Goblin Squad Member
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I really dislike teamspeak, it takes me completely out of my immersion which is still the number 1 reason I play these games. :) I see several interesting companies publicized here, and I understand why teamspeak for some of them is more or less a requirement, but even with silent rooms, or just listening in it is just not for me. I also understand that it is hard for a company to allow both, since you get a split in your communications.
Some companies do not mention teamspeak at all, and I was wondering about those.
Any companies out there that specifically plan on not using it?
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Goblin Squad Member
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Deathwatch currently has no plans to use it, unless absolutely needed. Likely, if we really need voice-chat for some reason, we'll turn to Skype or something. In the old days of Ultima Online, there did not seem to be much of a presence of voice-chat, so I could see this game perhaps not needing it much either.
I would imagine that the only times it would come into great use in PFO would be during huge organized events and battles during player warfare, where it would otherwise be difficult to communicate with many key players instantly.
In theme-park MMOs recently, it's almost been a requirement. It's as though there's no possible way to complete some complex raid battle without it. But then again, there seems to be plenty of groups that play these without voice every day regardless. *shrug* I guess it goes both ways.
I doubt you will find a company that does not use ventrillo/teamspeak/mumble in some capacity. Voice chat programs have become pretty much ingrained into video games. Its far easier and faster to press one button and talk then to stop what you are doing and type. I do believe though that most of the companies will have voice chat be optional.
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Goblin Squad Member
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The problem with voicechat being optional is that when more guildmembers start using it, the guildchatwindow slowly becomes empty, and less and less people will be checking if someone is actually talking (texting) in guildchat. Would not want to be shouting into the void. :D
I realize that a company that chooses not to use voicechat at all, is at a disadvantage in some fields of gameplay, however I am hoping that a game like PFO will have so many avenues of gameplay, that such a company can still be a viable contender in the grand scheme of things. If not in mass Warfare, then in diplomacy, trading, exploring, crafting and such.
I will check out Deathwatch, Aou, I appreciate all the asnwers.
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Goblin Squad Member
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@Tyncale, The Seventh Veil is dedicated to the principle of maximum freedom for our Members. We will never require any member* to use any Voice Chat program if they don't want to.
* Senior Leadership is a different story.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Some people do not hear so well. Some people can not hear at all.
Any requirement or expectation that people use some sort of voice chat program leaves all of those people out in the cold.
I am not saying that I am one of those people, but anyone could be.
I had a bad experience with a guild one time because of their decision to require voice chat for some things.
Unfortunately, it goes back to what they say about the view never changing if you aren't the lead dog.
That was the only "real" guild that I ever joined in any game, and in every other game that I have played, it was a thing that kept me from joining other guilds.
Not that they required voice chat, but because they could, and I wondered why I should work for the guild and help other people out and donate gear to the guild vault and all of that when, in the end, my reward could be getting throw to the side if not just thrown out because I won't use voice chat.
Maybe I am just not cut out for this sort of thing.
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Goblin Squad Member
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TEO Order generally tries to accommodate for every good aligned play style but there is a reason we have a Teamspeak requirement in place.
When Great Legionnaires first came about on Darkfall we inherited a Teamspeak server from FIST, the clan most of our original Darkfall members came from. Originally Teamspeak usage was not a requirement. Most of our members found it very useful. Every group activity from 2-200 ran more fluidly and even if you were out solo and got attacked by RPKers you could shout "3 NME! Chasing me toward town from the north-east!" giving the rest of the clan warning and the chance to scramble a defense.
The problem ended up being members who didn't use Teamspeak were so rare that when they came in they would sit in the guild channel by themselves and have nobody to talk to. I would literally poke into guild channel to see someone said "Hi" over an hour ago and hadn't been responded to.
That's not how GL, or now TEO is supposed to run. We are supposed to have a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and we do... If you come on our Teamspeak. Anyway that is why TEO has a Teamspeak requirement, and why I am guessing most companies that are successful long-term will eventually adopt one. We do have our quiet room and if there is demand I would love to provide an in-character only channel. We aren't super strict but I don't want another situation were people see someone who has been with us for a month and ask "Who is that?" because it's someone who doesn't use Teamspeak.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Greetings. As with The Seventh Veil, the Keepers of the Circle have no specific requirement for Teamspeak, and further we have various interests that won't be specifically disadvantaged in this arena.
Please feel free to browse our forums or visit our Chartered Company thread here and ask any questions.
Erian El'ranelen, Warden of Gold, Keepers of the Circle
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Goblin Squad Member
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The Artisans of Avarice intend to use Skype, when possible. However, our founding group has a long history of text based roleplaying in games and will more than likely do so almost exclusively, while keeping voice chat open to things like out of character communication or for ease of use when planning operations or entering combat.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I'm with Andius on this topic: any chartered company that plans to not use a voice client is planning to be competitively weak.
Now that still leaves valid options, like crafting focused companies, or companies that don't intend to hold land or engage in PvP, so you might want to start narrowing down your list by removing companies that plan on any PvP.
Or you could start your own company.
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Goblin Squad Member
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It's just so much easier to call out and plan vocally than it is to stop what you're doing, type what you'd like to say as quickly as possible, and then continue the fight. You're likely to have missed your opportunity or fail to warn someone before it's too late if you stop to type in combat.
Not to mention the more action is going on, the faster you have to type, which is why people end up using shorthand terms instead of actually speaking, which would probably break the immersion more than speaking in voice. Do you tell someone "Duck, fireball!" and risk not warning them quickly enough because you typed it out? You could shorten it to "care fb" or "b fb inc" but that doesn't translate well to immersive roleplaying.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Not that text chat is lesser than voice, often people can be more eloquent in the written word than the spoken. But when it comes to combat situations text chat simply cannot hold a candle to voice.
This is why I recommended that GW integrate voice capability into whatever sound solution they settle on. I was gently reminded that established guilds tend to be invested in their own servers.
The sticking point to voice chat is where a male is role playing a female or vice versa, or where a player is inordinately shy or has 'stage fright'. There isn't much to be done about the latter save build the confidence in the shy that they are among understanding friends. But for the former there are effects filters that can make a woman sound like Morgan Freeman or a man like Tina Fey.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I realize suddenly how old I am.
I still remember my first PBM (yes - by mail) game. There have been players who designed their own paper. Some messages were handwritten and delivered by snail mail.
There have been advantages - you did much better planning and analysis. Off course I guess nowadays you will get a guide written by someone quickly online. But I would expect that with a new game and the way skills are trained that it will help to be able to spend time on getting it right.
Doesn't mean that additional voice won't give you added advantage. But not everything can be replaced by quick gaming and communication.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I'm with Andius on this topic: any chartered company that plans to not use a voice client is planning to be competitively weak.I disagree with saying "weak." Definitely at a disadvantage to the über-competitive, but not necessarily "weak" or incapable of holding land.
Ceteris paribus the lack of voice communication is a weakness. Relative to what any company would be with it "weak" is the right word.
Whether or not they can hold land will depend on what other advantages they have over other companies that want their land, but all else being equal, it is a clear disavantage.
Now if you want to discuss PvE encounters, that's another matter.
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Goblin Squad Member
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The UnNamed Company has no requirements for the use of team speak or any other voice program. We only require that you show up on our forums and in game, once or twice per week, so that we know you are still alive!
For a PvP oriented company like yours, I predict that will change.
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Goblin Squad Member
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PvP is a cornerstone of the game design, but it isn't the point of the game. If your guild has good connections, they don't necessarily need to be "strong" in and of themselves.
And nobody's arguing that the weak can't survive in PFO. They will have their place. Just don't get caught up on any dreams of glory.
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Goblin Squad Member
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And nobody's arguing that the weak can't survive in PFO. They will have their place. Just don't get caught up on any dreams of glory.
There's those of us who don't have the option to use voice chat. Once upon a time, that was no hindrance in video games. Now we're 'weak' here too. Hooray for science.
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Goblin Squad Member
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There is another side to it, though I shall be shouted down for saying it.
A team that practices hard to work well together, who uses text chat to go over expectations and plans, who have coordinated their actions through experience can be competitive with those who use voice chat. I have seen it in Mechwarrior Online. It does happen.
There is another side to it, though I shall be shouted down for saying it.
A team that practices hard to work well together, who uses text chat to go over expectations and plans, who have coordinated their actions through experience can be competitive with those who use voice chat. I have seen it in Mechwarrior Online. It does happen.
Learned to type fast long ago because of need during battles. I've meshed with many guildies, we could walk a dungeon long before voice. And that was in games where a mistake got you eaten, stripped of all gear with skill and ability loss. I agree it makes pickup groups work better though. Thankfully I'll have the Circle to work with. I'm not worried.
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Goblin Squad Member
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For a PvP oriented company like yours, I predict that will change.
I never said my company was PVP oriented. I fully anticipate that we will be balanced - PVE,PVP,Crafting,RP and Meta Gaming! We also plan on writing quite a bit of fan fiction as well as supporting our own PF Society Gaming Group.
When we commit to a game, it is full bore, involving all aspects. But, if someone is uncomfortable with using a headset / mic, that is not something we would say.... "Sorry, look elsewhere."