Money/Item/Pay/Time Investment
Didn't want to derail idea thread.

So we all know that stores are for suckers for the most part, I learned that day one talking on the sic, and I get that they are there for immediate consumption so they cost a fortune. However, I also have checked a few things via Fixer (I hate to use this word because I'm sure some of the folks saying they are fixers are straight posers) and found them to be pretty heavily discounted, but still a rough pill to swallow when you make 100-300 cred per crate, and can only do 3ish a day from each provider. To be honest the greet crates aren't even worth doing with the delay and the maglevs in my honest opinion.

So again, as many folks have said I've heard, it's a long term game, you're supposed to work for long periods of time to accomplish something, whether that's buying a fancy outfit from the store or a crazy technical piece of equipment right?

But I look at games as games right, and I'll RP with you for hours if I can without a single thing going on. But then the gamer side comes out okay. I'm like alright, I'm essentially playing a MUSH now, I'm not really actually doing anything but learning about joe cabbies day (No offense to cabbies, just an example) and the random time they threw up from X and Y can only go so far right?

So my question is, is this game striving for more RP over substance, more emote and pose over actual activity than mechanics? And that's not bad if it is, but I would ask is there a way to maintain that level of story and immersion without boring folks to tears? Without forcing long stints of idleness on folks?

Now some of you have been here for YEARS, and you've grown used to it, and I'm not badmouthing anything about the style and care you put into your RP and your positions in the game. But I also believe that this is ultimately about having fun and from some of your game policies and openness to allow things like sexual orientation and neutral options, I have to believe that you care about all views and not just the established ones correct?

I am impressed by everything I've seen so far of the game, from the roleplay to the mechanics except for one thing, the limits on activities. For example, my current character hasn't ran a single crate today, because he's been busy doing stuff for the most part, meeting folks, looking into things and that great, this has been one of those spurts of activity that you speak of. But what about when there isn't that?

I've also sat in a bar/cube/insertlocationhere for hours madly trying to find something to do, all the bars have "No party going on." My crates are done, people aren't answering their phones, and sic credit makes private messaging prohibited.

This is really where I feel you could flesh out your game and make it much more appealing, have shit for folks to do. Even if it's not money related, if I had something that helped me as a character, say places to forage for trash, and collect and bring to a chute for WCS recycling to pay down my sic bill.

Possibly a corpse collection spot that folks could search through for stupid little non-valuable things, low end clothing ala the tables at the gates maybe with a super low chance to find something actually worth something.

You have busy work instituted at the bases level, which is SHI, and it works, but it's boring as shit and requires nothing from the player.

I don't want any of this to come off as "Your game sucks" but I do feel that to say to new players who are struggling and want to put hours upon hours into your game, "Tough shit, this is a slow burn game." isn't the right answer either.

However, I get that all this needs balance, all this needs consideration, you can't just upend the whole system. But I think that the responses I've got, while not vindictive at all, have sorta equated to, "This is how it is, learn to adapt your fun to it" and I see SO much potential to this game.

I dunno, I'm rambling? Why is that, because ain't shit to do in game...

But, I also have so much to do and so much going on that I can't find enough time to think long and hard about my future plans because I am too busy dealing with things as they come up.

I understand your frustration, but it's starting to come across as trolling.

I came here after reading really bad reviews on Reddit, and I like to try to give people the benefit of the doubt, and I have to say that Reddit was way wrong about a lot of things.

The game is a lot of fun, and there's quick turn around in terms of gameplay value with moderate effort and time put into it, in my experience so far.

I think it all boils down to your own expectations and tempering them for the type of game you're playing. If you're not trolling with your multiple posts, then I would take some time to reflect on what people have explained about the game, and maybe try to temper your expectations.

There's a lot of fun to be had.

Well...

If that's what you're calling "substance", then the answer is, not exactly.

Here's a quote from the front page of the website: "You don't decide your character's success or failure, the game does. Most everything you do will depend on the stats and skills your character possesses. This includes understanding languages, perception, combat, and a vast array of other things you can do." This makes clear that mechanics are important. But even then - here's from the front page of the "Help" section: "On Sindome, we focus on the feeling and enjoyment of a good roleplaying session." But even then - here's from the Help / Game Mechanics page: "Roleplaying will always come first. The expression we use is 'The code's purpose is to support RP.'"

So they go together, the mechanics and the RP. It's not one or the other.

you're supposed to work for long periods of time to accomplish something - Uhh, sort of. I suppose that you could say that you're "supposed" to, it's more like you should expect to unless you've achieved something that makes it not take so long. Buying clothes or gear is a goal, but becoming a character with access to clothes and gear is a different category of goal. The first takes time if your only income is the stock noob jobs. The second takes time because you have to RP your way into it. This isn't the kind of game where someone rolls in and says, hey, do you have room for a fixer? A real one, not a poser. Or a cyberdoc. Or a Street Judge.

It's true that those all require a level of mechanics achievement, but the mechanics alone won't get you there. RP is what gets you there.

Another major difference between Sindome and your average MUSH is the concept of consent. In many MUSHs, your character can do anything that other players or the MUSHmasters OOCly agree they can do. You're all on the same side - players against gamemaster scenarios with PvP conflict strongly dis-incented if not outright taboo. In Sindome, those agreements have to be 100% IC. So you have to work those IC relationships to earn it. You can see how this can take a long time, and you can see how it demands that you roleplay effectively, not just idly, and. you can see how it's utterly different RP than someplace where all players and GMs consent to IC happenings.

(I'm only talking about consent from this point of view. Don't take this as me saying anything against help forbidden.

However, I've rolled a few hobos and had A BLAST with them. Sleeping in the streets, begging, etc. I'd say shift your focus from money towards having a character that's fun to RP.

SD's strength is in the journey. If you're having trouble making your mark or finding things to do, network with other immies and vent those frustrations with them. Band together to make your mark.

Lastly, you're going to be making WAY more money and having WAY more fun if you're getting your cash through illicit activities. You just have to worm your way into them. Prove to others that you're crazy enough to try anything and stick around. Sidle up to some powerhouses with that attitude. You'll soon be strapped for time!

I still don't know if they are just puppet-requests or notes driven.

There is always money, gear, etc if you make connections. It can be slow the first few weeks. It can also be incredibly chyen-packed. It all depends on the RP at the time, the older players doing whatever they're doing. Who you meet, how you meet them, how you make yourself useful. All up to chance, but always available.

If you don't know how to do a thing or the process, find someone or multiple someones who does IC. You'll get RP, probably money or similar, and the knowledge to then build one.

If I had JUST enough money to pay my cube and buy a beer or two, I'd be happy.

However, the way the game is built, IT seems to focus a reliance on flash. And all the "busy" work is flash based.

That's why I was saying maybe something to keep us busy mechanically wouldn't be a horrible thing. When I wander to random bartenders and go, Where's the party and they say, fucking nowhere, I shouldn't have to cold call, private sic, every one of you to find something to do, I'm sorry I shouldn't.

In fact, that this attitude that you're feeling, and bring it in character. Complain to everyone that you see that crates are a drag. Weasel your way into their stories and soon enough you'll have one of your own. 💙💜

When I first played, I was like you. I tried to look for RP and found none for maybe two or three weeks or so. I ran crates. I didn't get involved. And then something happened. I just went for broke and threw myself to the wolves. Told myself I wouldn't go home unless I got into a plot or dead. I got all up in everyone's biz an the bar and talked my way into a plot that made it so I'd never have downtime again.

More established characters are often not really making that much more chyen, they've just accrued more stuff over time and have more passive income so they don't have to run around for it -- usually because their roles are so demanding on their time as it is.