[UO Herald] Trial Account Changes in Publish 58

[UO News]

Hail and well met, loyal citizens of Britannia!
Following the enormously positive and constructive feedback we’ve received, the Ultima Online team would like to announce our preliminary plans for changes to trial accounts in the next publish.

These changes will restrict a certain set of advanced features to paying subscribers, and in turn, loosen unnecessary “character age” requirements. Until now, systems and content in UO have not been designed in a way that discourages exploitative use of trial accounts, the abuse of which severely impacts the enjoyment of our players.

The fun of the trial experience will be preserved - trial players will be able to continue traveling our vast world, fight dangerous monsters, join guilds and parties, and even rest in a friend’s home. However, from now on, trial accounts will not be a vehicle of convenience for exploitative behavior.

What is a Trial Account?

A free trial account is a special offer to play UO for free, without activating a subscription, or purchasing a copy of the game.

Therefore, trial accounts should not be confused with the first month of free gameplay associated with buying a release of the game. This first month of prepaid subscription entitles you to all the benefits of a regular subscriber.

Trial Account Changes
​

Player Housing

• Cannot place, own, trade, or receive a house
• Only the “Friend” and “Guild” levels of access permissions will be available

Player Vendors

• Cannot own or rent

Travel

• Cannot enter Felucca dungeons, or the Felucca Lost Lands

Resources

• Only receive basic resources (ex: iron instead of hued ore, regardless of skill)
• No bonus resources (jewels, granite, sand, etc)

Bulk Order Deeds

• Cannot receive, use, or turn-in

Quests

• Cannot repeat normally repeatable quests

Factions

• Cannot join Factions

Champ Spawns

• Cannot participate in, or receive rewards from

Community Collections

• Cannot donate or receive rewards

These items will no longer be usable by trial accounts:

• Commodity deeds
• Skill/stat advancement scrolls (Alacrity, Power, Transcendence, etc)
• Holiday gifts, special rewards (ex: veteran rewards)
• Teleportation items
• Bags of Sending
• Bracelets of Binding
• Pet Summoning Balls
• Soulstones

Character Age Requirements

Character age requirements related to the above systems will be removed. For instance, the artificial character age requirement for house placement (15 days) is no longer necessary, and was only meant to be a temporary solution.

Test Centers

Because UO has such a vibrant community of testers, the above restrictions will not apply to the Test Centers. These servers will make all the benefits of regular subscription available even to free trial players, including housing.

Events

Events are an important part of the Live content cycle. We understand how frustrating it can be to brave harrowing crypts and solve intricate puzzles, only to watch a “young status” player walk by and collect the same reward with little to no risk. Changes will be made to the ongoing events to stop this sort of thing from happening.

Misc

We are currently discussing ways to reduce resource farming with trial accounts beyond the restrictions listed above. This may include diminishing the amount of iron ore mined or lumber harvested over time, to prevent flooding the market. This is tentative.

Additionally, we’re slating a fix for “ghost cams” (unattended monitoring of Champ Spawns) for Publish 58 as well.

Summary

We’d like to take a moment and thank all the players who participated in our discussion on the Stratics’ forum, and everyone who sent in feedback.

We believe this is a strong step forward for Ultima Online, and hope you look forward to the rest of Publish 58!

Yours,

Tim “Draconi” Cotten



More...

 

[Draconi]

[reserved for updates]

 

[kelmo]

*smiles* Well done.

 

[Krazanth]

Thank you very much. Any timeframe available for the publish?

 

[UOKaiser]

Yay! now we can increase the price on ingots. Lets see i was charging 400 per val lets bring it to 600-800 per but this has to be a group decision. Seemingly we have less comp now from the abusers. Everyone with me?

 

[Smokin]

I don't really understand this, most of the trial accounts at least that I understood were ones where they would activate the account then deactivate it and only use the 30 day free trial with out paying. These are the ones that have been abusing the systems, as far as I understood. So how will this help?

I mean are there going to be new codes or something for players to test the game, which I think would be a great thing for the game, heck let them play for 3 months for free or something like that, as long as it brings in more people even if they are limited.

Anyways hope the devs understand what I am saying, and could answer on this. I personally know about 5 or 6 people who might do a good free trial of them game. To me 15 days is not a very good trial for this game.

 

[Black Sun]

Great news. I think these changes are a big step in the right direction to stop the scripters/exploiters/abusers.

Bravo!

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Thank you Devs!!!!

Scripting has done enough damage to UO for long enough!!!


Now let's find a way to ban the cheaters that are PAYING!

 

[Draconi]

I don't really understand this, most of the trial accounts at least that I understood were ones where they would activate the account then deactivate it and only use the 30 day free trial with out paying. These are the ones that have been abusing the systems, as far as I understood. So how will this help?

I mean are there going to be new codes or something for players to test the game, which I think would be a great thing for the game, heck let them play for 3 months for free or something like that, as long as it brings in more people even if they are limited.

Anyways hope the devs understand what I am saying, and could answer on this. I personally know about 5 or 6 people who might do a good free trial of them game. To me 15 days is not a very good trial for this game.

*nods* There are several types, such as 15 day, 30 day, and 45 day trial codes. The latter two aren't available from the "New Player" section of the website, only the 15 day ones, but there are still plenty of them floating around.

These restrictions apply to those. People who actually pay for a box or a digital download will have their first free month, with full benefits.

If you're referring to the on and off people who pay for a month, then are absent three months, in order to preserve their houses - that's a separate issue from this, but we're well aware of it.

 

[kentuckyjoe]

Thank You Draconi!!!!

I'm glad you took my advice and restriced Trial Accounts from entering the Champ Spawn areas.

By the looks of things, the Dev Team is making some long awaited, much needed changes!

 

[kelmo]

Thank you Devs!!!!

Scripting has done enough damage to UO for long enough!!!


Now let's find a way to ban the cheaters that are PAYING!

Indeed, this is an important step. Many seem confused on this issue. Dealing with the free trial accounts (not to confused with codes that are purchased) is really a great beginning.

 

[Tazar]

Bracelets of Binding

I am not sure why these were included in the list unless they are exploitable in some way.

The bracelets are rarely if ever used to my knowledge, and the only time I have seen them used is in a trainee/mentor case for when the trainee gets lost. Honestly, it seems to me like one of the few items that would be useful to a newer player on a normal or trial account.

 

[Smokin]

*nods* There are several types, such as 15 day, 30 day, and 45 day trial codes. The latter two aren't available from the "New Player" section of the website, only the 15 day ones, but there are still plenty of them floating around.

These restrictions apply to those. People who actually pay for a box or a digital download will have their first free month, with full benefits.

If you're referring to the on and off people who pay for a month, then are absent three months, in order to preserve their houses - that's a separate issue from this, but we're well aware of it.

No I am referring to people who get the 30 day 45 day free accounts then enter in a CC# and sometimes pay for a month or cancel payment right away. I believe that still gives you the 30 days for free. Then they use that account to script and other illegal stuff. So if you remove the restrictions to those free periods you will just bring back more scripting.

As for getting these types of codes I personally have about 30 of them from over the years, remember the 7th anni box came with a boat load of them.

 

[HD2300]

Bulk Order Deeds

• Cannot receive, use, or turn-in

Quests

• Cannot repeat normally repeatable quests

Bravo. A step in the right direction.

Please also look into putting daily account caps on BODs and heartwood quests but increase the chances for runics. It needs to be an account cap per day, not a character or shard cap per day.

 

[UOKaiser]

No I am referring to people who get the 30 day 45 day free accounts then enter in a CC# and sometimes pay for a month or cancel payment right away. I believe that still gives you the 30 days for free. Then they use that account to script and other illegal stuff. So if you remove the restrictions to those free periods you will just bring back more scripting.

Those codes can't be used twice. And in order to get those codes you have to pay for the box or pay somewhere so there not free. Doesn't matter if you don't pay for the second month you already paid somewhere for those codes.

 

[Smokin]

Those codes can't be used twice. And in order to get those codes you have to pay for the box or pay somewhere so there not free. Doesn't matter if you don't pay for the second month you already paid somewhere for those codes.

Yes so what your saying is that I guess if I pay for those codes which come in every box, such as the numerous ones in the 7th anni box, well I guess as long as I paid I can use those to script or what not.

 

[Crysta]

I said in the discussion thread that they should restrict at least the ones from that anniversary box. Hundreds of thousands of copies times seven codes per box = too damned many.

 

[Maplestone]

I'm curious about the restriction against soulstones - not that I would expect a trial account to ever need them, but I'm a bit stumped on how this is abusable. Unless it has something to do with advanced character tokens not being on the list?

Do "transportation items" include runes/runebooks?

What about the idea that was proposed (I'm not sure by whom) to restrict writing in books? (to counter book-spam)

 

[kelmo]

Those codes are a different animal.

 

[Smokin]

I'm curious about the restriction against soulstones - not that I would expect a trial account to ever need them, but I'm a bit stumped on how this is abusable. Unless it has something to do with advanced character tokens not being on the list?

Do "transportation items" include runes/runebooks?

What about the idea that was proposed (I'm not sure by whom) to restrict writing in books? (to counter book-spam)

I would think that the soulstones because they are account bound would have something to do with it, it seems like the trial accounts would/will be not real accounts, maybe on a seperate storage device or something. Who knows, I am just guessing.

 

[Sharantyr]

"We are currently discussing ways to reduce resource farming with trial accounts beyond the restrictions listed above."


Lower stats and no pack animals for trial accounts?

 

[Exgirlfriend]

"Additionally, we’re slating a fix for “ghost cams” (unattended monitoring of Champ Spawns) for Publish 58 as well."

Maybe the boss will be spawned in a random location within the dungon, this would be cool and fresh everytime.

Thanks for the update

Ex

 

[UOKaiser]

Yes so what your saying is that I guess if I pay for those codes which come in every box, such as the numerous ones in the 7th anni box, well I guess as long as I paid I can use those to script or what not.

Doesnt matter what you use it for. Give it away,sell it to someone doesn't matter. The fact is you can download the client for free. So if youre paying 10-30 dollars for a box and a cd which you don't need when you can get what you need for free online then theres a problem. Those codes where payed for there not free that's the reason you bought the box and the limited promotion which is over.

 

[Alezi]

Hope this is coming soon, I dont want to wait 10 more days to be able to place a house =(

 

[Nvnter]

Sounds great!.............but lets see what the side effects are

 

[HD2300]

I said in the discussion thread that they should restrict at least the ones from that anniversary box. Hundreds of thousands of copies times seven codes per box = too damned many.

It really should be after you pay by CC you get access to everything, if you havent paid by CC you dont. It is 30 or 45 days of free game time, but it doesnt say it is not restricted access.

I believe the 15 day check should apply to everything being restricted. My POV is if you are going to do something, you may as well do it properly the first time.

 

[Hildebrand]

Trial accounts are expected to have restrictions. It's amazing how this abuse has been going on for this long.

 

[Gheed]

Very nice work! Can you revert the mining change after this goes live?

 

[It Lives]

Sounds great!.............but lets see what the side effects are

SHuuuuuUNnnn the Non-Believers ShuuunnnNN!

 

[Teeshy]

That seems like a very fair way for trial accounts to work =) It won't put off any genuine new players - they'll still be experiencing SO much of the game in their 15 days, and if it helps stop peopel abusing the trial accounts as well, then good =)

I was getting a little worried reading the other thread - people seemed to forget that there IS real life new players, and some of the restrictions being suggested would have just put them off the game completely - this seems a fair set of restrictions =)

 

[jtw1984]

Although I feel this is a great step in the right direction, I can't help but say I'm truly disappointed.

For a few weeks now we've been told a fix for Champ Spawns is upcoming! Then we find out that only trial accounts can't enter the lost lands?

Now and days if you aren't in a zerg guild you can only do champs at 8 am eastern time.

How many times do one of my few guild mates die, and then say "I see a ghost by the altar." Then not ten minutes later the SAME guild always comes and raids us.

It's just upsetting, and almost to the point of saying "Whats the point?"

Why go waste an hour or two of my time only to have some cheaters come in and ruin what I was working for.

Maybe its time to start cheating.

 

[Millie]

I really think this is a very good start to making our game better. Thanks Dev. Team for trying to make our game a Better game.

 

[christy1221]

Awesome!!

 

[Millie]

Although I feel this is a great step in the right direction, I can't help but say I'm truly disappointed.

For a few weeks now we've been told a fix for Champ Spawns is upcoming! Then we find out that only trial accounts can't enter the lost lands?

Now and days if you aren't in a zerg guild you can only do champs at 8 am eastern time.

How many times do one of my few guild mates die, and then say "I see a ghost by the altar." Then not ten minutes later the SAME guild always comes and raids us.

It's just upsetting, and almost to the point of saying "Whats the point?"

Why go waste an hour or two of my time only to have some cheaters come in and ruin what I was working for.

Maybe its time to start cheating.

It was stated under Misc. So don't start cheating.

Additionally, we’re slating a fix for “ghost cams” (unattended monitoring of Champ Spawns) for Publish 58 as well.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I guess I've played Siege so long I have forgotten about "young players".

Is there really that big a problem with them on the production shards?...la

 

[DPudding]

Great news!

 

[MYUO]

• Cannot enter Felucca dungeons, or the Felucca Lost Lands

Resources

Aren't new players allowed to enter Felucca at all?

 

[Tjalle]

Looks great!

 

[Maggie]

We are currently discussing ways to reduce resource farming with trial accounts beyond the restrictions listed above. This may include diminishing the amount of iron ore mined or lumber harvested over time, to prevent flooding the market. This is tentative.
More...

oh please do NOT do this but KUDOS for the rest! yay

 

[Gheed]

We are currently discussing ways to reduce resource farming with trial accounts beyond the restrictions listed above. This may include diminishing the amount of iron ore mined or lumber harvested over time, to prevent flooding the market. This is tentative.
More...

oh please do NOT do this but KUDOS for the rest! yay

Considering imbuing will not be allowed on any items enhanced or made of "rare" resources I see a great demand for normal iron/wood in the future. Maybe this isnt a bad idea. In fact I would put it in immediately with the other changes to prevent stockpiling.

 

[Basara]

• Cannot enter Felucca dungeons, or the Felucca Lost Lands

Resources

Aren't new players allowed to enter Felucca at all?

YOUNG players can't enter Felucca - however you can renounce your "young" status almost immediately after you start play, which is how a lot of the trial account "ghost cam" bots get to their Champ spawn stations.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Drac,

Sounds good. But you missed a huge exploit. Books that are advertising websites.

You really need to allow the trial accounts to hold 1 book only. No ability to copy. No use of packies to hold books and drop books with advertising.

And you need to make it so only 1 loose rune can be in trial account pack at a time. No advertising.

Something.

 

[Harlequin]

Good show my man, good show!

Tis a great step in the right direction, especially opening it to discussions first!

 

[Fox (Europa)]

I've just thought of another thing trial accounts shouldn't be able to do...character transfer. Often used for dupe exploits and fencing of illegal items.

Fox

 

[MorganaLeFey]

It really should be after you pay by CC you get access to everything, if you havent paid by CC you dont. It is 30 or 45 days of free game time, but it doesnt say it is not restricted access.

I believe the 15 day check should apply to everything being restricted. My POV is if you are going to do something, you may as well do it properly the first time.

I decided to use a "New Account" code from one of my 9th Age Box in January to play on Pacific shard. Currently I have 2 vet accounts since 1999 and bought two of the pre-release 9th Age boxes to upgrade my accounts using the upgrade code which left me with the new account codes to use whenever. I honestly forgot about those codes until I read here that I could use them still. So I opened a new account on Pacific the end of January.

That account is now on it's 16th day and still is unable to place a house. So, it seems that even the 30 day free codes are restricted as well. Remember now, I paid for those codes and I did enter my CC information to continue paying.

While it seems that the above quoted person may have gotten his way, I feel cheated somehow because I don't see what the rationale is for the restriction. As far as I'm concerned, I should be able to enjoy the status of a paid account as my CC info is on file and in fact, after checking my bank statement, EA did do a $1.00 pre-approval when I activated the 30 day free code.

Having said that, I don't mind a waiting period if it were the policy but my understanding is that is not the case. Especially after this most recent post from Draconi in that, "This first month of prepaid subscription entitles you to all the benefits of a regular subscriber."

 

[Draconi]

Having said that, I don't mind a waiting period if it were the policy but my understanding is that is not the case. Especially after this most recent post from Draconi in that, "This first month of prepaid subscription entitles you to all the benefits of a regular subscriber."

This is why we're looking forward to dropping the "character age requirements" for house placement, once we replace it with trial account status.

Right now, house placement depends on the age of your character, not your account. The post you're citing above applies to Publish 58, which hasn't happened yet.

 

[kelmo]

Will free trial accounts be able to renounce young status, and will they be able to be used to access Siege?

 

[Draconi]

Will free trial accounts be able to renounce young status, and will they be able to be used to access Siege?

Yes, they can renounce young player status.

No, they cannot access Siege/Mugen.

 

[Tina Small]

Misc

We are currently discussing ways to reduce resource farming with trial accounts beyond the restrictions listed above. This may include diminishing the amount of iron ore mined or lumber harvested over time, to prevent flooding the market. This is tentative.

Are you planning to apply the diminishing returns for mining and lumberjacking to just trial accounts, or is this being considered for all accounts? If it's in the works for all accounts, will your character be able to "refresh" itself while logged out or will it have to stay logged in? I'm not necessarily against this idea, but if you're going to apply it to all accounts, please be reasonable with the amount of time before the diminishing returns kick in.

After finally accepted the resource randomization changes, I finally got to the point where I sometimes look forward to doing a couple of hours of what I call "exploratory mining" or "exploratory lumberjacking," trying out new areas in hopes of finding the ever-elusive high-end ore or wood. It's a bit monotonous but still enjoyable because I end up having replenished my supplies for a while. It actually makes going through the grind of GMing mining or lumberjacking feel worthwhile.

I really hope you won't make more changes that merely slow down the scriptors a bit and annoy the rest of us to the point where we no longer find something enjoyable.

 

[Draconi]

Are you planning to apply the diminishing returns for mining and lumberjacking to just trial accounts, or is this being considered for all accounts?

That was only referring to trial accounts