What is the issue I've noticed? The issue is... there's a lot of text.
You're probably thinking, "This is a text based game. Of course there will be a lot of text." This is certainly true. But where we start to run into an issue is that the sighted players can get used to it, can filter out what they need to know vs what may not be as important. Unfortunately, with a screen reader, that is more difficult. It's more difficult because people using screen readers have to listen to everything as it comes in.
Now I've been talking with people in the blind community, and everyone I've spoken with has told me the same thing. They have heard amazing things about Sindome. The rp avid people I know have tried to play here, but have found it difficult to get used to.
Why? Because everyone I know, including myself, is used to supplementing our experiences with sounds to help us more quickly identify what's going on. The accessibility features help somewhat, however there's only so much an in game solution can do.
What the moo needs is a soundpack. Now believe it or not, it could benefit everyone, even those of you with sight. The reason being, for me and those I know, text can only do so much.
Lets say you're in combat. Combat happens fast, and depending on the weapon(s) used, it can take quite a while for someone with a screen reader to read through it. But if Sindome had a soundpack, it would be far easier to know if you hit someone, or got hit, almost instantly. I know we have the combat labels that say hit or miss, but this was just the first example I could come up with.
Aside from offering clues to what's going on using sound, which would cut down on the text a screen reader has to go through significantly, a soundpack could also be used to significantly enhance the ambience of the game world, make you feel like the world of Sindome is literally, all around you.
If I were to do this, though, I'd need help. I'd need help from the staff, and from the players who use the pack.
I think it would be a good idea if we discussed this here. Thoughts?
