llanita on 24/7/2013 at 15:50
I just started what could be a promising FM, and I needed a little push in the right direction so I went to the FMs post and for the first few pages noone used the spoiler tags. I'm trying to skim without really reading because I don't want to know other spoilers, but of course, it was useless. I now know more than I actually wanted to know.
Rant over :mad:
Nightwalker on 24/7/2013 at 15:57
Was it perhaps an older FM? We didn't have the spoiler cover function for quite a few years. Adding it required typing in coding that was not something everyone could/would do. What thread did you have the problem with? We can fix it if you let us know so someone else doesn't encounter the same problem.
Calibrator on 24/7/2013 at 19:34
Some threads are quite the opposite: Not only the answers but also most of the questions are hidden under spoiler tags.
In my experience a player *will* inevitably spoil himself in such threads, even if he judiciously uses the search function for keywords.
I don't see an easy solution for that problem, though, and refrain myself from using the forum until I finished the mission. Therefore I use it only for finding secrets, more loot, bonus objectives or easter eggs.
DiMarzio on 24/7/2013 at 22:47
That is sadly true, Calibrator. I hate also spoiling very much. Even so much that I feel spoiled even after seeing like the age rating, or a review of a movie. And as Sheldon Cooper put it: "You told me it's mind-blowing, so my mind is going into it pre-blown, and once a mind is *pre*-blown, it cannot be *re*-blown."
One solution is of course to ask your question in the thread, but that's not good at all to do without searching first.
The best would be if you had a friend who has just finished the mission and doesn't mind being asked all the time, and he could reveal as much or little details as you want. We used to do that with my brother, helping each other minding not to spoil anything :)
llanita on 24/7/2013 at 22:59
Nightwalker you're right. It was for Saturio Returns Home, and that is an older FM.
Calibrator I agree with you. I noticed that also, which really doesn't help anyone either unless you don't mind knowing other spoilers.
gnartsch on 24/7/2013 at 23:01
Indeed the use of spoilers ranges from one extreme to the other.
Personally I do not check the forums unless I am desperately stuck.
The best advice I can give: don't even think about checking the forum.
Instead put a piece of paper on your desk and write down all the details that seem unclear or might turn out to be important.
You found a locked door that you can not open? Take a note.
Found a note thats sounds like a riddle or a hint? Take a short note.
Can't figure out what to do in one place? Take a note... and come back later. Maybe you will find a hint in the meanwhile.
...etc.
When you are really stuck... consult your notes and think about them...
Quite often this will help you gettig back on track.
Oh.... and when you need to look up the forum, use the search function 'Search Thread' and read only the 5 words to left and right of what you are looking for. Typically this tells you if it might answer your question or not.
Flavia on 25/7/2013 at 00:15
Or you could use walkthroughs :p
They usually cover missions step-by-step so you'll know when to stop reading.
DiMarzio on 25/7/2013 at 07:54
Yes, but almost every mission can be completed in numerous ways and sequences. And the walkthrough usually contains all the secrets and loot, which is something you might have missed. Someone used to write walkthroughs as FAQs or hints though, but I can't remember anymore who it is. You just picked the answer you needed and buggered off.
ffox on 25/7/2013 at 08:41
Quote Posted by DiMarzio
Someone used to write walkthroughs as FAQs or hints though, but I can't remember anymore who it is.
That would be Ricebug. His very comprehensive list of walkthroughs is (
http://ricebug.org/index-page.html) here.
R Soul on 25/7/2013 at 16:03
Using spoiler tags isn't always enough. Sometimes people just spoiler tag a whole paragraph, and other people will only know if it's relevant to them by revealing the whole thing.
You had no idea what I was going to say here. You had to reveal the spoiler to find out.
Since a whole block of spoiler text can be revealed with a single click, it's easy to highlight a few words, decide you don't want to know what follows, only for the rest of the text to become visible anyway. You have to highlight, then click again to hide it, but it's not always easy to remember that when you've just alt-tabbed out of an engrossing FM to get a quick hint.
For all it's pitfalls, it's the best way to get a quick answer. I can understand some people just posting their question without searching*. It avoids spoilers but you have to wait longer for the answer.
*I wouldn't use 'search this thread' or a google search. I'd just use the 'find in page' tool that all browsers have.
