Hold and Search

[Jon]

We've had a few discussions on the finer point of these two game mechanics at the last two events, so I figured I would share the rulings on both her on the forums.

Hold
When a hold is called, everyone is expected to stop whatever they are doing, and quietly pay attention to whoever called the hold. Holds, whether for story purposes or emergencies, are not a time for players to discuss combat tactics, make witty comments, or otherwise engage eachother in conversation. If the Hold is for plot to prepare a scenario, or for an emergency that is currently out of the immediate area, players may use this time to collect spell packets from the field. In any case, players should remain quiet and pay attention so that when the "Lay on" is called, there is no delay.

Search
Search is a long used term that describes the action of searching a body for loot. Since this is a LARP and not an MMO, search is not the quick left-click you use to loot the body. Searching an opponent WILL take longer than the fraction of a second it takes to yell "Search!" and touch the target's shoulder. There should never be a race to search a fallen enemy, and there is no "who said it first" argument to be made. The only items you should be able to easily collect from a fallen foe in the span of a few seconds are whatever he was holding in his hands, and dropped upon defeat. Attempting to proceed with your search in a realistic and role-playing fashion will get you much farther with plot than attempting an all-out loot grab as soon as the boss monster falls.

[renarin]

I really like the idea that you are changing "Search". I would recommend perhaps putting a count on it? Such as Searching takes 10 seconds to thoroughly search the body. Or do you want us to describe where we are searching?

[Jon]

Thanks Matt.

I don't want to put a count on it, because that will just reinforce the behavior I'm trying to avoid. Making it a 10 count will just make players try to get that count off before they are interrupted in the same way that they would run up and try to be the first to yell "search." You cannot remove a full suit of armor from a dead body in 10 seconds. You can pull off a ring, or a necklace in maybe 3-4 seconds. You might be able to get off a belt or a pair of boots in 10 to 20. What would be the right count?

I'd prefer that looting a body is more interactive, and less left-clicky or progress bar oriented. If there is nothing else going on, no threats nearby, etc, than the time it takes to loot a body can be hand-waved. If you're trying to loot a body while combat is happening around you, or even to you, it should be essentially impossible (aside from picking up whatever dropped from his hands, or maybe yanking a coin purse from his belt).