I haven't been active in UO in 6 or 7 years.

[HerculesSAS]

And I have questions about things, and comments about things. Hah, you may have already guessed that.

I hear rumblings about a "classic" server, and like is said in the sticky, that means different things to different people. But one thing I did want to comment on, is that we have to have an understanding about what people that actually is. I started playing UO in high school. I'm thirty years old now, with two kids and a wife that take up a lot of my time. The idea of a classic server tickles me greatly; however I know that my time constraints are vastly different than the time I had playing through high school and college.

I would ask, that if there is a consideration for a classic server, things that are outside of the scope of "how will it work" should be addressed. For example, do you really want to do the 8x8 macro protection, slow skillgain, RoT, etc? If so, then you can write me off now -- I don't have time for that kind of stuff, and I am not in the mood to circumvent it because I have better things to focus my time on. Oddly enough, over the years I did play UO I made lifelong friendships with people, and we still game together in an "on again off again" basis, keeping in constant contact with other guilds we gamed with. I would imagine the network of people I still know that are interested in UO are in the hundreds. And largely, they all agree. Nobody has the same time to devote to the game any more, and nobody will stick with it if it's onerous to do so.

So I think that point is made... if a classic server is being considered, don't make it annoying, make it so we can 'get up and go' at a reasonable pace, and just enjoy the warfare, politics, intrigue, and roleplaying that the world of UO afforded us all.

That aside... I have some questions... I am unsure if the client nowadays is any better than what UO launched with. The creation of macros was atrocious, having an 'always on' chat window limited the amount of keys you could work with, the dragging of spell icons to random places was terrible, etc. I wonder if any of that has been updated? Additionally, things I've seen in programs like Razor or UOAssist like a buy agent, sell agent, auto equip -- you know, the niceties that made UO a pleasure rather than a burden, is that all available now? It probably won't be a dealbreaker, however I do believe that it will definitely affect the longevity of my gameplay. I don't want to fight the controls, I don't want to think about them because they are fluid and well integrated. So another thought for the classic server veterans that may make a comeback, this is an important point to think about.

Anyway, if the classic server makes a comeback with a reasonable ruleset and things that make me enjoy it rather than fight the system to enjoy it, then I'll be a customer yet again. If it's chosen to be a burden in the hopes that it will "keep me playing" I'll cut it short here -- I won't. And I doubt many others will either. The thing that will keep me playing is events, not skillgain and boring macroing to skill up a character. GM assisted events, or PvP events, or CTF events, etc... all of these things are possibilities on freeshards that all enjoy a healthy population with a classic ruleset. If you can make that happen for us... we'll all be back. And if not, well... I wouldn't bother trying.

 

[Derium of ls]

I know that the majority of people said as long as it's a pre-AoS server they will be happy.

I think the smart thing for EA to do (if they decide to let us have the server) is to announce it, then get feedback from people.

 

[HerculesSAS]

I know that the majority of people said as long as it's a pre-AoS server they will be happy.

I think the smart thing for EA to do (if they decide to let us have the server) is to announce it, then get feedback from people.

Like I said, I'm not talking about the mechanics and actual ruleset (though I do agree), I'm talking more about what the shard rules for macroing, skillgain, and ease of advancement will be. People will play the game if it's easy to get into, something you can enjoy for a few hours and log off. Nobody wants to macro for weeks to get a usable character, trying to cirumvent arcane anti-macro rules like 8x8 or RoT or whatever else system has come along since I've gone. People want a character built up pretty fast, because the addiction to UO isn't in building a character, it's in playing the game. That's why events should be the hallmark of the classic shard, keeping it alive in spirit, keeping it competitive and fun, and keeping people coming back for more and not having to invest hours and hours to do it.

Because if I wanted to invest hours and hours, I'd just play WOW.

 

[Derium of ls]

well, to a lot of people back in the day the enjoyment did come from working your skills. When I hit GM smithy and stood with others at the brit forge, I felt like I had a badge of honor on my chest.

Now you can have a God character in a few days. You no longer put your focus on advancing your character and you need something else to do. I think that's why we got away with no big updates for such a long time back then, and now we need them every 6 months or we quit.

so to me I'd have to cast my vote on an in between stage. I still want to work for my skills, yet not hardcore enough where it turns too many people away.

as for WoW they went the same direction. it use to take you a long time to advance (not so much in levels). It took a dedicated 40+ people many many tries to down a boss. Now you can start as level one, RAF yourself, hit max level in less than a week, then DKP yourself into the best gear in two days.

It's just the sad state MMOs are going. True we have MANY more players now, but most of them are casual gamers or new to the game. That's why WoW is so popular, it holds you by the hand every single step of the way and tells you what to do. Most players need that now.

so again, I'd be upset if skill gains were as easy as they are now (might as well let people start out as 6x 120's).

remember, skill gains also build community. Brit forge and the bone wall are two good examples, now everyone uses their mule in their own home, and the bone wall is now AFK golem smashing. Without players banning together to gain/use skills then we need to rely on things like events to keep people together.

 

[Slayvite]

I know that the majority of people said as long as it's a pre-AoS server they will be happy.

That in itself is a lie.
People will allways want the `old days` untill they have to re-live it.
Back in the day hacking/speed hacking or just blatant exploits were rare but so common.
Now everybody and their dog know how to do it.
It would take more resources than they have in all 3 departments to stop `cheating` on a classic shard.
The only option they would really have open is to make a shard like now but dis-able all add-ons after AoS.
You imagine fighting any mob that has extra defence when you dont.

It's a good idea but that is all it will ever be. Remember a few years back they told us they had lost the original disc's so `backwards compatible` would be impossible.......
.....Unless they lied then their is a few major law-suits that could possibly be brought forward due to the recent changes in MMORPG law.

Except UO as it is or leave and let it die. That's the only real option you have.

 

[Derium of ls]

just because we want pre-AoS doesn't mean we want cheating.

but uhhh, how does one go about losing source codes? Seems rather silly, given new free shards pop up all the time that are pre-AoS, and some of those servers are BETTER at stopping cheating/scripts/dupes than official servers.

 

[Beer_Cayse]

Not really - I am reliving it now - elsewhere. Two elsewheres, really. No, I do not have an active EA account to endanger. I am one of those who would gladly accept a pre-AOS classic/custom shard. I also would drop membership elsewhere to rejoin EA as a paying customer to do so.

Until that time I am "elsewhere" and waiting to see what happens.

 

[Cupid]

Ahh the bone wall, I would play a classic shard as long as it is not inclusive of the hourly crashes and constant reverts, I have fond memories of putting up a row of boxes to stop the ettens which I killed with a firewall and then awaited the excitement of turning grey when someone walked into my firewall, or for turning grey at the bank for no know reason and getting ganked and going to cove to fight the orcs and the Dread Lords wiping us out, I seriously have fond memories as it was exciting as hell. I often tell my brother who got me into cpu gaming how I yearn for those magic times I recall, playing C&C the first run through or Doom 2 and then UO. WOW did not have the magic, not by a long shot, I fear I will never feel that way again.

 

[Meat Elemental]

just because we want pre-AoS doesn't mean we want cheating.

but uhhh, how does one go about losing source codes? Seems rather silly, given new free shards pop up all the time that are pre-AoS, and some of those servers are BETTER at stopping cheating/scripts/dupes than official servers.

This makes me wonder why people would want to pay for a classic shard when they are already there to play free. I don't care for a classic shard but if I did and those free ones are good I would play there.

 

[Derium of ls]

This makes me wonder why people would want to pay for a classic shard when they are already there to play free. I don't care for a classic shard but if I did and those free ones are good I would play there.

why do you pay to play yourself then? there are freeshards that are almost an exact copy of current UO.

after you ask yourself that, I'm sure our answers are pretty much the same as yours.

 

[Meat Elemental]

One big reason i don't play free, but don't wana start another of those arguments...

 

[Derium of ls]

One big reason i don't play free, but don't wana start another of those arguments...

yeah that's a fast road to a locked thread. But my point was a lot of classic people don't want a free shard just as much as you don't want one. that's why we stick around.

 

[sevan]

yeah that's a fast road to a locked thread. But my point was a lot of classic people don't want a free shard just as much as you don't want one. that's why we stick around.

Agreed. I had been tempted to try the latest "classic" free shard that shall not be named and got a lot of attention. As others conspiracy theorits have hinted, it would not have suprised me at all to learn that EA was pushing off the decision/announcement until they saw how much real interest was in *that* launch to help support their decision and/or justify it to the higher ups at EA. However, the flaw in this theory is just what you said - there are many UO players both past and present/active that will not play on non-uo shard even if they were interested in going back to some form of pre-AOS classic shard type.

Over the past few years and even more so the past few months while waiting for the other shoe to drop (ie annoucement/videor), I have read the debeate threads pro/con for EA startign their own classic shard and can see both sides of the argument (nostalgic/interest vs real world dev team staff/resources). For me personally, I am just holding my breath that it happens so that I can finally go back to pre-AOS as I much preferred skill based traning and char development to what we have now. I play for fun when I have time off work not to make my head hurt calculating resists, item properties etc etc.

 

[HerculesSAS]

why do you pay to play yourself then? there are freeshards that are almost an exact copy of current UO.

after you ask yourself that, I'm sure our answers are pretty much the same as yours.

I agree with this.. I don't think that a free shard will have the momentum that a real shard would have.

That said, I eagerly await the decision, but can anybody answer my question about the client and tools? I see there's a new "beta" client, but I don't know how good or bad it is, and how usable it might be.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

but can anybody answer my question about the client and tools? I see there's a new "beta" client, but I don't know how good or bad it is, and how usable it might be.

You probably refer to what's called the "Enhanced Client."

It has gotten mixed reviews.

Those who use it regularly, however, tend to like it a lot.

-Galen's player

 

[HerculesSAS]

You probably refer to what's called the "Enhanced Client."

It has gotten mixed reviews.

Those who use it regularly, however, tend to like it a lot.

-Galen's player

I hope then that they decide to use that client, and actually "enhance" it properly for use in the game.

 

[Magdalene]

Hey you! People above! Knock off the free/pre-something/cheating talk! It's not what the OP asked... and it can be slippery, if you know what I mean...

 

[Domnu]

Hey you! People above! Knock off the free/pre-something/cheating talk! It's not what the OP asked... and it can be slippery, if you know what I mean...

Elephant in the room.