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Main Forums => Suggestions => Topic started by: Egon the Monkey on August 30, 2009, 02:07:41 PM

Title: Timing for big server events
Post by: Egon the Monkey on August 30, 2009, 02:07:41 PM
I've noticed that a lot of fairly big and influential DM events tend to go off at 8PM EST or thereabouts on weekends. That's great for east coast US players, but a real bind for European players on the server. I'd like to bring up the idea of hosting some of these events on Saturday or Sunday afternoons EST, maybe four hours earlier. This would mean evenings/nights European time, so they'd be accessible to another section of players.
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Post by: Letsplayforfun on August 30, 2009, 02:31:41 PM
That'd certainly be nice, but if i'm not mistaken some new DMs are in a good time zone for us european players, so it's only a matter of time since we get big events in playable timezone.

On the other hand, big events with 7 player logged on doesn't sound that good.
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Post by: johanmaxon on August 30, 2009, 02:50:31 PM
Good would be instead of starting 8 pm est, starting 6 pm est. Most EST people can be around then, but atleast it's just midnight for us Europeans, and even if it is big, it is possible to be in bed 2 am instead of 4 am, which makes a rather big differance!
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Post by: Relinquish on August 30, 2009, 03:55:33 PM
People have jobs, and most jobs don't get out until later at night, you need a European DM imo.
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Post by: johanmaxon on August 30, 2009, 04:48:28 PM
Or you people just can stop with these 'Jobs'.... Gee!
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Post by: Drakill Tannan on August 30, 2009, 05:55:30 PM
I would be fine if they were just on weekends. My school shecule doesn't let me log at such times during week days.

And it is certianly easier to sleep at 4am on saturdays (err.. sundays?) than fridays. some peopel work on saturdays.

Then again, most parties are on satruday nights... well at least thouse i hear of... hmm... real life? or EFU:A?
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Post by: Gippy on August 30, 2009, 07:19:05 PM
It is difficult and there are a lot of factors that go into the timing of these things. Right now I would say that we've got all timezones pretty well covered for DMs though.
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Post by: General-shadow on August 30, 2009, 09:14:38 PM
i live in scotland and since am a bum i spend most of my time om efu sad yes but i maintian my relationship and friends and alwas have plenty of time to take part in large events but still wouldent mind sunday ones .
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Post by: Talir on August 30, 2009, 09:17:45 PM
I'd like to hold and run some things for you europeans myself as the events held this late affects me too.
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Post by: Velve on August 30, 2009, 10:00:12 PM
No matter what timezone things are put up for, it will be a bad time for someone. Sadly just a matter of fact. But I'm sure European DM's are more likely to play at good time for them, anyway.
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Post by: Archon on August 30, 2009, 10:49:45 PM
Can I also suggest that we use GMT times instead of EST, because quite frankly, coming from Australia, I have absolutely no idea what time 8pm EST is.

Cheers
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Post by: Semli on August 30, 2009, 11:23:35 PM
haha g'day mate
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Post by: Garem on August 30, 2009, 11:46:18 PM
Yay tangents. The plurality of players are American and EST is Howland's timezone and the timezone for where the server is physically located. These are the only factors I'm aware of as to why we use EST so frequently, although there's certainly no reason why you can't use whatever timezone you want for your event planning and so long as you note the GMT +/- then things will be peachy.

Unless I'm gravely mistaken, EST is at GMT -5 by the way.
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Post by: Underbard on August 31, 2009, 12:24:02 AM
For the summer, we are on DST which is -4 rather than -5, which is normal EST.
 
  For every one else, do like I did and lose your damn job so you can be here when needed.
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Post by: Pup on August 31, 2009, 02:02:38 AM
Just to help those who have trouble with timezone adjustments:

Set the forum time to GMT (it should be set to this by default).  Scroll down to the bottom.  It will tell you what time it is currently GMT.  Now look at your own clock.  The difference is your +/- GMT time.  It's just that easy.

There are easier ways to know the time, such as knowing your own timezone and having a basic understanding of what timezones are, but this will help you tremendously if you don't quite get what it's all about.

Now.  If you want to know the difference between your time and EST, CST, MST, or PST (the four main American timezones) just set your forum time to that time, then compare the difference with your own clock, like above.
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Post by: Luke Danger on September 02, 2009, 02:25:44 AM
There's also the issue of a number of Players having school and the like now... if it's a big event, there should be enough time to do it and follow through... later-night events are not good on school nights either.

At least, EST wise for me, not sure on others.
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Post by: Colonel Awesome on September 02, 2009, 03:51:12 AM
Plan the Amazing server changing stuff on Fridays or weekends since that is when most people are online.
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Post by: PlayaCharacter on September 02, 2009, 03:54:16 AM
I really enjoyed the tournament tonight, even though it was at a time when I would usually be busy.
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Post by: Porkolt on September 02, 2009, 10:26:53 AM
Quote from: Underbard;142942For the summer, we are on DST which is -4 rather than -5, which is normal EST.
 
For every one else, do like I did and lose your damn job so you can be here when needed.

Don't make this any more complicated than it is. Europe uses daylight savings as well, so the one hour difference is nullified.
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Post by: Ommadawn on September 02, 2009, 11:00:30 AM
Quote from: Porkolt;143259Don't make this any more complicated than it is. Europe uses daylight savings as well, so the one hour difference is nullified.

Well, we in the southern hemisphere don't (at the moment)! This is an old issue though, so I won't beat it. I just keep a good time converter bookmarked.
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Post by: Underbard on September 03, 2009, 03:11:32 AM
When I was in Europe, they didn't use DST.  I guess I must be getting old.
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Post by: Archon on September 03, 2009, 03:36:24 AM
Quote from: Ommadawn;143263Well, we in the southern hemisphere don't (at the moment)! This is an old issue though, so I won't beat it. I just keep a good time converter bookmarked.

Depends where in the Souther Hemisphere you are.  Here in Australia, some states have daylight savings (eg New South Wales and Victoria) and other states don't (such as Queensland).

Either way, do you happen to have a link to that time converter you were talking about?
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Post by: Ommadawn on September 03, 2009, 03:56:24 AM
Quote from: Archon;143331Depends where in the Souther Hemisphere you are.  Here in Australia, some states have daylight savings (eg New South Wales and Victoria) and other states don't (such as Queensland).

Either way, do you happen to have a link to that time converter you were talking about?

Here's the place I use, it has all sorts of tools:

http://www.timeanddate.com/

As for DAT, yeah. When we use it, many other countries (and even states within countries, yes, I'm looking at you Queensland) don't and vice-versa. It can get very confusing. :confused: