[Discuss] Theoretical realistic messaging

[Wilson, M. x84052 C3]

I don't like this idea of delayed messaging for a number of reasons, not
to mention delayed scout reports.
If we are going to delay scout reports then the same goes for
recruiting, repairing, entertaining, everything. Scouting costs 1 hour
from your time pool, recruiting can take anywhere from 1 to 20 hours or
even more. I don't see why we should just make scouting extra difficult
for the heck of it. We already have a system that simulates time and our
ability to use, it does not matter if it isn't perfectly realistic or
not. Yes, being able to scout a neighboring region and come back in an
hour seems a little stretched, but so does the ability of 30 heavily
equipped infantrymen traveling 100 miles in 8 hours on foot.

Is a scout towards the end of turn going to result in information about
the next turn when you get it 3 hours later? Are players who login later
in the turn going to be screwed while repairing because having a time
pool is no longer realistic and that 5 hour repair time is going to flow
over into next turn? Come on people, this is supposed to be a
lightweight game that's easy to learn and easy to play. Try explaining
why it takes 3 real life hours to get a scout report while you can
entertain for 2 hours instantly to a new noble, while waiting for hours,
if not days for messages to arrive between you and your new student (if
you're a mentor). This is going to turn new players away very quickly.

As for the delayed message system, sure it seems like a nice idea when
you first think about it, but such a change would have a huge effect on
gameplay that isn't really necessary. Too many realms are already dead
quiet and one can go for days with barely getting a message. Why make
that problem worse just to make someone feel like its more realistic?
Furthermore, not everyone that roleplays is on the roleplay email thing,
and that should not have to be a requirement.  If I send a messenger
pigeon to one of my infiltrators deep behind enemy lines as part of a
roleplay him and I have been doing for months now, I don't' want to have
to wait hours or days just so we can simulate how long it takes a bird
to fly. If you truly want to make this game "realistic" then you might
as well just get rid of the time pool altogether and have everything
take place in real time. I'm sure that would make it soooo much more fun
and realistic, yay.....I really think delaying messages will make the
game a lot less fun and make it even more difficult for new players to
get involved.

Not everyone plays battlemaster because they want a realistic medieval
game, they play it because it is fun, challenging, and has great
interaction with other players and an atmosphere that makes one feel
quickly at home. Please please please, lets keep that way. These changes
will only push people more in the direction of using out of game
communications.