Spiral Knights - Test on peoples generosity

Test on peoples generosity

23 replies [Last post]

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:10

Hachiman

Legacy Username

Today began as such a boring day, sit by the auction house waiting for my bid to win, then craft a little... same old same old. But then came the epiphany, in the form of a new player (or what appeared to be a new player) asking for some spare crowns near the auction house. I neared him and asked, "what do you need those crowns for little man?" and he replied with the speed of a tortoise, "a sword". This set off a chain reaction of shoots and ladders, hamsters on wheels and etc. in my head, I found a way to make my day interesting.

I decided, that I would for the sake of science, pose as a new player all decked out in starting gear, and ask for 100 crowns once per each haven (I only got through about half of them) and record each person who donated, and how much (so I could give it back to them once I was done with the experiment, I'm not a greedy pig).

Personally, I hypothesized that pretty much nobody would donate, because to be honest I had never seen someone actually do it before, but I trudged ahead, thinking that my experiment would be all for naught. But I couldn't have been more wrong, the populous of this game is extremely noob friendly.

Over the course of my journey hopping 30 different Havens (all english mind you) I managed to get a total of 2990 in donations, just by asking for 100 crowns each time. And you may ask me in your head, "why did you do it though?" and I will merely say, "for science, son. And because I was bored."

So, I suppose the lesson to be learned here is, to be generous to the needy... even though they could full well be pretending. (AKA, be suspicious of everyone, inspect them first. If they are smart they will equip all the noob gear, not just the armor.)

[FYI, I am in the process of mailing back all the crowns with a message to all of the donors, thanking them for the help in my experiment.]

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:14

Richy

Generous to the needy? Hell

Generous to the needy? Hell no.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:15

shires1992

Legacy Username

Im a rather generous person,

Im a rather generous person, I once gave a newb a full set of wolver gear and a calibur for free, then did a tier 1 run with him, sadly he hasnt been online since, I always help out my fellow guild mates with materials, crowns or energy from time to time.

IGN: JustDeserts

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:24

Hachiman

Legacy Username

lulz

oh well codemister, at least that way you won't get fooled by someone doing something like what I did, except for actual profit.

I generally am generous, I mean I make noobs gear if they ask for it, and my guild is pretty much just to help out noobs on runs so, I'm fairly nice to buddy up with.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:36

LordDarkness

Legacy Username

I spit on beggar's face

Not only will I not give them anything, I will treat them like the scums they are.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:41

Hinacle

I once gave someone a 5*

I once gave someone a 5* recepie to a person for free :)

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:42

Tenkii

Eh, I give up to ~500 cr or donate mats to people around the AH if they look like they're really close to getting something or really need it.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:54

Cyberfire22

Legacy Username

I like to help

Even though it costs me, I like to sometimes craft things for new knights that are trying to get to tier 2. I could have accumulated more CE and Crowns if I didn't, but I must admit, it makes me feel good inside. If a person asks for crowns, I am not likely to refuse to be honest. The people I have helped all thank me, and they seem to be decent enough people.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:57

Hinacle

Same here Cyberfire, i

Same here Cyberfire, i actually have recepies for items that i will NEVER use

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 21:08

Twiddle

I used to be very generous

I used to be very generous with my crowns and CE. Then I started reading the message boards. Now I'm not so generous to the needy, but I help people now and again. It depends on the circumstances and what they are asking for.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 21:17

#10

Flash_Fire

Legacy Username

Funny enough, this was my

Funny enough, this was my hypothesis a few days ago in another thread about beggars. Good job testing it.
I think really the lesson to be learned here is don't help people out because new players usually have no capability to reciprocate, and never will.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 21:25

#11

Hachiman

Legacy Username

@flash_fire

While that is generally the case, I've also found that most new players will stop playing in approximately 1 week's time if they don't get helped or have someone to ask questions. A good number of people on my friends list were noobs that I helped out by making armor or helped doing enough snarby runs to get some gear.

If you help them, they can actually learn to be productive enough to pay you back somehow.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 23:02

#12

Evangalise

I like

I like helping new players. They are always grateful when I craft them a few pieces so they can get into tier 2.

Those that I see around haven (most times at the AH) that will say could I buy 10CE from someone for xx amount of crowns ..............I normally give them 50 CE, and do not take their crowns. Then I make it a point to type so the beggars will hopefully see. Do you know why I just gave you that CE for free?, because you offered to pay for it, now would you like me to run tier one with you ? Not only does it make me feel good helping a new player, I always hope that the beggars ( even if only one of them ) starts offering to pay a little something when they ask for CE or Crowns, or whatever. There were several seasoned players that helped me when I was first starting out and I still am grateful to each of them.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 01:45

#13

yuuzora

Legacy Username

I ... dont think so highly of

I ... dont think so highly of the items / crowns / ce in game.

Whenever people spam that they need a small amount of ce / craft materials and willing to trade for more than the current price on average, then I'll just go up to them and offer them for free. Some insist on paying at said amount and I just wish them luck in crafting.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 02:56

#14

Bmil

Legacy Username

generous to the needy? you

generous to the needy?
you want to be generous to the needy? donate to a charity.
giving money to people too lazy/unskilled to earn crowns isnt being "generous to the needy". Its not that hard to get 1k crowns, any new player can do it, its just a matter of effort.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 05:18

#15

Metaphysic

Legacy Username

People beg because it works.

People beg because it works. Since it works so often, they continue to beg across every game they play. After all, why bother playing the game as intended when you can beg your way into easy mode?

People who donate to beggars are condoning their behavior and as a result, the beggars annoy the other 90% of the player base. If you want to give items/money away, that's fine. Advertise that you're doing so. Unsolicited begging is a goddamn nuisance and you shouldn't support it.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 05:20

#16

SlyJohnny

Legacy Username

Agree with Bmil. These people

Agree with Bmil. These people are lazy and stupid if they can't make a profit on crowns and support themselves. If they need money in a pinch, they can sell off mats like the rest of us, not just stare blankly at the screen for 10 minutes before begging for crowns.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 05:39

#17

Koffin-Kat

As someone here said -

As someone here said - helping new players can motivate them to keep playing SK. SK needs more/new players. Ergo helping newbies is good.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 05:50

#18

Rotten

@Noctuelle

There is a not so fine line between newbies and beggars.

If you're new and you've found yourself in my group, awesome, lets have some fun and I'll help you out any way that I can.

If you're just sitting at the AH spam trading, etc. You're a blight on the game and I won't talk to you, let alone help you.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 08:55

#19

Ten_Tacles

Legacy Username

This game really has very

This game really has very generous people.
And I like those people.
Once I needed 50 cr for the stupid lift down (Blargh), so I went to the next AH and asked if I could sell somebody some mats to get me the 50 CR I need for the elevator.
Somebody turned around and gave me the 50 cr without asking for anything.

Was also kind of hilarious since I was in 5* gear and he didn't even had full 3* xD

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 09:09

#20

Koffin-Kat

@ RoTide

True, true.

So let's say it this way: "Helping newbies is good, providing they just don't run in circles at the AH and don't spam chat with 'plz crowns, plz crowns'."
Those players are not "newbies", those are "noobs" after all :D

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 09:12

#21

Errodu

Legacy Username

The current community on

The current community on Spiral Knights are filled with patient, nice people who like to sit down, talk, and enjoy the game. You'll find many helpful people left and right. Next time, ask if anyone's up for a dungeon run and you'll find more people willing to help than give crowns. For science :)

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 09:48

#22

Richy

To be honest when I say hell

To be honest when I say hell no about being generous I mean people who beg. It causes some really unnecessary spam. Now if there is a new person that is actual acting like a player with some class, and he needs something crafted, I would craft it for them if they just provide the crowns to pay for it. Generally I like to give advice and help out with game information, but beggars aren't getting any of my help.

Tue, 07/12/2011 - 10:18

#23

Evilduck

I'm happy to help players who

I'm happy to help players who don't ask. If a noob I've never met comes up to me in Haven and begs for crowns, I'll tell him to stop being a beggar and make is own damn crowns. But if I meet a guy in a random party and we get to talking about gear and he's talking about how he can't get into t2 yet, I'll make him something or give him the mats he needs. I'll also defriend him if he chooses to abuse that generosity and ask me for free things in the future.

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Test on peoples generosity