IDOC-A-PALOOZA 2012 :(

[Adol]

One simple point; that these houses are falling doesn't say anything about the survivability of the game in the immediate future; Mythic already know what the current financial support of the game is, they can see how many active accounts exist... And they are still currently working on global events and publishes, so the don't seem too worried. The falling of houses is just a visual sign that we the playerbase get to see for once.

And yes, as I've said before, it's unfortunate all these wonderful homes are falling; it's quite depressing really seeing places that have had loving care and attention lavished on them empty or about to have their bones picked over. Yes too, I will try and collect what I can from them, and not with completely unselfish reasons; I'm going to save the named roses and valentines and personal books for my little library, and put the soulstones into Europa's Soulstone Graveyard in case any one ever comes back... but I will also take anything profitable I can too. Because if I don't, someone else will, and frustratingly that in turn will push the prices of items in general up further, as the very same people are the ones scripting castle/luna IDOC placements or setting the prices for those things. I have about 230m in gold but that's nowhere near enough to honestly buy a castle...

It's not right that these things should be; it's certainly not a sign of a sensitive soul to take any enjoyment from the loss of former players and the looting of their bones. But none the less, I'll try to be there when the homes fall all the same... I just won't be smiling.

And I was so very, very sad to find (as I wandered about looking for what was about to disappear forever) the monument to UO's oldest player from early last year from the Dev Team, and the later addition of a memorial to her passing away shortly after it was announced. But it puts the true worth of Ultima Online into perspective...

 

[Larisa]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

Sorry, I posted that right at bed time last night.

The castles are located on the plains north of Brit, half way to Cove, just before the Brit swamp.

I see there are small houses placed there all around allredy and boats in the water waiting to be loaded.

Should be a fun scrum!

Time to dust off the red stealth archer and have a little fun!

Or...... Take my detector and lift the skirt on everyone lurking..... Hmmmm.....

I would totally go for #2....reveal em all!! LOL I love revealing people and watching the bloodbath that ensues....Fel is so fun!

 

[Cupid]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

Geez and there is another castle to the west of that swamp down lower, didnt find the pair yet.

Can a house be placed on the IDOC spot immediately? I thought there was some sorta lot timer ?

Would love to place a Keep but a Tower would suffice

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

That many on the most populated east coast shard? I have a feeling you guys may soon see a new wave of immigration!

Just like in life, as long as the immigration is legal I welcome it Thankfully UO seems to not have that problem

 

[Zosimus]

The housing decay was turned off for about 6 months. You had houses in decay at least 2 1/2 to almost 3 months before that.

Then during that time other players have quit or real life has taken over that added to the housing count.

Lets add the ones that said "forget it" during the account migration and didn't renew their accounts.

So all these houses that are in idoc are about 9 months time all together.

Idocer's are not scavengers, are not bad for the game, and are not bad people. They sometimes save shard history. Big deal if they get the resources that are left.

It is no different than a person dumping millions of gold checks around at random banks. Somebody will pick them, up if they are there. I dumped over 300 million back on Cats about 3 years ago to make room for important stuff. I saw players pick them up at busy banks and slow banks who knows if anybody found them or not. Was not my issue or did I care what happened to them.

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

We have no right to judge on how others want to play UO. If players that purely like to IDOC only, then who are we to say that is wrong.

I will make on thing perfectly clear. If the devs thought it was "WRONG" for items to be picked up by other players at an idoc they would of 'fixed' it. They must see nothing wrong with it and its 'allowed' in the game. So lets end that debate and keep this thread on topic.

The issue is the loss of players. Slickjack made his point very clear. It should not be muddled with other debates. I agree that this may be a sad event for UO once it is all done. It isn't over who gets rich, great housing spots, castles, ect ect.

It's about the loss of players and community on each shard. This is what is upsetting players more then anything else.

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

In the spirit on IDOC-A-PALOOZA .....

I submit this to be the theme song...

Fred G. Sanford ... Tha G. stands for Goin' IDOC'ing


[youtube]1WqazleR3FE[/youtube]

 

[Mairut]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

Sorry, I posted that right at bed time last night.

The castles are located on the plains north of Brit, half way to Cove, just before the Brit swamp.

I see there are small houses placed there all around allredy and boats in the water waiting to be loaded.

Should be a fun scrum!

Time to dust off the red stealth archer and have a little fun!

Or...... Take my detector and lift the skirt on everyone lurking..... Hmmmm.....

Thank You! Very much appreciated

 

[Larisa]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

Geez and there is another castle to the west of that swamp down lower, didnt find the pair yet.

Can a house be placed on the IDOC spot immediately? I thought there was some sorta lot timer ?

Would love to place a Keep but a Tower would suffice

Yes there is a timer where noone can place in that spot for an inderminatnt..wow spelling fail...for an unknown (*grins*) Amount of time. This gives EVERYONE a chance at placing because noone knows exactly when the spot will become available for placement.

 

[popps]

We have no right to judge on how others want to play UO. If players that purely like to IDOC only, then who are we to say that is wrong.

The point I am raising is about Ultima Online and what I think would be best for the game,

The fact that items and resources stay in the game becase IDOCs can be looted I think it is, for the reasons explained, a bad thing for Ultima Online in the long run.

I would much more prefer if, when an account goes inactive, that the house linked to that account with all of its contents, would just disappear.

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

This gives EVERYONE a chance at placing because noone knows exactly when the spot will become available for placement.

The SINGLE worst thing they have ever done in game when it comes to deaying houses imo. This HEAVILY favors those that have multiple accounts, which all the older housing scripters definately has. Run one account until the housing tool shuts down, pop over to the another multibox client do same there, keep repeating until the house is placed. A person with one acct is left flapping in the cold having to wait on the timer they placed on the housing tool.

 

[The Craftsman]

The point I am raising is about Ultima Online and what I think would be best for the game,

The fact that items and resources stay in the game becase IDOCs can be looted I think it is, for the reasons explained, a bad thing for Ultima Online in the long run.

I would much more prefer if, when an account goes inactive, that the house linked to that account with all of its contents, would just disappear.

I agree.

 

[Larisa]

Re: OMG Atl !!!

The SINGLE worst thing they have ever done in game when it comes to deaying houses imo. This HEAVILY favors those that have multiple accounts, which all the older housing scripters definately has. Run one account until the housing tool shuts down, pop over to the another multibox client do same there, keep repeating until the house is placed. A person with one acct is left flapping in the cold having to wait on the timer they placed on the housing tool.

Well it's either you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

Putting a timer on the SPOT itself helped looting...noone was able to plop a house down and drag all the loot onto it anymore giving everyone there a chance to get something.

I honestly don't see a solution that would make it 100% fair for everyone. The timer on the house placement tool, sure it can be curcumvented but only IF you have ALL of your accounts logged out in the same spot...with this major house fall I don't see that happening, there are going to be so many spots available, everyone should have a chance to place.

If not..Come to Origin!

 

[Madrid]

Right now is the first time since 1997 that I actually believe "UO is in trouble" and the "End is near" rhetoric. A year ago the biggest shard hands down Atlantic was bustling right now it's nowhere near where it was a year ago and seems to be shrinking as each day passes. Let's not even get started on other shards where it seems that 10 people at the most are playing on them.

What can you expect with a game that has been completed ignored and there has been virtually zero communication by those who are in charge. All we ever really get from the UO Team is lip service. Factions revamp...nothing. High resolution graphics=nothing.

The lead producer gets fired/quits and there is no mention of who the new lead producer is for almost 60 days or more or any introduction. How many times has that guy Jeff been on here talking about UO and his vision for UO? One time? Gimme a friggin' break...

"The 2D client is UOs mortal wound". All you jurassic users can give a big toast and cheer to the damage your beloved 2D client has done to the game by not being able to attract any new players. Great forsight....

I gave the DEVS/EA until the end of the year to deliver on upgrade the graphics to high resolution before closing 3 of my 4 accounts. All it is is lip service. There is a UOKR graphics set sitting around somewhere that is much better than what we currently have but no we can't even have access to that for those of us that want it.

If I was able to somehow keep my last remaining house with my hoarded items I would probably close my last account.

Free shards get better content than us and faster delivery. There are probably more people playing on Freeshards than production shards. You think WoW would allow for freeshards?
Shame was one of the worst ideas ever. The introduction of those items created major imbalance and what were some of the last few desirable artifacts (since imbuing) were made obsolete as were the dungeons/bosses in which to farm them. Horrible and Moronic.

All the shards I go to seem more and more deserted and it's no wonder why the way this game has been mismanaged and ignored.

Graphics are horrible and zero improvement has been made and we have no new players coming in. Is it any wonder?

All we get is lip service with promises of this or that and end up with very little results.

It's sad to see this great game being ignored and being left to go down the tubes. I understand all good things must come to an end but it didn't have to be this way.

 

[Madrid]

IDOCing serves a purpose... as cold as it sounds it clears out the old and unused to make way for the New.

Rupert there are no new players.

Kids just coming into the gaming market are no way in hell going to be signing onto UO the way it currently looks. They would get laughed at by their friends.

UO has been and is getting trampled in the dust by contemporary games and online MMORPGs.

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

Right now is the first time since 1997 that I actually believe "UO is in trouble" and the "End is near" rhetoric. A year ago the biggest shard hands down Atlantic was bustling right now it's nowhere near where it was a year ago and seems to be shrinking as each day passes. Let's not even get started on other shards where it seems that 10 people at the most are playing on them.

Don't know where you are playing on Atlantic, but it is nowhere as empty as you make out here. While it is true the LARGE numbers that were here at UO's peak do not exist, it is still quite busy.

"The 2D client is UOs mortal wound". All you jurassic users can give a big toast and cheer to the damage your beloved 2D client has done to the game by not being able to attract any new players. Great forsight....

I gave the DEVS/EA until the end of the year to deliver on upgrade the graphics to high resolution before closing 3 of my 4 accounts. All it is is lip service. There is a UOKR graphics set sitting around somewhere that is much better than what we currently have but no we can't even have access to that for those of us that want it.

Rupert there are no new players.

Whatever. If they designed a client outside of the 2D client that in my opinion was worth a damn, I would swtich the next day. Your argument holds no water when you say it is 2D client users have something to do the game no being able to attract new users. Those of us that use the 2d client have no bearing on that whatsoever. However, I do see and talk to new player quite a bit, and returning vets even more often.

I gave the DEVS/EA until the end of the year to deliver on upgrade the graphics to high resolution before closing 3 of my 4 accounts. All it is is lip service.


If I was able to somehow keep my last remaining house with my hoarded items I would probably close my last account.




All we get is lip service with promises of this or that and end up with very little results.

Sorry you feel the way you do. If I felt the way you did, and was as unhappy as you seem to be with the game, I would do one of two things. 1- Find thigs I was happy with, and get involved here providing constructive feedback. 2- Call it a quits and cut my losses. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dizzylish]

Ok I know all the houses are gonna drop and all that. I really dont care, if people dont want to come back they lose out. I lost all the same way because i left for 5 years. Right now all I want to do is buy a house lol. No one wants to sell me a house . I keep getting the Wait a few days there will be plenty of houses. I doubt i will be around when everything will drop. Has anyone got a clue when they will start dropping. Anyone want to sell me 2 houses lol

 

[Petra Fyde]

what shard?

I just did a tour of Makoto island on Siege. There are 3 houses falling on the island - and 46 that aren't.

 

[old gypsy]

Double posted... sorry... bad connection.

 

[old gypsy]

"The 2D client is UOs mortal wound". All you jurassic users can give a big toast and cheer to the damage your beloved 2D client has done to the game by not being able to attract any new players. Great forsight...

I respectfully disagree. Neither of the currently available clients will ever bring in the numbers of new players you might envision. And if UO was turned into a WOW look-alike, it wouldn't (in my opinion) feel like UO any longer. UO is a unique and still wonderful game, regardless of graphics issues, which is why it has outlasted so many others that have come and gone since its inception. Those who don't feel that way any longer should probably let go of their frustration and move on.

 

[Rupert Avery]

The number of IDOC vs if there is life in this old bird yet are not connected.. Jeff has said on many occasions that This year will be a great year for it is the 15th Birthday of the game that we all have in common...

Yes I agree sad that all these houses are falling!
but aI am a firm believe in out with the old in with the new and as much as graphic might be a sore point for many we will not get any new people if there is no room because of people hanging on but not playing....
Most of the houses that are falling are because people have not be to the uo website,forums or anything to do with uo for about 6 months which means these people had already left... when all these houses fall we are not loosing anything that wasn't already lost over the past 6 months....

 

[Zyon Rockler]

I think they should make a T Shirt that says, "I Survived The Great Fall Of 2012"

If they could advertise that 300 houses would be falling, filled with loot, the population would rebound with an incredible spike.

If they fixed the housing system to maintain veteran players they could maintain those players.

This is another opportunity that will be lost but we can still try.

Just take the negative and turn it into a positive. Anyone that plays WoW could spam in their chat and do the same in any other game, at least once or twice.

Tell your friends, send out emails, icqs. Let everyone know. Maybe even take the website into work and post it on the bulletin board where everyone can view it. You don't have to have your name on it.

This could easily turn into a positive.

My biggest concern would be that with all these doll houses anyone who returns will not be able to place or have a home and anyone who invests any kind of time will just lose it.

The Great Fall is a reminder of the What Ifs and Could Bes.

It also supports the idea of having a housing system that automatically spawns houses with content. So, there is always something to do for the IDOCer and always an IDOC for a new player.

 

[Smokin]

I think they should make a T Shirt that says, "I Survived The Great Fall Of 2012"

If they could advertise that 300 houses would be falling, filled with loot, the population would rebound with an incredible spike.

If they fixed the housing system to maintain veteran players they could maintain those players.

This is another opportunity that will be lost but we can still try.

Just take the negative and turn it into a positive. Anyone that plays WoW could spam in their chat and do the same in any other game, at least once or twice.

Tell your friends, send out emails, icqs. Let everyone know. Maybe even take the website into work and post it on the bulletin board where everyone can view it. You don't have to have your name on it.

This could easily turn into a positive.

My biggest concern would be that with all these doll houses anyone who returns will not be able to place or have a home and anyone who invests any kind of time will just lose it.

The Great Fall is a reminder of the What Ifs and Could Bes.

It also supports the idea of having a housing system that automatically spawns houses with content. So, there is always something to do for the IDOCer and always an IDOC for a new player.

If they could advertise period, there might not be idocs or fewer.

As for the doll house thing, I am pretty sure anyone who returns will have no trouble finding a nice 18x18 spot where ever they want, pretty much can do it now.

 

[HD2300]

Right now is the first time since 1997 that I actually believe "UO is in trouble" and the "End is near" rhetoric. A year ago the biggest shard hands down Atlantic was bustling right now it's nowhere near where it was a year ago and seems to be shrinking as each day passes. Let's not even get started on other shards where it seems that 10 people at the most are playing on them...

It wont be shutting down this year, because EA will get lots of mileage from the 15th year angle and use that to launch other Ultima franchise games that the new Ultima Franchise Producer is working on.

 

[Slickjack]

Idocing works great if you sell uogold for $... which is against the game rules...

Can you copy/paste this from the Terms Of Service from EA please?

I have a printed copy and I have just search the digital copy and see NO where that it says this.

I know about stratics and THEY'RE rules about cash sales.. just want to clear this up for the people that don't know you and you're idiotic tendencies to post fallacy.



Anyway: back on topic please.

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

Can you copy/paste this from the Terms Of Service from EA please?

I have a printed copy and I have just search the digital copy and see NO where that it says this.

Then you don't read legaleze, that's where they have it hid:

2. Content

"Content" on EA Services includes software, technology, text, forum posts, chat posts, profiles, widgets, messages, links, emails, music, sound, graphics, pictures, video, code, and all audio visual or other material appearing on or emanating to and/or from EA Services, as well as the design and appearance of our websites.

4. Use and Expiration of Content and Entitlements/General License Restrictions

EA grants you a personal, limited, non-exclusive license to use Content and Entitlements to which you have access for your personal, private, non-commercial, non-transferable, limited uses solely as set forth herein and as set forth in any additional documentation and/or agreements applicable to the EA Services accessed by you. Content and Entitlements and all other intellectual property rights in or on EA Services as well as the products and services offered through EA Services, are owned by EA or EA's third party licensors and is protected by United States and International copyright, trade dress, patent, and trademark laws, international conventions, and other laws protecting intellectual property and related proprietary rights. You may not copy or download any Content and/or Entitlements from an EA Service unless you are expressly authorized to do so. In addition, unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not distribute, publicly perform or display, lease, sell, transmit, transfer, publish, edit, copy, create derivative works from, rent, sub-license, distribute, decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer or otherwise make unauthorized use of Content or Entitlements.

It also goes on to spell it out a little better in ROC....

11. Rules of Conduct


- Unless expressly authorized by EA, you may not sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer your Account or any personal access to EA Services, Content or Entitlements, including by use of auction websites.


Kinda spells it out rather nicely I think.

Anyway: back on topic please.

Yupp

 

[Slickjack]

Thanks Pitr.

And since it's not a fallacy.. it is a freakin' joke.

Not inforced, not policed, and I have about 38 "promoters" on ignore just on Catskills to prove that it doesn't matter what the rules are...cash is king.

Anyway, thanks, I guess.

And on topic, I have now marked over 150 greatly worn houses and haven't even looked in Felucca....

Going to be an interesting couple days.

 

[kelmo]

Nice post Kylie. That seems pretty clear to me.

 

[Poo]

oh damn.

i dont feel well.

i think i may have to call in sick to work in the morning.

*cough cough*

oh poor me.

ill have to make a pot of tea...... and whatever will i do with my day since the kids will be gone to school and the wife will be at work..... what ever will i do.....

*sharpens kryss*

 

[Zosimus]

No worries Poo!

Your boss will be in the game looking for you with the tracking skill

He may use the Legendary Trump Skill. You're Fired!

Good luck on your idoc adventures if you do call in sick. lol. Just don't post your results on facebook.

 

[old gypsy]

oh damn.

i dont feel well.

i think i may have to call in sick to work in the morning.

*cough cough*

oh poor me.

ill have to make a pot of tea...... and whatever will i do with my day since the kids will be gone to school and the wife will be at work..... what ever will i do.....

*sharpens kryss*

awww.... *sets up vaporizer*

Now just drink a hot toddy (or two or three) and sleep in...

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

I have to say that even with the 50 houses in decay I've found on Pacific, only in about two hours running around Tram and Malas, there are still a very large number of houses that are up and not decaying.

 

[popps]

Someone told me they had like 10 full runebooks of decaying Houses on Catskills.

This means, that only for the Catskills shard, there is some 160 subscriptions gone.

I really hope there is enough returning players or new players (?) to make it up for the lost subscriptions........

One reason more to make things MUCH easier for those who want to re-activate their old accounts.......

 

[QueenZen]

what shard?

I just did a tour of Makoto island on Siege. There are 3 houses falling on the island - and 46 that aren't.

One of those got reactivated, in time, from what I saw tonite, strolling by them.

 

[Petra Fyde]

it did, but another went 'slightly' so I think someone sacrificed one to save one.

I did a bit of a tour on Siege last night - only a tiny one, just to get a better perspective on the doom and gloom.
On Makoto 3 houses are falling 46 are not
In Luna 10 houses are falling 34 are not
Outside the East gate 7 houses are not falling
Out the north gate 2 houses are falling
out the West gate 3 houses are not falling - I didn't get to Umbra, homare nor the vast expanse of Felucca, so in this very tiny sampling of a shard where people swear there are not more than 10 players I found 90 houses that are not going anywhere anytime soon - and that's without even counting my own house, Terry's Chateau.


Number of Luna houses falling on Europa 0, that's zero.

 

[Hobo Sapien]

Never thought I would say this but, glad to have freezin rain. Just enough to not have to work................

 

[Kylie Kinslayer]

Never thought I would say this but, glad to have freezin rain. Just enough to not have to work................

lol

Well, the housing decay is the silver lining to being laid off last week I guess. Would rather still have the job tho and they say the economy is gettin' better......... *trails off before beginning the bashing*

 

[twoburntfouryou]

Hope nobody took the day off today cause on GL they are greatly again today.

 

[old gypsy]

Hope nobody took the day off today cause on GL they are greatly again today.

Same here. The ones I've checked this morning on Chesapeake are still greatly worn.

 

[Xalan Dementia]

dumb question but what are the rules on IDocs with vendors still on them? dont they go into some lock out until the vendor items/gold is claimed or something like that?

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

dumb question but what are the rules on IDocs with vendors still on them? dont they go into some lock out until the vendor items/gold is claimed or something like that?

The house will be "Pending Demolishion" until the vendor owners claim all their goods and gold OR the vendor rental contract expires.

From the UOHerald

"Demolition Pending" Houses

If your house is scheduled to decay but still has contract-vendors with unexpired contracts, the house will list as "Demolition Pending" and not fully decay until 9 days after those contracts expire. Houses with this status cannot be reclaimed, even by reactivating their accounts. These houses remain standing only to allow the contract-vendor owners to reclaim their vended inventory. (You can find more information on Contract Vendors here.)

 

[Arabella]

Hope nobody took the day off today cause on GL they are greatly again today.

Unless they changed in the last 15 minutes, the one I have been watching are still Greatly Worn, which they were that at 5:40 cst yesterday morning.

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

Hope nobody took the day off today cause on GL they are greatly again today.

House decay status does not change at server up. As far as I know it never has. It's on a timer.

From the UOHerald:

Stages of Decay

Once a house is eligible to decay (after meeting the appropriate criteria--see above sections), it doesn't collapse all at once, but instead, goes through a series of decay stages.

Housing State

Approximate Duration​

Like New

1 hour​

Slightly Worn

1-2 days​

Somewhat Worn

1-2 days​

Fairly Worn

1-2 days​

Greatly Worn

1-2 days​

In Danger of Collapsing

12-24 hours​

When a house collapses, new houses cannot be placed on that lot for a random amount of time.

 

[Arabella]

The houses I am watching are in the Greatly Worn Stage. They were in that stage yesterday morning at 5:40 am cst, this morning at 6:30 am cst they are still in that stage.

Also a house that went into the decay stages on wed., went IDOC last night around 10 pm cst and fell sometime this morning.

 

[Larisa]

Yeah that's what people have been saying this whole time...even though they turned on house decay, it seems not aLL houses are decaying at the same rate...which is very odd...cool but odd.

All of mine I have marked are all Greatly..the one luna house went around 1 AM Central..I know a few went this morning because the noobs were bragging in General Chat about *Fail Looting Scripts* and that's why *you noobs didn't get anything*...*shakes head*

So they seem to be very random...one fell early this morning, some fell right before server down...and the ones I am watching are still greatly...who knows!

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

According to the way the Playguide is written, each stage has some randomness to the timer.

I would imagine that at the stage change the RNG runs and decides how much time the stage will be. Thus, it should be different for each house.

Many players and others have often said each stage is 18 hours or 1 day. Well that's just an average. The playguide has always stated 1-2 days except for 'like new" and "IDOC." To me that means 24-48 hours.

Say for example the RNG picks on the low-end at each stage. Theoretically, a house could fall in as little as 4 1/2 days.

If the RNG were to land on the upper-end of the timer at each stage, it could be as long as 8 1/2 days before a house would fall.

Only the devs know how it truly is coded but since the Playguide on the UOHerald outlines the randomness as 1-2 days, it would seem the RNG is involved with the timer.

 

[Hunters' Moon]

With houses now falling on all shards,someone in Gen chat gave me the idea of what the 'official' song for the IDOC 2012 should be.

[youtube]gRcj6CAhe7s[/youtube]​

 

[Woodsman]

So they seem to be very random...one fell early this morning, some fell right before server down...and the ones I am watching are still greatly...who knows!

Maybe there's some kind of clustering - I saw a bunch fall on LS within 15-20 minutes of each other.

You know there are a lot of IDOCs falling when people are leaving semi-rares and resources behind.

 

[Marcellis]

Nothing noteworthy so far, but tons of moonstones, and items with charges. Should make a killing trashing them all.

 

[Chad Sexington]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Ezekiel Zane]

Got 2.5 mil in checks at the Luna house on Pac.

About 1200 items overall that I haven't even had a chance to look at yet.