llListen and lag

I built a bunch of copies of a critter running around on my parcel. I want to be able to control them, so in my first pass I have them llListen on channel 0 for commands. There seems to be a critical number of them, if I exceed that number then all chat commands work very very very slowly. OK, what can I do to fix this? I could have them listen on channel 12345, but then I'd have to remember that number. I'm considering using some relaying trick, like touch one critter and it listens on channel 0 for only a minute. If it hears any commands on that channel, it re-broadcasts (llRegionSay) to all the others on channel -123456, which they are always listening on. Is that a good approach? Anyone have a better approach?

Bad, bad Kayaker! Listening to channel 0 is the worst thing...

The idea of having one critter relaying your commands with llRegionSay() is really much better. Or that could be an object in world which will deal with your (clumsy) human speech, do all the needed checkings, and transmit a non-human but much compact version to the critters... so that their listen() event can be extremely simplified and much faster.

As for using another channel than 0 and not remembering it, create a gesture. For example, use /cr as trigger and have it replaced by /12345679 (followed by a space) or whatever (positive) channel you want. And since this gesture will make you talk on a special channel, you can use it once and then only use // to keep on talking on the same channel. Easy as pie.

Or maybe touch a critter and it reminds you what the communication channel is? Or just put the channel number in the critter's object desciption and look at it with mouseover?

You could create a scripted object, call it a control panel, that you click to get a dialog with all your commands available. I personally like those push buttons Much easier then typing (and remembering) commands. The commands can be transmitted from the control panel via llRegionSay.

Or a HUD...... so many options.. .

When you do the llListen, do you filter it? Like, do you listen for chat on channel 0 from anybody or just from you? The less times that the sim needs to run your script, the less laggy things will be.

Then again, channel 0 is a bit evil.. Best to avoid that if possible.

Why is it so difficult to remember 12345?!

LOL I have a mind like a steel sieve. I make so many things that communicate on odd channels, I can't ever remember which one is which. If I have something that wants me to talk on channel 12345, I usually put that info in the description where I can see it on mouseover. Otherwise, I'm just as likely to try talking on 34567 or 56789.

Yes, that's why I had put everything on channel 1 for myself. The first thing I learned to use that chat option on was poseballs (/1 hide). It's a good thing I am retired, otherwise my employer would have to retrain me every Monday morning after a two day weekend. I like to avoid chat commands these days. They are archaic considering the other options we have.