Overlapping Terminology: Tracking and -track

[AddledPunster]

Hello all. This is a relatively minor issue, but one I've been bumping into a lot recently! I'm currently playing a Druid trying to recruit for a Druidic Circle, including Rangers to help check the balance of the area using the -track command. Not only is this a great mechanic for fostering roleplay around a core part of Druid/Ranger setting lore, it's also something that low level players can fully engage in and be fully useful; the only limit is around what zones they can reasonably reach at their level.

All of that said, I've been running into one problem with regards to recruiting rangers; clarifying that, when my druid asks about their abilities to track, that I'm talking about the -track command that Rangers get that reports on the Balance of the zone, as opposed to the broader ability to identify who left what tracks and how long ago. Now I've developed a lot of talk tracks to try and differentiate between these two mechanics ICly, IE "I'm not interested in someone who can find a Elven Commando through three separate regions, I'm interested in someone who can identify if predator activity in an area is getting out of control." That said, I have consistently had these conversations shift from IC to OOC, brought on either by myself or the person I'm speaking with, to confirm that we're talking about the -track skill that comes with the Ranger class.

Now, a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that Player Character tracks have been getting a LOT of updates recently and that's something on everyone's mind. It's probably on everyone's mind with all of the PVP going on, since it is a very relevant mechanic there, and I don't really have any issue with either of these things. But, that this has come up has made me start wondering if there's something we can do to more clearly differentiate these two separate mechanics. I'd say the simplest answer would be to update the -track command to another, similar term, like -survey or the like. I mean, perhaps not -survey as it sounds too clinical for the context, but something along those lines.

I'd love to hear more thoughts on this, of course. But, yeah, this is definitely something I've noticed with my recent attempts. I'd hate to think that new players are missing out on something they'd be interested in because they're mixing up separated mechanics.

[Sincra]

Heck! You've found the third phase for my tracks rework!

Edit:
For clarity, this is not a joke.

[Baseili]

Census could also work, I get the feeling survey might come into conflict with another feature one day given how broadly its used.

[Barkoneus]

Agree that "-track" is probably not the best option.

Is "-balance" already used by druids for something like restoring balance?

When my ranger types it in I don't get a command not found error, but I also don't accomplish anything.

I think I would vote for something with balance in the name, like "-checkbalance", since it's explicitly checking the balance in the area.

As for discussing it in game, in my druid/ranger circle we've just always talked about the balance of the area as an IC concept, which served to distinguish it from the other type of tracking.

[AddledPunster]

I'm not amazing at following up on forum posts!

Agree that "-track" is probably not the best option.

Is "-balance" already used by druids for something like restoring balance?

Exactly that, yes. Currently the -balance command is what is used to cast the spell that lets druids mend the balance in the area.

When my ranger types it in I don't get a command not found error, but I also don't accomplish anything.

I think I would vote for something with balance in the name, like "-checkbalance", since it's explicitly checking the balance in the area.

As for discussing it in game, in my druid/ranger circle we've just always talked about the balance of the area as an IC concept, which served to distinguish it from the other type of tracking.

Right, and in broader conversations that works out well. The times I've been running into it as an issue has been when trying to specifically recruit rangers. But, regardless, given this reply-

Heck! You've found the third phase for my tracks rework!

Edit:
For clarity, this is not a joke.

It sounds like a fix may already in the works for my concern! Thanks, Sincra, for being on top of things!

[RedGiant]

Maybe after this, Sincra could go on to crush the next greatest source of confusion on the server invocations and Iinvokers!

Warlock use invocations and their top armors are called variously invoker's chain and invoker's garments.

But now we have invokers, hemomancers and elementalists.