Returning Player shocked about Imbuing..

[soco]

Hello everybody,

I get straight to the point:

Why on earth is the community NOT in complete uproar about imbuing and it's negative effects on the crafting community.

I know a few years ago we wanted some control over how the points are spread when using runics. Thats been a demand for a long time since the whole implementation of this BOD reward system.

What apparently happened now with SA is: Instead of giving crafters the ability to control how mods are spread they have become obsolete for anything other than crafting exceptional parts (which anyone at GM level can accomplish).

I'm definately not one of those old returning players denying progress. I really love the new enhanced client with the new usability, looks and feel. Gargoyles and stuff.. mmmkay.

But IMBUING? I can't stress this enough... *gets a heart attack*... IMBUING??!


SA is live for half a year now, I mean it went though alpha and beta stages. What on earth were you thinking?

Are the players really happy about this? "OoOoooh, New skiiillz.. yes gimme gimme plx!!"


Is there something in the works of providing crafters with similar abilities when using runics? Maybe there's something in the works I don't know of...

I'm still in the process of learning about all the changes. Maybe I completely missed something about this. I Hope so.


Greetings from a returning player

 

[Frarc]

Imbuing is the best thing that happend for my crafters. I can make anything a player desires. I'm not sure what problem you having with imbuing.

 

[Gilmour]

you can achive much higher total weight with runics than you can with imbuing

advantage with imbuing is you select which stats you want, meaning no wasted stats which evens out or give imbuing a bit of an advantage.

and dont forget you cannot powder imbued items.

and that imbuing is a craftskill also.

 

[Taylor]

I don't see imbuing as having a negative effect, but an equalizing effect. You no longer have to grind BODs for months and months to obtain verite/valorite runics in order to craft something worthwhile. Now, you can craft armor with barbed runics or weapons with normal ingots and turn them into something that will sell for millions.

Even on Atlantic--UO's most populated shard--there is a huge market for imbued items. This is a multimillion gold market for crafters. The price of POF has also increased sharply, so BOD-runners also have a new market. The market has also broadened: everyone can afford to spend a few million on a nice suit, whereas before very few were able to afford top-end suits.

Take a second look at imbuing. I think you'll find that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Welcome back to UO!

 

[Gilmour]

dont forget the low level runics sell like mad, to make into stuff to unravel to imbuing materials

 

[Stupid Miner]

Is there something in the works of providing crafters with similar abilities when using runics? Maybe there's something in the works I don't know of...

I'm still in the process of learning about all the changes. Maybe I completely missed something about this. I Hope so.


Greetings from a returning player

You'll want to know a bit more about what you're ranting about. Crafting has never been as community oriented than now since... well a long time.
Every crafting skill has its own niche, and imbuers are crafters too, so why pretend there's a class of "true" crafters based on the old skills. Crafters make stuff, by imbuing or smithing or fletching.

Oh, and it makes the item creating process not suck anymore

 

[Evlar]

In the context of the importance of uber-items since AoS, such as atrifacts, along with the utter randomness given the effort and resources used for runic items, then Imbuing was probably the best thing they could implement in the game. Certainly for overall balancing of items and putting more control back in the hands of the players.

Although I don't particularly like it, I understand and accept that Imbuing, or something similar, was required. (I don't like the overbearing importance of items. Period. I feel it's changed the mindset of the player-base and dominates game play too much for my tastes. I preferred items when they were perhaps viewed as more of a means to an end and both character and player skill was more important.)

The down-side though, as I see it, is that other crafting skills have become little more than supporting roles to Imbuing. For example, there's no value to GM or even Legendary smithed or tailored items, apart from being a component of something to imbue.

There's plus an minus points whichever way you look at it.

 

[soco]

Thanks for the insightful and constructive feedbacks (and the welcome back wishes).

Evlar, I agree with you on most parts. Something had to be done.

Yet I'm not inclined to believe it was imbuing. Anyways, I will (have to) live with it and hope they slightly overhaul the crafting system somewhen to give more control over item stat distribution to all those smiths, tailors, carpenters, tinkers and fletchers. Plus Reworking the BOD system to make it less complicated and a little easier to achieve for the majority of the players.

I know those changes are easier said than done! And that's why they created Imbuing I guess. It's easier to implement something completely new.

The main reason for my animosity against Imbuing is not the skill itself. Its just that it makes my smith feel utterly useless. I don't plan on using Imbuing and I definately won't transform into a gargoyle (because that's what a friend of mine suggested saying "take this token, transform into a gargoyle and get imbuing if you're really still into that crafting thing "). So whats left for me as a Smith? Exactly, I HAVE to learn how to imbue.

Because crafters (that actually want so sell weapons and stuff) nowadays have to have imbuing skill. And this is the big fail in this scenario for me..

 

[Frarc]

You don't need to be a gargoyle to fully benefit from Imbuing.


If i where you , i would realy invest time in working on Imbuing. The skill don't even need to be on your crafter. I have one imbuer that is combined with crafting skill and the other imbuer got no crafting skills at all.

With imbuing you will find extra hours of playing to get ingredients or to make gold to buy the gems.All the junk items you find from huntting or thunting or Sos bottles all have a good use when you can unravel them for magical ingredients for imbuing. I have often general chat open to see if someone in need of a imbuer. And always the people are happy if i can make what they want. Its realy worth the time to invest in imbuing.

How often you find a nice mace weapon but too bad you wanted it was a fencing one. Well with imbuing you don't have that problem.

 

[LeBaiton]

The reason there is no big uproar is because a lot of people like it for what it is: a way to make super items in an extremely easy way. IDDQD anyone?

Oh the irony...

Everyone has their own crafter and their own imbuer by now. All the vets who are still playing this game, myself included, are well pampered in that department. So you'll hear a lot of crafters saying "it's good", but the system doesn't contribute to socialization with other players in any way whatsoever. Who needs other players in this game when you can make god-like items by training up imbuing and snapping your fingers?

In theory this system makes looted PvE items worthwhile because of the "no decay", except that imbued items don't decay fast enough, a 255 durability powdered item will last years with careful repairs. You craft an item once, you'll never have to look back. Plus PvE can't compete, because it's impossible to find pieces like the uber ones you can imbue in PvE, which makes PvE pretty much useless, except for farming artifacts and, oh dear, imbuing mats...

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The last person to turn off the light in UO won't be a PvE'er, but most likely a crafter/PvP'er who has never spoken to a single person online in this game besides perhaps the occassional "OMG u h4xx0r" leetspeak after a fight at Yew's moongate or something...

So yes, there are negative points. Yes, there are people who, just like you, are appalled by the system in place, just don't expect to ever belong to the majority here...

 

[soco]

Aaaargh, evil Frarc, go away, don't lure me into liking the idea of using imbuing!

(Ooh, you're from Drachenfels as well. Good to see. Population has considerably dropped as it seems..)

 

[Tazar]

Personally, I do not use any imbued items. Imbuing has given players a choice between accepting a lower total item property intensity and stats that fit better with other items and a non-permanent item, or a higher total item property intensity with more random control over properties - yet a permanent item.

I do not use any imbued items in my suit. I prefer to pump my items up to maximum durability and still be able to do so again in the future. I also prefer being able to max out the suit at much higher intensities than would be possible through imbuing.

For newer players or someone with less resources, Imbuing gives them a chance to compete better.

I think Imbuing was a good choice overall and seems fairly well balanced against the normal crafting methods... of course until folks reach the maximum imbuing potential on a suit, they have little reason to push their suits further through high-end runic crafting.

 

[Frarc]

Aaaargh, evil Frarc, go away, don't lure me into liking the idea of using imbuing!

(Ooh, you're from Drachenfels as well. Good to see. Population has considerably dropped as it seems..)

Evil perhaps. But you should realy think about it. Maybe one thing you will say,Hey Frarc, you where right,Imbuing is great!

 

[soco]

@ LeBaiton:

In former times I was obsessed with maxing out every possible skill that exists but due to my limited play time the enjoyment had sufferd. Thats why I've chosen to focus on a few chars I love to play (my miner / smith is one of them) and the game was fun again all of a sudden. I enjoy the interaction with others and can perfectly live without being able to craft everything out there by myself.

A lot of people I know now have Imbuers because they simply adapted to the system change. But yet they, in all honesty, hope for a major crafting overhaul. They just don't stress their concerns as much as they probably should. Not everyone is active on stratics forums (I'm mostly reading-only myself). I'm not alone and I don't think I belong to the minority. There are a lot of people out there thinking the same.

... of course until folks reach the maximum imbuing potential on a suit, they have little reason to push their suits further through high-end runic crafting.

That's it, basically! There's no sense in crafting runics other than to wait for THE ONE part (because it's still completely random) you can sell to players like Tazar.

That's not much of a difference to what it was before imbuing you could say now. Yes! And that EXACTLY gets me back to the point WHY the crafting system needs an overhaul!

Imbuing should be an addition, not a replacement!

 

[Cetric]

IImbueing

 

[Specialshoes]

Imbuing is a great addition to blacksmithing and tailoring. I sometimes cant even keep up with the orders.

 

[UOKaiser]

Don't worry soco you are not alone. Many of us know that the crafting,challenge,pve,and merchant is either dead or dying. You just going to find the opinion on stratics a minority as most stratic posters are PVP,RP players or spend more time in stratics than actually playing the game and when they do they want things fast and easy.

Just do what most players are doing lately. Log in, max out in a couple of months, uninstall and come back to see only the events.

 

[Taylor]

You just going to find the opinion on stratics a minority as most stratic posters are PVP,RP players or spend more time in stratics than actually playing the game and when they do they want things fast and easy.

So sure you speak for the majority? I'm in UO's largest guild. Haven't heard any complaints from our folks.

 

[UOKaiser]

So sure you speak for the majority? I'm in UO's largest guild. Haven't heard any complaints from our folks.

I am very active with many guilds and take time out to hang out in most shards. This is just the case. Don't even need to bother with word of mouth. Just look around you. Easy to notice changes some more obvious than others. Look in the shops, look at the population at a peak time, look at any content outside of SA, Even look at content inside SA does more people have a imbuer that didn't bother with crafting before? Are these people even interested iin crafting or do they use there imbuer for less than 50% of there total play time and consider themselves a crafter? You notice more pvp players lately because there is less trammel players? Alot more newbies but what happend to the vets?

Just look around. Word of mouth is one thing but the proof is with our own eyes.

As I say imbuing is fun. But whats fun for us is not always right. They made it too easily accesable, too easily aquired, too easily to max.The system place every other system in Uo since Uo first began obsolete. It is a total replacement and everything is by itself is nothing compare to it. The worst of it is it's the end game for almost everything but PVP. This would be ok if it took many years to reach it. But it takes a casual player maybe 6 months to do so unlike every other system which takes so much time yet we all keep paying 10+ years to reach each of our goals. There still some goals out at least thats keeping us afloat but the decrease of goals worth doing that take long time are dimished immensely.
Oh and events. Reason why all of a sudden they being pushing events every chance they get. They now know UO can't be left on autopilot and survive like it used to because of these changes. If they stop making new content and things to keep us busy with new goals Uo will sink. They removed the goals that kept most players paying without interaction.

 

[soco]

So sure you speak for the majority? I'm in UO's largest guild. Haven't heard any complaints from our folks.

Well, maybe your folks didn't think about the "big picture" yet?

I'm not saying Imbuing is broken or something. It technically works and players are happy with the results. That's a fact.

But that's not what this is about.

 

[Taylor]

Well, I'm afraid I can't speak for "many guilds" on "almost every shard"--only the biggest guild, on the biggest shard. We are a purely PvM guild with nearly 700 members. The vast majority of our newer members are returning vets. We have numerous artificers who stay very busy. Those are my observations.

 

[popps]

Hello everybody,

I get straight to the point:

Why on earth is the community NOT in complete uproar about imbuing and it's negative effects on the crafting community.

As I personally see it, imbuing was a blessing precisely for new players and returning players.

Why ?

Because it makes it easier (and faster and cheaper) for them to build up a suit and weaponry that is competitive with older, existing players.

Before, with the inflation that had plagued UO a new or returning player would have needed a MUCH longer time and MUCH more gold to get fit and competitive.

Now, even though there still is work to do the gap can be closed in less time.

The problem with crafting is more related to the lack of wear and tear in items, artifacts included.

The fact that items can last forever or for a very long time (imbued items included...) is what really breaks crafting coupled with the fact that now, over 7 characters in an account and with soulstones, pretty much everyone has a crafter and thus, no need to rely on external services.

I have said it before that the only 2 things which crafting really needs is :

1 - a more serious wear and tear for items ;

2 - a limitation for accounts to be able to use both fighters AND crafters on the same one account and same shard. Crafting skills should be limited so that if one wants to excel in fighting for that account they can only also have a limited crafting capability (i.e. crafting skills for that account will not raise past, say, a level of 70 in the skill). On the other side, if one wants to master crafting skills for that given account on that shard, then fighting skills for that account on that shard will not be able to go past a limit (say 80 to be able to defend in some cases....)

But I was jumped at saying that my proposal would limit players' freedom of choice (which it would not, since it would only be a limitation on the same one shard and players would still have the freedom to experience fighting on one shard and crafting on another for the same one account....) and so here we are, with crafting pretty much a personal thing and not a role that a player can actually endevour to interact with others.....

Crafting "used to be" one of the jewels in Ultima Online but now, for non crafting-friendly design choices over the years, IMHO, it no longer is a viable profession.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

no text

 

[UOKaiser]

Well, I'm afraid I can't speak for "many guilds" on "almost every shard"--only the biggest guild, on the biggest shard. We are a purely PvM guild with nearly 700 members. The vast majority of our newer members are returning vets. We have numerous artificers who stay very busy. Those are my observations.

Returning vets leave. Most newbies don't stay. The numerous artificers will eventualy be all 700 members with at least one character that can do it. They won't need anybody else.

The guild you speaking about is United We Fight in Atlantic. With a little over 400 vet members and 675 total members. As you can see atlantic is harder to notice these things because we always had a large population. But you can still notice. Luna houses dropping, spots opened all over. But it's the other shards the smaller ones that you truly see the difference. To think UWF has the most members and is the largest PVM guild in the largest shard but yet it's only up to 675. We all know these are not individual these just a sum of multiple characters which are in the same guild and other guilds. This number is to low it should be 1000's or at least atlantic should multiple guilds with members at your count but this isn't the case.

Pss.. I have a character in there as well. Being there for a long time. But it's a secret lol.

 

[MalagAste]

Personally I just made a new character and worked Imbuing on it and he's more of a hunter than a crafter ... yes he can make things really neat things imbuing but really ... he's my Mystical Mage rather than anything else. He makes due with his skills and can craft some really neat things.

But as Galen pointed out ... those things will be destroyed over time... but the things my crafters make can potentially last forever.

Somewhat of a trade-off i suppose, but not that bad.

And as everyone else has said Imbuing has done nothing but boost the crafters to a whole new level.

 

[Taylor]

Around 700 members is critical mass for large guilds. At this stage, guild chat becomes too crowded, tensions grow, and folks leave to find smaller guilds. We've fluctuated between 500-700 members for some time. That's just what happens in big guilds. We also do not actively recruit--if another guild decided to do so, they might break this 700 member ceiling .

Not everyone will have an artificer, because not everyone is interested in crafting. Not everyone was blacksmiths or BOD-runners prior to imbuing. People's interests differ greatly, which continues to provide a good balance of skills.

I was a returning vet at one point. I've no plans to leave.

 

[UOKaiser]

Personally I just made a new character and worked Imbuing on it and he's more of a hunter than a crafter ... yes he can make things really neat things imbuing but really ... he's my Mystical Mage rather than anything else. He makes due with his skills and can craft some really neat things.

But as Galen pointed out ... those things will be destroyed over time... but the things my crafters make can potentially last forever.

Somewhat of a trade-off i suppose, but not that bad.

And as everyone else has said Imbuing has done nothing but boost the crafters to a whole new level.

Your crafter should never be a hunter. Thats the problem. Crafters are crafters most of the time in the game.
There is no trade of. Nearly Perfect item that can be replaced in 10 minutes but takes many months before needing replacement compared to a random item that the more perfect it is the more years it will take to even get close to it but never need to ,just need to find or craft something better which in turn takes many years to accomplish.

 

[UOKaiser]

Around 700 members is critical mass for large guilds. At this stage, guild chat becomes too crowded, tensions grow, and folks leave to find smaller guilds. We've fluctuated between 500-700 members for some time. That's just what happens in big guilds. We also do not actively recruit--if another guild decided to do so, they might break this 700 member ceiling .

Not everyone will have an artificer, because not everyone is interested in crafting. Not everyone was blacksmiths or BOD-runners prior to imbuing. People's interests differ greatly, which continues to provide a good balance of skills.

I was a returning vet at one point. I've no plans to leave.

The next biggest guilds are about 300 members of. The only way they can break that is if they take members from larger guilds or smaller guilds. Though I prefer to count the veteren members as they have more substance to it.
The thing with having a imbuer is that it is easy to do. Bod runners and blacksmith to be worth it took commitment. It wasn't something you could just handle in minutes. It was almost a full time job. With imbuers it's part of a battle template and it takes minutes to get the best of the best in that class. This is why everyone will eventually have one. It's easy, fast and the benefits are god like. You only need to train it once and thats the only thing that takes time. Materials are easily farmed or bought. it's way too simple,fast. You don't need to be dedicated to imbuing or even semi conscious to create the most powerful items in the game within minutes.

 

[Adol]

I agree with the original poster to some degree; when I came back, 5 months ago now, I was shocked too at how my crafter, who was once the second most valuable partner in my account's home, was literally only ever asked for Golems from her tinkering now; or base GM weapons and armour for use in being Imbued. I also had to take mining off her, as she needed Arms Lore and later, the mining was required for my T-Hunter instead. As someone who played when Britain Blacksmiths was a true community haunt, that was a change in usefulness that really saddened me...

Imbuing has allowed me to squeeze more skills onto her template I guess; She's 120 Tailoring, rising to that in blacksmithing, GM Arms Lore, Carpentry, Bowcraft, Tinkering, and the rest of the points are in Magery and Music, which with jewels I can push high enough for all the crafting that needs those two. Which I get to use once really, as most players long ago bought the housing addons etc they need. Bah!

... but there is hope on the horizon! The Adventures of the High Seas booster will, I trust, give us ships and cannon to repair. So, at the risk of sounding completely wrong, I'll be taking my Muffin the mule down to the docks instead, where she will service sailors! But we'll have none of that salty language thank you! Respect your crafting wenches!

 

[Lynk]

Imbuing made the game fun again.

 

[MagicStar]

Thanks for the insightful and constructive feedbacks (and the welcome back wishes).

Evlar, I agree with you on most parts. Something had to be done.

Yet I'm not inclined to believe it was imbuing. Anyways, I will (have to) live with it and hope they slightly overhaul the crafting system somewhen to give more control over item stat distribution to all those smiths, tailors, carpenters, tinkers and fletchers. Plus Reworking the BOD system to make it less complicated and a little easier to achieve for the majority of the players.

I know those changes are easier said than done! And that's why they created Imbuing I guess. It's easier to implement something completely new.

The main reason for my animosity against Imbuing is not the skill itself. Its just that it makes my smith feel utterly useless. I don't plan on using Imbuing and I definately won't transform into a gargoyle (because that's what a friend of mine suggested saying "take this token, transform into a gargoyle and get imbuing if you're really still into that crafting thing "). So whats left for me as a Smith? Exactly, I HAVE to learn how to imbue.

Because crafters (that actually want so sell weapons and stuff) nowadays have to have imbuing skill. And this is the big fail in this scenario for me..

yea but you can make stuff for people to imbue themselves now people will buy that crappy item you made that just has 1 mod at max and raise the rest themselves
you can craft with any lower end runics and still sell stuff instead of giving it free or just plain chucking it

 

[Yalp]

rolleyes:Imbuing is fantastic for crafters! Really!

From filling bod deeds to get low end runics, to burning those runics up... my crafter has never been busier. Have you seen the price of Powder now days? Even selling low end runics is good business. Then add in repairs... since imbued items seem to take more damage more frequently.. and you can see, crafters aren't hurting.


What is hurting.. the runic duping business... and I for one.. couldn't be happier about that.

 

[ohmyGED]

Ironically, it provides a BALANCE for the most part --- including new or casual players. Giving the opportunity for new players (and even veterans) the ability to create a suit with more than decent specifications without searching for the "perfect" piece each time allows an easy ability to adapt to the ever change environment of UO.

Minus the high end artifacts that cost several tens of millions, most people can get onto the field, and do relatively well, if they have some skill....whether PvM, PvP, crafter, etc.

In short, it helps everyone out.


Pfft....I do, however, remember the days where you HAD to search for those specfic runic crafted pieces.....and I DO NOT MISS THEM.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

SA is live for half a year now, I mean it went though alpha and beta stages. What on earth were you thinking?

SA has been live for a year and two days.

Imbuing has gone through several revisions since the beta test. It hasn't destroyed the crafting market, mainly because it requires exceptionally made equipment if you want the maximum item weights.

It allows players the opportunity to fine-tune their suits to better match their playstyle. This is a good thing.

Imbuing also made its items impermanent fixtures in the environment, meaning eventually they will wear out. Again, not a bad thing as this gives crafters a reason to make things still.

Imbuing did impact the runic market, but since that had mainly become the pervue of dupers selling valorite hammers, I'm okay with that.

 

[Lord Urza]

Imbuing as it is works fine IMO, what needs to be looked at now is "Loot" imbuing has made it nearing pointless to loot from corpses, except to unravel items for componants to be used in imbuing.

A little tweaking to the other crafting skills, and an adjustment to loot would put us on a good path.

I would have rather seen imbuing not placed in game, I have a 120 imbuer, make and use imbued items, and wouldnt mind one bit to see the skill taken out of game today lol. Id be happy to see it removed funny enough.

 

[UOKaiser]

Imbuing as it is works fine IMO, what needs to be looked at now is "Loot" imbuing has made it nearing pointless to loot from corpses, except to unravel items for componants to be used in imbuing.

A little tweaking to the other crafting skills, and an adjustment to loot would put us on a good path.

I would have rather seen imbuing not placed in game, I have a 120 imbuer, make and use imbued items, and wouldnt mind one bit to see the skill taken out of game today lol. Id be happy to see it removed funny enough.

I wish there was only a little tweaking needed. But what can they actualy do to random generated items on corpses to be wanted enough to farm for that can even compete and surpass imbuing. I think they were trying this with those new artiacts. But the problem is we know which monsters drops them and they always have the same stats plus the same name. It's just not the same the heart of the hunt is missing.

 

[Sergul'zan_SP]

Yes, base crafting skills are more of a hurdle than anything else. Got a crafter and no imbuing? Might as well drop the skills...

Crafting shouldn't be dependent on runics, nor should it be dependent on imbuing. Imbuing does, in a way, help you to craft competitive items...but it shouldn't be absolutely necessary for you to market your products.

 

[UOKaiser]

SA has been live for a year and two days.

Imbuing has gone through several revisions since the beta test. It hasn't destroyed the crafting market, mainly because it requires exceptionally made equipment if you want the maximum item weights.

It allows players the opportunity to fine-tune their suits to better match their playstyle. This is a good thing.

Imbuing also made its items impermanent fixtures in the environment, meaning eventually they will wear out. Again, not a bad thing as this gives crafters a reason to make things still.

Imbuing did impact the runic market, but since that had mainly become the pervue of dupers selling valorite hammers, I'm okay with that.

It converted the crafting market directly to imbuing and only imbuing. Imbuing can be picked up by any slow wited person. There is no creativity in mix and matching stats except for some but nothing compare to how it was.
They wear out but you can craft the same item again in momments. They should of made it hard enough that when it wore out it took months to get the same stats.
The great valorite runic debacle died a couple of months since it started. Mostly because they had to be burned and many of the things that came out where junk. Prices for valorite hammers dropped to 11mil during that time. But once it ended it wen back to 21mil and higher. Imbuing permanently lowered the price and usefulness forever.
It was not that hard getting the high end runics thats why I loved it so. It was not easy enough that someone who puts no time into doing can actually achieve. But those dedicated like myself and for years where able to get a few valorites per month out of our collections. We still can but the effort is just not as worth it anymore when I can make a suit that no valorite runic can compare with in 10 minutes. The want is gone. Imbuing is way too good to ignore and our murderer.

 

[UOKaiser]

Ironically, it provides a BALANCE for the most part --- including new or casual players. Giving the opportunity for new players (and even veterans) the ability to create a suit with more than decent specifications without searching for the "perfect" piece each time allows an easy ability to adapt to the ever change environment of UO.

Minus the high end artifacts that cost several tens of millions, most people can get onto the field, and do relatively well, if they have some skill....whether PvM, PvP, crafter, etc.

In short, it helps everyone out.


Pfft....I do, however, remember the days where you HAD to search for those specfic runic crafted pieces.....and I DO NOT MISS THEM.

This game should never be about balance. Balance is needed in pvp but not true balance as everyone should not have to be a clone. A rock paper scissor type thing is closer but with so much variation it will thousands of variations of that.
In crafting and getting items this is the challenge and the game for most non-PVPers while it's a obstacle to PVPers. We don't mix in this world well.In order to make PVPErs happy so they can be in balance they have give them things easy and obtainable. But for non-pvperes we need the challenge the quest of making and finding and increasing our power especially the more harder it is the more we enjoy it, that is the game to us and our end game Give it to us easy and what are we going to do? Just log in to see the next event and spend our time in stratics.

 

[longshanks]

interesting discussion.

Imbuing allowed the casual player to be able to obtain a really nice suit/weapon, provided he was willing to put the time in to farm up the necessary ingredients.

it succesfully crashed the val hammer market, many of which were so hot they would have burned through your horned leather gloves.

it made miner's/smith's have a purpose especially in the fort powder market. low end bods that most casual players could obtain and sell for a tidy profit.

it made crafting with a tailor useful again using regular sewing kits to get pieces made with certain resists with the goal being to lessen the number of resist imbues needed so that mr, lmc,lrc,mi etc mods can be added.

you are still free to use runic items to craft stuff with higher intensities if you so desire.

it definately leveled the playing field between the rich and poor player.

 

[ohmyGED]

This game should never be about balance. Balance is needed in pvp but not true balance as everyone should not have to be a clone. A rock paper scissor type thing is closer but with so much variation it will thousands of variations of that.

You are speaking for yourself, not the whole population.

As I said, it helps both the casual players and non-casual players. A balance doesn't necessary mean equal, just an ability to put certain aspects of the game on a level playing field. This is based on creating suits or weapons, not a playstyle or skill set.


Three easy scenarios for thought:

I am a new player coming into the game, and I don't know where to begin. I find someone that has the inbuing skill who can create a suit. Instead of searching down pieces of armor as of before, it can be created based on what the character needs.

I am a veteran player that only has so much time to play during the week. I need to adapt my suit for the PvP field because of a new fad template (bokuto / mystic anyone?) but do not want to waste the time searching for new items in a suit. I can buy resources and items and create it myself. Saves time.

I am an elite pvper that has a suit created from runic kits. It has been maxed out and is far superior than anything that can be imbued. Now it just comes down to skill.


Many different scenarios, with or without imbuing. People choose to play different ways, and have different methods.

In crafting and getting items this is the challenge and the game for most non-PVPers while it's a obstacle to PVPers. We don't mix in this world well.In order to make PVPErs happy so they can be in balance they have give them things easy and obtainable. But for non-pvperes we need the challenge the quest of making and finding and increasing our power especially the more harder it is the more we enjoy it, that is the game to us and our end game Give it to us easy and what are we going to do? Just log in to see the next event and spend our time in stratics.

Imbuing doesn't stop the challenges, now does it? I have yet to find someone imbue the bow that I currently "got" from the crafting system:

Composite Bow
Balanced
44% Hit Lightning
46% Hit Lower Defense
35% Swing Speed Increase
44% Damage Increase


Granted, I stole it.....but hey, you can't get that from imbuing. There are still elite items that can be "crafted" but the majority goes for imbuing because it is easier.

Some people like a challenge, some people don't....all depends on the character. I know people that HATE grinding skill, and some enjoy....yet I don't see what imbuing is doing to hinder it....

 

[MalagAste]

Your crafter should never be a hunter. Thats the problem. Crafters are crafters most of the time in the game.
There is no trade of. Nearly Perfect item that can be replaced in 10 minutes but takes many months before needing replacement compared to a random item that the more perfect it is the more years it will take to even get close to it but never need to ,just need to find or craft something better which in turn takes many years to accomplish.

Really? Maybe that's your take.... but my Imbuer gathers his own crafting supplies.... he unravels his own aquisitions... makes him all around useful if you ask me.

Too many times have I heard how crafters can't... imbuer... he can.

 

[Myna]

crafters obsolet? where do you think are the tons of Pofs coming needed for imbuing ... just an example

 

[UOKaiser]

Really? Maybe that's your take.... but my Imbuer gathers his own crafting supplies.... he unravels his own aquisitions... makes him all around useful if you ask me.

Too many times have I heard how crafters can't... imbuer... he can.

Not that they can't is that they shouldn't. To be consider a true crafter you must enjoy your work and actually play the game mostly to craft for yourself and others as the always need you. You should have to rely on others for materials and have to rely on others to give or sell your goods to. Theres only so many characters you have and so many suits you can make for yourself. The rest of the time has to be spent on these transactions. Your name widely known for your work like "Malagaste makes the best suits! or His suits are affortable or you should head to him for it hes a top crafter, or my favorite I saw your work i buy alot of your items they are great." Not well I can make my own or just find any imbuer to make a suit there all the same.

They used to come to me and other dedicated crafters known by name for there suits cause we used to know how to make them well and our Uo time was to do this but now it doesn't matter and we have faded the same way the original gm blacksmith did a long time ago. We have become irrevelent and common. We are now the same as all other players with a imbuer. There is no style no dedication there is only clones.

 

[UOKaiser]

crafters obsolet? where do you think are the tons of Pofs coming needed for imbuing ... just an example

Pof is a low level reward. Easily obtained by anybody who does a little bod collecting. They don't even need to fill large bod rewards.Talk to me when POF becomes at least as difficult to obtain as gold hammers and above.

 

[UOKaiser]

You are speaking for yourself, not the whole population.

As I said, it helps both the casual players and non-casual players. A balance doesn't necessary mean equal, just an ability to put certain aspects of the game on a level playing field. This is based on creating suits or weapons, not a playstyle or skill set.


Three easy scenarios for thought:

I am a new player coming into the game, and I don't know where to begin. I find someone that has the inbuing skill who can create a suit. Instead of searching down pieces of armor as of before, it can be created based on what the character needs.

I am a veteran player that only has so much time to play during the week. I need to adapt my suit for the PvP field because of a new fad template (bokuto / mystic anyone?) but do not want to waste the time searching for new items in a suit. I can buy resources and items and create it myself. Saves time.

I am an elite pvper that has a suit created from runic kits. It has been maxed out and is far superior than anything that can be imbued. Now it just comes down to skill.


Many different scenarios, with or without imbuing. People choose to play different ways, and have different methods.




Imbuing doesn't stop the challenges, now does it? I have yet to find someone imbue the bow that I currently "got" from the crafting system:

Composite Bow
Balanced
44% Hit Lightning
46% Hit Lower Defense
35% Swing Speed Increase
44% Damage Increase


Granted, I stole it.....but hey, you can't get that from imbuing. There are still elite items that can be "crafted" but the majority goes for imbuing because it is easier.

Some people like a challenge, some people don't....all depends on the character. I know people that HATE grinding skill, and some enjoy....yet I don't see what imbuing is doing to hinder it....

Thats the thing PVP consider it grinding and hate it as thats not there game. They are in the game to compete with others in battle. We crafters and PVM are in the game to compete withourselves to make and find better items to improve ourselves. PVP and PVM are opposites but are tied to the same coin. You cannot make it easier on 1 side without messing up the other side. Our current dev are extremley focused on PVP. They tiped the balance to PVP but in doing so ofcourse damged PVM as much as improved PVP. Grinding to us is the game it is UO. Grinding to PVP is a nuisance and a barrier before they can do what they really like. You see what I mean. Totally opposite idiologies

In order for a pvm to get such a item it would take a years and when we get it we are fulfilled. But imbuing makes this very easy to get item almost comparable. We still might continue to try to get such a item but we just skiped like 90% of our game the steps in always finidng or crafting something better to get slowly but closer to our goal.
We not be able to craft and definetely not be able to find such a item in any reasonable amount of time but it's the pursuit of it that we want. Then once we receive it we move on to something better.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Your crafter should never be a hunter. Thats the problem. Crafters are crafters most of the time in the game.

I believe we call those mules…

It converted the crafting market directly to imbuing and only imbuing. Imbuing can be picked up by any slow wited person. There is no creativity in mix and matching stats except for some but nothing compare to how it was.

Heh. See, the lack of having to hunt everywhere to find a piece of armor the made your suit more powerful is the draw to a lot of people. It was a slow, annoying process that we are well to do without.

They wear out but you can craft the same item again in momments. They should of made it hard enough that when it wore out it took months to get the same stats.

Uhm.. No. Nobody wants to farm materials for months. Nobody, aside from you, would be happy with that.

Go farm boura pelts for a while. Having fun yet?

It was not that hard getting the high end runics thats why I loved it so. It was not easy enough that someone who puts no time into doing can actually achieve. But those dedicated like myself and for years where able to get a few valorites per month out of our collections. We still can but the effort is just not as worth it anymore when I can make a suit that no valorite runic can compare with in 10 minutes. The want is gone. Imbuing is way too good to ignore and our murderer.

Perhaps, in the future, the Devs will make runics worthwhile again.

Really? Maybe that's your take.... but my Imbuer gathers his own crafting supplies.... he unravels his own aquisitions... makes him all around useful if you ask me.

Too many times have I heard how crafters can't... imbuer... he can.

Not that they can't is that they shouldn't. To be consider a true crafter you must enjoy your work and actually play the game mostly to craft for yourself and others as the always need you. You should have to rely on others for materials and have to rely on others to give or sell your goods to.

While an economy that detailed might be interesting, and was the original intention for UO, it doesn’t work. It can’t. Unless people are willing to play UO 24/7, in exclusion to all else, there will always be a supply/demand imbalance. Most likely it would be a glut of supplies and the demand for items outstripping the available craftspeople. While this is good for real-world capitalism, it would be highly annoying in a game.

Theres only so many characters you have and so many suits you can make for yourself. The rest of the time has to be spent on these transactions. Your name widely known for your work like "Malagaste makes the best suits! or His suits are affortable or you should head to him for it hes a top crafter, or my favorite I saw your work i buy alot of your items they are great." Not well I can make my own or just find any imbuer to make a suit there all the same.

They used to come to me and other dedicated crafters known by name for there suits cause we used to know how to make them well and our Uo time was to do this but now it doesn't matter and we have faded the same way the original gm blacksmith did a long time ago. We have become irrevelent and common. We are now the same as all other players with a imbuer. There is no style no dedication there is only clones.

The days of the busy Britain blacksmith’s shop are long over. This ended with repair deeds, artifacts and strip malls like Luna.

However, you can make a name for yourself crafting and selling well-thought-out imbued armor sets and weapons. It’s going on GL right now in fact. In Yew a craftswomen named Isuel fashions and sells suits and is quite popular/well-known.

Instead of lamenting the past, adapt and learn to roll with what is expected craftsmen in the present.

Adapt or die.

 

[UOKaiser]

I believe we call those mules…



Heh. See, the lack of having to hunt everywhere to find a piece of armor the made your suit more powerful is the draw to a lot of people. It was a slow, annoying process that we are well to do without.




Uhm.. No. Nobody wants to farm materials for months. Nobody, aside from you, would be happy with that.

Go farm boura pelts for a while. Having fun yet?



Perhaps, in the future, the Devs will make runics worthwhile again.



While an economy that detailed might be interesting, and was the original intention for UO, it doesn’t work. It can’t. Unless people are willing to play UO 24/7, in exclusion to all else, there will always be a supply/demand imbalance. Most likely it would be a glut of supplies and the demand for items outstripping the available craftspeople. While this is good for real-world capitalism, it would be highly annoying in a game.



The days of the busy Britain blacksmith’s shop are long over. This ended with repair deeds, artifacts and strip malls like Luna.

However, you can make a name for yourself crafting and selling well-thought-out imbued armor sets and weapons. It’s going on GL right now in fact. In Yew a craftswomen named Isuel fashions and sells suits and is quite popular/well-known.

Instead of lamenting the past, adapt and learn to roll with what is expected craftsmen in the present.

Adapt or die.

Not just me thats whats fun for US. If I gave you everything within a week which except for rares I literaly can. What will you do then? Hunt for what when you have everything? Craft what when you made everything? Kill what when you killed everything? Look for what when you found everything?Help who when everyone is easily self sufficient? What can you do other than PVP or wait for events? Is there a reason to go on?

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Not just me thats whats fun for US. If I gave you everything within a week which except for rares I literaly can. What will you do then? Hunt for what when you have everything? Craft what when you made everything? Kill what when you killed everything? Look for what when you found everything?Help who when everyone is easily self sufficient? What can you do other than PVP or wait for events? Is there a reason to go on?

That is just self-defeatest gobbledygook and you know it.

You. Must. Adapt. Or. Die.

UO has pleanty of things to do. I've played for 13 years and still haven't done everything, and that probably holds true for most players.

Imbuing isn't going away because you can't evolve with the times and learn where your niche can be. Don't blame Imbuing for the sheer amount of craftspeople, blame yourselves for sitting in your homes waiting for customers.

Go to Luna and hock your wares. Provide something that can't be gotten from a vendor.

Put your big-boy pants on and adapt.

 

[MalagAste]

Not just me thats whats fun for US. If I gave you everything within a week which except for rares I literaly can. What will you do then? Hunt for what when you have everything? Craft what when you made everything? Kill what when you killed everything? Look for what when you found everything?Help who when everyone is easily self sufficient? What can you do other than PVP or wait for events? Is there a reason to go on?

That is just self-defeatest gobbledygook and you know it.

You. Must. Adapt. Or. Die.

UO has pleanty of things to do. I've played for 13 years and still haven't done everything, and that probably holds true for most players.

Imbuing isn't going away because you can't evolve with the times and learn where your niche can be. Don't blame Imbuing for the sheer amount of craftspeople, blame yourselves for sitting in your homes waiting for customers.

Go to Luna and hock your wares. Provide something that can't be gotten from a vendor.

Put your big-boy pants on and adapt.

Agreed.... too much whining not enough playing.

I role-play .... therefore I'm always going to have something to do.... even after I build up all the skills I want on all 50 + of my characters ....

even after I build at least one good mage and melee on every other shard...

Even after i have acquired all the artifacts and even after so many of you quit because there is nothing left for you to complain and bellyache about...

I'm so sick and tired of hearing about how this and that ruined your gameplay.... and how this or that was so dangged fabulous.....

The game is what you make it.... lurking about forums and crying about what is gone or what you can or can't do isn't going to help a thing... it won't improve your game or your gameplay and it's not going to change anything or anyone.

If you hate things sooo much then don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out. Pack your crap and move on... find something you do like because obviously UO isn't it. Though I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say that you won't find any satisfaction in much .... since I think your problem is within.

When you find a real problem to complain about... such as the fact that some monsters seem to remain standing and still have a bar and you can't loot them in the EC after you kill them...... now THAT is something to complain about.

And I've said this more times than I care to count or remember but for the love of god..... would you offer suggestions and solutions rather than just complaints.

Put up or shut up. Offer a solution and or suggestion or just go get some happy pills and call it a day.

This overcritical lifestyle must be wearing to you.