One of my favorite things about EQ was slowly learning the stats and appearances for armor and weapons. I think we can all remember coming across players with fantastic gear and wondering how they got it and what it did. Inspecting was a feature that allowed you to peek at someone's gear roster - you could hover over items to see their stats. You would receive some flavor text informing you that Soandso was inspecting you, and that was about it.
Even though there were no in-game repercussions for the inspector or inspect-ee, peering at someone's gear quickly became faux pax. It was considered rude to inspect someone without asking permission. I remember this being a very divisive subject; some people would go out of their way to move out of inspection range if they hadn't given you permission to peek.
I personally enjoyed both inspecting and being inspected. Back in the day, my Cleric was decked out in PoH ethereal armor and I would get 5-10 inspects a day in the EC tunnels. I feel that it increased the propensity for social interactions since it forced me to respond to lowbie Clerics who wanted to know more about my "cool purple armor." I'm hoping to see player inspection again in Panth.
To inspect or not to inspect: what say you?
Talv
Amsai said: I would like it. But only on individual gear pieces at a time. No full gear inspection or any other stats. As far as it being rude. It was divisive in XI too. US and EU folks were fine with it. But the Japanese considered it extremely rude. If course the devz could always not add the inspection text so its private and not something people can get offended over.
Interesting! I didn't realize that other cultures had different takes on it. I played on a US-based server, so I just assumed that everyone was from the States lol. Wasn't it possible to see the item's stats via inspection, or is my memory failing me?
Talv
On my EQ server it was certainly considered rude to inspect people so I still have negative feelings about it. I don't really see the requirement to inspect people. If you are playing your class well and doing your job in a group then things should be OK regardless of what gear you have on.
I always found it funny that players want to show-off/gloat about their leet gear, but are offended if anyone inspects them…wth?!?!? I think the whole “I feel violated” is stretched a little thin with that nonsense, but each to their own I suppose. I remember when I first played EQ as a Ranger and I came upon a seasoned Ranger who was wearing all Thorny Armor and I was in awe… I quickly hit inspect to check it out and immediately got a tell from “Her” that it was rude not to ask if I could inspect her equipment… I thought to myself “it’s a freaking game get over yourself”…. In truth does it matter if a person has permission to inspect, and if so then what’s the whole point of collecting and showing off gear if a person is going to be secretive about it??? /shakes head….
I say leave inspect in without any silly toggle...
jimm0thy said:The only time inspecting in EQ bothered me was when I was trying to move my camera in a 3rd person perspective and accidently inspected someone. I see no problem with it, especially with player based sites that display your gear (EQPlayers / VGPlayers / Magelo)
This was the most annoying thing ever. To be following someone and end up inspecting them ever few steps if you did not have it toggled off or the keys re-maped.
Zahlhedren said:Optional toggle or not at all I would say.
I think inspecting is great because it encourages lower level players because they can see all of the cool items they can eventually acquire.
For people who don't like being inspected, as the OP said, simple toggle.
I like how inspecting other peoples equipment works in FFXIV. No message is displayed and you don't have to be standing on top of the other player to do it.
I like inspecting other people just to see what they are wearing and in xiv it also shows what item is glamoured over the actual gear as well. XIV also has a 'try on' option that I quite like. What looks good on one race might not look cool on mine.
cram9030 said:jimm0thy said:The only time inspecting in EQ bothered me was when I was trying to move my camera in a 3rd person perspective and accidently inspected someone. I see no problem with it, especially with player based sites that display your gear (EQPlayers / VGPlayers / Magelo)
This was the most annoying thing ever. To be following someone and end up inspecting them ever few steps if you did not have it toggled off or the keys re-maped.
Agreed. Also, when you're in a group, pulling fast, and trying to loot between quick pulls to clear out some corpses, but some jack is standing next to the corpse so you inspect them instead. That was exasperating. Give an option to turn off the inspection feature so that you can't interact that way with players if you choose not to.
Otherwise, I too remember the "rude vs not rude" debate. I like it. I like anything that creates a whole new dimension to a game, no matter how small it is. I think a virtual world that is so immersive and so real that little rules of etiquette like this pop up is amazing. I want to inspect people. I want people to inspect me. I want the text showing I'm getting inspected. I want the quirky little rules that say it's rude to not ask first. That's awesome. Don't change a thing.
-Tralyan
It's easy to say "Why is it rude to inspect someone else?" Maybe they just don't like it?
A toggle that either allows or denies others to inspect you is perfectly reasonable. Both sides of the coin, no?
It never bothered me to be inspected, but I usually asked others before I did.
Zathris said: Awareness of being inspected by a chat box message is what drove the culture of asking for permission. In other games where inspection is silent, no one truly seems to be too bothered by someone being in close proximity it seems to me.
Agreed, add a toggle for the inspection notification instead. I can see a scenario where inspecting is needed as eventually there will be content that serves as a "gear check," and you'll want to know if that PUG cleric has enough gear to sustain healing through the fight.
Zathris said: Awareness of being inspected by a chat box message is what drove the culture of asking for permission. In other games where inspection is silent, no one truly seems to be too bothered by someone being in close proximity it seems to me.
Bingo... Simple enough fix...
TheCleric said:Zathris said: Awareness of being inspected by a chat box message is what drove the culture of asking for permission. In other games where inspection is silent, no one truly seems to be too bothered by someone being in close proximity it seems to me.Agreed, add a toggle for the inspection notification instead. I can see a scenario where inspecting is needed as eventually there will be content that serves as a "gear check," and you'll want to know if that PUG cleric has enough gear to sustain healing through the fight.
I played EQ for over 5 years. Got Plane of Time flagged and did some high end Gates of Discord raids. Not once did I ever have to inspect someone to check their gear for a group.
