Validity of trial accounts

[Promathia]

I think its about time we sit down and discuss just what trial accounts really provide.

We know for a fact

1. People use them to dupe / exploit without fear of being banned on main accounts
2. People use them to grief / harass without fear of being banned on main accounts


How many people actually use them because they are
1. Coming back to UO
2. Thinking about playing UO for the first time?

 

[FrejaSP]

I have seen several using them to try out the game and later start paying them

 

[Lord Lew]

Likewise, I've met some new and returning players that were on trial accounts.

The problem can be solved by requiring a credit card with a small 5 cent fee or something to make sure the card is valid. That or modifying how they can be used, or more prominently what items cannot be traded to, or even picked up by a trial account. The latter would be much harder as it would require extensive code.

Lastly, no account should be valid unless a credit card is associated with it in some way. Now you could still pay with game time codes, but a credit card would put a face to an account.

 

[Hoffs]

Lastly, no account should be valid unless a credit card is associated with it in some way. Now you could still pay with game time codes, but a credit card would put a face to an account.

Couldn't they just get around this by using one of those disposable credit cards?

 

[Lord Frodo]

I am just woundering if it would not be easier to make a new player shard with a better help menu and if you decide to stay then you pay and your chars are transfered to the shard of your choice for that account.

I also agree with Lord Lew that a CC should be required on all accounts even if they are not used.

 

[Lord Lew]

Couldn't they just get around this by using one of those disposable credit cards?

Nope, disposable cards are fine for over the counter purchases, not so much for online when they need to be authenticated, there are systems that require more than just the zip code or security number on the back of the card. They require name, address and zip, surefire way to track the account.

Yes there will be that ingenious cheat who can figure out a way to circumvent it matching his main, but it makes it that much harder to accomplish.

 

[Merus]

This is just my opinion, but I think there is more to the equation.

One of the key metrics in business usually revolve around statistics. Do you really think it would be that hard for EA to associate a trial account to an identity? Come on. IMO, just like with all those paid accounts associated with illegal sites, EA derives some benefit (even if only on paper) to X number of new trial accounts opened each month.

 

[Vexxed]

I think its about time we sit down and discuss just what trial accounts really provide.

We know for a fact

1. People use them to dupe / exploit without fear of being banned on main accounts
2. People use them to grief / harass without fear of being banned on main accounts


How many people actually use them because they are
1. Coming back to UO
2. Thinking about playing UO for the first time?

I kinda agree but I think the simple solution would be to ...... STOP ALLOWING DUPES. UO is 15 Years old & If I had to guess I'd say there has been 30-40 DUPES through the years. You would think there would be a way to put a stop to this. It seems that with 15 years of history on how to go about coding stuff so DUPES don't happen, some insight into applying that information would carry over to new publishes / systems / tokens etc...

 

[kongomongo]

Sorry to break it to you, but every game is a piece of software. Every software has and always will have flaws. You can't just "stop" bugs.

No game that works like UO is dupe proof.

 

[Aurelius]

I am just woundering if it would not be easier to make a new player shard with a better help menu and if you decide to stay then you pay and your chars are transfered to the shard of your choice for that account.

Problem is, it's such a huge and complex game that unless people are on-hand to help and explain, I doubt anything useful could be done using an 'automated' system.

From our sessions at Brit bank on Europa, we regularly see new and returning players on 'trial' accounts, and the questions they have would take pages and pages of in-game text compared to a few minutes explaining directly - plus, we can explain other related things that are not necessarily obviously connected to the immediate question. People with the experience to explain stuff are unlikely to have the time to spend on a 'new people' shard as well as their existing characters, guild commitments and activities, so really, letting 'new' accounts onto the genuine servers is the best solution, as long as EA get a grip on what exactly those accounts can be used to do, and get their finger out regarding the issues around duping, gold laundering and all the other crap we KNOW has gone on for years and is still going on...

 

[Vexxed]

Sorry to break it to you, but every game is a piece of software. Every software has and always will have flaws. You can't just "stop" bugs.

No game that works like UO is dupe proof.

I'm not suggesting they make UO BUG FREE, but UO has had too many DUPES.

 

[Endal]

How many people actually use them because they are
1. Coming back to UO
2. Thinking about playing UO for the first time?

*Raises his hand* I got a trial account about a month ago (bit more now) and when the time ran out I was able to look up my old account, transfer my stuff that I had earned over to it, and started playing again. Now I just wish I had started playing on a server other than Atlantic


SUGGESTED FIX!
Have all trial accounts supply either a PayPal and/or valid Credit Card number. This way we can trace dupers back to their origin if they try to use this as their method. Ensure players that when their trial account is activated that they will not be charged until the timer is up (though if they wish to speed the process up, they can purchase the game at any time).

Also, if they use fake Credit Cards we can get them on felony charges and then they get banned from life for 2-5 years. (eg)

 

[SlobberKnocker]

so given all the restrictions trial accounts have, the ability to transfer is not one of them?

would make sense to limit the trial account to new haven. make that hodge podge dungeon you installed have some mini champ spawn and make summoning dreglor the impaler be a mini peerless to give those a flavor of the game and move things along after.

the only thing I ever used the trial accounts for was the ability to get a non skilled focus for my main weaver.

 

[FrejaSP]

What about limit Trial accounts to one prodo shard and Siege Perilous

 

[dupapa]

Alot of games tie free accounts to credit cards.

So in my eyes thats a winner,

Anything that makes the abusers lifes harder is positive ..

I know I wouldnt mess if there was no way to a faceless acount. (NOT that I do......)

As mentioned the trail accounts altho abused are also use legit. We should not resitrct them further or make special shards. Just make it so trail accounts hold as much info on the person as real accounts..

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2

 

[FrejaSP]

no but only allow then on a few accounts, would make it easier for devs to keep eyes on them

 

[Lord Frodo]

Sorry this may be long.

With the newest OMG (Tokens) in UO I think it is time UO takes a serious look at what Trial Accounts can and can not do.

Current Trial Accounts

• Players are not allowed to place a house while on a trial account
• Players are not allowed to co-own or be traded a house while on a trial account
• Trial accounts have travel restrictions –
  • Cannot visit Felucca dungeons or Felucca T2A
• Trial Accounts have the following resource restrictions -
  • Will only receive basic ores and logs (iron, plain logs) even if they'd otherwise qualify for better types
  • Will not receive sand or stone when mining
• Trial Account Misc. restrictions -
  • Will not receive ML rewards for resource gathering (jewels, ingredients, and white pearls while fishing)
  • Will not receive rewards, monster kill points, or virtue points from champ spawns
  • Will not get scrolls while doing champ spawns
  • Will not gain Justice virtue points for killing murderers
  • Cannot use Valor or Justice virtues
  • Cannot Protect or be Protected by another player
  • Can not join factions or faction aligned guilds
  • If in a guild they will be removed from the guild, if their guild joins a faction
  • Cannot use Scrolls of Alacrity, Power Scrolls, Stat Scrolls, or Scrolls of Transcendence
  • Cannot use Commodity Deeds
  • Cannot do Community Collections
  • Cannot use Soulstones or fragment soulstones
  • Cannot use Pet summoning balls
  • Cannot use Bracelets of Binding
  • Cannot use the Bag of Sending
  • Cannot do any repeatable quests – even if they are normally repeatable
  • Cannot acquire BOD’s

Trial Accounts also need the following changes/restrictions added IMHO.

• REMOVE THE 15 DAY LIMIT. Here is your Free-to-Play UO.
• All Trial Accounts will start in New Haven.
• Trial Accounts may only use the new Trial Account Chat channel only, no longer allowed in the Help Channel.
• Bulletin Boards will be placed at all Banks and will give the name and current location of any Trial Account player.
• Travel restrictions need to be changed to Trammel only PERIOD.
• May not use any player owned vendor.
• May not own a vendor. This gets an auto go to jail, for both accounts and the person trying to give a Trial Account a vendor can explain it to a GM.
• May not use or have any CHECKS.
• May not use or have any Token.
• May not use or have any Artifact.
• May not use or have any Boss Reward.
• May not use or have any Vet Reward.
• May not be a member of any Guild.
• Trial Accounts will have a new designation with their name, <Name> Trial Account and may not be removed.
• May not redeem any Code from UO or have anything that is made from a code.
• ALL ACCOUNTS WILL HAVE A VERIFIED/VALID CC APPLIED TO THEIR ACCOUNT WHEN AND IF THEY MAKE IT A REGULAR ACCOUNT.

 

[FrejaSP]

Sorry this may be long.

With the newest OMG (Tokens) in UO I think it is time UO takes a serious look at what Trial Accounts can and can not do.

I can't agree with all your changes below

Trial Accounts also need the following changes/restrictions added IMHO.

• REMOVE THE 15 DAY LIMIT. Here is your Free-to-Play UO.
• All Trial Accounts will start in New Haven.
• Trial Accounts may only use the new Trial Account Chat channel only, no longer allowed in the Help Channel.
• Bulletin Boards will be placed at all Banks and will give the name and current location of any Trial Account player.
• Travel restrictions need to be changed to Trammel only PERIOD.
• May not use any player owned vendor.
• May not own a vendor. This gets an auto go to jail, for both accounts and the person trying to give a Trial Account a vendor can explain it to a GM.
• May not use or have any CHECKS. Maybe limit the size to 10k
• May not use or have any Token.
• May not use or have any Artifact.
• May not use or have any Boss Reward.
• May not use or have any Vet Reward.
• May not be a member of any Guild.
• Trial Accounts will have a new designation with their name, <Name> Trial Account and may not be removed.
• May not redeem any Code from UO or have anything that is made from a code.
• ALL ACCOUNTS WILL HAVE A VERIFIED/VALID CC APPLIED TO THEIR ACCOUNT WHEN AND IF THEY MAKE IT A REGULAR ACCOUNT.

I just feel you are going to far, it is trial account meant for new players to test 0ut the game, it is meant to make them fall in love with the game. There will still be enough reasons for them to upgrade to an regular account

 

[Lord Frodo]

I can't agree with all your changes below

Trial Accounts also need the following changes/restrictions added IMHO.

• REMOVE THE 15 DAY LIMIT. Here is your Free-to-Play UO.
• All Trial Accounts will start in New Haven.
• Trial Accounts may only use the new Trial Account Chat channel only, no longer allowed in the Help Channel.
• Bulletin Boards will be placed at all Banks and will give the name and current location of any Trial Account player.
• Travel restrictions need to be changed to Trammel only PERIOD.
• May not use any player owned vendor.
• May not own a vendor. This gets an auto go to jail, for both accounts and the person trying to give a Trial Account a vendor can explain it to a GM.
• May not use or have any CHECKS. Maybe limit the size to 10k
• May not use or have any Token.
• May not use or have any Artifact.
• May not use or have any Boss Reward.
• May not use or have any Vet Reward.
• May not be a member of any Guild.
• Trial Accounts will have a new designation with their name, <Name> Trial Account and may not be removed.
• May not redeem any Code from UO or have anything that is made from a code.
• ALL ACCOUNTS WILL HAVE A VERIFIED/VALID CC APPLIED TO THEIR ACCOUNT WHEN AND IF THEY MAKE IT A REGULAR ACCOUNT.

I just feel you are going to far, it is trial account meant for new players to test 0ut the game, it is meant to make them fall in love with the game. There will still be enough reasons for them to upgrade to an regular account

They can still test out a game and know if they want to make it a reg acc even with all these restrictions. There are far more Trial Accounts being used for illegal means than there are new players and returning Vets put together.

There is no reason that a Trial Account needs to go anywhere other than Tram to know what UO is about and has no reason what so ever to be on SP.
There is no reason a Trial Account needs to use or own a Vendor other than illegal reasons, which is what they are being used for now.
There is no reason that a Trial Acc needs to use or own any Reward. They are again being used to hide stuff off of thier Main Acc.
There is no reason Trial Acc need to use Help Ch. because all they are being used for is spamming gold sells.
There is no reason a Trial Account needs to be in a Guild.
If we have a system in place where we can see if a Trial Account is logged on then we can go into the Trial Acc Ch and offer help to any New Player or returning Vet.
With the restrictions I have suggested there would be no reason to make a Trial Acc other than a New Player or a returning Vet because they would be useless to anybody trying to use them for illegal means.
CC do not need to be used to pay for anything in UO, it would just give UO/EA a means of IDing the owner of the account.

 

[Endal]

I made a few changes. For the most part I agree, but a few places you went skewed a bit. You have to make it so that players can really try as much as they can of the game.

• REMOVE THE 15 DAY LIMIT. Here is your Free-to-Play UO.
• All Trial Accounts will start in New Haven.
• Trial Accounts may only use the Help Channel.
• Travel restrictions need to be changed to Trammel and Felucca only.
• May not own a vendor.
• May not have an excess of 1m gold across the account (this feature is coming soon as I understand)
• May not use or have any Token.
• May not have any Artifact.
• May not have any Boss Reward.
• May not have any Vet Reward.
• May join a Guild that is flagged for trial accounts.
• Trial Accounts will have a new designation with their name where <Trial Account> is permanently displayed in their subtitle.
• May only redeem codes that will upgrade their game. Upon using the code they will be sent into the activation screen. (No Token)
• All accounts must verify themselves with a valid Credit Card or PayPal account upon creation. Accounts WILL be set to renew when the two weeks is up and this must be changed in the account settings if you do not wish to renew (purchase) the game.
• Players may only have two characters on one shard. The shard may be chosen at the player's discretion.

 

[FrejaSP]

They can still test out a game and know if they want to make it a reg acc even with all these restrictions. There are far more Trial Accounts being used for illegal means than there are new players and returning Vets put together.

There is no reason that a Trial Account needs to go anywhere other than Tram to know what UO is about and has no reason what so ever to be on SP. They sure have resons, some played long ago, they need to see the other lands and yes they need to be able to choose SP if they are PvP'ers and see how the game is now.
There is no reason a Trial Account needs to use or own a Vendor other than illegal reasons, which is what they are being used for now. They need to buy armor, weapon, just like all others. There may be a lot they should not be able to buy, buy crafted armor and weapons, potions, bandages, arrows should be ok. Agree they should not be able to own a vendor

There is no reason Trial Acc need to use Help Ch. because all they are being used for is spamming gold sells. Yes there is, they are new players, and should be allowed to use all the chats. If they can't use/trade checks larger than 10 mill, they can't sell much gold.
There is no reason a Trial Account needs to be in a Guild. Yes there is, they may be friends of older players, maybe from other games, who try out the game before buying
If we have a system in place where we can see if a Trial Account is logged on then we can go into the Trial Acc Ch and offer help to any New Player or returning Vet. I find that crazy, why isolate them so much, that they not get the feeling of the game. I do however like the idea of a *Trial* tag
With the restrictions I have suggested there would be no reason to make a Trial Acc other than a New Player or a returning Vet because they would be useless to anybody trying to use them for illegal means. There would be no reason to make them at all! we would not get new players.
CC do not need to be used to pay for anything in UO, it would just give UO/EA a means of IDing the owner of the account. Some can't use CC, that do not make them bad people, we do have game time codes for a reason

 

[drcossack]

Some can't use CC, that do not make them bad people, we do have game time codes for a reason

Right. They may be under 18, and don't have access to a credit card (when I first started playing, I was 17 and had to use my mother's CC)

I can't speak for the duping a trial account would do - even if you told me how to do it, I probably wouldn't know how to do it myself (nor would I even do so. I don't cheat unless it's a single player console/handheld video game), but I used one to see if UO was worth coming back to after a 3 year hiatus. I didn't get to fully explore the SA content, but I felt it was worth returning to the game. I'll be back next month full time because I'm a cheap ass that doesn't want to enter his CC info & will be paying for my extended stay via gold farming.

Otherwise, you pretty much nailed it. For a veteran player returning, it's not necessarily a bad thing if they have access to tokens (though this is what TC1 is for) - if the vet doesn't want to go on Test, they can dive head first into how different the game is. A guild would help them get acclimated as well.

Outside of the current Felucca restrictions, I don't see why trial accounts should be limited further because of duping. The people that would do so would dupe whether they had a trial account or not. I do, however, agree that they should maybe be tied to a CC or something. It's far too easy to just keep making trial accounts that require nothing more than an email address (and something I thought about doing, but I don't remember the passwords to all of my addresses, and summarily can't login to them)

 

[Viper09]

What about limit Trial accounts to one prodo shard and Siege Perilous

No.

What if someone wants to test out the game with a friend on a specific shard? Forcing new players on trial accounts to one shard would do more harm than good.

 

[Fridgster]

Nope, disposable cards are fine for over the counter purchases, not so much for online when they need to be authenticated, there are systems that require more than just the zip code or security number on the back of the card. They require name, address and zip, surefire way to track the account.

I use pre-paid cards to subscribe to UO

 

[MadNezz55]

I think its about time we sit down and discuss just what trial accounts really provide.

We know for a fact

1. People use them to dupe / exploit without fear of being banned on main accounts
2. People use them to grief / harass without fear of being banned on main accounts


How many people actually use them because they are
1. Coming back to UO
2. Thinking about playing UO for the first time?

I havent played in ~9 years. Quit about 6 months after Sam Empires. I just signed up for trial and am playing on SP and having a good time.