EM Drop Methods

[Jerec KTM]

Lol at that

LoL @ U

 

[Riyana]

You do understand my point tho? That its better for the game to be encouraged to play 1 character well rather than doing the minimum amount possible on 4 to 10 characters?

there are players still holding monopolies. I dont blame them, they put in the time to adapt to the new system. Ill only mention 4runnersport because hes openly embraced the new system in this thread. In his own words, hes getting more drops now than the 100% drop rate he had before. Him and a few other players get every drop. often multiples. so currently about 1/3 of the total drops are going to around 4 players. then there are many who have 2 - 4 characters who also have a much better chance than 1.

My goal is 2 characters, because i have 2 accounts.

However i prefer to play 1 account with a developed character, if i knew i had even slightly better odds than a minimalistic character.
I think most players would also like to have odds at least slightly in accordance with how high their skills are and how well they do.

So, yes everyone does have a chance. However i will have to disagree with you that a monopoly cant be held in the current system.

I think the problem you are describing already existed. Maybe the piles of multi-client toons will be worse now (to the detriment of everyone; thanks so much for the lag, multi-tooners) but even so, more people will still be getting drops who didn't before. Nothing will ever even the playing field between those with greater (in game and real life) resources and better computers and access to more shard tokens and more accounts, but it can be (and I think has been) eased somewhat.

You're saying here that about 1/3 of the drops are going to about 4 players. In the thread that got locked Promathia said his guild was pulling 7 of 10 items sometimes. 33% of drops going to the same few people beats 70%. That still means a lot of people are getting them who probably didn't before.

I don't know how accurate either of these numbers are... but I can see in the Rares Collector forum that items are no longer being posted within minutes after dropping by the same few people every time.

The fact that the same people who were monopolizing before are now "adapting to the new system" to continue monopolizing is exemplary of why it had to become random... or why maybe it does need to be an "everyone" (or no one...) thing. Some people just want to hog everything and don't care who they step on to do it... hence the piles of identical flapping gargoyles and dragons at every. single. event. that make it difficult or impossible to follow the story. Hence the people arguing with and heckling the EMs, and spamming "hurry up" and the like. Hence the complete disappearance of just about everyone when the event is revealed to be a static quest, or the reward not shard-transferable.

You're making a better case for everyone drops (or for stopping drops from being xsharded, or stopping them completely) than for the "half and half" option you are advocating. With half and half you will STILL have the problem of players bringing multiple toons to maximize drops, and many of them will be optimized for max damage. Like they were before. This multiple "event characters" phenomenon is not new. (How someone controls 4+ toons at a laggy EM event is beyond me though...)

On the bright side, I guess that's at least more subscription money supporting the game. That seems to be what we're reduced to anymore... any subscription is a good subscription. :/

Greed is doing so much damage to this game, and the EM events put that in sharp focus. No matter what is done to curb those who would hog everything, people can, will, and do find ways to game the system.

Maybe there needs to be some kind of check on multi-clienting and multi-boxing. (This coming from someone who multi-clients to run player events.)

Or maybe there needs to be more incentive for participating rather than just hitting a monster at the end. Or disincentive for getting in the way and being a general nuisance.

Or maybe they need to enforce the TOS regarding real money sales, as I'm sure that's a major contributing factor in all this too.

Or maybe Kelmo is right and rewards should not be transferable between shards. I don't play Siege... what's the EM event situation like there?

Like I said earlier in this thread, I did pretty well under the old system, especially for not being a specialized "event character" or part of the elite crowd that knew best how to game the system. But I also watched my friends get frustrated and disappointed time and again to see the same few people zerg an event on our home shard, take their prizes, and immediately take them to Atlantic (not even bothering to finish the event) for outrageous prices... while my friends were left empty handed again even though they participated as best they could (and often more cooperatively than those who did get items--and through the entire event). That wasn't right.

Again, "how well you do" is not just how much damage you do, especially at events that are usually an hour or more of RP then a 2-5 minute fight. In my opinion a brand new, un-tokened toon played by someone RPing their heart out and contributing to the story does "better" at an event than a super-maxed character flapping around on top of the EM and saying "all kill" one time while spamming greater heal.

In short, yes. as long as it was quantifiable somehow. i dont know if youve played other games, but being the first, second, even third on a damage/healing meter is very rewarding for many gamers. even if they get no reward / drop / armor upgrade from the entire encounter.

I liked the bragging rights of being at the top of the DPS meter on my WoW hunter, sure. But bragging rights was all it was.

If what you really want is quantifiable evidence of your character's prowess, perhaps consider organizing arena fights--and maybe even petitioning the devs to expand the arena system. Maybe to show each fighter's total damage done, dps, and healing done. (Heck, I bet Pinco could do that in the enhanced client.) Maybe even make it so you can create your own custom monster (with no loot) to fight in the arena! That would be pretty cool! Or advocate an achievement system like WoW has. (My suggestions are WoW heavy because I played it for years... I'm sure there are plenty of other games with great ideas to draw from.) We already have something kind of akin to an achievement system with the various titles you can earn and display.

Your quantifiable evidence should not be tangible, exclusive, extremely valuable items that other players of other playstyles can never get from events that are supposed to be for everyone. Any single playstyle is not exclusively worthy of reward in a sandbox game.

 

[Herman]

You do understand my point tho? That its better for the game to be encouraged to play 1 character well rather than doing the minimum amount possible on 4 to 10 characters?

there are players still holding monopolies. I dont blame them, they put in the time to adapt to the new system. Ill only mention 4runnersport because hes openly embraced the new system in this thread. In his own words, hes getting more drops now than the 100% drop rate he had before. Him and a few other players get every drop. often multiples. so currently about 1/3 of the total drops are going to around 4 players. then there are many who have 2 - 4 characters who also have a much better chance than 1.

Currently about 1/3 of the drops go to around 4 of the same players
another 1/3 go to the devoted eventers with 3or4 characters each
the last 3rd go to the "normal" players with 1 character, who get absolutely no benefit over a fresh noob character from an advanced character token. Do you think that is fair?


My goal is 2 characters, because i have 2 accounts.

However i prefer to play 1 account with a developed character, if i knew i had even slightly better odds than a minimalistic character.
I think most players would also like to have odds at least slightly in accordance with how high their skills are and how well they do.

So, yes everyone does have a chance. However i will have to disagree with you that a monopoly cant be held in the current system. Its better than the old system, but theres room for improvement.

If what you say is true then 12 players playing at average 56 accs make up 2/3 of everybody that go to events and the 4 people with most accs have to have more than 1/3 of every character there to get more event items than they got before if they had 100% dropp on 1 acc
also there will have to be more than double the amount of characters at the events than it was before

I m sry I have done 1 or 2 events the last 2 years but i find this very hard to believe

 

[4runnersport]

No matter what they change they will never be able to please everyone. Everyone has a fair chance now why keep fighting with each other about it? If you guys keep on they may take away events altogether and then you would have nothing to go to. Stop fighting/making polls/complaining about it and lets just play the game. Nothing is going to be perfect

 

[Smoot]

I think most people here are missing my point.

This isnt just about EM events. The drop doesnt really matter, its just a "reason" people have to play.

Players should be encouraged through the games systems to improve their character. The EM drop system doesnt do that. A hybrid system could do that, while also giving a chance to all.

 

[4runnersport]

Both sides of the argument has valid points. I agree with smoot that its not right a newbie char can run in and get a drop. I agree with others that now everyone has a chance. Like I said if everyone continues to fight and they take them away altogether then almost everyone especially the ones that live to collect rares would be very disappointed.

 

[Aiden O'Connor]

Can I haz ur stuffs?

Most people here in UHall wouldn't waste their time going to an IDOC of any of my houses. I already know that. My "stuff" is too mundane, too ordinary, too cheap. I'm pretty passionate about UO, but I refuse to run scripts and I stopped buying gold from brokers quite a few years ago when I realized how pathetic it was. So what I have is what I've gathered myself in almost 10 years of playing and it really does amount to very little because I've spent too much time hopping shards trying to find my own little niche in the world of UO. I don't own one single rare. I still don't own a crimson cincture or any kind of fancy robe with properties on it other than one of those old purple robes with luck on it. Many of my characters on GL and Baja are running around in the lousy armor I put them in 9 or 10 years ago. The ones elsewhere might have stuff I or a guildmate imbued. And some kind soul on Balhae made my tamer there a pretty nice luck suit. But that's basically it. I spend my time training characters and trying to help out random strangers when I can. Doing something different once in a while that doesn't require a 20 million suit would be nice, but at this point i really don't think it's gonna happen.

This was particularly uncalled for, Longtooths. Your true colors shine brighter and brighter every day! I'd rather see Kelmo taking care of this particular matter because, well, he is unbiased in this community and doesn't post snide remarks...

Don't quit,Tina! If you want any advice on effective templates that are cheap and effective to aide in getting you looting rights for the current system by all means please feel free to PM me and I'll help.

 

[Smoot]

This was particularly uncalled for, Longtooths. Your true colors shine brighter and brighter every day! I'd rather see Kelmo taking care of this particular matter because, well, he is unbiased in this community and doesn't post snide remarks...

Don't quit,Tina! If you want any advice on effective templates that are cheap and effective to aide in getting you looting rights for the current system by all means please feel free to PM me and I'll help.

well, looks like longtooths did something right cuase hes the new mod lol

ok this thread is done. it can be locked now

 

[Riyana]

I think most people here are missing my point.

This isnt just about EM events. The drop doesnt really matter, its just a "reason" people have to play.

Players should be encouraged through the games systems to improve their character. The EM drop system doesnt do that. A hybrid system could do that, while also giving a chance to all.

I'm not missing your point, I just I disagree... and I think it's obvious that the drop does matter a great deal to many people, including you.

I don't think you and I are going agree on what constitutes "improving" a character. But do I agree that there should be more "reasons" to play than just EM events and prizes, hence my suggestions regarding the arena and an achievement system. Some more goals in the game would be fun.

I guess the TL;DR of everything I've written in this thread is that I don't think that a tangible "rare" reward should be skewed to reward a certain playstyle (in this case, max damage/healing type characters)... whether that be 100% of items going to top damagers or 50% going to top damagers.

 

[kelmo]

well, looks like longtooths did something right cuase hes the new mod lol

ok this thread is done. it can be locked now

*smiles* No.

 

[Smoot]

I'm not missing your point, I just I disagree... and I think it's obvious that the drop does matter a great deal to many people, including you.

I don't think you and I are going agree on what constitutes "improving" a character. But do I agree that there should be more "reasons" to play than just EM events and prizes, hence my suggestions regarding the arena and an achievement system. Some more goals in the game would be fun.

I guess the TL;DR of everything I've written in this thread is that I don't think that a tangible "rare" reward should be skewed to reward a certain playstyle (in this case, max damage/healing type characters)... whether that be 100% of items going to top damagers or 50% going to top damagers.

I'm really hoping that Virtue vrs Vice is successful. Events are the hardest PVM content in the game, but nothing compared to PVP. If Virtue vrs Vice is a success, giving reason to pvp again i wont have to spend my time wasting away in UO Hall lol.

 

[kelmo]

A few people were wondering about Siege and the EM events... I am pleased to say our EM is very active and we have some nifty events that make for some strange cooperation at time. Really very exciting. And we get drops too.

 

[kelmo]

As a note. I will commit to keeping this thread open. This conversation is getting a little heated and have removed one user from this conversation. Personal attacks will not fly.

 

[Aiden O'Connor]

I guess the TL;DR of everything I've written in this thread is that I don't think that a tangible "rare" reward should be skewed to reward a certain playstyle (in this case, max damage/healing type characters)... whether that be 100% of items going to top damagers or 50% going to top damagers.

May I ask, why, even at 50/50 a play style should not be rewarded? I am curious to understand your PoV and logic behind it. The way I understand what you are saying is this; let's reward the brave and the lazy equally. Let's reward the person whom spends hours contemplating suits and burning through spread sheets of data the same amount as those that just wake up, create a toon with an offensive name and tame a boura to eventually type out, "all kill" and click the champ...

Not trying to be rude, but this is how I interpret what you are stating. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Smoot]

I think it comes down to a difference in how EM events are viewed. UO nowadays isnt exactly a game played for the skill / teamplay / precise optimization of gear. It does still exist, but i think players like that are now a small minority compared to the number of total players.

So, looking at it from the majority of EA UO players Events arent looked at as "content" like other games. Its more of a "lets bring the comunity together for a fun time"

So it depends at how you look at it.
Id like to be rewarded for my efforts at events, but theres also the majority who dont see Events as "end game" content. Yes people would laugh at the idea of anyone being able to do endgame content, like the final raid in wow on a new character. but this is not other games, its UO.

I still like to think a system can be made in which both could be possible, but agree with Riyana that theres other ways to test ones might and skill in UO.

 

[azmodanb]

Like I said on the last one i personally feel being random makes it fun for newer or returning players.. having that chance for a drop to keep or sell to be able to get what they want.. moving around gold.

I don't believe events are end game content. They are events.. places to meet people... get emerged into a story line... or grief others because that's what you like to do. (i do agree they should be muted and frozen if they become to disruptive).. like in the old days on baja.

Anyways.. ill continue to go to as many as life allows me to. One one char.. i enjoy the different monsters .. the story.. and that moment you go back in time... the amount of players around you.. reminds me if the old days.

 

[Riyana]

May I ask, why, even at 50/50 a play style should not be rewarded? I am curious to understand your PoV and logic behind it. The way I understand what you are saying is this; let's reward the brave and the lazy equally. Let's reward the person whom spends hours contemplating suits and burning through spread sheets of data the same amount as those that just wake up, create a toon with an offensive name and tame a boura to eventually type out, "all kill" and click the champ...

Not trying to be rude, but this is how I interpret what you are stating. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Just because people don't play your way does not mean they are lazy. It means they play differently. The continued assertion that it does is, I think, a big part of the animosity between certain groups on this topic. UO is a sandbox game, not a max damage grind.

Some people don't play serious fighters of any kind, just crafters or townies or merchants.

Some people mostly RP and don't have much interest in maxing out damage potential.

Some people mostly fish. Or fight low-end content. Or help new and returning players. Or give all their money and stuff away to others.

The EM events are supposed to be for everyone. If these people come to EM events, why shouldn't they have a shot?

Let me give you an example here. Your logic would label my husband lazy because he doesn't max out suits and optimize numbers on spreadsheets. He's only ever gotten one drop at an EM event, and that was probably because he targeted the boss quickly and the EMs hadn't done the resists right... she dropped before many could even target her.

My husband is 1/2 of the operation of the only auction on our shard and runs or helps run multiple player events per month, some of which are very complex and involved. He's far from lazy--he's just not playing the way you do. In fact, he's contributing to our shard far more than someone who only plays the way you describe does.

I do all the same things my husband does (in fact, I'm the mastermind )... auction and RP and complex player events. I did well with drops under the old system only because I have a really good greater dragon. That I bought from a NM stall. And I was wearing a sorcerer's suit for a long time because it was the best armor I had (and could afford!). So I'm not terribly far from your boura example, but I've put a TON of time and effort into this game nonetheless.

(And clearly the old system wasn't as great at weeding out "lazy" people like me if I was able to do that.)

Should those efforts get a 50/50 chance of an EM drop?

Your definition of 'lazy' erases every effort that every player puts into the game that does not match the way you like to play. I'm not sure why you feel you should be rewarded for playing the game the way you like to play it, while others are not.
EM events are supposed to be for everyone.

What if EM events only or mostly ever rewarded RPers? Would that be fair?

No. RPers are no more inherently deserving of rewards than anyone else attending EM events. (And I ask: why have events that are an hour or more of RP and 5 minutes fighting a monster and then only reward the best fighters?)

Sometimes there are thief events. Sometimes there are PvP events. Fine. But should ALL events be thief or PvP? Should those playstyles be rewarded more than others?

No. Thieves and PvPers are no more inherently deserving of rewards than anyone else attending EM events.

What if EM events only or mostly ever rewarded max damage type players? Would that be fair?

No. Max damagers are no more inherently deserving of rewards than anyone else attending EM events. But because it was done this way for so long, there now seems to be the expectation of that particular playstyle being both better and more deserving of special rewards.

It's not, and 50/50 would still systematically advantage that one playstyle over all others.

Also, there is nothing wrong with casual playing! If a casual player pops in, hits an EM event and gets a drop--that's an exciting day for them and an incentive to come back (and keep paying their subscription!).

UO is a sandbox game and we all play differently. There is no perfect system and whatever is in place will be gamed and exploited, but random gives the fairest across-the-board shot for the most people outside of 'everyone' drops... which honestly I'm starting to lean towards after reading and writing in this thread.

 

[4runnersport]

The stealing events are still based off 1 template. I don't see many people bringing that up as much as the other stuff. Why cant anyone bring any template to a stealing event? It would be hypocritical if anyone complains about the old drop system and not that. Let everyone with any template get a shot at stealing events. Instead theres only a few ppl that have stealing chars made everywhere that pull 90% of the stealing drops. Same problem as the old system

 

[Aiden O'Connor]

What I stated was what I interpreted from your statements, it in no way classifies that I feel I should be rewarded for the way I play the game. You can let your guard down, I'm not attacking you. Your statement made no sense to me and that is why I asked for clarification.

You are right that this is a sandbox and that everyone can play it their own way. I also like that everyone rolls the dice if they can successfully get looting rights. Did I think this way before? NO, but it has grown on me. And I continue to get almost every drop...

Thank you for explaining your side, and I am also glad that you have opened your eyes to a new side of the argument.

 

[Tomarke]

what bugs me about event isn't Xshards. Its the players homegrown and Xhard that all they do is scream and spam "Gimme my item NOW!"
They verbally abuse the EMs, stand on the EM so you can't see the EM, and just generally disruptive. These people are what make events no fun to me.

I came back to the game about 2 years ago and have been to exactly two EM events on my shard. I witnessed the above happening at the very first one I attended and was disgusted. I decided to give it a second chance and attended another but left as soon as the spamming started and never attended another. I have never even seen an event reward and if this is the behavior it takes to get one I don't want it.

I personally think that these uber rare items be removed and everybody who participated in the story be given a token for being present and part of the storyline. I want to go and be a part of the community working towards a common goal and these rewards are ruining this for me.

My two cents...

 

[Longtooths]

This was particularly uncalled for, Longtooths. Your true colors shine brighter and brighter every day! I'd rather see Kelmo taking care of this particular matter because, well, he is unbiased in this community and doesn't post snide remarks...

Don't quit,Tina! If you want any advice on effective templates that are cheap and effective to aide in getting you looting rights for the current system by all means please feel free to PM me and I'll help.

Jokes are uncalled for on the forums? What a sad forum that would be.

 

[kelmo]

Jokes are uncalled for on the forums? What a sad forum that would be.

We will never be short on jokes as long as I am around. *chuckles*

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Since this thread, as I'd likely have to think was intended, is basically the same as the old one, I will re-post my thoughts from there, with some key edits to reflect the fact that I'm in a thread that, technically speaking is different. (Though, really, it's a matter of saying the cat ate your homework vs. the dog ate it, in terms of how different it really is.)

The old system rewarded people who made characters specifically for events and who ignored plot in order to focus solely on getting a drop. The old system, in brief, was hurtful and thoughtless and a mistake on the dev's part, and there's no good argument for resurrecting it. "I no longer consistently get a drop" is not a good argument. Especially since the uber event template is still the best way to get a drop, it's just no longer guaranteed. (In other words the same folks still have the best chance to get a drop, they just no longer have the game rigged in their favor by mechanics)

"Competitive gameplay" also is not a good argument, as the events are about a group of players competing against objective obstacles, not player versus player. If one wishes to compete against other players one has options namely, well, player vs player combat (PvP).

Event templates, really, weren't competitive gameplay at any rate. Guarantee isn't the same as competition when you think about it. Especially when one considers that winning the event pretty much by definition requires others' efforts too, and that events aren't player vs player competition (see above). You don't win a team sport by striking down the others on your team. You may strive to out-perform them as a point of pride but, ultimately, it is difficult to win without a good team behind you, in a team sport. Which the events are, like it or not.

I also have to add that the old event timing system, wherein the events often were not announced in advance, had major, major problems. Namely that people who otherwise were interested often would miss them. My UO career overlapped considerably with the old Seer events. But I never could attend any of them. I often missed the first rounds of EM events as well.

-Galen's player

 

[Great DC]

The new system doesn't fix anything cuase the old one has made too many rares people too much gold already. If say 8 of 20 of the drops go to random people, the rares people will just seek them out and offer the minimum 100 or 200mil for it and buy it off them. Either way it all ends up in the same hands as usual. There may be a occasional exception to this but 98 percent of the time it won't make any difference. Theyll buy it cheap keep it a year or two and sell it for five to tens times as much as they bought it for. From all the events I ever went to, its just been a gaggle of lag and people whining to the EMs saying get on it with i want my drop. And if nothing drops everyone cries and complains like high school children (with a exception of maybe 3-4 people per shard who actually enjoy the stories). Its just sad what has become of events anymore, just read this whole post, makes me want to go even less now.

 

[Smoot]

Since this thread, as I'd likely have to think was intended, is basically the same as the old one,

-Galen's player

I actually posted this thread because the other one was basically just saying the old system was the "right" one. Which i disagree with. (i didnt know the other thread would be locked) I still believe that a slight tweak to the new system could reward all player types, possibly even cut down on the multiclienting, encourage players to become "better" at events, while also allowing everyone to participate and possibly be rewarded.

On a side note, we really should have more everyone drops.
On Atlantic, since there are 3 drops per month i would say 1 should be an everyone drop
Our last one was almost a year ago...

On shards with one or two EMs / drops per month, i think 1 everyone drop every 2 or 3 months would be fine.

This would provide easy gold for all in attendence, and might even make it possible for some of the newer rares collectors to be able to buy some of the more expensive items more easily.

 

[Manticore]

For someone who has attended more events probably than anyone else in this game since Season 1 here is my take.

1. Early days the drops system were up to each EM. Some liked to drop it on the ground, some like to place them on guardian bosses, final bosses, or just random corps. I paid attention to each EMs system and I got items.

2. Then they changed to mainly just on guardians and final bosses. I paid attention learned how to stay alive and deliver damages and I got items.

3. Then they added in clickies, I paid attention and made sure I had chars ready to go and I got items.

4. Then they changed to top damager auto drops. I changed char profiles and I got items.

5. Then they changed to looting rights random drops. I made modifications so that I get looting rights and I got items.

hmm do you see a trend here? To me, it doesn't matter what system they introduce, those who are willing to adapt to the situation will always get items. You can ask for the most fairest system and a few of us will find a way to make that situation towards our advantage. So Developers, please use what precious time you have on other things and not on this. You may try all the suggested above but people like Nails, ShuShu, Souls, Twista, myself and many others will always find a way to increase our chances because that's how dedicated we are to this game.

 

[Lt.Snuggles]

For someone who has attended more events probably than anyone else in this game since Season 1 here is my take.

1. Early days the drops system were up to each EM. Some liked to drop it on the ground, some like to place them on guardian bosses, final bosses, or just random corps. I paid attention to each EMs system and I got items.

2. Then they changed to mainly just on guardians and final bosses. I paid attention learned how to stay alive and deliver damages and I got items.

3. Then they added in clickies, I paid attention and made sure I had chars ready to go and I got items.

4. Then they changed to top damager auto drops. I changed char profiles and I got items.

5. Then they changed to looting rights random drops. I made modifications so that I get looting rights and I got items.

hmm do you see a trend here? To me, it doesn't matter what system they introduce, those who are willing to adapt to the situation will always get items. You can ask for the most fairest system and a few of us will find a way to make that situation towards our advantage. So Developers, please use what precious time you have on other things and not on this. You may try all the suggested above but people like Nails, ShuShu, Souls, Twista, myself and many others will always find a way to increase our chances because that's how dedicated we are to this game.

bravo sir! bravo.

 

[THP]

so by popular choice...........
*everyone drop everytime. every single character at an event recieves a momento
is the winner

 

[Smoot]

so by popular choice...........
*everyone drop everytime. every single character at an event recieves a momento
is the winner

yeah lol. it will be interesting when i run the same questions again in the rares forum to compare results. UO hall... go figure, everyone wants a gumball.

 

[Longtooths]

I would add the caveat that one item per IP address.

 

[THP]

yes why not...it sucks when some folks get 3-4 drops...''purely by luck'' and others get nothing again...''purely by bad luck''/...mmmmm....u go figure..i figured it out ages ago and no longer do them...[whatever]

 

[Goodmann]

It's pretty lame how the system is now. It rewards people by random luck rather than being good at an event. That's why you see more people botting 2-3-4 characters at events now to give them better chances at drops. This change was made because 80% of people could not compete or did not want to conform to making characters that could pull drops. Might as well make the items a clicky one per account (trials do not count)

 

[Promathia]

*shakes head*

So this is still going eh?

EM Events are not solo content. They are not designed to be such. The same people , over and over, should not be the ones obtaining every single prize. Events are community driven, and without the community they would be nothing. Hence, everyone who partakes should have a shot to get the reward (Just like its always been before the switch to top damager).

Now, there are often times different events ran which do take into account an individuals skill and ability. For thief events, knowledgeable people of the game have the best shot. Some events have puzzles, specific skill contests, ect. Now do all of these provide monetary benefits for winning? No, but they assuredly do include some kind of trophy locked down in a specific location or the reward hall on your shard.

Now, if you are saying you liked "Top Damager" because it showed off your skill, then your "reward" doesnt have to be something you make a monetary gain from. As long as other people can go and see how you were the best, isnt that what matters in that line of thinking?


Lets be honest, most of the people who dislike the recent changes, are upset due to drop in profit. I benefited from it for so long, and know many others who did as well. There are those doing worse now because of it, there are also some benefiting just the same if not better.

Some players just min/max everything, whether its your chances, percentages, stats, what you can imagine. In the old system, players who were better at looting, knowing what to look for, ect had the increased chance to get their items. People worked hard on those traits. With top damager you had the same thing in essence, people adapted/adjusted and trained hard to figure out how to min/max their potential. With our new system, can you guess what I'm going to say? Yep you guessed it, people are min/maxing their chances yet again, only this time with accounts.

It is seen in every MMO...wait no, every GAME in existence. Some players are laid back, some players are more intense, and some others min/max everything so they can have an advantage over other players. It isn't luck, its skill which allows people to adapt and change when needed. Some cant keep up and fall to the wayside, some others catch up for the first time.

So, with that said, what system is the most fair? The one we have now without a doubt. Those who want to min/max and be "Better" than other players can still do that. Everyone has a chance if you participate. Drops for everyone wont work, as it goes against everything that causes people to keep doing it like we do, even if you don't realize it. Cutting more people off, is also the wrong move. Min maxers should have an advantage, they always will, but you cant give them EVERYTHING and FORCE players to be like that. Just like if you made it an everyone drop each time, people would lose that inner spirit to keep on going.


Now if that's a case, the system with the most sense would be a hybrid system. Certain % goes to top damagers, rest on 100% random chance to anyone else. Here's the thing, I don't even think its capable right now in UO and if I want the Devs doing something, there is far more that needs work that event drops.

Which is why, I again believe the current system is the most fair option we have available.

 

[Tjalle]

Or maybe Kelmo is right and rewards should not be transferable between shards. I don't play Siege... what's the EM event situation like there?

You rarely, if ever these days, see xsharders at the events afaik so we only have to deal with the event threat and PKs.
Which is as it should be cause that is why some of us play Siege.

 

[Uriah Heep]

TBH, I don't think making them non transferable will stop it anyway. So it cant leave my shard (Legends) so what? The xsharders will merely come to Legends, get the item, then trade it to someone for the item they got on the traders home shard (kinda like gift boxes, ya know).

 

[Gidge]

How about..... The character you bring to the event touch the Magical Totem and gets a buff that increases your chance at drop. Like a major bump in Luck. 10,000 maybe? Or take you up to the highest tier of getting ready to get a drop like in doom etc. This way, that character that did it get's a "real reward". (I am not opposed to shinys)

 

[James Moriarty]

Simple thing is to stop all drops at events. So then people go for entertainment not items. Strange concept in UO, just playing for the fun of it, I know! But it can be done.

 

[Goodmann]

*shakes head*

So this is still going eh?

EM Events are not solo content. They are not designed to be such. The same people , over and over, should not be the ones obtaining every single prize. Events are community driven, and without the community they would be nothing. Hence, everyone who partakes should have a shot to get the reward (Just like its always been before the switch to top damager).

Now, there are often times different events ran which do take into account an individuals skill and ability. For thief events, knowledgeable people of the game have the best shot. Some events have puzzles, specific skill contests, ect. Now do all of these provide monetary benefits for winning? No, but they assuredly do include some kind of trophy locked down in a specific location or the reward hall on your shard.

Now, if you are saying you liked "Top Damager" because it showed off your skill, then your "reward" doesnt have to be something you make a monetary gain from. As long as other people can go and see how you were the best, isnt that what matters in that line of thinking?


Lets be honest, most of the people who dislike the recent changes, are upset due to drop in profit. I benefited from it for so long, and know many others who did as well. There are those doing worse now because of it, there are also some benefiting just the same if not better.

Some players just min/max everything, whether its your chances, percentages, stats, what you can imagine. In the old system, players who were better at looting, knowing what to look for, ect had the increased chance to get their items. People worked hard on those traits. With top damager you had the same thing in essence, people adapted/adjusted and trained hard to figure out how to min/max their potential. With our new system, can you guess what I'm going to say? Yep you guessed it, people are min/maxing their chances yet again, only this time with accounts.

It is seen in every MMO...wait no, every GAME in existence. Some players are laid back, some players are more intense, and some others min/max everything so they can have an advantage over other players. It isn't luck, its skill which allows people to adapt and change when needed. Some cant keep up and fall to the wayside, some others catch up for the first time.

So, with that said, what system is the most fair? The one we have now without a doubt. Those who want to min/max and be "Better" than other players can still do that. Everyone has a chance if you participate. Drops for everyone wont work, as it goes against everything that causes people to keep doing it like we do, even if you don't realize it. Cutting more people off, is also the wrong move. Min maxers should have an advantage, they always will, but you cant give them EVERYTHING and FORCE players to be like that. Just like if you made it an everyone drop each time, people would lose that inner spirit to keep on going.


Now if that's a case, the system with the most sense would be a hybrid system. Certain % goes to top damagers, rest on 100% random chance to anyone else. Here's the thing, I don't even think its capable right now in UO and if I want the Devs doing something, there is far more that needs work that event drops.

Which is why, I again believe the current system is the most fair option we have available.

When did life or UO become fair? I want a 1st place trophy even though I am the 32nd best!!

 

[Tjalle]

Simple thing is to stop all drops at events. So then people go for entertainment not items. Strange concept in UO, just playing for the fun of it, I know! But it can be done.

I´ve also suggested this before but apparantly some people have bills to pay so it doesn´t get much support I´m afraid...

 

[THP]

yah they wouldnt get there.....''UO pay check''......LOL....yes its as weird as it reads

 

[Keith of Sonoma]

Perhaps EM drops could all be made so as to not be eligible items for cross sharding. They stay on the shard they are created for.

Kelmo, I think that is an outstanding idea! I for one, am tired of seeing my home shard (Sonoma) "drops" going to ATL just to be sold. In my opinion it is very sad to go to an EM event and recognize perhaps 1/4 of the players there. Most of the rest being X-Sharders just there to get a drop and get it back home to ATL for the gold.

 

[THP]

Kelmo, I think that is an outstanding idea! I for one, am tired of seeing my home shard (Sonoma) "drops" going to ATL just to be sold. In my opinion it is very sad to go to an EM event and recognize perhaps 1/4 of the players there. Most of the rest being X-Sharders just there to get a drop and get it back home to ATL for the gold.

Welcome to the EM Event programme....Shame really...

 

[Smoot]

Kelmo, I think that is an outstanding idea! I for one, am tired of seeing my home shard (Sonoma) "drops" going to ATL just to be sold. In my opinion it is very sad to go to an EM event and recognize perhaps 1/4 of the players there. Most of the rest being X-Sharders just there to get a drop and get it back home to ATL for the gold.

keep in mind that in todays UO of convenient transfers UO isnt just "shard based" its global. even some of the EM events are starting to "crossshard" storylines. expanding on storylines on multiple shards. Many vets who are both players and collectors play on many shards. Keep in mind that just because the items might go to atlantic, it doesnt mean they will end up there. Items are transfered to atlantic because thats where most trading is done, but many items are then transfered again to a collectors home shard. In many cases items are transfered off shard, sold on atlantic, and then transfered back to the original shard. Plus, with the new random drop system and the fact that theres 15 (used to be 10) drops of a very low pop shard, at least a couple should end up in the hands of Sonoma players and can be kept there if the owner wishes

 

[kelmo]

That is one reason I choose Siege. What happens in Siege...

 

[Jirel of Joiry]

I would add the caveat that one item per IP address.

I'm sorry but I respectfully disagree with this. Why penalize those who have more than one family member in the same household play UO?
My sister and I both play UO, we share an internet connection. While our laptop have different ip addresses, our household server is the same. We are not alone. Tov and Darri are husband and wife and play. Jacked and SageEmily also husband wife. Bearded McNuge and Jasmine McNuge husband and wife. These are just a few from Legends Shard and it a small population server. I'm sorry, I understand where your coming from, but don't "punish the innocent to get the guilt".

 

[Riyana]

keep in mind that in todays UO of convenient transfers UO isnt just "shard based" its global. even some of the EM events are starting to "crossshard" storylines. expanding on storylines on multiple shards. Many vets who are both players and collectors play on many shards. Keep in mind that just because the items might go to atlantic, it doesnt mean they will end up there. Items are transfered to atlantic because thats where most trading is done, but many items are then transfered again to a collectors home shard. In many cases items are transfered off shard, sold on atlantic, and then transfered back to the original shard. Plus, with the new random drop system and the fact that theres 15 (used to be 10) drops of a very low pop shard, at least a couple should end up in the hands of Sonoma players and can be kept there if the owner wishes

Who/what shards are doing crossshard storylines...?

 

[Smoot]

Who/what shards are doing crossshard storylines...?

napa / pacific has a semi-related storyline.

 

[Eärendil]

Current drop system is unfair. Thats why I am bycotting EM-events. Total randomness or gifts for all. Thanks.

 

[Smoot]

So it appears to be exactly a 50 / 50 split as of today, 8/12 between people who prefer totally random (more characters = best chance) to best chance being performance dependent (higher damage / healing = better overall chance on 1 developed character)

Note: I am dismissing the number 4 choice (everyone drop every time) because its not really a valid or realistic option considering the history of EM events / Rare-collector style of gameplay

 

[Promathia]

Current drop system is unfair. Thats why I am bycotting EM-events. Total randomness or gifts for all. Thanks.

But...it IS totally random....