The Dynmap Poll

[CnocBride]

The dynamic map that MassiveCraft currently plays host to is currently a hot topic in faction and PvP circles. While the dynmap in itself is popular, certain functionality it offers is not. The most controversial feature with dynmap is the ability to use /dynmap hide. For any of you who do not know, by default, dynmap shows all players in a certain world (except when they go underground). This allows for players to be seen and targeted by PvP'ers and other "bandits".

There is a certain command called /dynmap hide that gives the player the ability to hide themselves from the map and thus they cannot be found as easily. There are some problems that have been raised with the hiding function:

• It makes worlds, such as Essalonia where PvP is enabled, inactive and unused. If the ability to use /dynmap hide was disabled and all players were shown on dynmap, then the world would look much more lively and more attractive to players.
• It makes it harder for PvP'ers to find people to PvP. This also raises the issues with targeting and new players being "bullied" off the server. On the flip side, this will improve faction interaction and overall contribute to the PvP feel which we have been lacking for many years.

There are also some disadvantages that have been highlighted by staff and players alike:

• The strain of a large amount of players on Dynmap. The dynmap crashed when the server started due to so many players flooding into Essalonia with their /dynmap show enabled. This caused some server resource issues and caused the dynmap to go down or load incorrectly. This could be especially an issue at peak times.
• Concerns about how this will affect new players, who may be targeted by PvP'ers (well, you can't really call them PvP'ers if they constantly target new players). This may lead to them being driven off the server and lead to a decrease in player count.
• Construction of cities and outdoor activities will decrease dramatically because of the threat posed by players being able to see other players on the dynmap and thus they could be killed.

There are a few options for this poll:

• Remove /dynmap hide with a cooldown of 2 weeks for new players. What this means is, all new players will receive a notification saying that they have 2 weeks of /dynmap hide from their first login, and after that time has expired, their dynmap will be forced to show. Requires Tech work.
• Remove /dynmap hide in its entirety. Give no player a cooldown, old or new. Dive them straight into being able to be seen on Dynmap. Doesn't require Tech work.
• Leave /dynmap hide as an accessible command; currently the way the dynmap works is fine. Doesn't require Tech work.

This poll is all for collating player opinion, it is not the final decision we will take on the matter but the question has been thrown around in various player circles for months so it is time that we, the Game Staff, collect some official opinion about the whole change. The Game Department may also be open to a trialling of /dynmap hide being disabled and all players being shown on the dynmap. We invite you to leave your suggestions or concerns in the thread replies!

 

[Ninja124r]

can't wait for a certain people to hunt down newbies

 

[Chappers]

Super cringy

 

[Wooperr]

Remember when we all shit on @Viscar for this idea lol

 

[Lizmun]

i like the idea - but at the same time i /dynmap hide myself so clingy ppl i don't wanna interact with don't follow me around everywhere when i rp

 

[hardname12]

hardname is god

 

[jquaile]

(well, you can't really call them PvP'ers if they constantly target new players)

Click to shrink...

ooof personal opinion jeez you should respect all different aspects of play this is 2018, please stop discriminating

 

[JETHR0X]

My main concern with that is what if people have a faction rp that exists outside regalia lore, I personally have one and having everyone knowing where the easy roleplay factions are, the roleplayers will get mad, fast

 

[CnocBride]

My main concern with that is what if people have a faction rp that exists outside regalia lore, I personally have one and having everyone knowing where the easy roleplay factions are, the roleplayers will get mad, fast

Click to shrink...

I never see much roleplay in factions anymore and we're really too far gone at this point to see full on re-integration of RP and factions unless Regalia becomes a survival world.

While we care for roleplayers, our top priority is the satisfaction of survivalists.

 

[Vehlir Velas]

Not a RPer, and play exclusively Survival, but imo forcing everyone to be displayed on the Dynmap feels kinda...cheap?

I never mind if I get killed or if people are specifically looking for me because I know and love those aspects of risk and the Survival way of life in MC. But the idea that anyone can simply open up another tab on their browser and immediately know the location of anyone and everyone at any given moment is kinda weak imo.

Things like scouting, stealth & hunting down other players are legitimate skillsets & activities in Survival Servers, and they should not basically be reduced to just opening up a separate webpage outside the game. Too OP for basically ZERO effort & cost.

I personally vote for things to remain the way they are.

 

[CnocBride]

i like the idea - but at the same time i /dynmap hide myself so clingy ppl i don't wanna interact with don't follow me around everywhere when i rp

Click to shrink...

This would be perfectly possible, but our Tech Team would need to look into this.

@CS_Birb @TheComputerGeek2

 

[Winterless]

well, you can't really call them PvP'ers if they constantly target new players

Click to shrink...

They are still PvPers if they target new players

Just cowardly ones

 

[Winterless]

Things like scouting, stealth & hunting down other players are legitimate skillsets & activities in Survival Servers

Click to shrink...

You can't do any of these things on Minecraft, at least not particularly well or effectively

People in Minecraft don't leave tracks or a scent to follow
People in Minecraft can't be particularly stealthy since you can literally see usernames through walls

 

[Winterless]

My main concern with that is what if people have a faction rp that exists outside regalia lore,

Click to shrink...

Faction RP is basically a myth at this point

I wish it happened regularly, but it just simply doesn't

 

[Conflee]

You can't do any of these things on Minecraft, at least not particularly well or effectively

People in Minecraft don't leave tracks or a scent to follow
People in Minecraft can't be particularly stealthy since you can literally see usernames through walls

Click to shrink...

Id say on any other server it is possible. You can follow dropped items that havent despawned due to chunk unloading, and find cactus that are fully grown which shows people have passed through. But yea, on Massive not so much.

 

[Huinkoch]

Double-edged sword. Yeah it'll make hunting people easier.. but also mind it makes finding out you're being hunted easier. Anyone who's attentive (or sweaty) enough to pay regular attention to dynmap will effectively 100% remove any risk of stealth raids, raid portals as you can jot down where people pop out of the ground from to run into your faction claims, learning your target's movements on the overworld, and just any form of thoughtful, stealth or subtlety-based play altogether. And we live in an age where there are normal people running dual-monitor setups with the dynmap on one view, and the game on another.

Like winterless pointed out, stealth in this game is hard enough. This change would pretty much guaranteed wipe out whatever subtlety there is left in the game, not just for those defending themselves, but also for the attackers.

I feel like anyone who understands how to run the dynmap will simply adapt, check it often for people running at their claims, and just retreat underground as needed whenever they notice something even slightly off. This'll only intensify the effect of someone who's old and knows the game not suffering any real consequence, vs a new player, who will take the major brunt of this change.
Or just, y'know, go underground and be unraidable and not worry about it and further worsen the problem of underground-only towns.

 

[Conflee]

Double-edged sword. Yeah it'll make hunting people easier.. but also mind it makes finding out you're being hunted easier. Anyone who's attentive (or sweaty) enough to pay regular attention to dynmap will effectively 100% remove any risk of stealth raids, raid portals as you can jot down where people pop out of the ground from to run into your faction claims, learning your target's movements on the overworld, and just any form of thoughtful, stealth or subtlety-based play altogether. And we live in an age where there are normal people running dual-monitor setups with the dynmap on one view, and the game on another.

Like winterless pointed out, stealth in this game is hard enough. This change would pretty much guaranteed wipe out whatever subtlety there is left in the game, not just for those defending themselves, but also for the attackers.

I feel like anyone who understands how to run the dynmap will simply adapt, check it often for people running at their claims, and just retreat underground as needed whenever they notice something even slightly off. This'll only intensify the effect of someone who's old and knows the game not suffering any real consequence, vs a new player, who will take the major brunt of this change.
Or just, y'know, go underground and be unraidable and not worry about it and further worsen the problem of underground-only towns.

Click to shrink...

I hadnt thought of that issue but yea. It will basically nullify its own effects leading to no changes really.

 

[Vehlir Velas]

You can't do any of these things on Minecraft, at least not particularly well or effectively

People in Minecraft don't leave tracks or a scent to follow
People in Minecraft can't be particularly stealthy since you can literally see usernames through walls

Click to shrink...

Not necessarily true.

Stealth encompasses a wide variety of tactics. Staying amongst the treeline instead of wide open valleys and pathways as it's harder to see tags in leaves, using elevation rather then staying on eye level, and of course sneaking when in the vicinity of others hides your name tag. It just requires you to be equally aware as those who may pursue you. If you're paying attention you can many times spot approachers long before they spot you.

I spend most of my time exploring the map, & looting old disbanded bases. I can't tell you how many times I've had people run up on the site I'm at and by being cautious & smart, they've had NO IDEA I was in there with them the entire time. How many times I've been spotted while traveling and been able to lose my pursuer. Utilizing terrain advantages and "Blind spots" is most definitely effective.

Yes, if you're not careful, someone could see your name tag but it's DEFINITELY an aspect of gameplay right now.

And players very well do leave "tracks". It's just not spoon fed insta-results tracks. Player's tendencies of where they are and where they've been recently can be deduced with a wide variety of tools available to us in the game. Between /he tool on surrounding resources, /seen & /f allies, and keeping watch outside a target area are all things that can produce results. Things that yes, require a little work & things that could definitely be improved upon, but imo alot better then "Lemme open up a tab and be given the EXACT location of everyone, everywhere, instantly."

I wouldn't at all be against exploring further options for tracking players and their movements, maybe some sort of new custom potion or spell or something to that effect, but spoonfeeding everything, the exact location of everyone, everywhere, instantly on a OOG website is too effortless, too cheap imo.

 

[MokeDuck]

Double-edged sword. Yeah it'll make hunting people easier.. but also mind it makes finding out you're being hunted easier. Anyone who's attentive (or sweaty) enough to pay regular attention to dynmap will effectively 100% remove any risk of stealth raids, raid portals as you can jot down where people pop out of the ground from to run into your faction claims, learning your target's movements on the overworld, and just any form of thoughtful, stealth or subtlety-based play altogether. And we live in an age where there are normal people running dual-monitor setups with the dynmap on one view, and the game on another.

Like winterless pointed out, stealth in this game is hard enough. This change would pretty much guaranteed wipe out whatever subtlety there is left in the game, not just for those defending themselves, but also for the attackers.

I feel like anyone who understands how to run the dynmap will simply adapt, check it often for people running at their claims, and just retreat underground as needed whenever they notice something even slightly off. This'll only intensify the effect of someone who's old and knows the game not suffering any real consequence, vs a new player, who will take the major brunt of this change.
Or just, y'know, go underground and be unraidable and not worry about it and further worsen the problem of underground-only towns.

Click to shrink...

This is a good point. If you can see people coming to raid you, you might be able to prepare (aka /tp roleplay) and thats not really helping the situation much.

 

[MyCatBubbles]

Double-edged sword. Yeah it'll make hunting people easier.. but also mind it makes finding out you're being hunted easier. Anyone who's attentive (or sweaty) enough to pay regular attention to dynmap will effectively 100% remove any risk of stealth raids, raid portals as you can jot down where people pop out of the ground from to run into your faction claims, learning your target's movements on the overworld, and just any form of thoughtful, stealth or subtlety-based play altogether. And we live in an age where there are normal people running dual-monitor setups with the dynmap on one view, and the game on another.

Like winterless pointed out, stealth in this game is hard enough. This change would pretty much guaranteed wipe out whatever subtlety there is left in the game, not just for those defending themselves, but also for the attackers.

I feel like anyone who understands how to run the dynmap will simply adapt, check it often for people running at their claims, and just retreat underground as needed whenever they notice something even slightly off. This'll only intensify the effect of someone who's old and knows the game not suffering any real consequence, vs a new player, who will take the major brunt of this change.
Or just, y'know, go underground and be unraidable and not worry about it and further worsen the problem of underground-only towns.

Click to shrink...

Not a bad idea. I constantly check the dynmap anyways and it'll make finding raid portals much, much easier.

 

[Jalapeno690]

I'm my opinion this is a great idea, I remember it working pretty well of another server, if this is implemented potentially give it a one week window so people can prep and finish what they need to??? I think the idea of a manhunt of certain "big" players or even staff that pop up on dynmap to actually be pretty exciting, could create an excellent buzz

 

[RonnanMcA]

As much as I dearly hate pvp and RKers, I have to say that /dynmap hide is a little bit too overpowered everyone can just hide, people can't hunt or anything because of it. I'm gonna say two week cooldown period of new beans and then call it quits with /dynmap hide.

 

[Jalapeno690]

As much as I dearly hate pvp and RKers, I have to say that /dynmap hide is a little bit too overpowered everyone can just hide, people can't hunt or anything because of it. I'm gonna say two week cooldown period of new beans and then call it quits with /dynmap hide.

Click to shrink...

The thrill of the chase, the excitement of being the hunted, all part of survival, bear in mind whether you are a PvP'er or a rper In essalonia you are still at the end of the day a survivalist, removal of Dynmap hide will add that extra level of hardness

 

[aprader1]

This doesn't affect me all that much since I mainly do rp anyways in regalia. But knowing the location of someone is a huge deal. Not everyone checks dynmap every second and we shouldn't have to. As far as people following you in regalia maybe make the regalia portion of the map use hide and if you are not in regalia the command is simply disabled. Yes tech work but it shouldn't be to difficult.

 

[hull19]

Newly returning player here. Dynmap hide has made it enjoyable for me to, well, do other things instead of just pvp. Like dragging a boat for some fishing and feeling secure that I won't be suddenly find myself surrounded. Yes, this is factions... pvp and raids are part of the game. My main issue is that disabling dynmap hide is the reason I've left other servers... who got virtually destroyed. Why? Because factions became a "look at the map, warn people, and play only underground". Truth be told, with some time, you can build farms for pretty much anything. Anyways, not being a pillar of this server, I fully excxept my opinion to be glossed over. But it was explained very wel lbefore by other posters : knowing the exact position is one way to force everyone underground or to find raid portals.

I enjoy playing, especially with the skills enabled (except for the bloody tnt in fishing haha), and with the dangeer of enemies. I simply dislike forcing everyone on the dynmap for the godlike abilities it can give you. It also would affect players who sometimes are on very bad connections and can't check the map all the time, versus players who can or that have 2+ computer screens. Anyways, to each their own, I voted so that is that. And so should y'all ^^

 

[CnocBride]

This poll has been closed as inconclusive per this thread.