Online Status

[Abstract]

Title: Online Status

Summary:

Allow users to list when they are online or not and to see who else in their realm is listed online. The goal is to encourage in-game messaging and activity.

Details:

Currently players have to guess whether or not anyone is online. Couple different online status listings that the user can choose from: online, away, busy, invisible (offline). Some menu bar so that players can see who in their realm(s) are online and to set their own status. No mention of last login time, this would be open to abuse and is unnecessary.

Benefits:

When you know someone else is online in your realm you will be more likely to attempt dialogue in-game. This is something that most communication mediums, such as discord, have.

Possible Downsides/Exploits:

Activity police, those desiring last minute movements and such. This would mean that an inalienable right, or some general rule, for setting your online status would be needed. With such a rule this downside goes away.

The unfortunate potential for a player, notably a new player, to fall into the mistaken impression that no one online right now means the realm/game is dead.