah! there goes the economy and rare item demand...

[Anonymous]

Why?  It's just as hard to get the rare items on the other servers, dare I say harder, as the population is higher.