An End of the Animal Cruelty

[Gatz]

Deer and rabbits were a last minute addition to NarutoMUD almost 6 years ago. Literally, we were about 10 minutes from opening up for players and Taille (our lone gunmen Builder at the time) and I realized we had no NPCs for level 1-10 players to fight at all.

So, in a panic, she (Taille) quickly made us some rabbits and deer to roam the forest and be bashed on. However, I never wanted this to be a permanent solution and I never like games that make players start out by killing really pathetic things, I'm looking at you every game with rats. However, here we are in 2010 and we have a lot more areas, but we still have deer and rabbits.

So, I propose a handful of things. One is that upon exit from the Newbie Academy, new players are prompted that the Teacher can tell basic directions to places like Kouin Square, the Skill Teacher and the Uchuukage Office. Also, one of the many areas to train in. Also, a special training area for beginning newbies with Chuunin teachers who they can fight. The idea is they would 'hold back' and let the newbie get their shots in. They wouldn't be deadly and you couldn't kill them. After a couple levels, you'd no longer be able to fight them. These teachers would be around until level 5-10 and they might be spread across a couple rooms and so they'd use a variety of low level techniques on players, while also prompting them to do things.

For example, after a battle with a Chuunin teacher, he might tell the person if they're low on health to go to the Kouin Hospital, ask them to take a break to go practice a new ability, suggest they find a training partner, or possibly give them a couple Ryo. As I said before, this small sub-area could be locked to players below level 10, with the Chuunin teacher being locked to players below level 5.

I feel like this would carry players far enough without having to bash bunnies. However, there are other areas they can wander and fight stuff in without getting any hand holding.

What do you all think?

[Isamu]

I like having the option to go in for training, while still being able to fight the wildlife. I like the idea.

[Yamashita]

This sounds very interesting. I have no problems beating up on deer, as they can defend themselves fairly well with their horns (the bucks anyway), but those poor rabbits? They never did anything to us, and, unless they're of the variety that guard caves, they aren't terribly able to fight back. I think if we "upgraded" the rabbits to something a little more vicious, but still fairly passive, like raccoons or some such, the forest wouldn't seem to be as cruel.

[Gatz]

This sounds very interesting. I have no problems beating up on deer, as they can defend themselves fairly well with their horns (the bucks anyway), but those poor rabbits? They never did anything to us, and, unless they're of the variety that guard caves, they aren't terribly able to fight back. I think if we "upgraded" the rabbits to something a little more vicious, but still fairly passive, like raccoons or some such, the forest wouldn't seem to be as cruel.

Still, I feel like beating the hell out of a little animal is a bit silly for a ninja to do. I don't think Sasuke or even a Zabuza like ninja would go out into the forest and beat animals 1/10 their size.

[Yamashita]

Still, I feel like beating the hell out of a little animal is a bit silly for a ninja to do. I don't think Sasuke or even a Zabuza like ninja would go out into the forest and beat animals 1/10 their size.

I now have a mental image of a 6-7 year old Zabuza torturing animals as a tiny ninja-in-training. I think it fits him. Also, since the area is meant for newbies, who are 8-9 years old, I think putting in some ferocious animals that they have to fend off isn't a bad thing. Perhaps upgrading them to bears and tigers or something a little more impressive and dangerous?

[Ichiro]

I actually like having them there just as the local wildlife (killable or not) because I think they fit well....it doesn't make much sense to have tigers and bears basically wandering in and out of time village and no one having a problem with that.....

I agree that newbies shouldn't have to rely on rabbits and deer....but I kind of like having them there for a variety of reasons (easy targets when you need to test something, good scale for low players to compare things on {which skill they like better, what it does, yada-yada}, rp'ing camping or hunting or whatever, etc.)

Just my thoughts.

[Yumi]

I think it was more of an issue brought up by me, when I was active...Now that I am back, I am happy to see this.

[Gatz]

I think it was more of an issue brought up by me, when I was active...Now that I am back, I am happy to see this.

I've always felt this way. In a trailer for FFIX (The next online FF), they showed a newb fighting rats and I almost punched a hole through my screen. I feel like having to fight really weak animals is a bit to cliche for my tastes.

[Yumi]

Boo! Now I feel unimportant! Anyway, I think games should have you fight monsters not helpless animals.

[Isamu]

I think it's nice to have some variety in targets, but I'm starting to agree with y'all. The only time I see normal animals in a game (not monsterized versions e.g. dire rat) is when there are collection quests, like get 10 rabbit pelts, or 20 antlers.

[Giyoku]

Animals play a big role in a lot of games, but I really don't care one way or another here because there is little purpose besides experience. I've never looked at killing a deer any differently than killing a monster in this game. I simply kill what nets me the most efficient experience.

I think its much more prudent for staff to add content, not change content that's already exists for 6 years.

[Gatz]

Animals play a big role in a lot of games, but I really don't care one way or another here because there is little purpose besides experience. I've never looked at killing a deer any differently than killing a monster in this game. I simply kill what nets me the most efficient experience.

I think its much more prudent for staff to add content, not change content that's already exists for 6 years.

I agree with the majority of what you said, except my big bug bear with the bunnies and deer is that that is what Newbies see right off the bat. Obviously the majority of people posting here stuck around past the bunnies, but I've left games where my first animals to fight were ridiculous.

Also, as we add more and more content for Newbies, the importance of the bunnies and deer drops and they could possibly be flipped to pacifist like the happy dog that sits outside of Kouin.