I suspect the people responsible for designing the feature don't play Rogues that often, and possibly even loath them. As for having an accompanying irritating sound effect, it just comes across like a poorly conceived and short-sighted design idea.
The feature may place group pressure upon the inexperienced and inefficient [Rogue] player to perform an action. Maybe they'll perform a Search action too early because of the placed an additional label upon their heads. My role is not just for one specific task, and I know how to prioritise correctly - I'm not a lapdog or one-trick pony. I don't need the unnecessary cognitive overload of this feature.
I would suspect at low levels such as quest Levels 1 to 5 - in groups - it won't just be mainly the "trap disabling specialists" regularly triggering the alert sound(s) either. Therefore, it's going to be of limited use to them when near the presence of traps. Echo location gone wrong...
Yes, the (Exclamation point [!]) feature is (currently) just as unpleasant and counterproductive as was mentioned prior in this thread by several people. The sound effect is truly awful... It initially reminded me of a malfunctioning Bear trap jaw-clamping sound gone wrong.
What possessed Team DDO to use that sound? I'm not a near blown-out car engine with flashing critical failure warning lights showing: I am about to EXPLODE!
Each time I manoeuvred near or through the trap's zone it spammed the sound. It provided no benefit to me whatsoever; it just created unnecessary distraction and was a potential headache inducer. It is similar to what I had expected would be the case, and it doesn't really help with accessibility either.
In fact the feature even manages to causes accessibility problems for me (and I do have a cognitive disability). The animation decreasing in size was also slightly problematic.
The one thing that was possibly positive, the icon eventually disappeared after around 5-seconds. However, that would semi-defeat the objective of having it in the first place... Furthermore, a skilled [Rogue] will actually manoeuvre and position themselves and might need to re-enter the trap danger zone and thus retrigger said annoying: audio and visual warning multiple times.
I was looking for a stress-free environment.
Currently the baseball bat sized Looney Tune Exclamation mark [!] looks more like a classification symbolism of vilification. The type used in propaganda by the National Socialist German Workers' Party during the Great War. It is discourteous to the player, not having a [ON/OFF] toggle.
For it to of be any real use (in group) all ears and eyes would have to be focusing directly upon the potentially moving [Rogue's] head. If the group is doing that, the odds are they aren't paying close enough attention to their own roles and responsibilities. Potentially the Rogue would nearly always have to be positioned; to be in front of pack leading it, that doesn't typically happen.
It won't benefit the newbie [non-rogue] that much either with regards to traps. Secret doors might be a different story. I'm just solely talking about the Exclamation mark [!] thus far...
I am surprised an icon design similar to the DDO emotes, or the 'Detect Secret Doors' spell overhead icon, wasn't used. Rather than using that hideous Exclamation mark [!] Disaster. Perhaps a trap stylised yellowish or golden Bear trap symbol might have made some logical sense. The drunken "!" is far too generic and meaningless. :-/
I'll reiterate my role is not just for one specific task, and I know how to prioritise correctly - I'm not a lapdog or one-trick pony. I don't need the unnecessary cognitive overload of this feature. :-(
The 'Find Traps' spell has a giant Bear trap jaws containing an eye symbol for its overhead animation and looks a little like Jaws the Shark. However, I was more thinking the current angled Bear trap symbol. Similar to the Trapsmith's Workshop Guild buff, but done more like an emote style.
Going onto the large Question mark [?] for Secret doors, again the icon design wasn't the best choice. I am sure the SSG art department can come up with something better...
However, unlike with the distressing and counterproductive Looney Tune Exclamation mark [!] as was mentioned (above). The Question mark [?] for Secret doors wasn't nearly as annoying or distracting.
There's no hope for the hopeless.
It is still ugly (and possibly the wrong symbol) but there was at least some credibility in the concept of having an extra visual alert of Secret doors.
As a general rule you [the Rogue] don't need to be in mid-combat or dancing through live minefields (insert: a plethora of damaging trap effects), when you want to search for a Secret door. In contrast: for traps you as a [Rogue] are likely multitasking. Thus, possibly dodging missiles, trap effects or you'll be combat prior to being able to get to the trap Control panel itself. You don't want a flipping large Exclamation mark [!] covering the screen blinding your vision and continually spamming that idiot pointless noise. Your aim is to Search and Disable when it's appropriative, not feel like you're being dictated to by a giant generic red [!] symbol because it's making your life miserable. Therefore, you possibly resort to desperately trying to get rid of it, displaying or sounding to make the pain of the [!] symbol go away...
Cordovan, as you are the DDO Community Manager who is meant to meant champion our concerns; how far are your progressing with getting our message across to the DDO Developers that the new (Exclamation point [!]) system is problematic on several levels? It looks like well over 50 people were requesting a design and implementation review (or at least some sound tweaks). Several would certainly appreciate a having a [ON/OFF] toggle for the feature. A few were also new players on that list that thought the new system was not exactly great. :-/
The old message notifications already have a Suitable supportive description appearing across the screen.
However, the new Looney tune (Exclamation point [!]) feature is very intrusive, offensive and is tied to a specific model, typically a human player.
The new huge red [!] Punctuation marks activate the human alarm system - speeding up brain processes and exaggerating judgement calls. Thus, the effected individual [Rogue] is more likely to 'make mistakes' whilst the icon is present above their head. The associated violent sound trigger also reinforces a "sense of urgency". This new audio and visual warning may re-trigger... and spam itself.
If I was a Cybercriminal using social engineering (trying to deceive you out of all your money) via an online scam, I'd be proud of using the new Looney tune (Exclamation mark [!] system). A miscreant will usually aim to pressure you into acting without thinking by causing a false "sense of urgency" akin to the new [!] feature.
Again, when a Successful Search occurs; and the Control panel appears, the new Looney tune (Exclamation point [!]) feature will be negated. However, the trap will be still active and potentially still hazardous. Thus, it shows a further problem with the new Exclamation mark [!]. As explained prior [Rogues] move on their legs. They aren't usually static unless trying to actually perform the Disable device action.
I doubt young children are the main target audience of DDO. Albeit for some reason the DDO Developers' seemed to strangely think teenagers and mature adults would like this annoying system (as is).
I am not sure for how many weeks a child would react in such a way as Aelonwy described (in the previous legacy thread) to this loud annoying sound. Though obviously it was enough to distract and interrupt him from whatever he was trying to do at the time. Therefore, it indicates the sound is jarring.
With an adult the reaction to spamming sound would more than likely be irritation instead - they'd try to tolerate it... Then inform the DDO Developers the new system was problematic and needed attention.
I'd like to see a Developer rectify the problems they have introduced with this unhelpful and cruel (Exclamation mark [!]) audio-visual system. That doesn't really benefit new players that much either. The (Question mark [?]) is far less problematic, but not ideal. :-/
I personally don't like how they've implemented the Exclamation mark [!]. Yes, I'm going to be the efficient Rogue in your PUG (trying to perform one of my roles) that has been classified with the: [!] symbolism of vilification. I'm not going to be the lazy onlooker; so I won't have choice about being cruelly branded by it, if I have a Sufficient Spot skill. :-(
