Just sitting here hitting F5 waiting for a link to a live feed...

[funkymonkey]

Well I for one will be running my account to EJ.
?Couldn't careless about the events, vet rewards and the such like.

They should of done this years ago.

Hopefully it will inject some much needed life back , I don't expect a massive flood of players anything is better then now.

 

[Slayvite]

Well they waited til we'd polished off 60lbs of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes to bring it out!

Don't try to sugar coat it, there is ALWAYS room for Cake.

 

[Uvtha]

It's a really good way to handle it. You got 3 months to pay before it falls. In the mean time you don't get to use what your not paying for

Well that's good anyway. I thought you mean that if you aren't paying your house decays no matter what you do. I don't do the 90 day thing to give myself an extra house, I do it because I tend to only play a few weeks to a month or two at a time, and I don't want to lose all my stuff, but being poor, I'd rather not spend the money. I'd probably have to quit if houses went poof when you were inactive. Maybe that's what's best for the game, I don't know, but I just don't play enough to justify paying for it year round.

I wish they just had a 3 dollar keep my account alive fee, so I wouldn't have to mess with it.

 

[Assia Penryn]

I posted in the Storage Wars thread, but this might get me a more solid answer.

Can someone clarify that folks who have paid for an account, that quit... will lose their banked items? Is that actually a definite with rollout date?

I'm actually in the process of quitting. I'm selling off the shop backstock, the house and closing my 20 yr old account. If my banked stuff won't be there if I ever decide to play again, I may as well get rid of it too.

To be honest, if this is really what will happen, I don't ever see myself returning. Anyone who has left and banked their memories expecting them to be there... and they aren't? I bet they don't stick around either.

 

[Uvtha]

When we all do this the game folds up.

Well, that's clearly not true (since that's basically how it currently is) and doesn't even make sense. Ethics aside, If everyone were doing it, everyone would be paying for more than the account they activly use.

 

[Slayvite]

Once again this just shows the sort of "management" we have in UO.
Yes, there is a party going on and they get to have the Q&A session live.
The "going forward" should absolutly NOT have been solely for those able to attend the party and shaft everyone else.
The things being thrown around on forums now and ingame could have been easily delbt with in a single post put up on UO.com when they sat down at the party or even afterwards.
As it stands we have rumour and speculation, rants and threats flying all over as people are discussing things we don't know anything about yet.

UO has certainly taken the "Animal Farm" motto to heart.
"Everyone is equal but some are more equal than others".

Bad management indeed when they put a priveliged few before the masses, by all means, have your party and give out freebies and rub our noses in the fact for some it would have cost over $4k to attend.
The important info should have been given to EVERYONE at the same time though, not just those that have just paid for Mesannas next Vacation....
I suppose this is what we have come to expect though right?

 

[Uvtha]

I do think we seriously need more info on what these unrestricted trial accounts can have and not have??
Lord...can you imagine if they are allowed access to ingame chat? 24/7 goldseller spamm.....and "your mama" insults....

Trial Accounts – Ultima Online

Can only use help chat.

 

[Victim of Siege]

Trial Accounts – Ultima Online

Can only use help chat.

That's the way it was, is it the way it will be?

 

[Uvtha]

That's the way it was, is it the way it will be?

Don't know why they would change it, but who knows.

 

[Victim of Siege]

Don't know why they would change it, but who knows.

Don't know why they do anything they do . . .

 

[petemage]

They been late on the castle tool. They just said they are going to fix the EC and now this big pile of changes?

Feels like "Endless journey" is the code for talking about their development backlog

 

[The Craftsman]

Yeah sure lol. Free shards are the deadest places on the planet lol

This just simply wrong. The freeshard I use has more players online at any given time than any EA shard except atlantic. And there are other freeshards more popular than the one I play.

 

[Flagg]

^ - - It is one of the ultimate tragedies of UO. Somehow, utterly incredibly when you think of it, this game would still have a VERY vibrant community. Great deal of people still play the game. Nothing crazy. Not millions or anything. But tens of thousands not far from becoming six digits? Maybe. Enough for UO to be easily considered a lively MMO? Certainly. It's just that the player base is hopelessly scattered all over the place. Together we'd be stronger. Like half of the people tour illegal 3rd party pirate shards. The other half playing on BS servers has far too many shards to pick from. Even most successful MMOs out there have had to merge shards at times. If we had two servers in U.S, one server in EU and one in Japan (cause apparently you just NEED to have servers in Japan where nobody plays Western video games, MMOs or PC games at all..) UO would suddenly be full of life..
But due to housing, this can prolly never happen. We are maybe 20k people playing on shard set up build to support 400k or something.

 

[The Craftsman]

^ - - It is one of the ultimate tragedies of UO. Somehow, utterly incredibly when you think of it, this game would still have a VERY vibrant community. Great deal of people still play the game. Nothing crazy. Not millions or anything. But tens of thousands not far from becoming six digits? Maybe. Enough for UO to be easily considered a lively MMO? Certainly. It's just that the player base is hopelessly scattered all over the place. Together we'd be stronger. Like half of the people tour illegal 3rd party pirate shards. The other half playing on BS servers has far too many shards to pick from. Even most successful MMOs out there have had to merge shards at times. If we had two servers in U.S, one server in EU and one in Japan (cause apparently you just NEED to have servers in Japan where nobody plays Western video games, MMOs or PC games at all..) UO would suddenly be full of life..
But due to housing, this can prolly never happen. We are maybe 20k people playing on shard set up build to support 400k or something.

Absolutely true apart from the 20k people. More like 5k

 

[ShriNayne]

You have to ask yourself though if the subscription cost is the main reason that some people choose to play on those 'other' shards, 10 years ago pretty much all MMO's had a subscription. Nowadays there are more and more games that are free-to-play to some extent, even quite a few that started with a subscription and then changed to a free model! With so many other games to try for free a lot of people don't stay past the free trial.

 

[The Craftsman]

You have to ask yourself though if the subscription cost is the main reason that some people choose to play on those 'other' shards, 10 years ago pretty much all MMO's had a subscription. Nowadays there are more and more games that are free-to-play to some extent, even quite a few that started with a subscription and then changed to a free model! With so many other games to try for free a lot of people don't stay past the free trial.

I don't believe that subscription cost is the main reason. The rule set is the main reason which is why most of the popular freeshards have an old school rule set in one form or another. It's also why games like Albion are packed with ex-UO players. After that the most prevalent reason I hear is EAs lack of rule enforcement and the condoning of botting, multiboxing, hacking, duping and scamming. People will pay the subscription if they think the game is worth playing. Unfortunately the vast majority of UOs ex-players don't think the current rule set and enforcement of cheating is worth the monthly fee.

 

[Beldin Brightaxe]

[QUOTE="Flagg, post: 2878476, member: 164409]...cause apparently you just NEED to have servers in Japan where nobody plays Western video games, MMOs or PC games at all....[/QUOTE]

One of the things Mesanna stated was that the American and Asian shards have about the same amount of subscribers, with European shards a distant third.

 

[Thrakkar]

I posted in the Storage Wars thread, but this might get me a more solid answer.

Can someone clarify that folks who have paid for an account, that quit... will lose their banked items? Is that actually a definite with rollout date?

I'm actually in the process of quitting. I'm selling off the shop backstock, the house and closing my 20 yr old account. If my banked stuff won't be there if I ever decide to play again, I may as well get rid of it too.

To be honest, if this is really what will happen, I don't ever see myself returning. Anyone who has left and banked their memories expecting them to be there... and they aren't? I bet they don't stick around either.

Read through the storage wars thread again, EJ bank box seems to be something completely separate and our current bank box seems inaccessible when unpaid and will stay untouched:

No, this is for a new storage type, not Banks. It would be shared among your character slots i think? Hopefully it's in the video we are recording

 

[Flagg]

One of the things Mesanna stated was that the American and Asian shards have about the same amount of subscribers, with European shards a distant third.

That sounds..incredible. oO I never see anyone on Asian shards when visiting. Maybe it's the difference in time zones.

 

[It Lives]

Can't really say how all the EJ will work out but is there a way to identify the ftp Chars in game so we can Shun the non believers.

 

[The Craftsman]

Can't really say how all the EJ will work out but is there a way to identify the ftp Chars in game so we can Shun the non believers.

Hopefully a joke, otherwise you are just reinforcing the stereotype that UO players are the most toxic of any MMO.

 

[Nexus]

Can't really say how all the EJ will work out but is there a way to identify the ftp Chars in game so we can Shun the non believers.

 

[It Lives]

Sarcasm is my morning philosophy I dont own a bunch of disney's grumpy **** from gifts from my family for nothing :]

 

[It Lives]

My favorite randomness video:]

 

[Stubentiger]

YAY, I am excited then for my first adventure back. Meeting with the account management page!

 

[Pawain]

Once again this just shows the sort of "management" we have in UO.
Yes, there is a party going on and they get to have the Q&A session live.
The "going forward" should absolutly NOT have been solely for those able to attend the party and shaft everyone else.
The things being thrown around on forums now and ingame could have been easily delbt with in a single post put up on UO.com when they sat down at the party or even afterwards.
As it stands we have rumour and speculation, rants and threats flying all over as people are discussing things we don't know anything about yet.

UO has certainly taken the "Animal Farm" motto to heart.
"Everyone is equal but some are more equal than others".

Bad management indeed when they put a priveliged few before the masses, by all means, have your party and give out freebies and rub our noses in the fact for some it would have cost over $4k to attend.
The important info should have been given to EVERYONE at the same time though, not just those that have just paid for Mesannas next Vacation....
I suppose this is what we have come to expect though right?

 

[AtlanticRealtor]

I am just worried about the whole thing!
When we have something new in the game, something else goes bad... (We talking about 1 or 2 changes, that break another thing)
Now imagine that EJ will be a huge change on so many different ways, I cant stop imagine what kind on consequence we will have...
We can also assume that with the EJ, We will finally have a new Acc. Mgmt system??

 

[Beldin Brightaxe]

They did talk about account management. They want to make a few changes, like being able to add and remove accounts from each master account, but Mesanna called it "spaghetti" code. Right now a re-vamp is not likely to happen anytime soon.

 

[Fridgster]

They did talk about account management. They want to make a few changes, like being able to add and remove accounts from each master account, but Mesanna called it "spaghetti" code. Right now a re-vamp is not likely to happen anytime soon.

So... we are going to add a major change with EJ but are going to do nothing about the account management system... thats a bit silly.

 

[Drakelord]

Mesanna just said multiboxing will be illegal with Endless Journey...

0h0h! I love that, I am so tired of see multi commands from 4 to 5 toons all dress aliked all doing the same movements and commands

 

[Drakelord]

No house, boat, gifts, Veteran Rewards, EM rewards. Otherwise the account can do everything.

well for some that will be ok, but for others sorry got to have mine deco

 

[Uvtha]

Hopefully a joke, otherwise you are just reinforcing the stereotype that UO players are the most toxic of any MMO.

hah, err, I think the prevalent stereotype about uo players is: "What's UO? Oh... people still play that?"

 

[ShriNayne]

I don't believe that subscription cost is the main reason. The rule set is the main reason which is why most of the popular freeshards have an old school rule set in one form or another. It's also why games like Albion are packed with ex-UO players. After that the most prevalent reason I hear is EAs lack of rule enforcement and the condoning of botting, multiboxing, hacking, duping and scamming. People will pay the subscription if they think the game is worth playing. Unfortunately the vast majority of UOs ex-players don't think the current rule set and enforcement of cheating is worth the monthly fee.

I hear ya! If I could go back to before AoS I don't think I would hesitate. I really hated where the game went from that point on!

 

[Speranza]

So... we are going to add a major change with EJ but are going to do nothing about the account management system... thats a bit silly.

Something was mentioned about the account management system but i don't want to comment on it since I've slept since then. I'll get them full speech up on YouTube when i can. Message Riyana if you don't see it by Tuesday.

 

[Yadd of Legends]

The 30 day code/90 days to save/fall a week later pattern is COMPLETELY UNCHANGED.

As long as an account has a house and is unpaid, it can't log in

Thanks for your post.
This sounds like a change to me.
Under the present system, you can continue to use the house after the house expires, through the 90 days until it goes IDOC, and then you can't log in.
Under the new system, it sounds like you would be locked out as soon as the account expires, even though the house won't go IDOC for 90 days.
Is this how you understand it? That would be a big practical change if that's the case

 

[Fridgster]

Thanks for your post.
This sounds like a change to me.
Under the present system, you can continue to use the house after the house expires, through the 90 days until it goes IDOC, and then you can't log in.
Under the new system, it sounds like you would be locked out as soon as the account expires, even though the house won't go IDOC for 90 days.
Is this how you understand it? That would be a big practical change if that's the case

I think that you cant login with your account to take advantage of the EJ system until your house falls after 90 days. If you dont have a house you are automatically entered into the EJ program.

 

[Yadd of Legends]

But will we still be able to log into an expired account until the house goes IDOC in 90 days?

 

[Fridgster]

But will we still be able to log into an expired account until the house goes IDOC in 90 days?

Doesnt sound like it. Unless of course you add gametime. After it goes idoc you should be enrolled into the endless journey program

 

[Yadd of Legends]

That's a game changer. If you let your account expire before you clean out your house, you've lost all your stuff unless you pay another $15 to retrieve it - isn't that about it?

 

[spamspamspamspam]

You mean the $15 that should have been paid all along?

 

[Yadd of Legends]

No, I don't mean that all - See Post #158 - the house just wouldn't have been there at all, and BS wouldn't have gotten my $5 a month

 

[Speranza]

But will we still be able to log into an expired account until the house goes IDOC in 90 days?

No, but you can resubscribe within the 90 days just like now. That aspect isn't changing at the moment.

 

[Yadd of Legends]

No, but you can resubscribe within the 90 days just like now. That aspect isn't changing at the moment.

I see, so for those who simply store stuff in houses, life goes on as normal. For those who pay $5 a month ($15 every 90 days) for a house to play on another shard once a week or so, that option will no longer be available, if I understand this right

 

[It Lives]

Right there with ya, your understanding is just fine. Though I am half expecting someone to say hahah fake news gottcha!

 

[skittles1337]

I am just worried about the whole thing!
When we have something new in the game, something else goes bad... (We talking about 1 or 2 changes, that break another thing)
Now imagine that EJ will be a huge change on so many different ways, I cant stop imagine what kind on consequence we will have...
We can also assume that with the EJ, We will finally have a new Acc. Mgmt system??

Its worth the risk, without some risk uo will cease to exist in the near future. Subscriptions are a thing of the past and Mesanna/BS know this, its time for a drastic change. I think this is a great change for the game and hopefully it will draw in old and new players. I really wish UO could get onto steam, that would provide a great platform for UO to advertise and pull in new players.

 

[Fridgster]

I see, so for those who simply store stuff in houses, life goes on as normal. For those who pay $5 a month ($15 every 90 days) for a house to play on another shard once a week or so, that option will no longer be available, if I understand this right

I dont believe that is correct. Only the characters on the account that owns the account cant access it. Co owners still can as far as im aware.

 

[Tanager]

The way it is right now, all houses on an account start a 3 month timer of decay the moment the account fails to renew its subscription. No character on that account can log in to do anything until that account is subbed. The house is still there until it runs out of time (unless the account is reactivated), and it may be used as usual by an active account that has characters that has been granted access to it. There was no indication that any of this is changing. In fact, it was clearly stated that fiddling with the housing decay system was being avoided, at least for now.

The 90 day delay between cancelling a sub and logging in as an Endless Journey account is to prevent players from not subbing AND having full access to their own house/bank. What was not clearly stated (at least not clearly to me) was if one deliberately dropped their house before unsubscribing, if they still had to wait 90 days before they log back in without subbing.

In any case, I'm sure there will be more official information soon and I will hold off on speculation until then.

 

[Anonymous UOPlayer]

re, # of accounts: no1 knows how many accounts there are 'cept devs. they ain't talkin'. rest of us r just making stuff up. don't link 2 that site with the chart, 'cos i haven't seen them cite a source in years. used 2b from press releases. now from imagination.

re, shard consolidations: no 1 wanting that experienced lag & complaints about over-crowding i guess. easy 2 praise something u never experienced. i did, however. it sukked. bad. u have an option 2 move shards. use it. lol

 

[CottonEyeJoe104]

The hotel has TERRIBLE wifi. So I couldn't live stream. But I'm organizing and reviewing all my footage and I'll have a post w/ all the pictures and videos I took coming tomorrow.

 

[Victim of Siege]

Wish I could have been there