Do players really want all of these:
".
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
."s before a "spoiler" ??

I'm not real hot on this myself. I find them annoying. My own reasoning is that players are here looking for help. If they don't want to run into an absolute solution/answer for their particular problem then the best choice is to pose their question in a new thread.
Posters also seem to have some difficulty identifying what is a "real" spoiler and what is just a comment or tip about a particular puzzle or area. So you end up with a lot of spacers on things that aren't spoilers at all.
Personally, I would like to see the "spoiler spaces" disappear.

What do other posters think about this?

Wyv

I agree with you Wyv. I find them extremely annoying also. You're right, then there's that fine line whether what you have to say is really a spoiler. You're right. People are here, looking for answers.

Eh, it all depends.

But I have a feeling that was towards me as well, so I'll edit that off another post.

Actually (blushes) that's my fault, Wyvern.

I wanted to make sure no one was spoiled from the game, so I was using Ziroc's recommendation on the FAQ's on leaving the spoiler space. However, if it's annoying, we can do away with it. I would ask, though, that "SPOILER" be placed in the title of the thread if it's going to contain potential spoilers.

Other than that, keep those wonderful posts flowing, and above all, have fun!

-Sazerac

Personally, I like the space.

We are all new to the game and few of us have any answers.

If questions for help were posted as threads for specific areas or problems in the title, then people like me who want few hints but not outright spoilers can avoid having the answers given to us unless we look for them.

Just my two cents...hope that does not mean that the spaces are for sure a thing of the past now LOL. I have a hard time resisting the urge to look as it is.

I saw on another forum ( I've forgotton which one ) many moons ago - where spoilers were put in the same font colour as the background.

A spoiler looked like this ...

---------------------------------------------------
Spoiler:


---------------------------------------------------

( What it looked like, no hidden message in the above ... )

The only way you could read the spoiler was to 'select' the area between the lines , thus changing the text to a contrast colour.

If you didn't want to see the spoiler, you could just scroll past it without it being visible ...

Would this work on Ironworks? What do other people think of this ?

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: Pangur Ban ]</p>

Hi Wyv, everyone,

I could see both sides of the coin here. Personally, I like the idea of having the space at the top. Its something I've seen done a lot and I know it can be a little bit annoying, but it also can help protect the interests of beginning players.

I really liked this on the WW board, since I was 100% determined to solve the game without and hints or help. Honestly, I looked at *one* post about the serpent temple and then did the rest entirely on my own. I was proud of that, and I think a lot of other players like to go through games on their own. But, many players like to share ideas and such (hey, that's why this forum is here!), so I think we should ask everyone. [img]smile.gif[/img]

So, I think it can be done either way, as long as something is said in the title. I also thought the space was needed in case the post is opened on accident, so you have to scroll down to the see the information.

I do feel its fine this way, but I think we should ask a consensus of all of the regular posters here. Saz, why don't we have a poll before we do away with this? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Best,

Scronan

I'm just looking for a general opinion on the subject. To me they are an annoyance but to others they may be a terrific and welcomed thing so this thread is an opportunity for those favoring the "spoiler spaces" to tell us why and for those of us who don't like them to share our reasons and see where we end up after the comments are in.

If most posters really prefer the spoiler spaces, I would want to respect that and include them in my own posts. If the majority don't care for them, then we can leave them out.

Ravashack - my comments weren't directed at any one specifically - I'm just trying to learn how posters feel about the spoiler spaces! ;)

Wyv

If it is an annoyance, we'd be best getting rid of them. Above all else, I want Wizardry 8 to be a board where people feel comfortable about posting, and certainly no excessive rules. [img]smile.gif[/img] Again, I just ask that if something has a potential spoiler in it, just place "SPOILER ALERT" in the title of the post.

Thanks,
-Saz

Hi Everyone!

Great to see everyone here from the Wizards and Warriors forum!

My two cents on "spoilers".......

I find the spoiler scrolling a nuisance, but whatever. Personally don't see how knowing in advance where to find a key for a locked door can "spoil" a game for someone....but I guess it does for some people.

I will look for all the hints I can find when playing and will try my own combination of suggestions and/or strategy. It's great when people will put the subject in the title with *spoiler* there, too. Then maybe people who don't need ANY help like the rest of us wimps will not read the post?

Btw, this game is AWEsome! (did I mention amazing?) The gameplay and design is EXCELLENT-similiar to CDS only better being that it's up-to-date with 21st C. technology. And, woohoo! it's hard! ;) )) The monsters are smart! ............

*sigh* ......if only this darn job didn't cut into my day so.....

p.s. what ever happened to RUDEDAWG?? really enjoyed reading about his adventures....

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tabbikaat:
Hi Everyone!
p.s. what ever happened to RUDEDAWG?? really enjoyed reading about his adventures....<hr></blockquote>

Dear tabbikaat:

Welcome! It's good to see you again. [img]smile.gif[/img] On your question regarding RudeDawg, he's been offline for several months now due to real-life complications. Without going into too many details, both his job and his health have suffered greatly. We heard from him back at GD about two months ago, then he disappeared again. All we can do is pray for his life to improve and hope he fares well.

Cheers,

-Sazerac

hmmmm.
i kinda find the spaces not so much annoying, but not entirely pre-emptive. lol!

i always end up scrolling down and reading anyway (pandora and her box syndrome, i guess!). then, i want to slap myself for doing it ::rolls her eyes::

what i really, really like is the hidden spoiler mentioned by pangur ban..... that was used extensively on the ultima boards and it's easy to do!
in fact, we could keep a thread by you at the top of the forum, with the code in it, so that anyone could just cut and paste it around their spoiler.

LOL! plus, that way i would never "accidentally" spoil myself.


the problem i see is more like
>>>>> what denotes a spoiler?
.. maybe an out and out, step by step solution to an area?
.. or revelation of major plot points?

hints and nudges don't fall into that category.

see? i don't want to know that the Supreme Felpurr of Trenton drops the Badly Made Leash of Lost Puppies.
however, i don't mind knowing that Trenton is where i can find good stuff for my kitties at swell prices.

V***V

I favor eliminating the "dead space" and putting the word spoiler in the subject line. Most of the topics are pretty obvious anyway and if I don't want a hint I just don't look.

SPOILER in the subject line should be enough, however if it is a spoiler in a reply to a thread which is NOT a spoiler then a spoiler space should be used.

Neb - that's a good idea!

Don't know about anyone else for certain, but I don't go out to a board and start looking things up unless I'm looking for an answer. A friend of mine who used to sysop some game areas online back when there wasn't a web used to always like to give cryptic hints rather than answers which used to drive me nutso. ;)
I know when I go to a board that it is possible that I might learn more than I anticipated but have rarely found that such knowledge "spoiled" playing that particular area/puzzle myself. But I know that before I go reading the boards and feel it is my responsibility rather than those who have been posting help for others.

Frankly, I think players like "spoilers" or why would strategy guides have become the norm and why would there be so many help/spoiler boards and walkthrus about the web - people like to be able to look up the answers when they get stuck rather than spend hours fussing around trying to find some solution. The players who like solving it all on their own are going to do just that and not be visiting this or other boards for a "hint".

So my vote is just say what you have to say and readers accept the responsibility that they might get "spoiled".

Wyv

Some people are very touchy about spoilers though, one person I know freaked out just because someone told him you get a book that could summon golems in BG2:ToB, but I'm sure that he'd probably still post on the forums to ask for help if he'd been stuck somewhere for a week, so let's let those like him have a chance as well.

Personally, I don't really mind spoilers that much, unless of course it's something like: "And then, just after the big battle you discover that the main villain is your second cousin!" Or something, or: "And then that NPC betrays you!", kinda ruins a bit of the fun in the game.....

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Neb:
Personally, I don't really mind spoilers that much, unless of course it's something like: "And then, just after the big battle you discover that the main villain is your second cousin!" Or something, or: "And then that NPC betrays you!", kinda ruins a bit of the fun in the game.....<hr></blockquote>

That's exactly the kind I mean, Neb. I mean, if Myles turns out to betray you, I don't want to know about that; I want to find out about it on my own. That's the kind of spoilers I do NOT want posted up here--the TRUE spoilers, the ones that give away the plot line Same with the endgame...I don't want to know who it is who ascends. Let us find that out on our own.

(Just FYI, I have no idea about Myles and what he does...just using that as an example.)

Cheers,
-Sazerac

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Wyvern:
Don't know about anyone else for certain, but I don't go out to a board and start looking things up unless I'm looking for an answer. A friend of mine who used to sysop some game areas online back when there wasn't a web used to always like to give cryptic hints rather than answers which used to drive me nutso. ;)
I know when I go to a board that it is possible that I might learn more than I anticipated but have rarely found that such knowledge "spoiled" playing that particular area/puzzle myself. But I know that before I go reading the boards and feel it is my responsibility rather than those who have been posting help for others.

Frankly, I think players like "spoilers" or why would strategy guides have become the norm and why would there be so many help/spoiler boards and walkthrus about the web - people like to be able to look up the answers when they get stuck rather than spend hours fussing around trying to find some solution. The players who like solving it all on their own are going to do just that and not be visiting this or other boards for a "hint".

So my vote is just say what you have to say and readers accept the responsibility that they might get "spoiled".

Wyv<hr></blockquote>

Well, if the title of the thread shows that the content is going to show answers or information to areas I don't want to know about, I don't open them up and look. :D The same goes for threads with *Spoiler* in the title.

I do come to this board to see how others' games are going, what roles are going well for what races (my human Lord sucks lol) for possibilities of generating a different party to play with and to answer any questions I may be able to. There is also "The Domina Digest" thread and general game conversation threads that I like to be tuned in to.
Not everyone who comes here is looking for hints or answers and I never use strategy guides because if I am going to see how to get through every area of the game first, for me at least, it would not be much fun.
Oh I'll be asking questions if I have a problem or get stuck, don't get me wrong! But to come here for all the answers is not why we are here. [img]smile.gif[/img]

It's fine with me if the spoiler spaces are saved for what others deem as possible spoilers, but if someone thinks a hint needs that space and you don't think it does, it should not upset you...they just want you to have the choice to get the answer or to go back and figure it out on your own. :D