Idea: Allowing Spectators in Dungeons

[Kirito]

I'll add first part as is. 2nd part I'll modify like this because I don't think any free exploration should be allowed to figure out dungeon secrets: Once all party members leave dungeon the remaining spectators will be locked in place, notified they will be removed from instance after X seconds and can leave on their own during this time.

Ok sounds good.

[OdynKorsai]

I actually really like the idea of this. I remember many times running dungeons or even primal fights with linkshell mates and having to sit out for long periods of time while members cycle in and out. Yes it's true that we often sat and crafted or did other things, but this would add an interesting alternative. I think it would be great to give the party leader control on who can/cannot spectate, just as if he were inviting into the party itself. Perhaps limit the number of viewers available so it doesn't become too excessive, and maybe make it so that once the instance has already started no more spectators can be added. This would eliminate any annoyance on the party leader during the actual instance. As far as how it would be viewable... I personally picture it like many FPS games do after you die and you're waiting to spawn. See the game the same way the people running it. Allow the spectators to view one of the available party members. So say I'm a CNJ/WHM, I could view from the party healer's standpoint and get that perspective. No free floating camera or ability to move, so no real way to cheat or anything. Give the player the ability to toggle through available party members so if they want to they can change views and get different perspectives. As far as battle log and other UI aspects being visible to spectators... I think some are a given. The Map obviously would help so the spectators can also see the layout while running through dungeons. Battle Log I could argue either way as on or off... Perhaps add options in an individuals menu. What to allow/disallow while being spectated? Map on/off, Battle Log on/off, Action Bar(s) on/off etc?

Anyway... looking forward to seeing how this thread progresses and all the interesting ideas that are being thrown out

[KaiTBF]

mananana
I personally picture it like many FPS games do after you die and you're waiting to spawn. See the game the same way the people running it. Allow the spectators to view one of the available party members. So say I'm a CNJ/WHM, I could view from the party healer's standpoint and get that perspective. No free floating camera or ability to move, so no real way to cheat or anything. Give the player the ability to toggle through available party members so if they want to they can change views and get different perspectives.

yadayada

I agree, this method is simple, straightforward, and hard to abuse.

[Pseudopsia]

As far as battle log and other UI aspects being visible to spectators... I think some are a given. The Map obviously would help so the spectators can also see the layout while running through dungeons. Battle Log I could argue either way as on or off... Perhaps add options in an individuals menu. What to allow/disallow while being spectated? Map on/off, Battle Log on/off, Action Bar(s) on/off etc?

I don't see map as being prevented from viewing it. However, if the map is being filled in as the party explores the spectator should be limited to exactly what the party can view.

Viewing battle log and action bar first needs to be granted permission by the party leader. I'm not sure of the benefit of having fine controls for the individual party members if I'm understanding that correctly. I might need clarification.

If individual party member toggles battle log off while party leader grants it on then will the spectator see monster actions against this person? Will actions of this party member against the monster be hidden? Will this lead to confusion of the spectators for seeing partial logs? Is this to prevent the use of spectators using log parser on individuals that don't want their dps exposed?

I may understand why an individual will want to hide their action bars. It gives away their configuration and how they play the game. E.g. They may be an awesome clicker, however still receive flak from the purists. I would think this should be off by default. Am I understanding this one correctly? I know I can add this.

I think it would be great to give the party leader control on who can/cannot spectate, just as if he were inviting into the party itself. Perhaps limit the number of viewers available so it doesn't become too excessive, and maybe make it so that once the instance has already started no more spectators can be added.

I'll add the setting to further limit the viewers, however I think this should only be used when auto accept is turned on. By default party leader can manage each spectator requests individually. If party leader doesn't want more spectator requests the party leader can turn on auto decline or leave it to manage them individually just ignoring the requests.

[Kirito]

I don't see map as being prevented from viewing it. However, if the map is being filled in as the party explores the spectator should be limited to exactly what the party can view.

Viewing battle log and action bar first needs to be granted permission by the party leader. I'm not sure of the benefit of having fine controls for the individual party members if I'm understanding that correctly. I might need clarification.

If individual party member toggles battle log off while party leader grants it on then will the spectator see monster actions against this person? Will actions of this party member against the monster be hidden? Will this lead to confusion of the spectators for seeing partial logs? Is this to prevent the use of spectators using log parser on individuals that don't want their dps exposed?


I may understand why an individual will want to hide their action bars. It gives away their configuration and how they play the game. E.g. They may be an awesome clicker, however still receive flak from the purists. I would think this should be off by default. Am I understanding this one correctly? I know I can add this.

Personally... With respect to the chat I think there should be two possible options. One is a toggle for all messages in party chat to be blocked from getting viewed by spectators for privacy in certain situations. The reason why I just say party chat and not all chat is because so far our spectator system is based on the ones viewing the run getting permission by party leader. So if the party wanted all chat blocked then they might as well as not let them come for spectator mode.

The second option is a toggle between allowing party/normal/private chat by the spectators or not. This mainly to prevent to any sort of distraction by the spectators during a big battle. For example, there was this one dungeon in coerthas where where my party's cleric also had a lookout position for when the ghosts of the dungeon were going to come to the center or stay on the side. If a spectator makes a long comment just as the cleric says to go up then it could lead many members of the party to become pretty annoyed.
More precisely the second option prevents the party from seeing the messages by the spectators.

The first option is purely for the spectators viewing the parties conversation and the second is purely for party viewing the spectators conversation...