Ranger tracking skill

Sho Pi · 12-12-2005, 06:05 AM

One thing that usually bugged me was the ranger tracking system. I have only played a ranger for a short while in eq1 and 2. They get this tracking with mob names, con level and distance.

I think it would be more realistic if instead of getting a tracking window, the ranger would hit a skill button/icon and then would see footprints inside a 20-yard radius around him/her. The ranger would then have to learn to recognize all the footprints to feature out what mob it may be. To indicate how old the prints is, it could glow a gold color and then gradually fade away to nothing in about an hour giving the ranger an idea of how old the prints are.

That idea also could give the ranger a chance to prove his tracking skill above some other rangers by being able to track the footprint that may be mixed up with all the other mobs/npc/players footprints or missing footprints via creek crossing etc and managing to find the same one somewhere on the other side etc.

I don’t think it would be feasible for the server to be able to keep track of every footprint in the entire world of Telon, unless one of you who know quite a bit about servers could enlighten me on how it could be done?

Anyway I came across this link and thought I might make a linky for you to look at. Been told it is kind of old, but those of you who have not seen it yet might like it. http://www.expectnothing.com/pub/pos...d/0002k1cc.gif

Cobalt Katze · 12-12-2005, 11:32 AM

As much as that's an awesome idea, I fear that the ammount it would task the server could prevent such a method of tracking from being made. Physical tracks is definately where the skill needs to go, but I'm not sure if this generation will be able to handle it.

Pirotess · 12-12-2005, 12:45 PM

Seems to me it wouldnt need to tax the server at all as it could still use the old server side method of tracking and this would just be a new client side face on the system. So instead of a window with information, your client displays things differently. Actually might even be less load since many mobs dont wander around that much so there wouldnt be any footprints for them.

Aen · 12-20-2005, 10:10 AM

........

Arctic_Slicer · 12-20-2005, 07:13 PM

While the old system that was employed in "EverQuest" wasn't exactly realistic or ideal it was simple and easy to use and implement. That said I imagine there will be some innovations with the tracking system if there is one but I feel that having a full set of prints and such for every mob would be unrealistic and probabally just not possible at this point of time.

Cobalt Katze · 12-20-2005, 09:27 PM

I just got an idea for something that might be feasible though...

Say, you have a tracking system similar to EQ's where you activate the skill and you get a list of all the nearby things you're able to track. Click on a creature in the list to select what you want to track. Now, instead of showing you its location on a map or telling you which cardinal direction it's in, it gives a guiding line to said creature by the means of footprints on the ground. The prints shown could be representative of what type of mob it is. They could even go so far as to make flying creatures untrackable. It's immersive, feasible for incharacter stuff, and doesn't resort to using silly glowy beams of light.

Arctic_Slicer · 12-20-2005, 10:06 PM

Yeah that kind of system would be a lot more possible as well as being more real. Of course there would probabally be more restrictions on tracking as you said with flying MOBs and such and probabally in places where it wouldn't be possible for MOBs to leave footprints such as a temple or something.

Pirotess · 12-20-2005, 10:22 PM

Thats what I was trying to explain CK, just didnt explain it clearly I guess.

Greymain · 12-21-2005, 05:00 AM

Sounds like a nice feature, guess perception skill will have a big impact on any tracking skill, perhaps determining range?

Fritz · 12-21-2005, 06:39 AM

I was thinking the same thing reading through the post tracking window is a pain but be able to click what you want to track and a set of footprints appear or a trail of some kind (sucess is do to your tracking ability to the level of the thing your tracking). Whether its a charachter or a critter. Will the ranger have the ability to forage for food also? Or are there going to be race specific skills also? Since i am new to the forums i am still catching up on information.