Low shards population solution

[SirZ]

Few years ago I wrote about this thing - but most of users don't agree with my idea.
So... Why in 2013 we still don't have normal free2play model in our game?
I don't speek about cancelling subscription, no. I say about normal free account instead today's trial.
As limitation to free accounts I suggest prohibit building houses. You said - "wow wow, stop... all players will pay a subscription once every 3 months". Yep, but why we can fix this "bug"? If current mounth is not paid - you will not have access to your house. This is simple.

Many peoples now playing on free unofficial shards, why we can't invite they to our shards?
Devs, please think about this. We really need new players.

 

[Mitzlplik_LS]

I agree, it needs to be F2P. I wouldn`t restrict a whole lot of the game,people got to have that feeling of playing a truly free game. I`d restrict peripherals like T hunting level 6-7`s or ML bosses and SA bosses, stuff like that. Definately housing, I`d have a free little hut with a tiny amount of lockdowns. There is alot of ways to make it F2P but there is also lots of ways to make it a very bad F2P game.

Trusting EA to make it a great F2P and not a nickel and dime cash cow is the risk.

I`d be playing right now if it were F2P. The time I have at any given day for gaming is not a whole lot, so in the end its not worth a monthly sub in the summer time....... even though I miss doing things and would very much like to play.

I think there is alot more money to be made in an F2P game of any kind than there is in a sub based game. I know I`ve spent ALOT more money on several F2P games I have played and some still play than I ever have on UO. If UO was in the F2P list,they`d be getting alot more money outa me.... plus money is a great motivator for updates and change within the game.

 

[The Zog historian]

I infer from your infrequent posting that you've missed the frequent times this comes up. The prohibition on home ownership is nothing new; it's the most common proposal. However, there would have to be more restrictions, not just lack of house ownership, but how high a skill can be (80? 90?). Of course, a F2P account could not receive or use vet rewards, or get holiday giveaways. Lest EA open the door to non-paying accounts that players could do things of real consequence with, there would have to be quite a few limitations. But then what encouragement would there be to upgrading to "full play" that we don't have already?

Ninety days for housing is a fair balance. Some people have billing issues. Some people want to take a little break. If it were, say, one month, that means a player who doesn't return soon will lose a house and all non-banked items. If a player is very frustrated, one month , so the player would simply quit for good. EA is better off giving someone three months to think it over.

 

[Prawn]

They should allow f2p accounts with limits (no transfers etc).. and allow only those accounts to only play on the really crappy/low pop shards like napa, sonoma, and lake austin

 

[SirZ]

Ninety days for housing is a fair balance. Some people have billing issues. Some people want to take a little break. If it were, say, one month, that means a player who doesn't return soon will lose a house and all non-banked items. If a player is very frustrated, one month , so the player would simply quit for good. EA is better off giving someone three months to think it over.

I told about not one mouth house demolishing, I told about directly access to the house with non-paid account. This is different things m8.

 

[The Zog historian]

I told about not one mouth house demolishing, I told about directly access to the house with non-paid account. This is different things m8.

OK, друг, now I understand you better. You were talking about prohibiting building houses, but then the 90 days, and I thought you meant 30 days before a house decays.

It is not a bad idea: if an account is not active, then there is no access for any characters. However, that would require a lot of coding, and some players may simply close the accounts permanently.

 

[R Traveler]

Step one - extend 2 weeks trial to 2-6 months trial
Step two - remove time limit from trials
Step three - consider removing few other trial limits.

Leave paid account rules as we have now - once upgraded to paid account you need to pay to have access to game.

 

[Lady Storm]

Smacks Prawn up side his head.... Low population yes....crappy ?? Mister don't show your nose on my shards cause the residents will show you crappy.....

 

[Spiritless]

Many peoples now playing on free unofficial shards, why we can't invite they to our shards?

There are many, many more reasons why these people choose to play where they do as opposed to on EA's servers. I'd wager most of them wouldn't be interested in coming back to EA even if it were free to play.

 

[Lady Storm]

I have heard from many sources that the "other shards of UO" are quite active and a good few are even very full. I cant see why not offering them a boon to switch back to the REAL UO wouldn't be so bad an idea.
As for low population... the truth is many players had to pick a shard when the game switched to 1 house per account.
Now we all know cost of keeping accounts is an issue with some players, lets face it the economy all over sucks.
I know many who quit cause crafting was shelved by the dev ...now this was a few years back mind you and we do have a lot more added but it could use a lot more.
Not everyone likes to PvP or do Factions type gaming. Yes I do know many do like it and that's fine.
Our Dev is trying hard to make what is very difficult if you sit back and think about it.
If the Dev would consider changing out a few rewards on the bod list... perhaps special refinements that stack.... or bigger use count kits..
And for heaven sake we all need get on our old guild mates and friends who left for some of the reasons and more from the past and give them a "hey get your fanny back in You'll like it" routine... we might
Just might get a bigger gene pool.

 

[MalagAste]

I kinda like the idea of extending the free trial period... Would be better if UO had something like a young player experience to offer folk instead of just dropping them in town and leaving them to the wolves.

Another big thing is costs of things. If you try to help newbie players by offering cheap wares some putz from Luna comes and buys you out to over price things there and make a profit...

And Storm your right not everyone likes PvP.... or Factions.

Sadly not everyone knows things going on in the game... and if they listened to the BS in Gen Chat for long I really don't think that would endear anyone to UO. You all think the doom saying here on Stratics is bad but have any of you really listened to the chat on shards? It's horrible.

Yes loads of things need upgraded, updated and reworked... but we have what all of 5 DEV's? Just how much do you think they can do? Especially since not all of them Code. Sadly there are any number of things holding UO back..... Not the least of which is the piss poor customer service people encounter.

 

[Parnoc]

Few years ago I wrote about this thing - but most of users don't agree with my idea.
So... Why in 2013 we still don't have normal free2play model in our game?
I don't speek about cancelling subscription, no. I say about normal free account instead today's trial.
As limitation to free accounts I suggest prohibit building houses. You said - "wow wow, stop... all players will pay a subscription once every 3 months". Yep, but why we can fix this "bug"? If current mounth is not paid - you will not have access to your house. This is simple.

Many peoples now playing on free unofficial shards, why we can't invite they to our shards?
Devs, please think about this. We really need new players.

 

[Sprago]

Few years ago I wrote about this thing - but most of users don't agree with my idea.
So... Why in 2013 we still don't have normal free2play model in our game?
I don't speek about cancelling subscription, no. I say about normal free account instead today's trial.
As limitation to free accounts I suggest prohibit building houses. You said - "wow wow, stop... all players will pay a subscription once every 3 months". Yep, but why we can fix this "bug"? If current mounth is not paid - you will not have access to your house. This is simple.

Many peoples now playing on free unofficial shards, why we can't invite they to our shards?
Devs, please think about this. We really need new players.

I like the idea but i would go as far as saying a free to play account would be limited to only fel and absolutly no housing or boat ACCESS. If these players wanted to play in trammel, temur, ilshanr, tokuno and malas or/and own houses and boats they would have to activate there accouts.

 

[cazador]

Why not make it completely F2P and throw in some of the restrictions suggested..

Free period!
-Temporary 7 day housing
( you may place a home that stands for 7 days..so people can play with house customizing (it is a major selling point on the game)
-Skills can't go higher than 90
-no access to heartwood quests/BODS all other quests that have rewards like solen..things like that
-can only farm basic resources.
-no access to underworld.
-give all paid subscribers access to all current and future full expansions(exception of boosters)
-Basic Sub
(All current dungeons,items,content)
9.99 monthly
8.99 for 3 months
7.99 for 6 months
(Could increase interest for returning players to say screw it and sub or even FTP people)
-Gold Sub
(Access to gold sub areas and items)
New resources, wearables
Things that after say 8 months can be cycled to basic subs, gives gold members a 8 month advantage on all new content which gives incentive to purchase it..
13.99 monthly
12.99 for 3 months
11.99 for 6 months

 

[Warpig Inc]

Peas soup is good. Chacolate is good. Chacolate flavored peas soup not so good. F2P is short for abuse. 90 day decay for houses is fine. After one month of non payment on an account anything related to the account becomes public. Houses or boats are publicly open security free containers, axed to deed or I wish to release this. Hey it is about holding a house. Good stuff should be in a bankbox if the sub needs to go.

 

[Lady Storm]

Like Chocolate... Pea soup is only good if its fresh and with a good chunk of ham hock... now on the biz of F2P...
I have one I play with daughter in law... (trying to understand how she thinks is key to not disagreeing with her) and its all about money... good items all cost real cash... if UO ever got that bug and Everything good cost you $ I for one would leave the game.
Sorry to you all on that point... I greatly disagree with the F2P idea...
Look a quite a few years long ago we all said right here in Stratics that we would be willing to pay more for better service and more content... where did that get us?
The lead Dev took it to mean they could raise the cost of UO from the 9.99 to the today price of 12.99 a month. WoW was charging 15$ and they were not alone...
Did we get better service? Did we get more content?
Both are in the eye of the beholder... (my opinion mind you we got some service...and some good and some bad content that hurt us more then helped)
The biggest selling point to UO is the FREEDOM to do what you want WHEN you want it and for how long.
In a way I wish new players could get a tour of the game and the world we live in.... to see the whole world they are about to buy up close like a Disney tour.
They would be safe to look around, See players at what they do, nothing could hurt them while on the tour.... Every corner of the dungeons, land and sea...
See craft items and what they can do with skills once built up.. home construction... or placement instruction...
We need a fully visual of what UO is and can be done here... new players come in and feel in short order... well.... they have told me they feel dumb.
This can lead them to walk away ... and you got to admit for some of you returning vets of over 5 years time the game is a bit daunting in feel too.
Things have changed from your last visit to UO.

 

[startle]

..... The biggest selling point to UO is the FREEDOM to do what you want WHEN you want it and for how long.
In a way I wish new players could get a tour of the game and the world we live in.... to see the whole world they are about to buy up close like a Disney tour.
They would be safe to look around, See players at what they do, nothing could hurt them while on the tour.... Every corner of the dungeons, land and sea...
See craft items and what they can do with skills once built up.. home construction... or placement instruction...
We need a fully visual of what UO is and can be done here... new players come in and feel in short order... well.... they have told me they feel dumb.
This can lead them to walk away ... and you got to admit for some of you returning vets of over 5 years time the game is a bit daunting in feel too.
Things have changed from your last visit to UO.

IMHO this is a brilliant idea that deserves more conversation here.... Hey Storm, start a new topic on just this...

 

[cazador]

How would everyone feel about an updated crafting system? Everything needs a recipe. From chain to plate to leather? With different types I'm talking Lesser,Greater,Fortified,Protected,Magical? All recipes stack..would be hundreds upon hundreds or recipes..only attainable through BODS..and what they do is give a non property bearing stat on each piece made..so say you have a magical tunic recipe..and the magical tunic in order to make it you need 100 Rubies, 10 White Pearls and 30 Barbed Leather..and it could be a random roll of anything "magical" Mana regen,LRC,Int Bonus,LMC.. And is tiered based on skill so
100% Intensity is as follow
LRC-25
Mana Inc-10
MR-4
LMC-10
And to achieve maximum intensity you would need 120 tailor.100 Armslore and 120 Imbuing and even with that you have a 40% chance of maximum Intensity of any one..so if luck is in your favor you could get a blank piece of armor with say 4 Manaregen and base resists..that's reforgeable/imbuable/enhachable/powderable" talk about a grind for suits and recipes that would keep crafters busy for "a LONG" time! And never have to leave the tailor shop "technically"

Kinda off topic but would keep players busy

 

[The Zog historian]

How would everyone feel about an updated crafting system? Everything needs a recipe. From chain to plate to leather? With different types I'm talking Lesser,Greater,Fortified,Protected,Magical? All recipes stack..would be hundreds upon hundreds or recipes..only attainable through BODS..and what they do is give a non property bearing stat on each piece made..so say you have a magical tunic recipe..and the magical tunic in order to make it you need 100 Rubies, 10 White Pearls and 30 Barbed Leather..and it could be a random roll of anything "magical" Mana regen,LRC,Int Bonus,LMC.. And is tiered based on skill so
100% Intensity is as follow
LRC-25
Mana Inc-10
MR-4
LMC-10
And to achieve maximum intensity you would need 120 tailor.100 Armslore and 120 Imbuing and even with that you have a 40% chance of maximum Intensity of any one..so if luck is in your favor you could get a blank piece of armor with say 4 Manaregen and base resists..that's reforgeable/imbuable/enhachable/powderable" talk about a grind for suits and recipes that would keep crafters busy for "a LONG" time! And never have to leave the tailor shop "technically"

Kinda off topic but would keep players busy

No. We have reforging and imbuing. The game needs other things first.

 

[cazador]

Smoke and mirrors baby! That's the only thing people get..the games been needing tiles fixed for 15 years..and now people have this delusion that things that are needed are going to get done..c'mon Zog it's the same as reforging and imbuing..a system put in place to keep you busy so you don't quit..not because either were needed..that's what I proposed..many many many hours of gameplay until people beg for another addition to grind on for weeks

 

[The Zog historian]

Of course each new method of crafting keeps us busy, because it allows us to make better items, and of course new content is to keep players interested so they don't quit. You act like new content is meant for something else.

We have a lot of control now, though. Crafters have been given a lot of love, and it's time for other things.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

They should merge all shards into a free to play classic rules server (but where the zero damage spell bug is fixed, everyone has at least 2 blessed Faction runic, and special moves are allowed) with a new truly 3d client that looks and operates exactly the same as the current 2d client, complete with bugs, for a classic feel.

This can easily be coded by changing all "if" statements to "then" statements, and changing all 0s to 1s.

If then then if
If if then then.
Find 0 =1
Find 1 =0

Run.

All problems solved.

-Galen's player

 

[cazador]

They should merge all shards into a free to play classic rules server (but where the zero damage spell bug is fixed, everyone has at least 2 blessed Faction runic, and special moves are allowed) with a new truly 3d client that looks and operates exactly the same as the current 2d client, complete with bugs, for a classic feel.

This can easily be coded by changing all "if" statements to "then" statements, and changing all 0s to 1s.

If then then if
If if then then.
Find 0 =1
Find 1 =0

Run.

All problems solved.

-Galen's player

You always have such insightful thought provoking posts. I'm just really upset you didn't talk about shadowbane, and all it's glory!

/end sarcasm

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

You always have such insightful thought provoking posts. I'm just really upset you didn't talk about shadowbane, and all it's glory!

/end sarcasm

The sad thing is that what I say in plain sarcasm is not too far off from what others say in absolute sincerity.

How long ago were the expert coders of U-Hall proclaiming with absolute sincerity that pre-AoS systems easily could be restored by striking code?

How many people proclaim a random solution to "save" UO from the impending threat of the latest PvP-based competitor to be "the only way?"

Only difference between my sarcastic posts and others' sincere ones is sincerity levels. When UO finally does shut down, most business ventures do not last forever, everyone who proclaimed its imminent death since Trammel was introduced will declare themselves vindicated, and forget the 13+ (minimum) intervening years.

-Galen's player

 

[Parnoc]

They should allow f2p accounts with limits (no transfers etc).. and allow only those accounts to only play on the really crappy/low pop shards like napa, sonoma, and lake austin

You didn't make any friends on this comment but then you probably don't care..........nice if you knew of what you speak instead of your jaded view from afar.

 

[AppleJax]

If current mounth is not paid - you will not have access to your house. This is simple.

That's a good idea. The house would still take three months to fall, but nobody would be able to go into the house or access anything in it until the account was paid for.

 

[Heimi]

UO going free to play, what a fresh and innovative idea!

 

[FrejaSP]

I sure want to keep the normal subscribing but would like to see the time limit removed from Trial accounts.
I also like the idea of unpaid houses can't be accessed, but will still stand the 90 days.
About making Trial accounts F2P
Housing:
Let them buy a token for a small classic house. The house will stay for a month.
To add a month more to the house, they have to buy a new token and activate it in the house. It will start decay after a month if not repaid. Can activate max 3 token = 3 month at the time.
That will be the only kind of house they can own.
Traveling:
I see no reason why they should not be able to go to Felucca, some of them want to PvP but only limit their choose of skills, to the old ones from 1997, no stealth , no imbuing, no garg char, no elf char.
But limit them from going to to Ilshenar, Tokuno and Ter Mur /Abyss.
And no shard transfer.
Let them pay for a week or a month access to one of the 3 facets.
Else I think the rest of the limit from trial accounts are fine.
If they want more, let them pay for temp access to something.

 

[SlobberKnocker]

I've come to the conclusion that these threads are a waste of time. EA has people employed with very savvy marketing skills. They could come up with their own platform to promote the game but do not. At this point its probably not more than a nice little cash cow. there is not much resources devoted to it and the people that do work on it do the best they can under the circumstances. You have seen a large player decided migration to atlantic. once this runs its course its probably all over.

all things have their day in the sun. were in the sunset.

its really funny. years back all you would see is complaints how rampant cheating drove people away from this game. it was never fixed and largely those left rarely complain about it anymore.

 

[MalagAste]

Why not make it completely F2P and throw in some of the restrictions suggested..

Free period!
-Temporary 7 day housing
( you may place a home that stands for 7 days..so people can play with house customizing (it is a major selling point on the game)
-Skills can't go higher than 90
-no access to heartwood quests/BODS all other quests that have rewards like solen..things like that
-can only farm basic resources.
-no access to underworld.
-give all paid subscribers access to all current and future full expansions(exception of boosters)
-Basic Sub
(All current dungeons,items,content)
9.99 monthly
8.99 for 3 months
7.99 for 6 months
(Could increase interest for returning players to say screw it and sub or even FTP people)
-Gold Sub
(Access to gold sub areas and items)
New resources, wearables
Things that after say 8 months can be cycled to basic subs, gives gold members a 8 month advantage on all new content which gives incentive to purchase it..
13.99 monthly
12.99 for 3 months
11.99 for 6 months

I like the F2P idea only lock skills at 70 can't go over 700 points... include leathers...... in basic only and restrict bank box to only 70 items. But I think we could allow them a 15 day house that is only 8x8 max size. Basic might secure them a house but only up to 12x12.

 

[cazador]

I like the F2P idea only lock skills at 70 can't go over 700 points... include leathers...... in basic only and restrict bank box to only 70 items. But I think we could allow them a 15 day house that is only 8x8 max size. Basic might secure them a house but only up to 12x12.

It wouldn't hurt current players all it would do is be a bit of incentive to play..14 day trial isn't exactly ideal for a brand new player..could take hours and hours to even learn where dungeons are..heck how to even talk in game, party people. Never mind learn how to get/make suits..what type of builds to play, how to set it up..how to gain proficiently..14 days just isn't enough..indefinite F2P with extreme restrictions and a newbie FTP dungeon and a better start tutorial would bring in some new blood for sure..who wants to buck up and throw 12.99 at a game that's 15 years old and looks like it..not many if any..and creating multiple FTP trial accounts to really learn it..just doesn't work.." indefinite FTP..heavy restriction"!!