It's been something smallish that's been kind've annoying me lately but thought I would make a quick post about it. Basically some of the letter writing that takes place seems a little... lazy to me.
I find so many posts like
QuoteSubject:Recipient name
Body: Details of letter
Sign off
Absolutely no description is given of how or where the letter was delivered. It's like by the simple act of writing a persons name as the subject devoids any obligation to actually deliver the letter in a sensical manner.
An example
QuoteSecret banite who has killed half the town
Despite having never met you in person, given you zero reason to trust me or taken no risks of actually trying to find you or someone acquainted to you in person, I'm writing to let you know that I want to support you. Meet me in the middle of the square. I will be the big one in full plate wearing a lathander symbol.
Hugs and Kisses
Notta Ga-nkparty
How was it delivered? Would someone who was hated by the conclave really venture to the Enclave to deliver it? Does Old stones have a bulletin board with just sheets of paper with a name sprawled on it? Is there some kinda carrier pidgeon that can recognise peoples names and appearances? Has the bartender in the Mists Inn nothing better to do than be a postman also? Would you really leave a letter at a bar for someone who does not rent a room there?
Anyways that's my rant outta the way.
Pretty sure i'm guilty of this. Good point.
Good point, but really I think it's moreso just to speed up communication. Finding someone on a different time zone can be difficult without adjusting playing times and not all players are able to do that. So in order to keep steady progress with their plans, they write letters rather than find another character in person whenever possible.
Dosent always make sense, but that's a side effect of characters dissapearing from the game world entirely when their players log off.
Specifying where the letter is left could probably be done more often, tbh, but I dont see the issue with it terribly.
I have to agree with Mucka, it's much nicer to see letters addressed to location as well as person in the title, and such.
The little details add up. :)
I want to first of all say, nice post. Second of all, how'd it get here, details man. And third, I agree, I am guilty of this and I think people should be more aware and on top of it!
Details is simple. Look here
http://www.escapefromundeath.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=322
I see a total of 2 letters that give adequate details of how and where a letter was delivered by the subject.
I'm not saying "Don't send letters!". I'm simply saying put a little effort into them. A musterman sending a letter to the Pass? Send it via arrow high overhead. Need to contact that banite? Plant it to a tree at the crossroads with a flag of the black hand flying from it.
A little creativity adds a hell of a lot and it leads for a) better RP actions to bounce off (Your flag was taken by the wind and landed in Nantulas fruit basket causing a furore), b) less security to letters (someone else notices the flag and reads the letter) and c) makes them that bit less bland.
A small amount of imagination can give your own spin to things and adds so much more to the person reading the letter.
Sending a letter is pretty easy for me when I can turn into a bat and drop them on people.
After over five years of writing forum letters I really just couldn't bother with the small details like that.
If we had to make "sense" of our IC letters it would just be frustrating. They are a means to provide further pro-activity or interaction when it is otherwise impossible. I think you can assume that the hundreds of unseen NPCs in our villages or cities take part in this play, and that some of those would be messengers or children that deliver your letters for tiny, commoner style wages.
Adding flavor is still nice, but it should not be enforced via the forums.
Wether or not adding details is appropriate depends on the circumstances.
If the letter is in someway controversial / dangerous or whatever to send or receive then fine (though I would suggest this is done IG anyway).
If its just standard "point to point" letters between allies, which further stories or assist with people in different timezones, in my opinion there is no need for letter "emotes".