CMA&A and server crashes...

Bobzim · Post by **Bobzim** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:51 pm

Now that a number of crafters in Cear have acquired the skill to do CMA&A recipes, I have discovered a serious problem with the server crashes: stuff gets lost.

If possible, it would be nice see some new coding in place that will add the items in the bench back into inventory should the server crash unexpectedly. If that's impossible, I would love to hear suggestions about what can be done to protect crafters and their customers from this type of unexpected loss when items are in the enchanting workbench.

Wumpus Slayer · Post by **Wumpus Slayer** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:44 am

Perhaps make them sign a waver about Acts of God and all that.

Maevan2 · Post by **Maevan2** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:30 am

Did i get that right? You finally know how to enchant crafted weapons and armor? *drools*

Mensha Khaine · Post by **Mensha Khaine** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:23 am

I don't know about "unexpected" crashes, but what about a time warning for a normal reset?

Stormknife · Post by **Stormknife** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:48 pm

Waiver good. You may also want to allow the customer to be standing Right There when you're doing the enchant on it; that'll allow them to know for certain that it was a crash and not just someone trying to run off with their stuff.

I don't think any of the Order members would do that, mind, but people are stupid when it comes to losing something of value to them.

Bobzim · Post by **Bobzim** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:58 pm

Yes, Maeve. We can do all the enchanting you need.

As far as letting customers stand right there, that's not possible as it would result in their learning the recipes (i.e., there is no limit on how many can have the bench open at the same time).

Stormknife · Post by **Stormknife** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:10 pm

So have them stand across the room (far enough away it couldn't be opened) or 1 transition away then.

coruscadragon · Post by **coruscadragon** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:56 pm

Stormknife wrote:So have them stand across the room (far enough away it couldn't be opened) or 1 transition away then.

they can still see the spell lol... not everything i suppose... *shrugs*

Bobzim · Post by **Bobzim** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:38 am

**what the dragon said**

oaknott · Post by **oaknott** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:29 am

Is it possible to have some of the crafting benches act as persistent containers?

I don't think this would be such a good idea for all crafting benches, that would be open to abuse, but perhaps if there were benches accessible only to guild members these could be persistent, and the guild could police itself as to fair play in their use.

This kind of protection against loss during crashes would make the guild a more attractive proposition to players and would nicely represent the fact that IC the guild has resources and skills not available outside the guild. Guild crafters would be just that little but more successful than non guild crafters.

Does the guild have a Guild Hall or location of some sort? Ideally it should.

blackheart · Post by **blackheart** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 1:26 pm

I know it must really stink to lose items in a server crash. I'm not sure special code is needed though.

The server is regularly up 20+ hours now (though there are bad days) and it's the same risk one always ran in transferring items. Frankly I'd rather see new content (with new reagent drops) than a bunch of effort poured into persistent storage crafting benches or OOD-only facilities.

Bobzim · Post by **Bobzim** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:35 pm

I agree Blackheart that new content (regeants yay) would be preferable to any coding changes for crafting. Also, hopefully 1.07 will be out soon and will improve server stability.

But with people paying huge amount of gold for suits of armor or fancy weapons, and then having that disappear in a server crash, it could be difficult to say to them "Oh, you know that Adamantine Full Plate you gave me to enchant? Sorry, it was lost in the server crash. Better luck next time."

I am not so sure they will be ready to accept such a loss of a possession while it was in a crafter's hands. And I could even see it causing IG problems between characters. Hard to RP that sort of thing IC, when server crashes are really not an IC phenomenon.

Perhaps something as simple as recording the contents of the bench in the database so that after a crash there is a record of the item and the player who lost it could get it retrieved by a DM after the fact.

Any other thoughts on this?

oaknott · Post by **oaknott** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:00 pm

Bobzim wrote: Perhaps something as simple as recording the contents of the bench in the database so that after a crash there is a record of the item and the player who lost it could get it retrieved by a DM after the fact.

The simplest ideas are often the best. This would be an excellent solution, but I have no idea how easy it would be to implement. There are logs kept in any case so I would be surprised if this was difficult.

The only problem I can see is that every case would require DM time and intervention.

Bobzim · Post by **Bobzim** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:12 am

It shouldn't happen that often. Crafters should know that the server is most stable during the day EST and least stable at prime time. Thus planning the crafting accordingly.