Training Dummy XP?

[Dezuel]

Heya all, decided to make a poll about trainingdummies.

As many warriors and others would like to "get somewhere" by training at dummies or against another player char even.

Would it be possible to make it so when you enter "Sparring mode" with another player char that you get like 1-2 xp per every fourth hit or so?

Players cannot stand and do this forever, seeing as they both deal damage and both will be needing healing potions/spells.

Plus that way folks can actually train with others inside the walls, RP at same time without much worry that Mr Lizardman is going to chop off ya leg 

If this is possible then it could be possible to like a level 6 char training a level 3 char in sparring, the level 6 char gets 1xp per fourth hit or so and the level 3 char get 5 if he hits. This is all just an idea, I dont know if it is entirely possible.

I added a poll to this question of mine aswell.

Well, adding a 1xp gain per every 4th or 5th hit on a trainingdummy is at least something. Then you might get your arse whooped by a lizard anyways 

To make sure people cannot "grind" the dummies over and over again, put a timer on them for a few hours, or make them respawn every 2 hours. So just maybe a dedicated person which is on the server could get like 30-50xp in total a day.

Well, I know this question has been up before. But I decided to "Revive it" , I am such a bad man yep.

So let me know what you all think of it, both players and DM's.


PS. Be honest people 

///Dez

[Squire]

I like it. As long as they can come up with a way to stop it being open to abuse (i.e. a character starting the attack then walking away from the computer for, like, 5 hours and leaving it running) - the problem with destroying the dummies is that people could go in, fight them all until they break, then leave, leaving none standing for anyone else to practice on.

A timer would be a better idea...so after, say, 100 rounds or something you simply stop earning XP from them and will earn no more until 24 hours later...if that could be done then it may be worthwhile.

[Skye]

I feel like if I took a sword and smacked at a straw dummy for a few hours, I wouldn't be any better when it came to fighting a dedicated and ruthless lizardman.  I voted against it.

[Mapolq]

The poll asks about training dummies, so I voted against as well. At first glance, XP for sparring seems like it could be good, though.

[thosrtanner]

i like the idea of getting it for sparring with a partner, but not the training dummies. Or maybe only if you are level 1. I could go for it for 1st level characters.

[Zundy]

I chose five, and heres my explaination. I like the idea of training Dummies giving xp to level ones, then less for level twos, then about 1xp for level threes, then none higher than that. Why? Because yes, using training dummies would improve your skill, hell, thats why they exist. However, it would only improve your skill if you a novice fighter, a trained soldier doesn't need to train on dummies. You can also use the same excuse to hand-wave away why wizards etc wouldn't get XP at high levels as well, just the same reason. Too skilled/haughty/whatever you want for it.

I do like the idea of getting XP from sparring. Be it XP per hit or XP from just beating an opponent. FUND IT!

[ImmoralSinner]

On TFR they have training dummies that you can attack and after x number of hits you get xp and your attacks are stopped, they don't get destroyed but are limited to x number of uses a day and for PCs under lvl 5. It works quite well.
Also no matter how you argue it when someone trains against a dummy they will improve but they improvement would be limited which is the same when fighting against anything, each type of creature tends to only have so many tricks you learn of before you can't improve your skill against them.
Dummies are about swordsmanship, creatures are about predictability.

[Dezuel]

Well, hitting on dummies to me is like practicing aim with a bow... the more you train, the better you become. Be it at swinging and holding the blade, building up your arm strenght or wrists or any other muscles used while swinging a blade.

It will not make you know how to fight a lizard or ogre, nope. But it will sure as heck build up some strenght, with training comes results... and the results could be your character becoming more hardy (hp gain) or building up muscles (str increase) or speed with attacks (would explain feats one gets if one would actually level up from it, such as dualwielding, or another bab which gives ya char 2 attacks per round, disarm, knockdown or similar :p).

Theres a reason boxers hit the boxing "pillow", be it endurance, building up strenght or simply doing combos.

Well, its been nice to see some comments about this, alot of different views on it. But seems most would like seeing a lil xp gain from sparring with another, to me that would be great. Get to spar with a friend or mentor and earn a lil xp from it.

The chars would get exhausted from the sparring and buy healing potions or ask for healing at temples, or use spells if they have any... or even seek out your best friend... "The free healer" 

Would be nice if like it could be like...

A level 1 character can get best trained by a level 3 character, while the level 3 character would turn to a level 6 character.

The level 6 character would spar with those of equal level, not learn (xp gain) as much as those on lower levels unless ofcourse trained by a level 9 (is there even any level 9 on server? ).

Well, its a nice thought. The DM's are the chief's so its in their hands 

Either way, folks cannot keep this up non-stop as spells are not unlimited and neither is coins for healing.


///Dez

[Professor Misclick]

The idea has merit as an IC development tool, but I am against any non dangerous, no consequence sparring which smacking a dummy is or shooting at a target is. Training against another PC certainly has it's place imo.

That said, some things to ponder.

1) Who can say for sure what might happen if I see a few characters RPing a training session from time to time?

2) What might happen if someone took it upon themselves to set up some sort of training camp IC and used that group to advance some character goals or plots?

3) The need for those investing the time to RP the mechanical prowess increase needs to be recognized.

*Disclaimer*- I would rather spend the time helping the characters evolve in other ways via server exploration, plots, and role playing but I will keep a look out for this type of thing now as well. Don't be afraid to send me a tell if I am on either.

[Agrafes]

Interactions between PCs are very hard to catch by script, and besides, how do I know if someone is sparring or trying to kill the other guy? Of course we could invent something to decide that, but stuff like that has been abused to level OOC buddies.

As for dummies that would be doable, but it's not more than a complicated way to give a player XP in the start. I we wanted to have players start at level X we could simply give them the required XP instead of demanding a boring session of whack-a-mole. Because basically that's all it is - you click on the dummy and some time later get XP.

Our "training dummies" are the easy low level quests, and they have the advantage that they are more involved and are more entertaining than watching you PC hit at something immobile. And the low level quests have another purpose. Why do you think we're sending people from the harbor to the Clodturner farm? We could have placed the farm next door to Morall, but since we force everyone to walk through the whole town the chances that they meet some other PC is so much bigger. The Everar quest is not there so you fetch some weapons to the NPC, it's an encouragement for new players to ask veterans "Excuse me, can you tell me where I can buy Everar Chainsaws?".

That's why I think dummies are not a good idea. They take time to develop and further nothing, neither player knowledge of town nor interaction nor anything.

[Demon2k3]

As far as the training camp thing agrafes, i tried to get something like that going on Reldor, but you know his fate. But i'm semi for this idea as long as it is not abused, with that said i do tend to use the dummies alot on my chars just to practice.

[Skye]

Interactions between PCs are very hard to catch by script, and besides, how do I know if someone is sparring or trying to kill the other guy? Of course we could invent something to decide that, but stuff like that has been abused to level OOC buddies.

Not trying to raise the dead, but been a while since I glanced at the topic.

Would it, however, be possible to give XP in PvP when you kill another PC?  Obviously adjusted with level?  I understand it could technically be abused, but I'm sure there could be a work around?  Just curious!