Topic: The Official Red Dragon Inn Name Generator thread Subject: The Official Red Dragon Inn Name Generator thread
As promised, I'm starting a thread for discussion of our RDI name generator. I have some ideas as to how it should work, but I'd like input.
My thought is to allow for different modules for various cultures. Obviously, khordaldrum (dwarf) names will be different from sylvari (elf) names, which will in turn be different from cidal (halfling). Human names can have a wide range, depending on the culture.
Now, there are two ways to do this: the quick, easy way, and the more difficult, higher quality way.
The quick, easy way would simply allow us to choose a module, add a lot of names, and have them spit out in a random order. It would be strictly limited by the names input. So, if a particular name is never entered, there is no chance whatsoever that it will appear.
The more difficult, higher quality way would work in a very similar manner to the end user - you'd set up your module with some seed names to start with. However, the program would use an algorhythm to then break those names into vowel and consonant pieces (possibly also prefixes and suffixes), would analyze the pattern of the name, and would then be able to take those pieces and construct completely new names, using your submitted entries as guidelines.
The second manner would require a good bit of debugging, I'm thinking, until I can maange to make it come up with "good" names. Of course, it might well become a VERY useful tool.
Any thoughts?
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 21:30:44.
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Topic: Suggest tools for the Inn! Subject: nice ideas, all...
I will probably start another thread for the discussion of a name generator.
After that, I think that the monster table is not only doable, but useful!
Moria - all three of your ideas are interesting, but I'd need more info. Do post again.
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 20:44:03.
Edited on 2008-02-07 at 21:09:19 by t_catt11
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Topic: Suggest tools for the Inn! Subject: joint efforts
I was thinking the name generator could be a joint effort, too. 
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 19:05:37.
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Topic: Suggest tools for the Inn! Subject: good ideas!
This is why I love this community.
I have actually been thinking about a name generator. We offer the everchanging book of names as a download, but you have to purchase extra "chapters" for it. 
I would, of course, probably start with names that work best with the Audalis setting, but would be open to expanding into as many area as the innmates would like (or would like to help with).
As for posting dice rolls into threads? hrm. I can see the usefulness, but I'll need to ponder the technical feasibility of it.
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 18:48:52.
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Topic: Suggest tools for the Inn! Subject: Suggest tools for the Inn!
Some of our most popular pages of the site, hands downs, are our dice roller and town generator. In general our online gaming utilities seem to be pretty popular.
Do any of you have ideas for other utilities we could implement?
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 17:18:39.
Edited on 2008-02-07 at 17:19:16 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Guiding Light Q&A Subject: mmmkay
Sounds good!
Posted on 2008-02-07 at 16:00:57.
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Topic: The Guiding Light Q&A Subject: hmmm
A lot of discussion here - this is good.
LEt me know what the final plan of action is. Try to recruit lizardfolk, yes/no? Use magic in an attack? Try to talk to the pirates? Leave immediately?
Posted on 2008-02-06 at 16:56:31.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A Subject: hehe
Sorry, I was bitten by the silly bug prior to posting.
Posted on 2008-02-06 at 14:12:07.
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Topic: Olan's baby photobucket Subject: hehe
@ cuteness comments!
He likes the exersaucer... but man, he LOVES his jumparoo. He'll sit in that thing and bounce for a LONG time.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 20:43:52.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A Subject: missing GM
Eol is moving to a new job, and has absolutely no time right now. He hopes to be back soon.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 18:43:09.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Subject: beware the six fingered man!
Were he to have time to ponder, Arien would wonder who his benefactor was - the knight is well aware that he should be jelly by now, but someone (or something) is protecting him.
When his gaze fixes on the six-fingered maniac, Arien would also perhaps ponder why it is that all of his major opponents of late seem to be freaks of magical nature. If he survives this enounter, what horror will he face next? A walking goldfish? A woman with serpents for limbs? A werepoodle? The hideous possibilities are endless!
The Green officer gestures at Arien with a green-scaled hand with six fingers. "I always say, you want something done right! Kill them yourselves! No longer will you haunt my dreams vile creature!" With that he draws his sword and charges.
"Vile creature?" Arien wonders aloud as he readies his own blade and prepares to receive the charge. Even factoring in the dust and grime that must surely be covering him now (man, will that armor take some serious polishing tonight!), the handsome knight is rather certain that he is far more appealing to the ladies than mister scaly digits.
Unfortunately, there is no time for a pithy retort - the man is bringing mortal combat to Arien. The raven-haired warrior knows well the skill of the Greens, so if this man is a colonel, he must be all the more deadly. Flaming blade at the ready, Arien will fight defensively at first to get the measure of his opponent, and move to offense as soon as any opportunity presents itself.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 15:12:20.
Edited on 2008-02-05 at 15:48:12 by t_catt11
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Topic: Olan's baby photobucket Subject: so I'm a big fat liar...
...and I periodically post cute pics of my kids. I suppose you'll just have to deal.



Those a couple recent ones of Noah. I may post some of all three that we had taken this wekend.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 15:00:25.
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Topic: I Win This Game Subject: geez
Actually, if Grugg is 11+% of the site's total volume, I'd say he should foot 11+% of the site's expenses. 
Geez, Alacrity! Is is time to double your salary again so you stop whining?
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 14:57:05.
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Topic: yet another movie thread... Subject: cloverfield
Forgot to post that we did go and see Cloverfield. It was, indeed, a fun movie - basically a godzilla flick shot documentary-style. I'm not sure it was worth all of the crazy hype surrounding the movie, but it was a fun watch.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 14:55:02.
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Topic: Ads in the forums Subject: *shrug*
I don't want them to jump out and be ugly/obtrusive. I just hope to get the odd click here and there.
Posted on 2008-02-05 at 14:48:19.
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Topic: Ads in the forums Subject: lol @ catch
Sure there's a catch!
#1: I cannot ask, or have anyone ask, people to just click on the ads. Doing so would result in a lot of empty clicks that the advertisers would not find useful, and could get my account banned.
#2: If we were to see a sudden huge increase in click rate (# of clicks compared to # of page impressions), Google would almost certainly take a look to see if perhaps we were doing some sort of click fraud. If they decide we are, the clicks the feel are not legit are free... and again, could get the account banned.
Right now, we seldom see more than a 5% click rate... which is actually excellent (industry standard is about 0.5%). I'm hoping that since we get so many more page views on the forums than on the article pages, we'll get more clicks. Who knows?
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 21:25:05.
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Topic: Ads in the forums Subject: actually...
The ads used to be on the right on the articles - they are also on the left now, as in the forums. According to Google's "heat map", the left side column is one of the best spots to get clicks... the right, less so.
Of course, I am afraid that adding the ads to the forums will only greatly pad my number of ad views (which don't help me at all), but not the clicks themselves (which do).
*shrug* We'll see.
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 21:06:57.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A Subject: yep
I started a post, lost it, will restart and finish it.
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 19:29:23.
Edited on 2008-02-04 at 19:29:40 by t_catt11
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Topic: Ads in the forums Subject: you are perceptive...
...I just added them today.
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 19:24:35.
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Topic: Evil Campaign Subject: interesting...
Not sure I agree with the whole "Lawful Deluded" idea for an alignment, but that is an interesting way to look at it, anyway.
I handle detect alignment like this (and I believe the rulebooks back me up): most of the time, if you detect for alignment, you get nothing. Sure, if someone is actively participating in/planning an evil act ("I'm gonna go stick a knife in that guy's ribs"), you sense it. A corrupt city guard sitting there eating an apple does not, however, come across as particularly evil.
The only exception to this are those who have lived exceptional lives - and even then, this is usually the case is situations where there is a divine or arcane element to their lives. A necromancer who regularly tortures people to death and then animates their corpses is probably gonna show up as evil. A self-sacrifing priest who has spent their life giving to the poor and healing the injured is probably gonna show up as good.
I do this for realism's sake, as well as to take away the annoying crutch of "Hey, Bob! Detect evil so we can ignore the plot and just go kill the bad guy!"
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 19:18:29.
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Topic: Ads in the forums Subject: Ads in the forums
Once upon a time, I added Google ads to the site articles. I have now done so to the forums, as well.
They are unobtrusive, and will (hopefully) only include ads related to the content of the thread you are reading.
Feedback is welcomed, of course, but I want to give the ads a fair try - it could be good for the Inn.
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 18:38:15.
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Topic: Star Trek: Operation:Persephone - Q&A Subject: nope
Well, the thread GM has to authorixa you as a member, that's it. I can do that for ya, though.
So let me do that on the game thread, then Glory should be able to add a roster entry.
Posted on 2008-02-04 at 14:17:35.
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Topic: Star Trek: Cerberus Recruitment Subject: absolutely
Eol is moving from one job to another, and as the GM, his avsence naturally hurts the game. I've been absent, too, which I;m sure has not helped.
But yes, this is still alive (see Brom's posts). Those on the Charon should be able to post with no issue.
Which reminds me... I need to post for Fletcher.
Posted on 2008-02-01 at 14:48:47.
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Topic: Star Trek: Cerberus Recruitment Subject: oh, yes!
As an assistant to the GM, I'll send you a list of the open slots (and I'll call the absentee GM to make sure he's cool with it). Glory, aka Annje (from way back when at the Inn), is a talented writer we would LOVE to have!
Posted on 2008-02-01 at 14:22:35.
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Topic: Evil Campaign Subject: yes and no
CE can indeed have friends. But if you are playing a selfish so and so, then you will act in a selfish manner. CE people tend to have veryfew real friends, because they manipulate and use them.
The Wardrums in Sendria game only had one CE character, and that by special request - everyone else was NE or LE. Evil is fine, but CE is very, very difficult.
Posted on 2008-02-01 at 14:20:53.
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