Gameplay: 0 AP Graffiti with a writing implement

[Huojin]

One of the concerns with graffiti is obviously that people will do it too often, it'll be too spammy, etc.

But I think we're all of a mind that graffiti can be entertaining, useful, fun, and adds value - whether you're scrawling "Gritty was here" or making a note for passers-by that they should "Search here for an exploration badge", or anything else.

A clear problem with the graffiti mechanics in their current form is that graffiti feels dis-incentivised in part by feeling like you have to spend a limited resource on it to engage in something that should be more commonly used - your AP pool. But graffiti can already be limited, as writing implements (chalk, markers, etc) have a limited number of uses. Moreover, they don't crop up that commonly in the ordinary course of life unless you want to explicitly go searching for them.

So the proposal is that graffiti should cost 0 AP when you use up a writing implement, and that all other skill/innate-based methods (Blood Claws, that Archon thing where they write in light, etc) can continue to cost 1 AP, to maintain the limitation and prevent it being overused.


Nexus Clash made speech free/freer, because that was clearly a smart idea. Let's do the same for graffiti.

[Nayru]

generally ye communication for ap is pretty cack design

i don't think 'overuse' is so much a concern as people doing it substantially more often + wiping over existing bits made with superior write items they didn't like for no ap cost, but i guess i could figure out a way around that

[Fellis]

This makes graffiti even more p2w (top tier gear is 1% chance or 50 creds wtf) and would upend the delicately balanced graffiti metagame

[invisime]

This makes graffiti even more p2w (top tier gear is 1% chance or 50 creds wtf) and would upend the delicately balanced graffiti metagame

Your concern is noted and appreciated.

[Nayru]

This makes graffiti even more p2w (top tier gear is 1% chance or 50 creds wtf) and would upend the delicately balanced graffiti metagame

well 5% of all writes are the rares and 10% are uncommons, technically there's a super-rare write item but ye

i don't mean permanently block lesser bits (that makes no sense if think about that for two sec) but have like a day's delay before they can be overwritten so the rarer ones have a light element of persistence to them after initial use

i'm also like 99% sure there's sarcasm involved here but it was an opportunity to elaborate + note some mechanics

[Huojin]

Honestly I'd never realised there were tiers to writing implements or levels of rarity worth noting, but a day's delay before something can be over-written would be a great fix in my view. "The paint is too fresh" or something, if a flavour reason is needed, idk.

[Nayru]

..paint?

chalk uncommon: rainbow chalk
chalk rare: chimeric chalk

marker uncommon: actually magic marker
marker rare: chromatic marker

hyper-rare: you thought this was the secret reveal, but it was me, hex colour EEEEEE

[Huojin]

I just think of spray paint when I think of graffiti - but anyway! A hierarchy of writing implements translating to degree of permanence seems like a lot of complication vs just maintaining the graffiti for a day and then having it able to over-write, but up to the devs! Personally I think in practice it won't become loads more common in any case, but good to be aware of it.

[Fellis]

Sorry I probably should have used some emoji, I was joking and it wasn't directed at anyone. I agree that it would be better to have graffiti be free, but also it being 1 AP means that there is some investment of your personal resources to put something down. If you want to tag up the neighborhood with your faction's tag, then it takes time, but it's also harder for people to easily undo it. I'm aware that finding items is an investment, but you can also buy them for 0.05 USD each and that's where there's a bit of truth to the p2w joke if they become 0 AP

I think making graffiti last a day is a really good compromise between those two things however, I'm on board with that. The tier thing was part of the joke, but also there are clearly better colors and stuff, some are extremely unreadable and some flash colors and are more noticeable.

[Nayru]

mind i'll clarify something with what i said before, writing is beyond just communication, it'd be easier to make the argument for bullhorning to be an extension of speech given it costs 1 ap and just broadcasts to both inside+outside

it could cost 0 ap like standard communication but i already took the ap cost of what personally mattered to me in relation to writing items (conversion of old 'piece of chalk' + 'magic marker' into the new forms) costing anything

as well on an aside i've considered reducing their prices prior, probably moreso uncommon/rare ones but ye

if want to hijack this into just a general write feedback thread then by all means, i.e. if certain things aren't very parsable on your device as i tuned each gray background according to my fairly high contrast monitor and could just give them black backgrounds like rainbow chalk has (which was precisely a case of 'this is a nightmare to guarantee is legible otherwise')