Upcoming Pure Mage publish.

[TB Cookie [W]]

Ok, UO has gone way beyond anything I enjoy anymore.
I am writing from a Pure Mage perspective.

It is too complicated, too many half finished systems, too many obsolete systems, too much inbalance between classes, too much content bias towards gimp dexxers(sampires)/tamers, not spontaneous enough, not simple enough, not fun enough.

Here are my suggestions for the upcoming Pure Mage publish that needs to be implemented. It may appear I'm calling for a nerf on gimp templates, Indeed.

The reason I'm calling for a halt on Gimp templates, is they have superiority across the entire game, and are making everything exactly the same.
Sampires dominate PvM, and can solo pretty much all content - Pure Mages almost cannot solo any higher end content. Which would you chose?
Gimp Dexxer templates dominate PvP (including weapon mages).

• Ingame, I would like to see a working map+party+chat+voice system that works between both clients so all can be involved, so we don't have to be using all sorts of external stuff. Or at least make it so we have far more compatibility than we do now.
• I would like to see the performance gap between EC and CC minimised. Of course EC should not really exist, and it certainly should not be having the superior coding/performance/abilities.
• Recall and Teleport type abilities should operate almost everywhere. All classes should have a basic travel ability. Many potential good content areas are ignored due to the hassle of walking there. Or walking back dead. We don't need this time-sink in the game anymore, there is enough map space.
• Update the Virtue System, and give a decent bonus to those holding Knights in all 8 Virtues. This game revolved around the Avatar, in the way Star Wars revolved around the Jedi Knight. Complete it for goodness sake.

• Characters have to carry too many consumables. It should be possible for characters of all classes to operate without consumables.
• Move away from Gimp Templates - Resist Spells should have a far stronger purpose, and be almost mandatory.
• Bandage Healing should be mandatory for a Dexxer. Make it stronger if necessary to match with Vampiric Embrace etc.
• Dexxers should not be using Necro abilities, it's a casting skill, end of.
• Potion use should be restricted heavily. Make potions only usable by those who have alchemy. Potentially add a PU% {Potion Usage %} property to gear so people without alchemy can chose the ability to use potions or not. But it's a defined choice, with a sacrifice of other properties. {Maybe just remove Potions from Felucca}.
• Allow Dexxers to operate without bandages, much like casters can operate without reagents. Again, give Dexxers the property option of LBC {Lower Bandage Cost} which operates in exactly the same way LRC works for mages. Currrently mages have the huge benefit of being able to cast freely, but with the sacrifice of having their entire armour revolving around this property. Dexxers don't have this. Give Dexxers the same benefit, and the same sacrifice option. This is one of the Differences between classes that promotes inbalance towards Dexxers, they have far wider property options on armour.
• Mounted Dexxers should not be able to use stealth ninja skills - they were built for stealthers on foot.

• Couple for the PvM Rogues. Give them more content. Puzzles, Chests, etc.
  
• Fix Remove Trap. You have invested 100 points in this skill, it should not unhide you when you are in stealth, and successfully remove a trap. This is ridiculous, and nerfs the entire skill into uselessness. Why have it, why not use Magery Remove Trap spell? (which of course people do now). If Remove Trap were working properly, it would be a lot of fun. If you fail a Trap Removal, fair enough if you are unstealthed.

• And now for Armour... I personally hate the armour system. I hate luck, I hate random properties that never match, I hate stuff that wears out on me, I just want to play the game.
  
• Crafters need a Buff, their BOD system is great now, but they cannot compete with Legendary armour, save a few specialist pieces.
• Armour Properties do not make sense, it is far too random and does not suit any class in particular, making 99.9999% of pieces useless, I hate having to figure out this level of detail. Allow crafters to modify it.
• I hate durability on armour. I do not like spending my life fixing my armour, and even worse, when a piece goes, an entire suit has to be rebuilt. If you’ve gone to the effort of building that suit, you should be allowed to keep it, it’s hard enough anyway. Especially considering we have 7 characters on 1 account. Allow crafters to get rid of Brittle, Cursed, properties etc.
• Bring back Item Bless Deeds.

My spellcaster section.

• Ok, the big issue for me, is Magery for example, does not have a counter to many of the things we are on the receiving end of. For balanced PvP, there should be the opportunity of Move, Counter Move, Move, Counter Move, then it becomes a duel of strategy and skill, as well as speed and timing, something that’s been lacking from PvP for a long time now.
  
• My other issue, is the other spellcasting skills, Mystic, Spellweaving, Chivalry, Bushido, Necro are pretty much incomplete, they don’t really stack up on their own. They lack basic abilities, and as above, counter measures.
  
• My suggestion is, to allow Spellcaster to become more like Dexxers in that Dexxers can just change Weapon, and access every single Special going.
  
• My thoughts are, to adjust and widen out the Spellcasting schools (add more spells to each), to make them stand alone better with counter measures, or;
  
• Merge all Casting schools together, which would be a maximum of say 120 spells? I haven’t done the maths, then let players choose say 50 spells they would like to use in their personalised spellbook. That would allow the players to chose spells for their playstyle, very much in the way Dexxers can chose weapons and specials to suit.

Thank you for reading.
Cookie/Wraith/Ben Sherman/Darkknight/Cookie Exodus/Cookie Hunter, and a rogue.

 

[cobb]

lulz

 

[Ender]

Well there were like 4 good points in there so props I guess

 

[transcendent]

I was under the impression that tamers are better than sampires when it comes to doing Shadowguard

 

[transcendent]

What exactly is a gimp template? What would qualify as so? Personally I don't like that label. If a player uses his creativity to come up with a new template that is a bit different, then it is gimp?

I don't necessarily agree that a player should be punished for being creative, especially in a game without set classes. UO is supposed to encourage people to try a variety of temps

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I was under the impression that tamers are better than sampires when it comes to doing Shadowguard

Agreed, I did note tamers also. Sampires can equally do it.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

What exactly is a gimp template? What would qualify as so? Personally I don't like that label. If a player uses his creativity to come up with a new template that is a bit different, then it is gimp?

I don't necessarily agree that a player should be punished for being creative, especially in a game without set classes. UO is supposed to encourage people to try a variety of temps

There is being creative, and there is using skills that really just don't go with that class, and allow them to go far above their class, and every class around them.

You may not like the label, but it is the correct label to use.

UO has diverted far away from what it started out as. Sampire is something that is completely unique to UO, and in my opinion, it is ridiculous.

 

[Heimi]

You boast in GC about not using potions and then come on here and whine about other people using them? Just because you personally choose to weaken an already weak player does not mean they are imbalanced or have a detrimental effect upon the game.

 

[Laura_Gold]

While we're changing the virtue system, we need another way to gain Justice, e.g. killing any red-named monster in any PvP facet.

The problem with killing actual P murderers is that, thanks to the Royal Forged Pardon, it's hard to find them on the underpopulated shards. These days the way to gain in Justice is to have two accounts and use one to kill the other.

 

[BeaIank]

Giving casters spell mana leech and spell life leech on their spellbooks or at one item would do wonders to diminish the gap between them and the dexxer classes in PvM.
Not to mention making content easier to balance since both classes would have similar survivability.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

While we're changing the virtue system, we need another way to gain Justice, e.g. killing any red-named monster in any PvP facet.

The problem with killing actual P murderers is that, thanks to the Royal Forged Pardon, it's hard to find them on the underpopulated shards. These days the way to gain in Justice is to have two accounts and use one to kill the other.

Exactly, that was my point, they need an update. I think killing Oranges is a sufficient update - they are the bad guys to you also.
I would keep it as a PvP virtue, don't include monsters.

 

[805connection]

Giving casters spell mana leech and spell life leech on their spellbooks or at one item would do wonders to diminish the gap between them and the dexxer classes in PvM.
Not to mention making content easier to balance since both classes would have similar survivability.

I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago and I was just thinking about it lastnight,

Just allow spellbooks to be imbued. Fixes everything.

For the record i only pvm in luck suits, and My sampire can do anything in a luck suit lol.....

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

You boast in GC about not using potions and then come on here and whine about other people using them? Just because you personally choose to weaken an already weak player does not mean they are imbalanced or have a detrimental effect upon the game.

I don't use potions, because I don't believe it makes for good gameplay in PvP.
It would be more fun for everyone, if they were not involved.

I don't dismount in PvP, because I don't believe it is a fun playstyle for others if I do.
I don't use scripts in PvP, because I don't believe it's a fun playstyle for others if I do.

As it stands, I allow all my opponents to have more fun, and I soak up all the crap.
No more, I've quit PvP.

Who are you anyway?

 

[Finley Grant]

LOL

That's all I will say to your Post so I dont get banned.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

LOL

That's all I will say to your Post so I dont get banned.

Am I upsetting the Stratics Elite Clique by being here ?

Feel free to add a constructive remark, I'm sure you can't hate all of it.

 

[transcendent]

I think its because you're asking for too many drastic changes all at once

 

[Finley Grant]

Recall should work everywhere

 

[MalagAste]

* shaking my head *

No just no...

* still shaking my head *

 

[BeaIank]

I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago and I was just thinking about it lastnight,

Just allow spellbooks to be imbued. Fixes everything.

For the record i only pvm in luck suits, and My sampire can do anything in a luck suit lol.....

Absolutely, yes.
Allowing spellbooks to be imbued with leeches, slayer, SDI, etc would go a LONG way to make casters far better in PvM.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I think its because you're asking for too many drastic changes all at once

If Carlsberg did Publishes...

 

[MalagAste]

I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago and I was just thinking about it lastnight,

Just allow spellbooks to be imbued. Fixes everything.

For the record i only pvm in luck suits, and My sampire can do anything in a luck suit lol.....

I've said this 100X told Mesanna it Begged for it at a Meet and Greet... was told the dumbest thing I think I've ever heard....

She said "But that would make scribes obsolete!"...

And I said "Oh is Tailoring or Blacksmithing obsolete because you just basically said so."... You still need a Spellbook crafted to Imbue it... and if I craft a Scrappers I'd still want to Imbue it....

So good luck with that request. And I do agree with you... 110% If they just let us imbue the freaking things...

 

[cazador]

This is why the games broke...they listen to these dumb ass ideas..kudos!


....

 

[Grace of Minoc]

Imbuing spellbooks would not end the need for high end slayer scrappers at all.

A plain scrapper's has 524 weight. If imbuing is capped at 500 for an exc spellbook
and the spell damage is capped at 12 (like on jewelry for imbuing) it would not be
overpowering at all, but open up templates for pure casters a bit.

edit-however I don't think messing with things like mana leech/life leech on a spellbook
is what is needed. Just being able to customize attributes that you can already get randomly
on spellbooks, like skills, fast cast, lrc etc

 

[Lord Gandalf]

I have nott achieved the required level of stupidity to reply on this thread.

*out*

 

[Pawain]

• Ingame, I would like to see a working map+party+chat+voice system that works between both clients so all can be involved, so we don't have to be using all sorts of external stuff. Or at least make it so we have far more compatibility than we do now.

• I would like to see the performance gap between EC and CC minimised. Of course EC should not really exist, and it certainly should not be having the superior coding/performance/abilities.

• Recall and Teleport type abilities should operate almost everywhere. All classes should have a basic travel ability. Many potential good content areas are ignored due to the hassle of walking there. Or walking back dead. We don't need this time-sink in the game anymore, there is enough map space.

• Update the Virtue System, and give a decent bonus to those holding Knights in all 8 Virtues. This game revolved around the Avatar, in the way Star Wars revolved around the Jedi Knight. Complete it for goodness sake.

Good stuff here.

• And now for Armour... I personally hate the armour system. I hate luck, I hate random properties that never match, I hate stuff that wears out on me, I just want to play the game.

• Crafters need a Buff, their BOD system is great now, but they cannot compete with Legendary armour, save a few specialist pieces.

• Armour Properties do not make sense, it is far too random and does not suit any class in particular, making 99.9999% of pieces useless, I hate having to figure out this level of detail. Allow crafters to modify it.

• I hate durability on armour. I do not like spending my life fixing my armour, and even worse, when a piece goes, an entire suit has to be rebuilt. If you’ve gone to the effort of building that suit, you should be allowed to keep it, it’s hard enough anyway. Especially considering we have 7 characters on 1 account. Allow crafters to get rid of Brittle, Cursed, properties etc.

• Bring back Item Bless Deeds.

Crafters need to be able to make items that are closer to legendary items. 2 more stats would be good. We would still not be able to craft high resists and decent stats even if you gave us 2 more properties.

 

[Modoc]

Ok, UO has gone way beyond anything I enjoy anymore.
I am writing from a Pure Mage perspective.

It is too complicated, too many half finished systems, too many obsolete systems, too much inbalance between classes, too much content bias towards gimp dexxers(sampires)/tamers, not spontaneous enough, not simple enough, not fun enough.

Here are my suggestions for the upcoming Pure Mage publish that needs to be implemented. It may appear I'm calling for a nerf on gimp templates, Indeed.

The reason I'm calling for a halt on Gimp templates, is they have superiority across the entire game, and are making everything exactly the same.
Sampires dominate PvM, and can solo pretty much all content - Pure Mages almost cannot solo any higher end content. Which would you chose?
Gimp Dexxer templates dominate PvP (including weapon mages).

• Ingame, I would like to see a working map+party+chat+voice system that works between both clients so all can be involved, so we don't have to be using all sorts of external stuff. Or at least make it so we have far more compatibility than we do now.
• I would like to see the performance gap between EC and CC minimised. Of course EC should not really exist, and it certainly should not be having the superior coding/performance/abilities.
• Recall and Teleport type abilities should operate almost everywhere. All classes should have a basic travel ability. Many potential good content areas are ignored due to the hassle of walking there. Or walking back dead. We don't need this time-sink in the game anymore, there is enough map space.
• Update the Virtue System, and give a decent bonus to those holding Knights in all 8 Virtues. This game revolved around the Avatar, in the way Star Wars revolved around the Jedi Knight. Complete it for goodness sake.

• Characters have to carry too many consumables. It should be possible for characters of all classes to operate without consumables.
• Move away from Gimp Templates - Resist Spells should have a far stronger purpose, and be almost mandatory.
• Bandage Healing should be mandatory for a Dexxer. Make it stronger if necessary to match with Vampiric Embrace etc.
• Dexxers should not be using Necro abilities, it's a casting skill, end of.
• Potion use should be restricted heavily. Make potions only usable by those who have alchemy. Potentially add a PU% {Potion Usage %} property to gear so people without alchemy can chose the ability to use potions or not. But it's a defined choice, with a sacrifice of other properties. {Maybe just remove Potions from Felucca}.
• Allow Dexxers to operate without bandages, much like casters can operate without reagents. Again, give Dexxers the property option of LBC {Lower Bandage Cost} which operates in exactly the same way LRC works for mages. Currrently mages have the huge benefit of being able to cast freely, but with the sacrifice of having their entire armour revolving around this property. Dexxers don't have this. Give Dexxers the same benefit, and the same sacrifice option. This is one of the Differences between classes that promotes inbalance towards Dexxers, they have far wider property options on armour.
• Mounted Dexxers should not be able to use stealth ninja skills - they were built for stealthers on foot.

• Couple for the PvM Rogues. Give them more content. Puzzles, Chests, etc.
  
• Fix Remove Trap. You have invested 100 points in this skill, it should not unhide you when you are in stealth, and successfully remove a trap. This is ridiculous, and nerfs the entire skill into uselessness. Why have it, why not use Magery Remove Trap spell? (which of course people do now). If Remove Trap were working properly, it would be a lot of fun. If you fail a Trap Removal, fair enough if you are unstealthed.

• And now for Armour... I personally hate the armour system. I hate luck, I hate random properties that never match, I hate stuff that wears out on me, I just want to play the game.
  
• Crafters need a Buff, their BOD system is great now, but they cannot compete with Legendary armour, save a few specialist pieces.
• Armour Properties do not make sense, it is far too random and does not suit any class in particular, making 99.9999% of pieces useless, I hate having to figure out this level of detail. Allow crafters to modify it.
• I hate durability on armour. I do not like spending my life fixing my armour, and even worse, when a piece goes, an entire suit has to be rebuilt. If you’ve gone to the effort of building that suit, you should be allowed to keep it, it’s hard enough anyway. Especially considering we have 7 characters on 1 account. Allow crafters to get rid of Brittle, Cursed, properties etc.
• Bring back Item Bless Deeds.

My spellcaster section.

• Ok, the big issue for me, is Magery for example, does not have a counter to many of the things we are on the receiving end of. For balanced PvP, there should be the opportunity of Move, Counter Move, Move, Counter Move, then it becomes a duel of strategy and skill, as well as speed and timing, something that’s been lacking from PvP for a long time now.
  
• My other issue, is the other spellcasting skills, Mystic, Spellweaving, Chivalry, Bushido, Necro are pretty much incomplete, they don’t really stack up on their own. They lack basic abilities, and as above, counter measures.
  
• My suggestion is, to allow Spellcaster to become more like Dexxers in that Dexxers can just change Weapon, and access every single Special going.
  
• My thoughts are, to adjust and widen out the Spellcasting schools (add more spells to each), to make them stand alone better with counter measures, or;
  
• Merge all Casting schools together, which would be a maximum of say 120 spells? I haven’t done the maths, then let players choose say 50 spells they would like to use in their personalised spellbook. That would allow the players to chose spells for their playstyle, very much in the way Dexxers can chose weapons and specials to suit.

Thank you for reading.
Cookie/Wraith/Ben Sherman/Darkknight/Cookie Exodus/Cookie Hunter, and a rogue.

....and a Golden Easter Bunny that Poops a Platinum per Month

 

[BrianFreud]

Absolutely, yes.
Allowing spellbooks to be imbued with leeches, slayer, SDI, etc would go a LONG way to make casters far better in PvM.

Slayer + SDI on a spellbook already exists. I would like to see a raise in the max SDI possible from gear, and perhaps a way to add luck onto existing spellbooks, but spellbooks and gear aren't the problem for casters in PvM. The problem is the spells themselves being underpowered relative to tamers, dexers, and even other (newer) spellcasting types.

 

[BeaIank]

Slayer + SDI on a spellbook already exists. I would like to see a raise in the max SDI possible from gear, and perhaps a way to add luck onto existing spellbooks, but spellbooks and gear aren't the problem for casters in PvM. The problem is the spells themselves being underpowered relative to tamers, dexers, and even other (newer) spellcasting types.

Hence adding leeches to it as well.
FS gets far more powerful if you can just keep casting it. Armour ignore would be far less powerful weren't for hit mana leech.
Sure, we have wraith form, but try to use it on Navrey to see how smooth that will go, for one. And I can imbue hit life and mana leech on my weapons.
Mages can't leech life and mana at the same time with their spells.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

This is why the games broke...they listen to these dumb ass ideas..kudos!


....

They obviously have not been, because none of these things exist ingame, and it's been going away from this direction since AOS.

They haven't been listening to me, as this is only like my 15th post in the 20 odd years. Time for me to speak up against the madness though.

I personally would blame them for listening to you, who has racked up 4k messages, and contributes with as little as you just did here.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I have nott achieved the required level of stupidity to reply on this thread.

*out*

I think everyone knows you have the opposite problem.
You make AJ look like Einstein.

ps. Wasn't it you who uploaded a video to Stratics of you soloing Doom Darkfather on a Sampire? Would you like to try that on a Pure Mage? Thank you for helping prove my point.

pps. Aren't you the standing joke on Europa for your mageplay? Or is that another Pro gimp dexxer. This is too easy, I must stop.

 

[PwnySlaystation]

I don't use potions, because I don't believe it makes for good gameplay in PvP. [ I've found potions on your corpse when you've come fresh into a fight, you do stock them, you just seemingly forget to use them]
It would be more fun for everyone, if they were not involved.[dont talk wet, potions have been part of pvp since the dawn of the game, please refrain from making poor suggestions in the future that would make the game even further unlike how it began, i didn't have you down as one of these people]


I don't dismount in PvP, because I don't believe it is a fun playstyle for others if I do. [You don't dismount because you don't have the ability to, you play a mage, and seemingly lack the timing/effort to put into learning how to use bolas, which by the way have been around longer than you have]
I don't use scripts in PvP, because I don't believe it's a fun playstyle for others if I do. [This we agree on, that said, i don't really think scripts are too prominent in pvp anymore, its just an excuse for bad players to justify poor play despite long periods of activity]

As it stands, I allow all my opponents to have more fun, and I soak up all the crap.
No more, I've quit PvP. [As it stands, you don't know how to adapt to an ever changing game that changed from its purest format over 15 years ago and are trying to put the idea in a devs head that they should accommodate your lazy playstyle of "i don't want to have to restock to be competitive in pvp or pvm".]

Who are you anyway? [Probably the most experienced player on your home shard, your old friend and enemy, i like you and always will, but sometimes you get it so wrong.]

 

[PwnySlaystation]

pps. Aren't you the standing joke on Europa for your mageplay?

Yes he is.

 

[PwnySlaystation]

Recall should work everywhere

No it shouldn't. Not in champion spawn regions or dungeons/T2A.

 

[Alex"Drake Iron Heart"CS]

Please dont hurt the poor sampire!!

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

Hey Sean, definitely worth chatting to you, until we fall out and start calling each other morons

I don't use potions, because I don't believe it makes for good gameplay in PvP.
[ I've found potions on your corpse when you've come fresh into a fight, you do stock them, you just seemingly forget to use them]
I usually start with a trapped box only, not even that sometimes. Yes I have used them in my time of course.
I loot everything from all my kills, I use the potions in Alchemy BODS saves me making them.
I start the evening empty, and get fuller and fuller, usually doing 3-4 drops off's per evening, so it depends when you kill me.

It would be more fun for everyone, if they were not involved.
[dont talk wet, potions have been part of pvp since the dawn of the game, please refrain from making poor suggestions in the future that would make the game even further unlike how it began, i didn't have you down as one of these people]
Potions were limited in the amount you could carry and use in the past, they certainly did not stack up to 30x10 different types of potion as we do now.
They had far less impact.

I don't dismount in PvP, because I don't believe it is a fun playstyle for others if I do.
[You don't dismount because you don't have the ability to, you play a mage, and seemingly lack the timing/effort to put into learning how to use bolas, which by the way have been around longer than you have]
I have been around far longer than bola's.
(Almost since the start).
When bola's first came out, I used them, I was known as the bola king in TB, I was highly destructive.
I saw all the complaints, and realised I was ruining gameplay, and stopped.
I still have a huge bola collection.

I don't use scripts in PvP, because I don't believe it's a fun playstyle for others if I do.
[This we agree on, that said, i don't really think scripts are too prominent in pvp anymore, its just an excuse for bad players to justify poor play despite long periods of activity]
I agree completely, and I agree on poor players using it as a blame device. I don't.

As it stands, I allow all my opponents to have more fun, and I soak up all the crap.
No more, I've quit PvP.
[As it stands, you don't know how to adapt to an ever changing game that changed from its purest format over 15 years ago and are trying to put the idea in a devs head that they should accommodate your lazy playstyle of "i don't want to have to restock to be competitive in pvp or pvm".]
Probably true.
BUT - I genuinely believe there is a wider Pure Mage issue, and I remember PvP being far more fun, when it was less complicated, and more spontaneous.

Who are you anyway?
[Probably the most experienced player on your home shard, your old friend and enemy, i like you and always will, but sometimes you get it so wrong.]
I didn't ask you, I asked that other muppet.
I like you also as you know, we just disagree on some aspects.

 

[PwnySlaystation]

I knew the last comment wasn't for me, just felt like mentioning it

I know you're frustrated, I was too when i returned a few years ago. Even from Post-AOS the quality of players is better in some aspects and worse in others. People understand game mechanics so much better now [well, the ones that supposedly do all the "hacking"] and can use this to their advantage in PvP, which leaves people who don't practice these methods left behind.

Your best bet would be to adopt similar tactics to your enemies. YOU make the playing field level. Rather than changing everyone else. Most people are relatively happy with the balance of the game pvp wise for the most part. Obviously theres some issues but there always will be.

As for pots not being as needed then as they are now, you're correct. But back in the day you couldn't get corpsed/explo/omen'd for 47 damage from just 1 player. Pots are the only thing which can really help you avoid a sync dump from a group. There has to be an element of survivability for the solo or brave[people who still try and fight despite number disadvantage] vs people who only fight in groups.

 

[MalagAste]

I knew the last comment wasn't for me, just felt like mentioning it

I know you're frustrated, I was too when i returned a few years ago. Even from Post-AOS the quality of players is better in some aspects and worse in others. People understand game mechanics so much better now [well, the ones that supposedly do all the "hacking"] and can use this to their advantage in PvP, which leaves people who don't practice these methods left behind.

Your best bet would be to adopt similar tactics to your enemies. YOU make the playing field level. Rather than changing everyone else. Most people are relatively happy with the balance of the game pvp wise for the most part. Obviously theres some issues but there always will be.

As for pots not being as needed then as they are now, you're correct. But back in the day you couldn't get corpsed/explo/omen'd for 47 damage from just 1 player. Pots are the only thing which can really help you avoid a sync dump from a group. There has to be an element of survivability for the solo or brave[people who still try and fight despite number disadvantage] vs people who only fight in groups.

Oh so you are saying we should all start Multi-boxing then?????

 

[PwnySlaystation]

Oh so you are saying we should all start Multi-boxing then?????

If you're not going to contribute to the post sensibly, please refrain from posting. Is there a short attention spanned kids area for you to play in on here?

 

[quovadis]

only one good things

• Crafters need a Buff, their BOD system is great now, but they cannot compete with Legendary armour, save a few specialist pieces.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I knew the last comment wasn't for me, just felt like mentioning it

I know you're frustrated, I was too when i returned a few years ago. Even from Post-AOS the quality of players is better in some aspects and worse in others. People understand game mechanics so much better now [well, the ones that supposedly do all the "hacking"] and can use this to their advantage in PvP, which leaves people who don't practice these methods left behind.

Your best bet would be to adopt similar tactics to your enemies. YOU make the playing field level. Rather than changing everyone else. Most people are relatively happy with the balance of the game pvp wise for the most part. Obviously theres some issues but there always will be.

As for pots not being as needed then as they are now, you're correct. But back in the day you couldn't get corpsed/explo/omen'd for 47 damage from just 1 player. Pots are the only thing which can really help you avoid a sync dump from a group. There has to be an element of survivability for the solo or brave[people who still try and fight despite number disadvantage] vs people who only fight in groups.

Hey Sean,
I get your point, but I do not want to adapt currently.
I draw the line at using a weapon!
(I do understand your potion point, from your perspective in the current game meta).

Just as a side note, I can adapt when I want to.
For example, you mentioned Chiv Holy Fisters on these forums once, the next day, I had the best Holy Fister/Pvper in the entire game...
Celestial fully complete with Lasher.
I won the Last Man Standing event on EU 4 days later, which included many of the Atlantic Cross Shard PvPers.
I accept I used the latest cookie cutter template, I used 50 trillion consumables, I also cheated to win it, as most of the players were cheating. (I only cheated once right at the end, when I had already won it anyway, my guildmates ganked me for a laugh, so I self ressed and killed them all )
Did I feel good for it? Nope I didn't, I handed the win over to my guild-mate who came second and I knew had not cheated during the event.
I dismantled my Chiv Holy Fister very soon after, he now collects Alchemy BODS for me.

The point of that, there are some gimpy playstyles people just don't feel good to play, and sometimes, you don't want to adapt.
You prefer your own playstyle.

 

[superfrog]

• Dexxers should not be using Necro abilities, it's a casting skill, end of.

I am genuinely curious to know why you think Necros are not supposed to be dexxers. Their starting template includes Swordsmanship after all. they may be casters, but many of their spells enhance weapon use.

 

[PwnySlaystation]

Hey Sean,
I get your point, but I do not want to adapt currently.
I draw the line at using a weapon!
(I do understand your potion point, from your perspective in the current game meta).

Just as a side note, I can adapt when I want to.
For example, you mentioned Chiv Holy Fisters on these forums once, the next day, I had the best Holy Fister/Pvper in the entire game...
Celestial fully complete with Lasher.
I won the Last Man Standing event on EU 4 days later, which included many of the Atlantic Cross Shard PvPers.
I accept I used the latest cookie cutter template, I used 50 trillion consumables, I also cheated to win it, as most of the players were cheating. (I only cheated once right at the end, when I had already won it anyway, my guildmates ganked me for a laugh, so I self ressed and killed them all )
Did I feel good for it? Nope I didn't, I handed the win over to my guild-mate who came second and I knew had not cheated during the event.
I dismantled my Chiv Holy Fister very soon after, he now collects Alchemy BODS for me.

The point of that, there are some gimpy playstyles people just don't feel good to play, and sometimes, you don't want to adapt.
You prefer your own playstyle.

Again though, using a weapon on a mage isn't a new thing. Pre-Aos we had Archer mages, Hally mages etc. We had Eval Fencers etc. You know all this, im surprised im having to even bring it up.

Part of what makes Ultima so unique and brilliant is the ability to imagine up a new template. With the items you can get now you can be even more inventive than you could back in the day.

Theres always been something OP, or something that doesn't work and it takes them an age to fix, Vanquishing GM Crafted faction runic vs Normal gm leather [28AR god those were the days] paired with a random parablow/explo ebolt[no curse required for max damage] from an eval fencer or a war hammer runic macer.

Then we had 4/6 mage casting.

And so forth, Glenda etc.

Balancing will never end in this game, but generally if you have a balanced team you can still win fights. You just have to accept its not the same game it used to be[the fundamentals are there, but its much faster paced and less forgiving]. Or go find a Pre-pub16 freeshard. Better than that, PLAY SIEGE. Its still Official servers and its much more exciting/less OP than production shards.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I am genuinely curious to know why you think Necros are not supposed to be dexxers. Their starting template includes Swordsmanship after all. they may be casters, but many of their spells enhance weapon use.

Hiya,
Fair question.
In my opinion, this is where the game went horribly wrong, AOS, when this class came in, and this stuff started happening.

I never liked the fact that casting class was associated with weapons, in fact, the few times I have used Necro, I make sure to remove those spells.

It's only got worse from there.

If a class has enough stats/skills to run Dex and Casting abilities simultaneously to max effect, it has way too many stats/skills, made possible by the current legendary armour, which everyone knows is pretty overpowered.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

Again though, using a weapon on a mage isn't a new thing. Pre-Aos we had Archer mages, Hally mages etc. We had Eval Fencers etc. You know all this, im surprised im having to even bring it up.

Part of what makes Ultima so unique and brilliant is the ability to imagine up a new template. With the items you can get now you can be even more inventive than you could back in the day.

Theres always been something OP, or something that doesn't work and it takes them an age to fix, Vanquishing GM Crafted faction runic vs Normal gm leather [28AR god those were the days] paired with a random parablow/explo ebolt[no curse required for max damage] from an eval fencer or a war hammer runic macer.

Then we had 4/6 mage casting.

And so forth, Glenda etc.

Balancing will never end in this game, but generally if you have a balanced team you can still win fights. You just have to accept its not the same game it used to be[the fundamentals are there, but its much faster paced and less forgiving]. Or go find a Pre-pub16 freeshard. Better than that, PLAY SIEGE. Its still Official servers and its much more exciting/less OP than production shards.

Sean,

In those days, the characters that did that (Archer Mages, Hally Mages), had to make difficult Stats decisions/sacrifices, they could not have it all, they had to balance Str Dex and Int.

These days, that balance/decision/sacrifice is not there, they just have it all - which does make them OP, compared to a pure class, who is not using 1 set of those stats.

Your Siege suggestion is good, I often wonder if I'm in the wrong place.

 

[Razz]

Of course EC should not really exist

I stopped reading after this...

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I stopped reading after this...

Your choice, you may have missed out, you'll never know if there is anything different to your own opinion out there, or a better way of doing things maybe if you approach life like that.

I accept many like EC, my own opinion and experience is that EC is not that great.

 

[superfrog]

Again though, using a weapon on a mage isn't a new thing. Pre-Aos we had Archer mages, Hally mages etc. We had Eval Fencers etc. You know all this, im surprised im having to even bring it up.

Part of what makes Ultima so unique and brilliant is the ability to imagine up a new template. With the items you can get now you can be even more inventive than you could back in the day.

Theres always been something OP, or something that doesn't work and it takes them an age to fix, Vanquishing GM Crafted faction runic vs Normal gm leather [28AR god those were the days] paired with a random parablow/explo ebolt[no curse required for max damage] from an eval fencer or a war hammer runic macer.

Then we had 4/6 mage casting.

And so forth, Glenda etc.

Balancing will never end in this game, but generally if you have a balanced team you can still win fights. You just have to accept its not the same game it used to be[the fundamentals are there, but its much faster paced and less forgiving]. Or go find a Pre-pub16 freeshard. Better than that, PLAY SIEGE. Its still Official servers and its much more exciting/less OP than production shards.

I agree that using a weapon is no new thing to Mages, but as I said the starting template has a weapon skill on it, a mages does not. I was simply curious as to why you thought it was not originally conceived as a type of Dexxer.

 

[TB Cookie [W]]

I agree that using a weapon is no new thing to Mages, but as I said the starting template has a weapon skill on it, a mages does not. I was simply curious as to why you thought it was not originally conceived as a type of Dexxer.

I think you responded to the wrong guys response there.

Necro has 17 spells, 16 for caster, 1 for weapons? Can't remember exact split, but it always appeared to be more caster to me, it was also the anti mage school with all of its disrupts.

If it was conceived for Dexxers, then I've been under a misconception for a long time.
The fact it had spells for weapons, was as I mentioned above, the beginning of a slippery slope.

 

[Uvtha]

Ok, UO has gone way beyond anything I enjoy anymore.
I am writing from a Pure Mage perspective.

It is too complicated, too many half finished systems, too many obsolete systems, too much inbalance between classes, too much content bias towards gimp dexxers(sampires)/tamers, not spontaneous enough, not simple enough, not fun enough.

Here are my suggestions for the upcoming Pure Mage publish that needs to be implemented. It may appear I'm calling for a nerf on gimp templates, Indeed.

The reason I'm calling for a halt on Gimp templates, is they have superiority across the entire game, and are making everything exactly the same.
Sampires dominate PvM, and can solo pretty much all content - Pure Mages almost cannot solo any higher end content. Which would you chose?
Gimp Dexxer templates dominate PvP (including weapon mages).

• Ingame, I would like to see a working map+party+chat+voice system that works between both clients so all can be involved, so we don't have to be using all sorts of external stuff. Or at least make it so we have far more compatibility than we do now.
• I would like to see the performance gap between EC and CC minimised. Of course EC should not really exist, and it certainly should not be having the superior coding/performance/abilities.
• Recall and Teleport type abilities should operate almost everywhere. All classes should have a basic travel ability. Many potential good content areas are ignored due to the hassle of walking there. Or walking back dead. We don't need this time-sink in the game anymore, there is enough map space.
• Update the Virtue System, and give a decent bonus to those holding Knights in all 8 Virtues. This game revolved around the Avatar, in the way Star Wars revolved around the Jedi Knight. Complete it for goodness sake.

• Characters have to carry too many consumables. It should be possible for characters of all classes to operate without consumables.
• Move away from Gimp Templates - Resist Spells should have a far stronger purpose, and be almost mandatory.
• Bandage Healing should be mandatory for a Dexxer. Make it stronger if necessary to match with Vampiric Embrace etc.
• Dexxers should not be using Necro abilities, it's a casting skill, end of.
• Potion use should be restricted heavily. Make potions only usable by those who have alchemy. Potentially add a PU% {Potion Usage %} property to gear so people without alchemy can chose the ability to use potions or not. But it's a defined choice, with a sacrifice of other properties. {Maybe just remove Potions from Felucca}.
• Allow Dexxers to operate without bandages, much like casters can operate without reagents. Again, give Dexxers the property option of LBC {Lower Bandage Cost} which operates in exactly the same way LRC works for mages. Currrently mages have the huge benefit of being able to cast freely, but with the sacrifice of having their entire armour revolving around this property. Dexxers don't have this. Give Dexxers the same benefit, and the same sacrifice option. This is one of the Differences between classes that promotes inbalance towards Dexxers, they have far wider property options on armour.
• Mounted Dexxers should not be able to use stealth ninja skills - they were built for stealthers on foot.

• Couple for the PvM Rogues. Give them more content. Puzzles, Chests, etc.
  
• Fix Remove Trap. You have invested 100 points in this skill, it should not unhide you when you are in stealth, and successfully remove a trap. This is ridiculous, and nerfs the entire skill into uselessness. Why have it, why not use Magery Remove Trap spell? (which of course people do now). If Remove Trap were working properly, it would be a lot of fun. If you fail a Trap Removal, fair enough if you are unstealthed.

• And now for Armour... I personally hate the armour system. I hate luck, I hate random properties that never match, I hate stuff that wears out on me, I just want to play the game.
  
• Crafters need a Buff, their BOD system is great now, but they cannot compete with Legendary armour, save a few specialist pieces.
• Armour Properties do not make sense, it is far too random and does not suit any class in particular, making 99.9999% of pieces useless, I hate having to figure out this level of detail. Allow crafters to modify it.
• I hate durability on armour. I do not like spending my life fixing my armour, and even worse, when a piece goes, an entire suit has to be rebuilt. If you’ve gone to the effort of building that suit, you should be allowed to keep it, it’s hard enough anyway. Especially considering we have 7 characters on 1 account. Allow crafters to get rid of Brittle, Cursed, properties etc.
• Bring back Item Bless Deeds.

My spellcaster section.

• Ok, the big issue for me, is Magery for example, does not have a counter to many of the things we are on the receiving end of. For balanced PvP, there should be the opportunity of Move, Counter Move, Move, Counter Move, then it becomes a duel of strategy and skill, as well as speed and timing, something that’s been lacking from PvP for a long time now.
  
• My other issue, is the other spellcasting skills, Mystic, Spellweaving, Chivalry, Bushido, Necro are pretty much incomplete, they don’t really stack up on their own. They lack basic abilities, and as above, counter measures.
  
• My suggestion is, to allow Spellcaster to become more like Dexxers in that Dexxers can just change Weapon, and access every single Special going.
  
• My thoughts are, to adjust and widen out the Spellcasting schools (add more spells to each), to make them stand alone better with counter measures, or;
  
• Merge all Casting schools together, which would be a maximum of say 120 spells? I haven’t done the maths, then let players choose say 50 spells they would like to use in their personalised spellbook. That would allow the players to chose spells for their playstyle, very much in the way Dexxers can chose weapons and specials to suit.

Thank you for reading.
Cookie/Wraith/Ben Sherman/Darkknight/Cookie Exodus/Cookie Hunter, and a rogue.

Well at least your ideas are focused and reasonable...

 

[superfrog]

I think you responded to the wrong guys response there.

Necro has 17 spells, 16 for caster, 1 for weapons? Can't remember exact split, but it always appeared to be more caster to me, it was also the anti mage school with all of its disrupts.

If it was conceived for Dexxers, then I've been under a misconception for a long time.
The fact it had spells for weapons, was as I mentioned above, the beginning of a slippery slope.

yep wrong response. it was not the anti-mage school, it was the anti Chivalry school. as you can see by the screenshot below, the starting template gives you swords. it appears to have meant to be a hybrid Dexxer/Caster class. in the original starting trial, you were sent around to special places for Paladins gathering a scroll and other things to summon some person/creature(sorry, I really forgot all of it) . at the end of your journey, you had to defeat a Paladin using all your skills. the reward always included a bone scythe with special properties (also, a bone scythe is starting gear for a Necromancer). if it was not intended to be a dexxer class of some kind, I really don't see them giving a bone scythe as a reward for completion of the starting quest.