Idea: Allowing Spectators in Dungeons

[Kirito]

I wanted to have limited free floating camera as well. That's why I proposed that the spectator cannot be more than a certain distance from any party members to prevent cheating. If that's too hard to implement I don't mind this.

kind of liked the ghost idea too but whatever is easier to implement...

[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.

[Pseudopsia]

kind of liked the ghost idea too but whatever is easier to implement...

I added this warning under spectator restrictions: If free floating camera is to hard to implement because of possible cheating then alternative is to only allow lock on to party members, engaged monsters, or view from their POV

[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...

[Pseudopsia]

I think I have the first one already:

"All battle information, player stats and party chat is not sent to spectators by default. Party leader can configure settings to make this information sent to spectators"

I'll add the second one.

Any bets on how much more I can add before someone calls it wall of text?

[Forgo]

It would kinda be like watching a b-rated horror film where you want to yell at the people to turn around or not to do the dumb thing that will get them killed

[Kirito]

It would kinda be like watching a b-rated horror film where you want to yell at the people to turn around or not to do the dumb thing that will get them killed

Thats why I just thought about a toggle to view spectators messages...

[Seirra_Lanzce]

Oh oh, you didnt add in the choice to put Password to spectate!

[Enma]

I must admit that the OP's idea is nice, quite original too, but I'd prefer Square-Enix would use its time to work on more exciting things. I wouldn't log in just to watch other people playing.

[Pseudopsia]

Oh oh, you didnt add in the choice to put Password to spectate!

Right, it would make sense to allow a password for auto accept. I'll add it.