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Weekly Loc Discussion: DEX or Dexterity, and more!

KatherzKatherz
Mabinogi Rep: 21,640
Posts: 1,593
Member
edited August 8, 2018 in Weekly Loc Discussion Archive
Salutations, Milletians! 'Tis your localization team, coming at you with a question that has caused much rumination, the sort that would cause one to tape a fake beard on their chin so they could stroke it as they pondered the issues at hand.

We recently held a meeting in which we discussed things we might do to shore up some standardization in Mabinogi's localization, and one of the big topics that came up was the way stats are represented in the game. Sometimes they’re abbreviated, sometimes they’re written out, and the inconsistency is driving us bonkers.

But maybe that's just a nitpick on our part; a flaring up of the editorial sensibilities. Maybe it's really a non-issue to you because you know what they mean and it doesn't negatively affect your game experience. But that's what we want to know! Do you think it would be a worthwhile endeavor for us to go in and standardize the way stats are written throughout the game? If we DID end up standardizing, do you have preferences as to whether to go with full names (Dexterity, Luck, Magic Attack), abbreviations (DEX, LCK, M. ATT), or some hybrid of the two? (Tangent: Strangely enough, I found that "Protection," despite being fairly long, had no abbreviation that was ever used for it in-game.) Keep in mind that the UI space in some windows might be limited.

Let us hear your take on this matter, and be on the lookout for more discussions like these in the weeks to come!

- The Mabinogi Localization Team
Sherri
  1. How would you like to see stats in-game?21 votes
    1. Fully written out (ex: Dexterity, Luck, Magic Attack, etc)
       24% (5 votes)
    2. Abbreviated (ex: DEX, LCK, M.ATT)
       43% (9 votes)
    3. Hybrid!
       33% (7 votes)
    4. Something different (Discuss in the comments below)
       0% (0 votes)

Comments

  • IyasenuIyasenu
    Mabinogi Rep: 24,265
    Posts: 2,887
    Member
    I like when it's fully written out, so I'd probably prefer that.

    But not in the case where it'd cause the text to awkwardly have to wrap around to a new line or in the worst case get cut off due to space limits.

    So I guess my vote would be for "Hybrid" because of that stipulation, but I really do prefer for it to be fully written out.
  • JazmynJazmyn
    Mabinogi Rep: 7,595
    Posts: 1,009
    Member
    edited August 8, 2018
    Katherz wrote: »
    Salutations, Milletians! 'Tis your localization team, coming at you with a question that has caused much rumination, the sort that would cause one to tape a fake beard on their chin so they could stroke it as they pondered the issues at hand.

    We recently held a meeting in which we discussed things we might do to shore up some standardization in Mabinogi's localization, and one of the big topics that came up was the way stats are represented in the game.
    Sometimes they’re abbreviated, sometimes they’re written out, and the inconsistency is driving us bonkers.

    But maybe that's just a nitpick on our part; a flaring up of the editorial sensibilities. Maybe it's really a non-issue to you because you know what they mean and it doesn't negatively affect your game experience. But that's what we want to know! Do you think it would be a worthwhile endeavor for us to go in and standardize the way stats are written throughout the game? If we DID end up standardizing, do you have preferences as to whether to go with full names (Dexterity, Luck, Magic Attack), abbreviations (DEX, LCK, M. ATT), or some hybrid of the two? (Tangent: Strangely enough, I found that "Protection," despite being fairly long, had no abbreviation that was ever used for it in-game.) Keep in mind that the UI space in some windows might be limited.

    Let us hear your take on this matter, and be on the lookout for more discussions like these in the weeks to come!

    - The Mabinogi Localization Team
    Exactly this.
    Iyasenu wrote: »
    I like when it's fully written out, so I'd probably prefer that.

    But not in the case where it'd cause the text to awkwardly have to wrap around to a new line or in the worst case get cut off due to space limits.
    And this.

    I agree with @Iyasenu that it's nice when things are fully written out; however, if it was awkwardly wrapped or cut off, abbreviations are best.


    Personally, as long as it IS consistent, I wouldn't care which you go with.
  • AquasolAquasol
    Mabinogi Rep: 5,465
    Posts: 442
    Member, Volunteer Forum Moderator
    I think it’s easier to go for abbreviated in nearly every situation, and gives it a more classical RPG feel.

    Just...please make sure that Luck -> LUK, because I’ll otherwise keep wondering why I have so much Lick(LCK) on my character.
  • PlatinaKokiPlatinaKoki
    Mabinogi Rep: 7,760
    Posts: 950
    Member
    I'm against the full text, only because of what someone above said about text wrapping.
  • GretaGreta
    Mabinogi Rep: 51,805
    Posts: 6,975
    Member
    I just chose hybrid, because i don't mind both versions at all. But full names will definitely clip through some windows, which is why i don't recommend to count on full names all the time.
  • BronzebreakBronzebreak
    Mabinogi Rep: 3,940
    Posts: 489
    Member
    'We don't like inconsistency'
    *Hybrid is an option*
    *Long is an option, but it may cause issues*

    Looks like it's kind of an easy answer, even if I prefer it written out, shortform is bestform.
  • KensamaofmariKensamaofmari
    Mabinogi Rep: 34,745
    Posts: 7,909
    Member
    I chose hybrid, but here's my suggestion for it.
    Partial abbreviation where one has the option to either scroll over it or click on it to give a detailed explanation of the effects of their current stat.

    And compound that with the effects of using skills.

    That probably will be a lot of work though,
  • THICCthighssavelivesTHICCthighssavelives
    Mabinogi Rep: 6,855
    Posts: 790
    Member
    edited August 9, 2018
    "STR, WIS, DEX, WILL, LUCK" seems good enough for stat abbreviations. As long as it's consistent across titles, reforges, enchants, and other things, I will totally love it. Right now, reforges especially can be confusing to figure out what stat they increase.

    edit* just wanted to post this so it won't get overlooked: Lorna and Pan's 2nd title increases max damage, but it's listed as "M ATT" or soemthing similar.
  • SherriSherri
    Mabinogi Rep: 18,615
    Posts: 2,817
    Member
    edited August 10, 2018
    I think it's fine as it is, a hybrid of both. If people see the spelling and the abbreviations then they'll eventually figure it out on their own, or they could just ask someone. I'd gladly help them out.
    Besides, other games abbreviate them out too so it shouldn't be that difficult.

    Now when it comes to speaking in reforging terms? That's a whole new language.
    Heck, it could all just be made up by tryhards. It probably is to be honest, but I can't understand a danged thing.

    Also.. I could of sworn Protection was abbreviated as Prot. ? Kind of like in Magic Prot. .. OH like as it was never abbreviated.. ok ok I get it haha oof
  • EraleaEralea
    Mabinogi Rep: 9,890
    Posts: 779
    Member
    Text getting cut off bothers me more than inconsistency to be honest. As much as I'd like things to be fully written out, "Magic Protection" is probably too long to fit into most of the boxes. We probably don't really have a choice, it's gonna get cut short one way or another.

    The one thing the Loc team can do is to at least keep the abbreviated names consistent.
    For example, call it "Magic Protection (M.PROT)" and always use "M.PROT" when there's limited space, instead of finding new and creative ways of shortening it every time.

    Bba2R.png

    (I love how Protection isn't shortened, that is strange)


    How long should the abbreviations be? Sometimes Will is capitalised as WILL, as if it's an abbreviation like STR.

    BbasU.png

    Four-letter abbreviations are common in Mabi, do four-letter stats really need to be made shorter?


    What happened to shortening Stamina points to SP? I could have sworn that was a thing at one point.
    GretaKensamaofmari
  • BerylBeryl
    Mabinogi Rep: 1,750
    Posts: 104
    Member
    I prefer them abbreviated, including in the character info screen. Rolling over the stat there would show the fully written version in addition to explaining what it means.

    Regarding Will: it makes more sense to me for it to be an abbreviation of willpower and consequently, if descriptions are going to be changed anyway, for the roll-over information to be made to reflect that (it currently says "Will").
    The nature or connotation of the word "will", compared to that of the other stats, seems weak and out of place to me; having looked up its definitions only strengthened that feeling. Let me illustrate this:
    When one says: "That person has strength/intelligence/dexterity/luck", it is an inherently positive statement, with a comparison being implied.
    Going through its various definitions, the same doesn't apply to "will":
    "That person has the independent faculty of choice." Yes, as does everybody else who isn't comatose.
    "That person has conscious intent or volition." Yes, as does everyone else in any moment they make any decision.
    "That person has a wish or desire." I'd like some ice cream.
    "That person has a formal declaration of one's intent concerning the disposal of one's property and holdings after death."
    You get the idea. The only definition that makes sense for the stat is the one that means "determination" and even in that case "willpower", meaning "strength of determination", would be the better choice.

    In short, please change the roll-over description of Will to refer to willpower and abbreviate the stat to WIL. Then abbreviate Luck to LUK so it adheres to the uppercase three-letter convention of the primary hard stats.