WotC_Mel said:
This is the item I mentioned I'd be getting back to. There are three or so serious disappointments for me in terms of what was promised for the chat before purchase and not delivered. I knew that the description field was inadequate when I saw the test version. I discussed custome work to the code being done to expand it and was told that, yes, that could be done. Well, after purchase when we get down to it, in fact it can not.
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Time out! Time out!
I'm to understand we're locked into using this software because it's already been paid for and scheduled as the replacement software and it doesn't even do what you paid for it to do? Is there anything else it is supposed to do but doesn't... like I dunno... keep my private information private?
I'm also rather disturbed that Wizards chose to keep the defective software rather than simply demand their money back and get a set that worked. But hey, that's your business I suppose.
I know that descriptions are essential to RP, and thus we need a makedo. My intention is to actually create a roster or a roll (or a better, more flavorful name) for each "main" room on the chat site (CRT, Emporium, TMP) where you may create a entry/post for the character/screen name. That thread would be able to post images as well so you could include portraits along with written descriptions. PLacing the link to that individual post in the "Home Page" field would then allow others viewing your profile to click on the Home Page button and pop open the post in a separate browser.
Unfortunately that's pretty much the same as having no descriptions. Anything where I have to open up a new window, wait for it to load, then read the description is going to lose the attention of many. Plus it means changing your description means going to the web site in advance, editing that before you log in and hoping that whoever looks at it doesn't have a cached version of your description.
In short, it's not a description service, it's just a fancy way of telling us we have to use our "web page" link for our character data rather than our web page. We can already do that with the current chat but we dont' because almost nobody can be bothered opening up people's web pages when they want to get into rp headspace.
I have some hope that I canget the names of the fields in the chat changed to better reflect what is going on by using the feilds this way.
Is this one of those things that were supposed to happen but may not be possible to happen?
The WizOs were actually supposed to bring up this as a solution during open house, but of the few ISRP folks who popped in, not many of them poked around the interface to discuss it.
Well we didn't exactly have much of a carrot to try it out, and considering the "stick" is that we're going to lose our current chat soon I'm not suprised that people chose to try to get maximum use out of the old chat.
Following Dragona's idea of stating pros and cons below:
Pros:
* We're all using Java, so it all looks the same to all of us.
* Boards and chat logins are the same
* Can easily open multiple chat windows without problems (if you can get it to open)
* Buttons make it easier for newbies
* Can log in with Mozilla and its the same as IE
Cons:
* No descriptions and the idea of linking to one is not a vaguely acceptable compromise
* Emotes don't look like emotes, the damn "!" re-enforces the feel of the chat room over the roleplay.
* Says don't look like says, they look like IRC chat posts... again re-enforcing this is a chat room and breaking the atmosphere.
* No top frame to provide room information as you enter.
* Private messages have to go into seperate tabs which is a pain in the butt if you're holding a quiet conversation.
* Chat tabs: I hate the damn things.
* Whenever you start a PM conversation you have to click another button in order to read it.
* It takes at least a minute to load up up the chat room, before you actually get to log in.
* Java is very taxing on system requirements
* No ability to effectively format text other than things like putt * * or _ _ around your text and asking the audience to imagine it's bold or underlined.
* Recent revelation that the company software is purchased from doesn't deliver on promises.
* New skin makes us look like we should rename it to Interactive Gothic Storytelling Roleplay.
* If I want to RP in a chat that looks like IRC, I have at least three or four IRC clients on my machine... I don't benefit by Wizards providing me a forth/fifth one that only works with their site.
I'm sorry Mel but you really haven't provided us any incentive to look forward to the new chat at all other than the impending dread of the loss of the old chat... to one that isn't finished, doesn't do what was expected and isn't really tailored toward roleplaying.
Other than you're planning to remove the old chat, which while it may be out dated technology, works wonderfully for the ISRP crowd and is actually generally their first preference in chat software for reasons known only to yourself.
Forgive me if I do am not enthuastic about the changeover.
