It is simple really LT is a business- in order to grow it needs to attract new players- this is an idea being used to try and attract new players- existing players get a loyalty bonus for attracting new players (bonus osps if you get them to pre-book) this is no different to how other business' run

however a few loopholes might be irritating- first what if a player tried an event years ago, and now maybe might try again?

more leeway (or clarity) might be avaliable if you have spent osps on pre-book, have banked osps (not used here) and loose your character- have you used your training slots ?

another point to consider (unfortunatly too late for the new OS book- though I expect the LT team have thought of this) is when OS system first came into play a lot of the OS were very much roleplay based or provided minor benifits
now the benifits from even tier 1 skills can be significant (+4 spell cards, immune to fear etc) compared to the old system- this and the increased variety and general power/avaliablilty of the OS has made them less of a character choice and more of a power-up system- sadly the geine is out of the bottle so we must adapt to this

back on topic- perhaps 50 OSPs is too much - it leads to a fair difference in getting up to speed (especially in some ways- remember the skills purchasable are restricted- so certain options experienced players may explore are not an option)
perhaps 30 would have been more appropriate

that said and most importantly- 50 OSPS will not overcome the advantages experienced players have - our knowledge of the game system, the politics and the freinds we have all of which mean we can enjoy the game perfectly well without needing that slight jump up on developing our characters

Ben

but the player retention would be based on enjoyment of the system, the history that has been built up and the actually getting osps (since these were always a loyalty reward)

if everyone got all the osps they wanted there would be no cause to roleplay, some of the more interesting osp options are not on the beginning player OSP list (looks pretty well thought out, usefull easy to get the hang of skills that are ideal for new players). Death of a character will become meaningless if everyone gets an auto-restart at the same level.

and just to reiterate, OSs do not make a character, roleplaying and knowledge of how to use what you have make the character "come to life" and be "useful"

one player might have crushing blow, through and magic resistance but have no idea what to do with them while another can do wonders with incant 1 and no os

So on the one hand we have a new player incentive, then we have existing players still getting their loyaty bonus , with an addition for booking early and more if they introduce new players.
seems a pretty good deal all told. yet still there are complaints.
start looking at the glass half full perhaps?

For quite a long time I had every osp I wanted, and my role play fun was not effected.
Gaining "skills" is not the goal of my role-play, living my character and resolving the various conflicts/problems he encounters are, interacting with the world is much more interesting than "leveling up".

Indeed you don't need OSs to RP but its still nice to have some skills i think that is what everyone is saying, your past prebook so you can work towards for example your imm to strikedown because you don't like falling over, or want to be able to read elven as your a scribe for elves.... just as a new player now could, goal posts change.

Without derailing alot comparing the old game to the current game doesnt work, in 93 you could make 12 Vamps in a circle or a whole bunch of perm enchanted swords.

The point I was trying to get accross is that role play of any type is about immersion into a world and char that is not our own. I've had as much fun playing a 1 hit per loc gobo as i have playing a char with OSP's. OSP's are just toys to play with.

From what i gather this thread is about people wanting more OSP's when they role a new char just because new players get a boost.

I agree it would be nice to have 100's of free OSP's but my point still stands. An experienced role player should be able to have fun regardless of skills.

Dont you remember your first event? Not knowing what it was about and wanting to try new things without risk? Well the OSP's for new players are a carrot to try to get new players into the game and to help them learn how to play (buying osp's is part of the playing experience).

If you got a boost of OSP's every time to died, you wouldnt be bothered about dieing. I think it would be a shame to lose that aspect of the game.

I dont think giving new players OSP's is a problem if it helps get new blood in the system IMO.

What is the negative with people having refunded osps?
In my experience lots of people come to LRP to be special snowflakes and OSPs is just a way for people to feel like they can do cool stuff.
I understand that you don't NEED OSPs or special powers to have fun. But people don't want to be the same as everyone else - it's the crucial element of the entire hobby.
People want to escape into a magical world and be something special.

As long as everyone gets the same setup I don't see how having more power in the system is a bad thing.

I agree with you there but I see OSP's as a way of lvling your char up. If your char dies, your new char should start from scratch, learning new skills. Using your example of a scout. I wouldnt expect a new char to walk into the scouts guild having all the skills. Your new char would be green, fresh and unskilled IMO.

I've seen many people lose chars and come back and step right into roles where they left off. If you were handed OSP's when you died, it would just be the same thing IMO. I personally think thats the worst role playing when people do that.

I know where your coming from with the wanting to have cool different skills. It feels better when they are saved for or earnt then handed to you without thought.

Maybe instead of handing out free OSP's (because this can get messy with people dieing 3 -4 times at an event) maybe giving you a T1 OSP skill for free with any new char would solve the issue? Or maybe you get a token for this from a guild you join and you can only have a T1 skill from that guild? At least it would have been role played out how you get the skill.

OSPs are what a character has learned over time and experience - not to be handed out like sweeties just because they can.

OSPs add to the roleplay but are not necessary for your enjoyment as they are meant to be a little something extra to develop your characters' skills. There are players out there with no OSPs at all and there are others who have to drop skills in order to fit more onto their "brain".

How can I be bigger, stronger, more clever from the start - to me this feels wrong. You don't go from "See Spot Run" books to reading "War and Peace" in one day in real life so why should you in the game?