a Heads up to the DM that just reset West

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

First off, not a complaint.

Just a bit of advice, server messages show up grey and near unsee-able, and also where most people arent looking.  Shouts are a bit more affective.  One player almost didnt notice it.

Just thought I'd say that, cause I almost missed it...

[Skywatcher]

I have missed this before in the past when the word was sent out on the server messages window.  I concur that a shout is 100 times more visible.

[Eight-Bit]

The utility to actually restart the server isn't accessed while in game, if I remember correctly. The only method of communication from the utility is the narsty grey text.

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

I hope i dont sound rude, but taking the extra few moments to do a shout (however its done here) could save everyone some trouble.

[EdTheKet]

We usually start announcing five minutes in advance
"Server reset in 5 minutes, please rest and log out"
"Server reset in 4 minutes, please rest and log out"

And so on, because indeed, the restarting is not done from in game, it can be done from every computer through remote connection.

Doing it like that will also make people send tells to each other, or whatever, as in very party there's at least somebody who sees it.

[Weeblie]

I hope i dont sound rude, but taking the extra few moments to do a shout (however its done here) could save everyone some trouble.

That is to assume that the person doing the restart has any access to NWN.

The very limited number of people with server access (required for restarts) most probably has no ability to actually log into the game and do the shout when they are at... say... work. Instead, they has to ask another DM to do that for them as players can't shout, who might not always be available.

[Dorganath]

Shouts are done when possible or practical to do so, which is most cases.  It is certainly something I try to do whenever I reset the servers personally.

That said, I've also had to chase people down and appear to them directly because they had their chat windows closed and couldn't see the shouts.  There's also those people who go AFK for extended periods of time who have to be force-rested and booted manually.

So there's definitely another side to the "saving people a lot of trouble" coin.  

When possible and practical, shouts are done.  When not, then the server messages are the bare minimum.

[Pen N Popper]

Right click on your chat window and choose the "Include Server Messages."  There's isn't too much clutter and the chances you will see the server message is greatly increased.

You only have to miss a server message once to see the value of this.

[Eight-Bit]

It goes both ways. This goes for resets and restarts. Get off as quickly as possible, but do so in as safe a manner as possible for your character. Get back on when the server has been up for at least five, but I recommend longer. This is something that throughout the history of Layonara, and NWN servers in general, is most commonly ignored. The idea that, "Just me logging in won't do any harm", is what causes other people to think the server is stable enough for players. This in turn causes me to have to wait longer than necessary to actually get in due to the increased possibility of a crash. The NWN server client is wonky, and Layonara has a LOT of scripts to load, along with massive modules.

So, I suppose, it's like a 9 sided coin. That alone confuses me. The GMs extend themselves in the manner of effort to get people off the server safely. The players ought to ensure that when they come back on, they do so after waiting.

Layonara is all about respect.

[Exodus Stonecutter]

well i am not sure how but there is a way to make Server shouts in a bright colored text. now how you do it is another thing but i have seen this other places. I would like to also add if you combine both screens this wouldn't be a issue  because it all comes across a huge window

[Eight-Bit]

well i am not sure how but there is a way to make Server shouts in a bright colored text. now how you do it is another thing but i have seen this other places.

There used to be, but I believe since Layonara has disabled colored text for player names, it is not able to be used.

[Pen N Popper]

@Exodus -- You don't combine both windows entirely, just the server messages.  The combat text doesn't come along with that.  Try it for a few minutes and you'll see what I mean.

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

Seem's my heads up has turned into a bit of a discussion.

Well I will be the first to admit I know nothing about how a server works (be it a NWN server, or any other for that matter).  I just thought it might be constructive to let people know of the potential problem Server Message Warnings can have for those who might not see them, or pay attention to them.

Heh, I'm also happy no one's mad at me for saying so  =)

[Eight-Bit]

Nobody ought to be mad at you.

Granted, I'm at beer fifteen, so mad isn't in my book of words.

Yea.