With the sole exception of community, EVERYTHING this game has become pushes new players away. I anticipate you all getting upset with me for saying it. They're never going to please "Vets" by making the changes needed to attract new players and "Vets" are keeping the game up.
I've tried coming back many times. I just got back from a long trip and I've been playing a trial trying to make the decision on coming back. There are a lot of things that are overwhelming in the game and if I hadn't played back in Renaissance I'd be very lost.
The last time I played going to a Auction was the biggest eye opener on what's bad with UO for new players.
(I don't know why I called these steps.)
Step A) A HUGE squish on monsters, stats, and GOLD is needed. You have no idea that feeling you get when you see people posting up stuff for a million gold + and that skelly or earth ele you just killed gave you 60 gold.
Step B) New non-trial players should get a free mythic token-esque usage.
Step C) A package on Origin store with Stygian Abyss, High Seas, Soulstone, King's Collection, Gothic Theme, and Rustic Theme so a player can get caught up on everything with one purchase. I've priced it... for everything and a Mythic token it's $140 without tax. That includes the 7th Character Slot and Storage and Housing/Bank Storage. I just want to do a single purchase and own a game. I don't like having to make multiple purchases on a game I play a subscription fee for.
Step D) No more voting systems in game. Hate away about this one, but a lot of players abuse it and it's ridiculous. EMs should make events and use judgment. If something causes you to question that judgment then report it up and these reports should be taken seriously.
Step E) Lower the Subscription Fee. You're competing for people's leisure time and sorry to say this, but WoW prices aren't deserved on this game.
Step F)No more physical representation of gold. Sure this one will get some hate too. The lovely piles can still be there, but they should have no economic value.
Step G) Craftables should be as powerful or more so than loot or artifacts. This one is debatable, and more a personal request. The thing I loved about this game was crafting a full set of GM Valorite armor and putting it on the vendor.
Step H) No more Power Scrolls. This one will get hate too, but whatever. Those extra 20 points are the most frustrating things in this game in fitting on a template. Vets have soulstones they can use to rotate stuff around and they also have more access to scrolls. Caps should have always stayed at 100. Stat Scrolls are great.
Step I) Remove useless skills, they're confusing.
Step J) Add tool tips on skills.
Step K) Bring back names of Enhancements like Slayers or Might or Power and drop the confusing stats.
Step L ) Vendor searches should be cross-shard. This will allow players to participate in economies and populate smaller shards with housing space available. If possible, you can add something like "Blessed" to items that would mean they could not be seen on Vendor Searches for realm specific items.
EDIT: Some other thoughts, there needs to be more information on the UO site and not using outside sites for this purpose. I understand the extra need for Wiki-sites, but Stratics and the iron fist some moderators rule with on here is really off-putting. Sometimes you don't have to be so strict unless it causes a genuine disturbance. There's such a thing as letting things play out naturally. If the community wants to make an off-topic or if the community wants to vent in UHall instead of Rants and Spiels then other people in the community can disregard it if they want to. It doesn't have to require action. The moderators need some moderation.
What about an instanced area (If Possible) big enough for a single player house? And if you find a spot later you can move that house and items to the spot for a cost? This allows people with current housing to be happy and new players can have houses with the possibility of moving them out of an instanced area later.
I've tried coming back many times. I just got back from a long trip and I've been playing a trial trying to make the decision on coming back. There are a lot of things that are overwhelming in the game and if I hadn't played back in Renaissance I'd be very lost.
The last time I played going to a Auction was the biggest eye opener on what's bad with UO for new players.
(I don't know why I called these steps.)
Step A) A HUGE squish on monsters, stats, and GOLD is needed. You have no idea that feeling you get when you see people posting up stuff for a million gold + and that skelly or earth ele you just killed gave you 60 gold.
Step B) New non-trial players should get a free mythic token-esque usage.
Step C) A package on Origin store with Stygian Abyss, High Seas, Soulstone, King's Collection, Gothic Theme, and Rustic Theme so a player can get caught up on everything with one purchase. I've priced it... for everything and a Mythic token it's $140 without tax. That includes the 7th Character Slot and Storage and Housing/Bank Storage. I just want to do a single purchase and own a game. I don't like having to make multiple purchases on a game I play a subscription fee for.
Step D) No more voting systems in game. Hate away about this one, but a lot of players abuse it and it's ridiculous. EMs should make events and use judgment. If something causes you to question that judgment then report it up and these reports should be taken seriously.
Step E) Lower the Subscription Fee. You're competing for people's leisure time and sorry to say this, but WoW prices aren't deserved on this game.
Step F)No more physical representation of gold. Sure this one will get some hate too. The lovely piles can still be there, but they should have no economic value.
Step G) Craftables should be as powerful or more so than loot or artifacts. This one is debatable, and more a personal request. The thing I loved about this game was crafting a full set of GM Valorite armor and putting it on the vendor.
Step H) No more Power Scrolls. This one will get hate too, but whatever. Those extra 20 points are the most frustrating things in this game in fitting on a template. Vets have soulstones they can use to rotate stuff around and they also have more access to scrolls. Caps should have always stayed at 100. Stat Scrolls are great.
Step I) Remove useless skills, they're confusing.
Step J) Add tool tips on skills.
Step K) Bring back names of Enhancements like Slayers or Might or Power and drop the confusing stats.
Step L ) Vendor searches should be cross-shard. This will allow players to participate in economies and populate smaller shards with housing space available. If possible, you can add something like "Blessed" to items that would mean they could not be seen on Vendor Searches for realm specific items.
EDIT: Some other thoughts, there needs to be more information on the UO site and not using outside sites for this purpose. I understand the extra need for Wiki-sites, but Stratics and the iron fist some moderators rule with on here is really off-putting. Sometimes you don't have to be so strict unless it causes a genuine disturbance. There's such a thing as letting things play out naturally. If the community wants to make an off-topic or if the community wants to vent in UHall instead of Rants and Spiels then other people in the community can disregard it if they want to. It doesn't have to require action. The moderators need some moderation.
What about an instanced area (If Possible) big enough for a single player house? And if you find a spot later you can move that house and items to the spot for a cost? This allows people with current housing to be happy and new players can have houses with the possibility of moving them out of an instanced area later.
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