Suggestions on roleplaying a non-bobblehead empath?

[Jennaen]

Below is a situation that occurred today with my baby empath, with names changed, of course. The names aren't important.. the situation is, as it occurs frequently.



WoundedRanger manages to take a bite of some aloeas stem, which is on a carved ice bench.
WoundedRanger's head looks better.

You take a quick appraisal of WoundedRanger and find that he has some minor cuts and bruises on his right leg, some minor cuts and bruises on his left leg, minor cuts and bruises on his chest, and minor bruises about the head.
He has old battle scars on his left arm, a mangled right leg, a mangled left leg, and several facial scars.

You furrow up your face and wince.

WoundedRanger asks, "Anyone healing by chance?"

You grin at WoundedRanger.

You softly say, "I can, aye."

Empath2 nods to WoundedRanger.

You scoot over in front of WoundedRanger.

Empath2 grins.

WoundedRanger smiles.

You ponder.

Empath2 meditates over WoundedRanger.
Empath 2 takes WoundedRanger's head damage

Empath2 meditates over WoundedRanger.
Empath2 takes WoundedRanger's chest damage...


I thought my actions and speech were clear enough to indicate I could and would heal the person eating herbs.. obviously, they were not, even though there were only four people in the room (i.e. Empath2 couldn't have missed it in the scroll of a busy room, as that was not the case)

So, here I am, seeking suggestions on how to deal with situations like this, or how to make my actions more obvious. I don't agree with just "nod, heal, say thank you", I don't want to compete to heal. But I don't wish to agree to heal, and then have another empath heal over me, because they were the first to actually 'nod'.

Yes, I know I'm being stubborn on the 'nod' thing. It seriously makes me think of bobble head dolls, though.

Any suggestions on how to deal with vultures, as well as roleplaying a healer, would be appreciated.

[Miss X]

To be honest, it's going to be really hard to get past the nodding culture that Empaths are so heavily involved in. It's the way most empaths indicate that they are going to heal and it will take a huge effort to change that.

The way I would go about it in that situation, is to talk to the person directly. In guildspeak, just say to them "I dont know if you noticed, but I had already told WoundedRanger that I would heal him, if you could keep an ear out for me in future that would be great."

If the empath does it again, then you can get a bit mean and TELL them to stop vulturing your patients, but if your empath is young there is not much else you can do.

Another option would be to include a quick nod into your conversation, so nod at the patient and then say what you normally say. That way you are still getting the RP in there but you are going to avoid people vulturing your patients.

Try some different towns too, in places like Illistim its more accepted to talk to patients rather than nod and the atmosphere is much better than Landing.

Other than that, there is not much advice I can give you, I havent done the sit down and heal thing for a long while. :)

Jennaen's avatar is fucking creepy.

On topic..What's so wrong with robo healing?

- Arkans

[Divinity]

Well, when I'm healing with my empath in a situation like that, I keep an ear out. Although, sometimes empaths like to be smart and say that they can and just sit there while the person is bleeding.

"Yes, I can do it."
"Oh, you actually wanted the healing?"

Maybe a different choice of words?

As for the other empaths, I would take Chica's approach.

[Divinity]

Originally posted by Arkans
Jennaen's avatar is fucking creepy.

On topic..What's so wrong with robo healing?

- Arkans

It's rude and unfair if there are other empaths around. If you're the only empath there, more power to you.

Maybe the other empaths should learn to be faster? I'm more concerned about my character's well being than how "rude or unfair" it is to other empaths. Just my two cents though.

- Arkans

[DeV]

Funny being the one asking for healing when a situation like that occurs. Course, I'm just as content since I'm getting healed either way, but some Empaths can be bogus as hell as demonstrated.

Next time that happens I think I'll tip the person who nodded to me first then kindly nod and thank the healing Empath for taking the time to patch me up.

[Divinity]

That's what I do when I'm not playing my empath and I see something like that happen.

I know both points of view, and either way, it's a pain. Almost makes me want to eat herbs and try to hunt my empath.

Then I remember my empath can't hunt and it's more efficient to have an empath heal me. :baa:

[Latrinsorm]

Landing is the best atmosphere I've ever healed in, by far. Miss X's suggestion about talking to the person is absolutely correct, but there will always be cases where a person will go through your recognition of the patient, either by accident or on purpose. Don't let it get to you unless it's systematic. In that case, shatter some faces.

[Jolena]

I have a bug empath and because of the fact that there are a LOT of folks who won't be healed by a Aelotoi, I very rarely just nod and heal. I have taken to her nodding or smiling at the person and then speaking directly to them, saying I can heal you, if you'd like. and then waiting for an answer. Sometimes the patient will smile at her which is acceptable for her as agreement. Othertimes they will turn their nose up and say hell no. However, it does keep her from conflicts that would otherwise occurr from a person who does not want an Aelotoi to heal them.

[Gan]

Probably THE authoratative guide on being the proper empath. If you dont care for the following, then hunt, hunt, hunt.

Artha's #1 Empath Guide (http://forum.gsplayers.com/viewthread.php?tid=8026)

[theotherjohn]

fuck all guides

be yourself

[Drew]

Originally posted by Jolena
there are a LOT of folks who won't be healed by a Aelotoi


Why is that? I'm not really up on the Aelotoi history.

[allen]

When I'm on empaths, I nod about half the time, the time I don't is when I see others not nodding, so why should I follow the 'rules', and just waste time nodding while someone else nabs the wounds.

[Czeska]

Pretty much just using some manners with the other healers will keep your empath's life a happy one. The point about nodding being ingrained is true, though. Plus when it's busy and multiple healers are around, it helps keep the sanity. I've grabbed wounds sometimes after someone has started cause I missed their comment, but I just switch to guild and say "I'm sorry, I didnt see you." and it's never been a problem.

That's also why I hilight empaths in their own color. I can walk in a room and very quickly tell if I'm the only healer or not.

Also, I still dont understand why an empath wouldnt be able to hunt too!!!! (unless it's by choice of training, also which I dont get.. or RP reasons)

[Atlanteax]

Originally posted by Drew

Originally posted by Jolena
there are a LOT of folks who won't be healed by a Aelotoi

Why is that? I'm not really up on the Aelotoi history.

Creepy, slimy, bug-creatures? :shrug:

[Artha]

I'm going to have to go with what Ganalon said.

[Nilandia]

I'm going to have to kill Artha again.

Nilandia

[Parkbandit]

I always wanted to roll up a new empath and not do the typical nod/heal thing that is A RULE. Maybe play him as a mute that had no neck and he couldn't nod.. all he could do is heal and smile. Think of all the girly drama I could be a part of.

Maybe you shouldn't have pondered and instead just healed the guy.

[Nilandia]

On topic for the question, I rarely heal in town squares anymore. When I do heal, I talk to patients, let them know I can help, etc. I guess the other empaths know that's the signal or something, since I very rarely have any of them jump in.

Most of the time when someone heals someone I'm seeing at the moment, it's during an invasion, and etiquette gets thrown out the window. Unfortunately, that's also behavior that chases me off a good part of the time. I hate dealing with people that race to take everything when there are perfectly capable of helping.

Nilandia

[Gan]

I'll heal when I'm asked directly for it, or when there's no others on the dais and I happen to be there... otherwise I'm usually hunting my empath.

With 2 characters on my project list to advance, I'm usually in one while the other is at a table absorbing, or picking boxes from either or both. Enchanting takes less time so thats a third project I can engage in without interferring too much with the first two...

I also find that sometimes the best company available is my own thus I dont socialize too often (which cuts down on the overall drama of healing conflicts) when I am able to be in game unless those who are in my inner circle of friends are also in game.

[Wezas]

The wrong questions:


Lillyen asks, "Any healers?"
You see Lillyen the Ritualist.
She appears to be a Faendryl Dark Elf.
You say, "Aye."

<go on about my business healing myself down>

Lillyen grumbles.
Kaeral softly asks, "Healing for a bruise?"
You see Kaeral the Evoker.
He appears to be a Dark Elf.

Kaeral softly asks, "Any healing for a bruise, please?"
Lillyen asks, "Are there any healers here?"
You nod to Lillyen.

<go on about my business again>

Lillyen flails her arms about.


The right questions:



Lillyen asks, "Well will you heal my arm please?"
You say, "No."
Lillyen smirks.

Speaking softly to you, Kaeral asks, "Might you take a look at my head, please?"
You look at Kaeral and shake your head.
Kaeral peers quizzically at you.
>Kaeral shrugs.

>You say, "I don't heal your kind."


The rest, for any that care:
[quote]
>Lillyen asks, "Do you have something against dark elves?"

Speaking softly to you, Kaeral says, "I find that very offensive.."
You say, "Well, I find your kind very offensive, I guess that makes us even."
You nod to Kaeral.

Lillyen asks, "What have I ever done to offend you personally Wezas?"
You say, "You've done nothing to me, Lillyen."
Lillyen says, "You're kind of hypocritical."

Lillyen asks, "Anyone have ephlox moss?"
You nod to Lillyen.
Lillyen asks, "Can you give me some?"
You look at Lillyen and shake your head.
Lillyen flails her arms about.

[Jennaen]

Thanks for the discussion, and suggestions.

For the record, my empath does hunt, and rarely just sits around to heal. But she does often rest between hunts in TC, and that's when/where the problems usually occur. I've just gotten in the habit of going elsewhere when there are other healers about. I'd really rather heal when needed, and if there are already three healers in the town square, ya really don't need more.

As I said, I'm not going to compete to heal. This healing system is so foreign to me, as it is, after 2+ years playing healing/raising classes in DAoC, where it really doesn't matter a whit who heals/raises whom in RvR, so long as the group or army stays standing.

I'm just so accustomed to the general attitude.. if you have the mana, heal it or raise it, whatever it needs. So, I really couldn't care less if I ever heal or raise, as far as the experience goes.

[EndOfTheLine]

I used to heal in TSC. I still do whenever I very rarely play.

My best suggestion is to actually say something (my preference is to use guild speak) when you arrive in TC. It's possible, and I do say possible because I don't know from your situation what happened, that the other empath didn't know you were there to heal. You didn't speak directly to the person, so it's possible (again I stress possible) that she didn't know your "Aye, I can" was directed to the person requesting healing.

Let me finish this by saying, I don't normally discuss "empath etiquette" because it's such a volatile topic. The above is just my suggestion. If it doesn't apply to your situation or doesn't fit with what happened, then by all means disregard it.

The following is a general "you" and not directed to the original poster:

If an empath has been the only one healing for awhile they might not notice you or even know why you are nodding to someone. Nodding is not the universal way of saying you are healing someone. I'm saying nodding is not strictly reserved for empaths to acknowledge healing. People nod to their friends all the time. People nod to strangers as a greeting.

If I don't know you are there to heal, then I don't know why you would be nodding to someone. Did you walk in with them? Did they whisper a question to you?

I don't know all the empaths in the lands, nor do I really honestly care to. However, I do have guild speak highlighted so if another empath addresses me or speaks in guild, I'm not going to miss it.

What appears to me to be random nodding? Yeah, I'll probably miss that.

I'm not a "robo-healer" and I still type all commands... but I do tend to miss things.