Hello UHall! And UO Questions

[matthewjames]

Hi! If you have not met me yet, I am Matthew Reichardt, new Head Community Manager for Stratics. I am eager to get to know everyone and for you to get to know me. If you ever need anything, community questions updates problems feel free to send me a pm or email me .

I had a couple of questions about UO. I was just wondering what the gameplay is like? We all know graphics does not make a good game soley on its own

Nice to meet all of you and can't wait to hear from ya!

 

[Dryzzid of Atlantic]

Welcome!

 

[Kat]

Hiya... It's nice to meet ya MatthewJames.

1. I think the decision to ban the buying and selling of accounts was a really horrible move and I'll tell ya why. RoT is one of the first things that potential newcomer's to Siege complain about. We're doing our best to get that changed, but the ability to purchase accounts has been quite beneficial for those who would just like to log in and get to playing without having to endure RoT. Banning the buying and selling of accounts is detrimental to our community.

2. Any chance the NHB Forum might ever see the light of day again? I didn't post there often, but it was a nice change of pace from time to time. I'm sure the regulars there might [possibly] appreciate its return with the much older version of rules from some years ago, though I certainly do not speak for them as a whole!

Whomever came up with these two changes... Isn't doing a very good job, IMO and doesn't seem to be much of a people person.

If these are topics you cannot help with, who might we direct our concerns to, and how may we contact them directly?

 

[Nexus]

Hi! If you have not met me yet, I am Matthew Reichardt, new Head Community Manager for Stratics. I am eager to get to know everyone and for you to get to know me. If you ever need anything, community questions updates problems feel free to send me a pm or email me .

I had a couple of questions about UO. I was just wondering what the gameplay is like? We all know graphics does not make a good game soley on its own

Nice to meet all of you and can't wait to hear from ya!

First off if you have to realize that UO was ground breaking in many many ways. It really was pretty much the first of it's type to gain popularity. One of the biggest factors in UO is community, trust me I've played EQ, Atlantica, dabbled with WoW, and multiple other MMO's and nothing comes close to the sense of community UO has. Depth is another factor, where most MMO's restrict your character development UO is completely open, you get 700-720 skill points and BAM do with them what you will.

My advice, try the free trial, or open an account for a month play around with it yourself, you'll never get a better opinion than one you form yourself. That's the only way you'll find if the game is to your taste or not.

 

[Lord Chaos]

Nice to meet you too. Honestly don't get intimidated by the threats of for OT'ers, its a short phase.

UO has a lot of depth and different gameplay than other games, it makes it unique, a niche game...but it works very well.

 

[Lost-Soul]

Its definately not what it used to be. UO used to be its own world. Heroes and Villans, Good and Evil, all policed by the player base itself. Now its a watered down version of its former self. People complain, Hack, and Page GMs for every little thing they can. They unfortunately have gone the route of other games such as WoW, where they hold their little pixel carrot in front of ya instead of resolving known issues and problems. Thats my two cents, take it as you want.

 

[Lady Aalia]

Nice to meet you too. Honestly don't get intimidated by the threats of for OT'ers, its a short phase.

UO has a lot of depth and different gameplay than other games, it makes it unique, a niche game...but it works very well.

Really starting to worry bout you... you been saying things that makes sense...

*wink*

But yes, best thing to do is to go out , give it a try on a trial account and meet the people that make UO what it is

 

[Aurelius]

I had a couple of questions about UO. I was just wondering what the gameplay is like?

How do we even begin to answer that ....

You can make any sort of character you want - and play in any style you want. There's no 'classes', at best the occasional template for skills and equipment that fits a particular role or circumstance, but anything 'works' if you have fun playing it. 'Gameplay' in UO can mean constant fighting of boss-level monsters, or full-on roleplaying, or crafting materials and equipment for others, or running shops and vendors, or searching for collapsing houses, or fishing/mining/lumberjacking as a full time resource gatherer..... and a ton of other options, and a mix of any of them in any proportions you like. It's whatever you want to do with your time in the game world.

The starting question is "what do you want from a game?". Tell us that and we'll have a chance of explaining how you can do it in UO - and you almost certainly will be able to somehow

 

[Obsidian]

Welcome, Matt!

I first tried UO in 1999. As I recall, a friend of mine was trying to get me to play. My initial question was, "How do you win?" He just laughed and said, "You can do anything you want in UO... it is just what you make it." He was right. In fact, the same notion goes today. Give it a try and start slow... have no expectations... and start making personal goals to accomplish. That's how UO sucked me in. There is always something next to achieve or to earn or even to build within the community. You won't have elite characters quickly, but with time you'll grow in strength and capability. The other thing to remember is that you are adventuring and socializing with real people on the other end of the ethernet cable. You can make some pretty good friendships in this game if you give it a try and be yourself. Glad to have you on board!

-OBSIDIAN-

 

[Nok]

Welcome aboard Matthew! Much success to you and what you'll bring to Stratics.

 

[Crysta]

Why have us explain the game when you can try it and find out?

Besides, I don't think you could get an accurate description any other way.

 

[Beer_Cayse]

UO - limited only by your imagination. A sandbox where you can be or do anything as long as it keeps within the rules. There are rulebreakers, but many of us hope that soon they will meet their justice. <shrug>

Others have stated it ... get a trial account and try things. Roleplay has good supporters on every shard - some heavier than others. Guilds, PvP, PvM ... go for it.

Myabe someday we will meet in-game.

 

[Ransom_of_BiC]

I just wanted to add that sometimes the 'free trial' time period really doesn't do this game justice. For me, in 99, it took a good three weeks of solid game play for me to figure out what the heck was going on.

My guild and I have played a myriad of MMOs. WoW, Tabula Rasa, SWG, Guild Wars, Warhammer, Conan, Everquest2, Darkfall...the list goes on and on.

There's something about the classic graphics, ease of gameplay and, as someone else mentioned, 'free will' that UO has that can't be found in any other MMO. Toss into that completely customizable housing and you've got just about the coolest **** you can imagine.

We spent 5 years away, and only in the last 2 weeks returned to UO. This was the first time to see the game for some of my guildmembers. They are completely and totally hooked.

 

[Old Man of UO]

UO - limited only by your imagination. ...

Others have stated it ... get a trial account and try things. ...

Download both clients (the older Classic Client and the newer Enhanced Client) to play a bit in both to get a good feel of how they differ. And they differ a lot. But only by trying out each can you begin to understand the disagreements between advocates of each.

Ask for help in game. Join a guild. Try out Factions and PvP. It takes years to adequately cover everything, but I hope you get a sense of the wonder we all had when we started that very first day.

 

[ingsmsico]

I hope you get a sense of the wonder we all had when we started that very first day.

that's impossible on production. the game is totally different than it was. maybe on free shard.

 

[Llewen]

I hope you get a sense of the wonder we all had when we started that very first day.

that's impossible on production. the game is totally different than it was. maybe on free shard.

The industry, and the internet are completely different than they were thirteen years ago. If we had found this game as it is now back then, we would all have been equally blown away, if not more so.

How to describe UO to someone who has never played it?

UO is like the best elements of playing with dolls, without all the gender issues. UO is like what I imagine a medieval Mech Warrior would be. It's every fantasy novel you've ever read jumbled together with the endings removed.

UO quite simply has the most depth of game play, the most freedom, and the most variety of any MMO I've ever played, in every way, including the people that play it.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Its definately not what it used to be. UO used to be its own world. Heroes and Villans, Good and Evil, all policed by the player base itself.

Do not be influenced by this; this is a myth that never represented the daily reality of the UO player's experience.

Now its a watered down version of its former self. People complain, Hack, and Page GMs for every little thing they can.

Nothing has changed on that score. The hacks are different now, I suppose, you have dupes other than the ratman mage dupe Ice Dungeon dupe, and hacks other than the "bank box from dungeon" hack.

They unfortunately have gone the route of other games such as WoW, where they hold their little pixel carrot in front of ya instead of resolving known issues and problems. Thats my two cents, take it as you want.

What amuses me about statements like this is that anything in this game could possibly be anything other than pixels. You do realize everything, even the other PCs, are technically pixels?

-Galen's player

 

[ingsmsico]

What amuses me about statements like this is that anything in this game could possibly be anything other than pixels. You do realize everything, even the other PCs, are technically pixels?

-Galen's player

EC is not all pixel art

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

EC is not all pixel art

I have often noted that computer art, generally, is on these forums called "pixels." And it is, rather clearly actually, in that context that I used the term.

The point is that I do not one bit understand those people who refer to things they do not like in-game as "pixel crack" whereas things they like are "real" content or "real" changes to the game.

None of this is real, regardless of how much one likes it.

An excellent example of this occurred during the Magincia Invasion, when people used to make fun of me for actually fighting the invading demons. "you're just saving pixels," meaning the city. It didn't occur to them, I guess, that rubble was no less, and no more, pixels than the city itself was.

-Galen's player

 

[ingsmsico]

I have often noted that computer art, generally, is on these forums called "pixels." And it is, rather clearly actually, in that context that I used the term.

The point is that I do not one bit understand those people who refer to things they do not like in-game as "pixel crack" whereas things they like are "real" content or "real" changes to the game.

None of this is real, regardless of how much one likes it.

An excellent example of this occurred during the Magincia Invasion, when people used to make fun of me for actually fighting the invading demons. "you're just saving pixels," meaning the city. It didn't occur to them, I guess, that rubble was no less, and no more, pixels than the city itself was.

-Galen's player

I agree I think pixel crack is a term that may apply better in IRL when talking not about getting items within the game itself but paying for items in video games in general. for example:

son: "hey Dad I want a character transfer for my birthday present"

dad: "i'm not buying you any pixel crack, I'll get you a baseball glove"

 

[Aran]

I abhor the term on the merits of everyone likes different things and has different hobbies. There's no sense judging someone for buying e-stuff when you're spending all your cash on getting drunk or whatever foolish endeavor you enjoy in your spare time.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

ROFLs...la

 

[Cyric]

ROFLs...la

qfe

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Memories of the Theafers...la

 

[Cyric]

Memories of the Theafers...la

theif!

 

[Aran]

My favorite UO memory has to be the simplest - Just running around mining way back in the day. Nothing extravagant.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

My fav was when I killed Sunsword on Siege when he came for a visit...la

 

[Llewen]

I abhor the term on the merits of everyone likes different things and has different hobbies. There's no sense judging someone for buying e-stuff when you're spending all your cash on getting drunk or whatever foolish endeavor you enjoy in your spare time.

Good lord, I think this is the second or third time you've posted something that made sense in the past couple of days. I think it's one of the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. I'd better get my affairs in order...

I think I'll sell my accounts and go buy indulgences with the cash...

 

[Cyric]

My fav was when I killed Sunsword on Siege when he came for a visit...la

Killing an EM that went grey during an event...stealing his robe and special sash

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

Did I ever mention I was an EM on Siege for a brief period of time? Damned life got in the way though...la

 

[Aran]

Good lord, I think this is the second or third time you've posted something that made sense in the past couple of days. I think it's one of the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. I'd better get my affairs in order...

I think I'll sell my accounts and go buy indulgences with the cash...

I always make sense. The problem is that everyone else avoids sense.

 

[Der Rock]

Good lord, I think this is the second or third time you've posted something that made sense in the past couple of days. I think it's one of the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. I'd better get my affairs in order...

I think I'll sell my accounts and go buy indulgences with the cash...

I always make sense. The problem is that everyone else avoids sense.

no,sry aran, llewen is right.
its 1 of 100 ratio

this time your post was 1

 

[MalagAste]

matthewjames,

First of all... I pity you... good luck with that job there. *grins shaking head*



As for UO... if you really want to know about UO best thing to do is get a trial account and begin to feel the warm sand between your toes...


You see... UO is a sandbox... filled with many different colors of sand... depending on how creative you are... and how good your imagination is... you can create a magnificent vision... or just dabble... you might build a castle or even a kingdom... or you might be just another Knight... or you could be just a dirty scoundrel... or thief.

UO allows one to explore a world, build a world, or destroy it... You can make friends from every corner of the world... or enemies. There are so many things to do explore and create that even after 12 years it's still FUN...

UO is unique... it allows you to own your own part of land, build on it... invite folk in.... you can kill or be killed, hunt or be hunted... create... explore and then team up for even more adventure...

Its very good for people who enjoy Dungeons and Dragons as well as role-play...

Its biggest limit is your own imagination.

 

[Cogniac]

A suggestion on form: In the "Forum Jump" drop-down menu, you guys should put the shard EM forums with their respective shards, as you have already done with the shard events and shard trade forums.

 

[Aran]

I like how they bought a website devoted to a game they don't know anything about.

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I like how they bought a website devoted to a game they don't know anything about.

Like it was worth anything more than a couple hundy anyway. With their new ads everywhere, they should be able to break even shortly...la

 

[Konge]

no,sry aran, llewen is right.
its 1 of 100 ratio

this time your post was 1

pot calling kettle black. Though... your ratio is... different.

 

[Mapper]

A suggestion on form: In the "Forum Jump" drop-down menu, you guys should put the shard EM forums with their respective shards, as you have already done with the shard events and shard trade forums.

A nice idea!

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I was just wondering what the gameplay is like?

Imagine your first car...not just your first car, but the first car you really, really, loved.

Now imagine that someone stole the hubcaps, painted some flowers and rainbows on the side of it, unplugged a few spark plugs, poured sugar into the gas tank, and removed all of the glass and metal and replaced it with cheap plastic that won't last very long. Also, they set all of your presets on your stereo to Easy Listening.


That's UO today.

 

[StifledArgument]

I had a couple of questions about UO. I was just wondering what the gameplay is like? We all know graphics does not make a good game soley on its own

Welcome MatthewJames!

UO...how to describe this game...
I have played a lot of games. Many were fun and pretty games, but they don't have the soul or depth of UO. I miss my friends from those games, but I don't miss what they were. I have always missed UO when I left even though I don't have a lot of friends here due to odd playing hours (day shift here).

UO can be a timesink (not to the extent of other games), but instead I find myself wanting to sink time into it because there is so much to do that I honestly don't know where to begin. Skill based characters are amazing and fun to work on. If you want vendors, you can do that, if you want to be a crafter, you can do that. If you want to be both, you can. If you want to not do much of anything and redecorate your house, go fishing, go mining, go exploring, sit around and talk (thanks to general chat), do BODs, T-Maps, what have you. There is so much to do, I never have the time in a day or even a week to do it all (or even a month).

I don't agree with the devs on some things they do, but I am thankful to have the game I have been into since 1997 and which caused me to almost failed Advanced Calculus in college.

 

[StifledArgument]

Imagine your first car...not just your first car, but the first car you really, really, loved.

Now imagine that someone stole the hubcaps, painted some flowers and rainbows on the side of it, unplugged a few spark plugs, poured sugar into the gas tank, and removed all of the glass and metal and replaced it with cheap plastic that won't last very long. Also, they set all of your presets on your stereo to Easy Listening.


That's UO today.

Why are you still here? If you hate this game so much, why stay?

 

[Llewen]

Imagine your first car...not just your first car, but the first car you really, really, loved.

Now imagine that someone stole the hubcaps, painted some flowers and rainbows on the side of it, unplugged a few spark plugs, poured sugar into the gas tank, and removed all of the glass and metal and replaced it with cheap plastic that won't last very long. Also, they set all of your presets on your stereo to Easy Listening.


That's UO today.

And this is a troll. She's entitled to her opinion, but she basically says the same things over and over again, every chance she gets. In my opinion UO is still the best MMO I've ever played. Is it perfect? Of course not, but I don't think there is an MMO out there with the depth of game play that UO has to offer.

It isn't level based and there is room for just about every MMO playstyle you could possibly imagine.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Why are you still here? If you hate this game so much, why stay?

Because it's still better than all the other lame MMO games out there, and I stupidly keep expecting it to get better.

 

[matthewjames]

Thanks everyone for the really quick replies! I would for sure like to try UO asap. I will try to get a trial account in a couple of days to start seeing what its like.

Thanks for all of your insight

 

[Arkyn]

Memories of the Theafers...la

Holy crap, people still play UO? =P

 

[Sweeney]

If I was new, I would do my best to gain some experience and not post my ignorance. Use the trial period to get to know the game in the best way you can.

You're just making yourself look like a fool by not knowing a damn thing about the games Stratics hosts.

 

[Arkyn]

If I was new, I would do my best to gain some experience and not post my ignorance. Use the trial period to get to know the game in the best way you can.

You're just making yourself look like a fool by not knowing a damn thing about the games Stratics hosts.

And you're making yourself look like a fool.

Let's see. Just taking what's on the left link-column:

Age of Conan
Aion
All Points
Archlord
Dark Age of Camelot
Darkfall
Dungeons & Dragons
COH/COV
EA-Land
Earthrise
Everquest II
EVE Online
FINAL FANTASY XI
Jumpgate Evolution
Lineage 2
Lord of the Rings Online
Pirates of the Burning Sea
Pirates of the Caribbean Online
Planetside
Stargate Worlds
StarWars Galaxies
The Agency
ToonTown
Vanguard
Ultima Online
Warhammer Online
World of Warcraft



Assuming someone has in depth knowledge of all these games has very little to do with running successful (read: profitable) forums. He's not here as a moderator or to correct flaws in people's posts about game mechanics. He's here to make sure everyone's happy.

 

[matthewjames]

He's not here as a moderator or to correct flaws in people's posts about game mechanics. He's here to make sure everyone's happy.

Thanks for understanding me . I'm so misunderstood

 

[Sweeney]

And you're making yourself look like a fool.

Let's see. Just taking what's on the left link-column:

Age of Conan
Aion
All Points
Archlord
Dark Age of Camelot
Darkfall
Dungeons & Dragons
COH/COV
EA-Land
Earthrise
Everquest II
EVE Online
FINAL FANTASY XI
Jumpgate Evolution
Lineage 2
Lord of the Rings Online
Pirates of the Burning Sea
Pirates of the Caribbean Online
Planetside
Stargate Worlds
StarWars Galaxies
The Agency
ToonTown
Vanguard
Ultima Online
Warhammer Online
World of Warcraft



Assuming someone has in depth knowledge of all these games has very little to do with running successful (read: profitable) forums. He's not here as a moderator or to correct flaws in people's posts about game mechanics. He's here to make sure everyone's happy.

I never said in-depth knowledge.. I said to use available trial periods before asking what the game is like.. you think getting a "feel" for the game is wrong? You're distorting my opinion, and on a public forum you're doing well to ruin my point.

Nobody would have complained if he/she would have taken the time to experience all of the games this site hosts, before he/she posted such ignorance.

 

[Harlequin]

An idea of what UO is like...

The missus and I have played this game for 13 years, since 1997.



No other electronic game have captivated us for such a length of time.