Public Portrait Database?

[Daimondheart]

I was actually talking about this a week ago with Pencils and was just reminded about it. What do you guys think about having a database of sorts where players could upload portraits of their characters for others to download and see IG? I was thinking something simple like a sticky topic where players could upload their portraits on imagevenue and just link to them in the topic or put them in their signatures. Interested players can then just download the files to their portrait folders. It would be up to each player to maintain their own files that way. I'm open to ideas though as long as player's are responsible for their own portraits. These things tend to fall apart when a single player tries to maintain it all by themself.
 
Thoughts and suggestions?

[Red Hat]

Portraits has been removed as it caused huge lag and the DM client to crash

[Daimondheart]

Lag? How? The portraits only display so long as the player has them downloaded into their folder. It's entirely user end. It doesn't make sense for them to cause lag. You're talking about vanilla portraits, right? Not those special ones I've seen on servers that allow these great big giant portraits to be displayed with a bio.

[Mongoose]

There was as discussion about it a while ago and it was voted on by the players to simply remove the custom player portraits in the interest of increasing client stability.

Here's the original thread on the issue:  http://dragoncoast.org/sohforums/index.php/topic,13171.0.html

If I remember correctly, it did seem to help so they were left disabled.

[Daimondheart]

That link was actually to a vote for a test to see if removing them would improve the issue, but I'm guessing from what Red Hat posted that proved to be the case. Am I right in assuming the portraits were actually hosted on the server itself though? I didn't know that was possible and was thinking purely player side, but that matters little as it turns out even attempting to find a portrait makes all the difference. Nevermind then. Just close the topic.

[Thalidus]

There is a custom program allowing players to write their own bio, and change it whenever they want it, and also display a portrait. It adds the option for other players to inspect other players, so the portraits and bio pops up only when needed. This allows for a very extensive bio you can change anytime, and don't need to bother a DM with to change the bio, and has the option to keep it very up to date, as you can virtually change it anytime (disguises come to mind). Portraits would have to be added to a database. I have seen this program in use on a few servers and custom mods, and liked it. Didn't create any lag either from what I can tell.

[Daimondheart]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. That would be very nice but I didn't want to suggest it since the DMs are busy enough finalizing the server. Assuming they didn't already include it themselves, I doubt they want to fiddle with something else right now with the server being so close to release.

[Dynamics]

I'll see what we can do about this. Kinda swamped, but this is something I'd personally like to see myself along with an in-game bio changer 

[Daimondheart]

Well, my feelings are conflicted. On one hand, I'm glad my topic lead to an idea that will now be incorporated into the server. On the other hand, that means I may have just delayed the server's release a little. Sorry guys. *Ducks for cover.*

[Norseman]

Well, my feelings are conflicted. On one hand, I'm glad my topic lead to an idea that will now be incorporated into the server. On the other hand, that means I may have just delayed the server's release a little. Sorry guys. *Ducks for cover.*

We wouldn't delay server release for an idea like this. This would be a feature that could be implemented after launch if it is added, as it doesn't affect character creation.

[MM]

I personally never had any lag or other issues with the portraits. And I think they should be made compulsory to use.. at least for half-elves.

[ColoredPencils]

I would greatly enjoy the use of portraits. Kinda really helps with the portrayal of a character. Go figure. =P

I would also love to be able to change my bio at-will... as I rarely write a bio right off the bat and often like to add it in after I've played a character a bit.

[Thalidus]

I agree with Norse  Not something they are going to delay the server for, but something to look into and forwards to later.

[Zenix]

But but... I have a perfect profile pic..

[Jopetzki]

I'm sort of against the portrait thing if it creates lag. Seems unnecessary to me.

The bio changer might not be as easy to implement as it might seem. I've seen some servers struggle with the scripts. Lots of malfunctioning.
Still if it can be implemented it'd be cool. We wouldn't be seeing bio change requests on the forum then.