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Memorials for UO

  • Thread starter Cal_Mythic
  • Start date
  • Watchers 4
C

Cal_Mythic

Guest
Hey all,
I just wanted to let you know this is still on the radar. We're still discussing how to implement this.

We can find the area, and we can find a good method for making certain players are sincere about their intent ... the question remains:

How do we handle those from Felucca who wish to honor their friends and family?

I should not have to say this, but please be respectful of this post, and the opinions of others.
 
S

Sonoma

Guest
Awesome! I am really excited about this. I assume you're talking about being able to engrave the tombstones? Or maybe you mean even more then that?

-As for being able to engrave the tombstones: I think this would be a GREAT itea... along with being able to engrave the pedestals. I dont think this really even needs to be policed. Sure some people will abuse it just like they abuse every other area where we have a little freedom. However I think in this case, it will be even less of a problem.

If someone tries to abuse this system to harass another player they will have to get that player into their home to look at it. If someone is offended, then they dont need to go into that persona house and look at it. If someone tries to leave engraved tombstones laying around with offensive inscriptions on them, they will last all of about 5 seconds before someone picks them up and relabels them and keeps them.

I guess I am a little unclear as to why there is an issue with this at all?
 

Warsong of LS

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How do we handle those from Felucca who wish to honor their friends and family?

Maybe establish a cementary in a guarded area? Or convert a building or 2 in vaious cities into masoluems where you can buy/place a plaque with the name of your beloved?
 
F

Fink

Guest
How will griefing (as opposed to grieving) of memorials be stopped?
 
L

Liquid_Ape

Guest
I have a good friend whose father was killed in Vietnam. He has been to the Wall in Washington DC on several occasions. It is cathartic for those remembering loved ones and it can be awe inspiring.

Perhaps a Wall type memorial would be good. It wouldn't be too spread out and could be updated fairly easily.


Also, how about something like the tomb of the unknown soldier? It represents everyone who has died even though you may not know who they are.


But, as far as the mechanics, can you put the memorial in a localized place that reds and blues can freely access where you cannot attack or be attacked by anyone regardless of color? Perhaps, make it so you can only go there when you are no longer an aggressor?

Someone asked how to stop griefing, how about you mute players like GM's do when you get tossed in the slammer? Only maybe allow party chat so services can be held?

Heck, I dunno, I just play here.
 
B

Beer_Cayse

Guest
** rereading Martyna and the others I agree with them ... scrap my idea. <shrug> Their idea does lessen admin overhead and puts the onus where it belongs - the players.

I would however think a GM could be summoned when inappropriate stuff is in-game?

<removed original text>
 

Martyna Zmuir

Crazed Zealot
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If you want to pit a war memorial type area into UO, go right ahead... Place one in Trammel and one in Felucca, have the same names on each. Problem solved. Everyone's loved ones get the same respect regardless of the viewing player's status.

However: Cal - I think you radically misinterpreted what the playerbase was asking for. While a 'memorial' is an interesting idea, the only thing people have asked for is to be able to use a statue engraving tool on the tombstones we get as loot - not to engrave the tombstones in a graveyard.

Honestly, a shard-wide memorial for deceased players, or the real-life loved ones of players, will be a nightmare to administrate on your end. Will you require a death certificate? An obituary? If not, what’s to stop someone from scamming the system?

Also, not to seem insensitive, but if you do go ahead with the memorial idea you should really limit it to deceased players only...


The optimal solution is to allow US the ability to engrave looted tombstones and display them in our homes as our own memorial. Sure, someone could engrave something abhorrent on a stone - but it would require that we mouse over it to see it. Apply the same rules as obscenities in books and names and punish the offenders as appropriate. This solution cuts down on Mythic’s workload and leaves any memorials in the player’s hands
 

GalenKnighthawke

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However: Cal - I think you radically misinterpreted what the playerbase was asking for. While a 'memorial' is an interesting idea, the only thing people have asked for is to be able to use a statue engraving tool on the tombstones we get as loot - not to engrave the tombstones in a graveyard.
The optimal solution is to allow US the ability to engrave looted tombstones and display them in our homes as our own memorial. Sure, someone could engrave something abhorrent on a stone - but it would require that we mouse over it to see it. Apply the same rules as obscenities in books and names and punish the offenders as appropriate. This solution cuts down on Mythic’s workload and leaves any memorials in the player’s hands
This.

I was about to post this myself when I saw Martyna's player had already replied.

-Galen's player
 
C

Cal_Mythic

Guest
If you want to pit a war memorial type area into UO, go right ahead... Place one in Trammel and one in Felucca, have the same names on each. Problem solved. Everyone's loved ones get the same respect regardless of the viewing player's status.

However: Cal - I think you radically misinterpreted what the playerbase was asking for. While a 'memorial' is an interesting idea, the only thing people have asked for is to be able to use a statue engraving tool on the tombstones we get as loot - not to engrave the tombstones in a graveyard.

Honestly, a shard-wide memorial for deceased players, or the real-life loved ones of players, will be a nightmare to administrate on your end. Will you require a death certificate? An obituary? If not, what’s to stop someone from scamming the system?

Also, not to seem insensitive, but if you do go ahead with the memorial idea you should really limit it to deceased players only...


The optimal solution is to allow US the ability to engrave looted tombstones and display them in our homes as our own memorial. Sure, someone could engrave something abhorrent on a stone - but it would require that we mouse over it to see it. Apply the same rules as obscenities in books and names and punish the offenders as appropriate. This solution cuts down on Mythic’s workload and leaves any memorials in the player’s hands
Hmmm okay ... so I'm clear. If we allow players the ability to scribe on looted tombstones this "answers the mail .."?

I'd really like to get more inputs on that. As I understand it that would be only 1/2 of the solution. Of course it would reduce the amount/potential for griefing and of course it would give those individuals the right amount of closure.

In addition, I could see it would also allows players to have "Dedication Ceremonies" with the tombstones.

Am I understanding correctly then?
 

Martyna Zmuir

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Hmmm okay ... so I'm clear. If we allow players the ability to scribe on looted tombstones this "answers the mail .."?

I'd really like to get more inputs on that. As I understand it that would be only 1/2 of the solution. Of course it would reduce the amount/potential for griefing and of course it would give those individuals the right amount of closure.

In addition, I could see it would also allows players to have "Dedication Ceremonies" with the tombstones.

Am I understanding correctly then?
Correct.

This gives the players the means to conduct their own ceremonies on their own terms (for an RL person, or RPed reasons) without Mythic needing to administrate.


Keep the system simple and free of bureaucracy.


While you’re at it, could you make the pedestals engraveable as well?

Thanks.
 

MalagAste

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Hmmm okay ... so I'm clear. If we allow players the ability to scribe on looted tombstones this "answers the mail .."?

I'd really like to get more inputs on that. As I understand it that would be only 1/2 of the solution. Of course it would reduce the amount/potential for griefing and of course it would give those individuals the right amount of closure.

In addition, I could see it would also allows players to have "Dedication Ceremonies" with the tombstones.

Am I understanding correctly then?

Scribing on looted Tombstones would be good and it would put the ball in the players court... this way if someone wants to make a memorial to a loved one they can do so on their OWN land... and they can decorate it any way they like...

This saves you the headache of having to see if anyone really is dead... and gives the players the ability to dedicate their own memorial and it allows them to perform a community remembrance if they so desire without any obligations from EA to see whether or not this person really is dead.... and it allows RP communities another tool for use.

Honestly this is exactly what you and I discussed after the last mIRC discussion.

I think this would be by far the best solution for everyone.
 

Llewen

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If you want to pit a war memorial type area into UO, go right ahead... Place one in Trammel and one in Felucca, have the same names on each. Problem solved. Everyone's loved ones get the same respect regardless of the viewing player's status.

However: Cal - I think you radically misinterpreted what the playerbase was asking for. While a 'memorial' is an interesting idea, the only thing people have asked for is to be able to use a statue engraving tool on the tombstones we get as loot - not to engrave the tombstones in a graveyard.

Honestly, a shard-wide memorial for deceased players, or the real-life loved ones of players, will be a nightmare to administrate on your end. Will you require a death certificate? An obituary? If not, what’s to stop someone from scamming the system?

Also, not to seem insensitive, but if you do go ahead with the memorial idea you should really limit it to deceased players only...


The optimal solution is to allow US the ability to engrave looted tombstones and display them in our homes as our own memorial. Sure, someone could engrave something abhorrent on a stone - but it would require that we mouse over it to see it. Apply the same rules as obscenities in books and names and punish the offenders as appropriate. This solution cuts down on Mythic’s workload and leaves any memorials in the player’s hands
Hmmm okay ... so I'm clear. If we allow players the ability to scribe on looted tombstones this "answers the mail .."?

I'd really like to get more inputs on that. As I understand it that would be only 1/2 of the solution. Of course it would reduce the amount/potential for griefing and of course it would give those individuals the right amount of closure.

In addition, I could see it would also allows players to have "Dedication Ceremonies" with the tombstones.

Am I understanding correctly then?
I'm inclined to agree with Martyna and Galen. As much as I would love to see certain remarkable individuals given memorials, I just think the potential for abuse and a good intention actually causing more grief and bitterness is too great. I think being able to engrave tombstones is a great idea. Of course they would also be used for unintended purposes, but that is the nature of a sandbox game like UO, but I think they would also be used in a meaningful way that helps some deal with their loss.
 
S

Sonoma

Guest
Hmmm okay ... so I'm clear. If we allow players the ability to scribe on looted tombstones this "answers the mail .."?

I'd really like to get more inputs on that. As I understand it that would be only 1/2 of the solution. Of course it would reduce the amount/potential for griefing and of course it would give those individuals the right amount of closure.

In addition, I could see it would also allows players to have "Dedication Ceremonies" with the tombstones.

Am I understanding correctly then?
Yep, thats EXACTLY what we are looking for! We would LOVE to be able to use statue engraving tools on our tombstones (and pedestals). This would allow us the freedom to inscribe what we see fit while keeping griefing to a minimum. Simple, clean, and flexible.
 

Endrik

Sage
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Stratics Legend
Martyna Zmuir hit the nail on the head. All we want is the ability to use normal engraving tools on Tombstones and Pedestals. Thats it.
 
F

Fink

Guest
Scribing on looted Tombstones would be good and it would put the ball in the players court... this way if someone wants to make a memorial to a loved one they can do so on their OWN land... and they can decorate it any way they like.
I think this is the only simple solution.
 
B

BeefSupreme

Guest
I agree with everyone else here too.

Although It would be nice to have a "tomb of the unknown player" somewhere on each shard as well.
 
J

JHall

Guest
I'm inclined to agree with Martyna and Galen. As much as I would love to see certain remarkable individuals given memorials, I just think the potential for abuse and a good intention actually causing more grief and bitterness is too great. I think being able to engrave tombstones is a great idea. Of course they would also be used for unintended purposes, but that is the nature of a sandbox game like UO, but I think they would also be used in a meaningful way that helps some deal with their loss.

150% agree, allow engraving, and people can display the tombstones in areas or locations that are important to them, in their home etc.

I don't think a server-wide location is necessary and would only serve to cause headaches for staff and players.
 

Assia Penryn

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I agree. I'd really like be to be able to engrave tombstones and pedestals. Also some memorials that players have made do not include a grave as they wish to celebrate differently the life of the individual who has passed.I'd suggest also a way to make a craftable plaque that could be engraved. Something similar to the one on pedestals that perhaps opens a gump to view the whole inscription. Be nice to see it have the gump show some sign of individuality if possible such as gold/silver/color and a choice of "waterstamped" icons possibly such as virtues, towns etc.

Allowing the expression of creativity would allow this item not only to be useful for those players wishing to make memorials, but also give purpose to those other players who wish to use the plaques for dedications, museums or rp purposes.

As a player who has known several who have passed on, I would find it more appealing if we were given the tools to create our own memorial without having to fight with conditions and meeting requirements, especially if the loss was a fresh one. I think most players are more than willing to use their own homes, we just want the tools to do it in a way to individually honor them.
 
D

Deb

Guest
I agree about letting us use the statue tool. I am an avid pet lover
and have attempted to create a memorial to my beloved boxer
who I lost. I am sure there other players out there that would like
this also.
 
J

Jhym

Guest
I think allowing folks to engrave the looted tombstones (and any crafted ones eventually) would be appropriate. I would suggest that such tombstones have a "marking" that changes them to memorials, would would allow you all to attach specialized object code to them without it affecting all types of tombstones.

Perhaps allow the tombstone to also contain or have access to a book for people to leave their own good wishes, perhaps only accessible if the tombstone is marked as a memorial and locked down. I'd also suggest, though I know it's not simple, that if people wanted to drop things on the tile in front of the tombstone that those things could become part of the memorial with the tag "left by xxxxx" -- the owner could decide if the items stay as part of the memorial or if they just decay after a period of time. Just a thought.


As for inappropriate behaviour -- might I suggest you implement a "voting" situation. Players can page on what they consider to be a bad memorial, but GMs would only look at it if there are 10 distinct (active individual account) pages for that memorial, and that it should only be senior GMs that look into this. This would stop the idiots who just want to mess with people for no reason or because they don't understand why the person has a memorial.
 

MalagAste

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I think allowing folks to engrave the looted tombstones (and any crafted ones eventually) would be appropriate. I would suggest that such tombstones have a "marking" that changes them to memorials, would would allow you all to attach specialized object code to them without it affecting all types of tombstones.

Perhaps allow the tombstone to also contain or have access to a book for people to leave their own good wishes, perhaps only accessible if the tombstone is marked as a memorial and locked down. I'd also suggest, though I know it's not simple, that if people wanted to drop things on the tile in front of the tombstone that those things could become part of the memorial with the tag "left by xxxxx" -- the owner could decide if the items stay as part of the memorial or if they just decay after a period of time. Just a thought.


As for inappropriate behaviour -- might I suggest you implement a "voting" situation. Players can page on what they consider to be a bad memorial, but GMs would only look at it if there are 10 distinct (active individual account) pages for that memorial, and that it should only be senior GMs that look into this. This would stop the idiots who just want to mess with people for no reason or because they don't understand why the person has a memorial.
Not a bad Idea about the book.... if it functioned somewhat like the Bulletin boards do... that would be good... then then "houseowner" could delete any inappropriate messages and through the board BAN anyone who would do such a thing. Just a thought...


But Seriously being able to just engrave them with something in the first place would be a HUGE step in the right direction.

And pedestals too!
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
I agree...tombstones players can engrave would be ideal. Also, would it be possible to make them craftable?
 

Lord Frodo

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I agree...tombstones players can engrave would be ideal. Also, would it be possible to make them craftable?
You beat me to it. Make tombstones and pedestals craftable or purchase them from NPCs at graveyards (gold sink, better idea). The book idea is also a good idea.
 

kelmo

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Gosh! You are working late, Cal. *tips hat*
 

MissEcho

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Having lost my son, and my husband to separate accidents in real life by the age of 36, this whole thread makes me ILL.

As far as I am concerned this whole idea is tacky and insensitive.

"oh great" let's have a whole UO RP event because John Brown (aka insert UO char name here) is dead. We can invite all his guildmates and hey anyone on the shard can come and we will all cry crocodile tears and make out we are caring and sensitive and then go on with our day killing miasma or taming greater dragons.

For anyone totally serious about 'honoring' or 'remembering' a loved friend/player, you already have the ability to write a book, put whatever verse or anecdotes in it from one or many authors, stain it any color you want, lock it down on a pedestal decorated anyway you want, in a room in your house anywhere you want, and allow a variety of access levels. Any sincere event can be catered for very quietly and tastefully with existing game mechanics.

For those who feel they have to have an RP event over the death of someone, and feel they 'have to have' a tombstone' to make it realistic then sorry you are much mistaken and/or just another jumping on the bandwagon who hasn't really put much thought into it and/or never stood at the coffin of a loved one and/or you 'just' want another pixel 'tool' to add to your collection. Yeh! Tombstone engravers.

Please

People come to UO for many reasons, one of which is to escape reality for a while.

This is a computer game.

Sorry, I don't care if I am against the flow. I am probably one of the minority who have 1st and 2nd doses of immediate family tragedy. Hence the reason I even started playing UO in the first place. Funny thing is one of the 'few' people who convinced me 'try' UO, a lovely 'friend' of mine called *****(32), died after falling intoxicated from a building on New Years Eve in Sydney in 2003. I know for a fact he would say NO WAY to this tacky idea. I can hear him in my head now saying, 'ya know what would happen, you would be running round some IDOC and find a tombstone in your rush for loot that said 'RIP ***** and go "hrmph no idea who this newb was leave it for trash", no thanks, my real 'friends' do not need silly pixel crack to remember our freindship.'
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
PoV lost 2 guild members in 1999...and another this year. They died in real life...not in game. I would love to have a way to memorialize them beyond the urns we use in the Guildhall now. (actually, I haven't been able to bring myself to add the 3rd yet)

I don't think it is tacky or anything like that. If you don't want to use the items...ignore them.

And for what it is worth ... I am genuinely sorry for your loss. Everyone deals with death in their own way.
 

kelmo

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Reality has a way of invading our fantasy at times... *toasts fallen friends*

I have dedicated an entire account as a memorial. Just saying.
 

MalagAste

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Reality has a way of invading our fantasy at times... *toasts fallen friends*

I have dedicated an entire account as a memorial. Just saying.
What he said.

I've lost both my parents in the last 2 years... Putting up some sort of memorial somewhere ingame where I spend a great deal of my time... would be nice.

And I'm aware of the fact that things are just pixels in game... to me... the game is my social outlet... instead of hanging at the tavern or the mall IRL I hang here... in UO...

So if I want to have a memorial to my parents here in UO where it's "close-by".... instead of driving 80 miles and using a ton of gas to visit a plot of earth... what does that matter?

Where you remember someone or how you remember them isn't important... what is important is that you loved them... and remember them... Making a memorial to a loved one ingame is not much different than writing something and having it on your bedside table... or keeping that picture in the black frame over your mantle... It serves it's purpose each and every time you remember them.
 
A

AesSedai

Guest
*** -only- concerning potential abuse ***

I hate AesSedai. I get an engravable memorial. I engrave it 'DieAesSedaiDie' or 'R.l.H e double hockey sticks AesSedai'...

I am very curious as to the/any restrictive guidelines that such a memorial might necessitate.

And I'm also curious about the requirements that any static memorial might.. require in order for a UO member to permit and place.

/*** -only- concerning potential abuse ***/

- It could certainly be a great addition to UO. But I fear it might require a good bit of resources in order to implement as well as adequately maintain.
 

JC the Builder

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Isn't there a case where one of the memorials in-game already was a fraud? It might have been an Atlantic only thing.

There is plenty of ability to setup a memorial in your own home. Perhaps, EA could offer to take custody of 7x7 houses in locations where only a 7x7 will fit and keep it up forever. That could be done with zero development time spent and the maximum amount of creative control. All that would need to be done is a protocol for who gets a memorial and what design restrictions there should be.
 
A

Aristillus

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If anyone finds this idea "tacky" they would be free to not use this aspect of UO.

And to act as if your loss is greater then someone else, is in my opinion about as tacky as can be.
 

MalagAste

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Isn't there a case where one of the memorials in-game already was a fraud? It might have been an Atlantic only thing.

There is plenty of ability to setup a memorial in your own home. Perhaps, EA could offer to take custody of 7x7 houses in locations where only a 7x7 will fit and keep it up forever. That could be done with zero development time spent and the maximum amount of creative control. All that would need to be done is a protocol for who gets a memorial and what design restrictions there should be.
Did you even read what we were asking about???

Engraving tombstones... Who cares about the control.... in order for it to be "offensive" to someone or for you to even know someone was trying to offend you ..... you'd have to travel to their house.... and MOUSE OVER the tombstone.... and read whatever it was...

And Quite honestly if someone wants to engrave a tombstone with "Malag lies here"... or some such non-sense it's NOT going to offend me...

Now if someone was attacking me the player ... then I think that would constitute HARRASSMENT..... would it not??? And I'm sure that's a bannable offense... if I am correct.


And once again I'll point out that in order for me to become offended I'd have to go to their house and SEE it. And honestly there are 1,000 better ways to try to offend someone in-game and trust me I've probably seen most of them. As honestly engraving something you can only display in your house is not NEARLY as bad as some of the other highly offensive things I've seen people do to offend someone.

Hence why we are asking just to be able to engrave the tombstones.... and pedestals ...... NOT for them to dedicate some in-game memorial to someone.... or to have some public area for these things...
 

Basara

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Hey all,
I just wanted to let you know this is still on the radar. We're still discussing how to implement this.

We can find the area, and we can find a good method for making certain players are sincere about their intent ... the question remains:

How do we handle those from Felucca who wish to honor their friends and family?

I should not have to say this, but please be respectful of this post, and the opinions of others.
Cal, while you did initially misinterpret what was being asked, the idea of an actual memorial area isn't a bad one, either. While it's nice seeing a few of the NPCs running around with certain people's character names as a tribute, perhaps having something a little more ceremonial for them would be nice.

Perhaps a no-combat area accessible from all facets regardless of type (combat potions & wands won't work, and the area has a peace effect like a dryad to prevent combat and casting, that affects characters & pets). It would definitely be better to move Gwenno's memorial from Ilshenar, to such a place. Add in there, as well, memorials to any others that worked on or influenced Ultima that are no longer with us.

Each shard would have its own name plaque or set of plaques in the room/region, with the room identical on all shards, and names being added would be done so for publishes, and only for those confirmed dead by EA through some process (fee-based, if necessary). A locked down container could be at each location for people to donate items that, if they pass scrutiny, could be locked down by an EM or dev as part of the memorial specific to that shard (not duplicated between shards, unless a dev wanted to do it in their free time).
 

MissEcho

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If anyone finds this idea "tacky" they would be free to not use this aspect of UO.

And to act as if your loss is greater then someone else, is in my opinion about as tacky as can be.
My loss is my loss, how I deal with it is MY business, how I deal with loss of my friends is my business, how someone else deals with the loss of their friends is their business. Didn't mention ONCE anybody else's loss or my opinion of it. The only reason I mention MY losses are to put MY opinion into context.

I KNEW there would be one brilliant poster to these boards with the 'your loss yadda yadda yadda....' and then the name calling. Congratulations you're the one. Didn't read this bit did you:
Cal_Mythic: I should not have to say this, but please be respectful of this post, and the opinions of others.
My understanding of the INTENT of this thread was that after a 'few' well known and liked players died in REAL LIFE, in a short space of time, some existing players wanted a way for them to be publicly remembered on their shard, as long time players now sadly gone. It wasn't that people were crying out for tombstone engraving tools.

Tombstone engraving tools to engrave tombstones for dead UO players is in MY OPINION tacky. And you know what kiddo?.... that is MY opinion and people who don't agree can take a hike, I don't care, I never 'post' just to be popular, never have. I post if I have an opinion. Cal asked for opinion ....... I gave it. You didn't like it so resort to personal name calling. Way to go......

I have no problem with anyone wishing to create a memorial to someone they cherish however, tombstone engravers ....... please.... reality check...

Anyways, give you a final prophecy....

Tombstone Engravers =

  • Warring pvp guilds that HATE each other putting up 'cemeteries' with tombstones of their dead opposition guild in them. Prize for the nastiest and most insulting inscription. Constant paging of GMs to have offending tombstones removed.
  • 'HATE' mail leaving nasty engraved tombstones in your enemies letterbox to threaten or intimidate them in game or real life. Don't matter what the thing says it is the stuff gone on in vent or global chat prior to, the tombstone is the icing. Gee a trial account could have a lot of fun leaving death threats.
  • Every man and his dog putting up tombstones for great auntie zelda and uncle bob and even made up dead rellies just to have a 'neat' cemetery' look.
  • Then the pet cemeteries for real and imaginary pets for the animal lovers.
  • Then the cemeteries set up for RP groups for events and what not.
  • Then any 'real' memorials that were set up with the most honorable intentions will be somewhat submerged in the quagmire of UO cemetaries and another method of honoring these players will be needed.

Give me a day or week and I could probably list another lot of 'probable' outcomes for the tacky tombstone engraver.

I would not use it, (certainly NOT for anyone I cared about) but there is NO WAY it is not gonna be in my face as a player so your first comment is pretty asinine.

I wrote quite clearly above how you could create a sincere, thoughtful and meaningful memorial to those truly cherished (sheesh it could also be interactive with players who wanted to pay respects leaving 'book's with their feelings in the shrine curators mailbox to be moderated, sealed and lockdown if appropriate) which would certainly not have the same potential for abuse that we all KNOW will happen within days of a tool like this being available.

People wanted a way to honor well liked and well known UO players who for whatever reason, health or accident are now gone. Just in this thread it has gone from that to 'gold sinks', 'pet memorials', 'memorials for Uncle Joe' etc etc, if you have felt that strongly about honoring someone close to you since the game began you could of had a lighted candle, a pillow and book in a private corner of your house, don't claim a pixel cracked tombstone engraver is the 'ONLY' way you can do this as an argument to whatever I have said. You need to look at the possible 'uses' in my prophecy and ask yourself is this how I want to honor my loved one or not.

However, this is NOT a public memorial as it is in a private house, nor is it lasting to give the respect to the UO player that I thought was the intent.

The ONLY tombstone I would consider appropriate to create a memorial for players would be one purchased from EA games for $50.00, (the price of a cheaper bunch of flowers) $10.00 remaining with EA and $40.00 going to one of a drop down list of charities such as a heart foundations, cancer care, children's foundations, animal foundation (rspca), world wildlife, and any other 'common' charities appropriate and reasonably universal/worldwide. Once engraved with the players name, it be placed in a fenced and flowered field somewhere in our lands (sheesh create it's own island and make it pretty with seats and trees) by the devs/ems who call also lock down a book at its base listing the contributors in either cash or spirit to the memorial when handed over to the em's for placement, tram or fel may also be specified.

THEN IT WOULD BE SPECIAL.

That UO players felt strongly enough to either individually or as a group buy a lasting memorial to someone from UO would show a genuine desire to honor that person as opposed to tokenism, and the additional funds to a charity would actually give the memorial added and ongoing purpose.

Have tombstone engravers all you want, but they will not be of any VALUE if you want a real and lasting memorial to a real UO player
 

hawkeye_pike

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There already is a skill called Stonecrafting in the game. Add different types of tombstones to the crafting menu. Let us put an engraving on them, maybe by using an engraving tool (similar to the container engraving tool). A community can easily create a graveyard by themselves with custom house design.

As an alternative, there are a couple of suggestions in this column about player communities.
 

Basara

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There already is a skill called Stonecrafting in the game. Add different types of tombstones to the crafting menu. Let us put an engraving on them, maybe by using an engraving tool (similar to the container engraving tool). A community can easily create a graveyard by themselves with custom house design.

As an alternative, there are a couple of suggestions in this column about player communities.
Make it to where that the crafted tombstones ALWAYS carry the maker's mark (ignoring disguises and incognito), and are engraved in the process of making. This way, if someone uses it for good, well, we know who cared enough to provide a memorial. If used for silly crap, everyone will also know who to blame.
 
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Aristillus

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I KNEW there would be one brilliant poster to these boards with the 'your loss yadda yadda yadda....' and then the name calling. Congratulations you're the one. Didn't read this bit did you:
Cal_Mythic: I should not have to say this, but please be respectful of this post, and the opinions of others.
MissEcho said:
As far as I am concerned this whole idea is tacky and insensitive.
So when you use the words tacky and insensitive it is opinion, but if someone else does, it is name calling?
I am sorry you feel that way, but you are the one that used those words first, and other insensitive comments like "crocodile tears".



In my opinion tombstone and pedestal engravers would give a lot of new depth for players to deal with the loss of friends, or anyone they wish to remember. They would be useful new tools for role players and many others.
I don't believe they could be abused any more than other items that we already have (weapon and armor engravers for example).
 

Shelleybean

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I understand the good intentions behind this idea, but I do not support it. UO has an incredible number of heartless players who would abuse this to the utmost extent. If this service is to be added, it needs to be in the form of preset phrases where maybe a date and name is the only thing players can enter. Or have the service provided for purchase from uogamecodes. I think people would think twice about paying real life money to be a jerk in game.
 

Flame (DrR)

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It would not affect me either way, but from an outside thought on whats been said here. How would people feel if we just had pedastal engraving. Then you could place a stature, bust, urn, named rose etc on it as a mamorial. This could give the versatility to make fitting unique mamorials and perhaps be less inclined to be abused by the minority. You could also include the bulletin board idea to it or even make it a kind of container that items/books can be placed in to be viewed by others in rememberance.
 

MissEcho

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So when you use the words tacky and insensitive it is opinion, but if someone else does, it is name calling?
I am sorry you feel that way, but you are the one that used those words first, and other insensitive comments like "crocodile tears".

In my opinion tombstone and pedestal engravers would give a lot of new depth for players to deal with the loss of friends, or anyone they wish to remember. They would be useful new tools for role players and many others.
I don't believe they could be abused any more than other items that we already have (weapon and armor engravers for example).
My use of the words 'tacky' and 'insensitive' were in regard to
1. the tombstone engraving tool as the method of memorizing deceased players and I stand by my comments. Your use of the word 'tacky' was in relation to my personal opinion and your misconceived spin on in. So you were referring to me. So yes, name calling. Simple English. and

2. As for 'crocodile tears' you call it an insensitive comment, I call it unfortunate fact. I have seen time and time again in cases of death relating to UO this strange mass hysteria where people seem to want to outdo each other in who is the most sympathetic and 'caring' about someone, sometimes just to appear 'community minded' or 'big' in their guild etc. I have known 2 guildleaders on my shard that were like this, one minute smoozing all over forum about how it is so sad and how the collective 'we' with their assistance should do xyz yet see them in game five seconds later and they don't give a brass razoo about the player but are 'kill stealing' or being rude to other players in game. Any RP event also has the added bonus of encouraging those A'hole members of the community to come along as 'concerned' community only to revert to their harrassing and pathetic selves once they gain entry to the house/area etc. My post was not referring to any one individual but to the general % of the population who just do that kinda thing. Anything Dev or EM run to RP a memorial will also result in the gimme gimmes who will attend if they think there is a remote chance of scoring a 'death' item giveaway. Again opinion not personal attack.

The thing that most people seem a little confused on is the actual INTENT of the OP. This has turned from "how do we provide public memorials to deceased players" thread into a "gimme a tombstone engraving tool as I can think of a million and one uses for it!!" thread. 90% are to do with the latter and few the former. none of which were I suspect the 'intent'.

It was always about PUBLIC memorials that would be 'forever' not stuff in player houses only 'good' for as long the house stood.

Anyways done with this topic.

Regards
 

PASmountaindew

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Make it so the tombstones and pedestals need to be engraved while in your backpack and then once locked down or secured in a home that the inscription can not be changed unless the tombstone or pedestal is released and in a back pack. That should keep people from going around to public homes and changing the inscriptions on things that are not theirs. :)
 
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Morgana LeFay (PoV)

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Make it so the tombstones and pedestals need to be engraved while in your backpack and then once locked down or secured in a home that the inscription can not be changed unless the tombstone or pedestal is released and in a back pack. That should keep people from going around to public homes and changing the inscriptions on things that are not theirs. :)
Couldn't you just make them security enabled and set them as 'Owner Only'? Same effect.
 

JC the Builder

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Did you even read what we were asking about???

Engraving tombstones...
The topic asked about memorials. I don't know where tombstones came into it.

Tombstones in Felucca are a problem already because you can modify your client files to remove and walk through them. They are currently a client-side only effect. I think they should be taken out entirely, there are other ways to decorate Felucca besides skulls and tombstones and blood all over the ground.
 

GalenKnighthawke

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The topic asked about memorials. I don't know where tombstones came into it.
Hopefully it will be clear after this post.

The topic in general was brought up during this house of commons, wherein the following exchange was had:

Zephenia <Gareth> Will you let us Engrave tombstones so we can build better RP graveyards? Id love to have "Here lies my tongue please don't step on it" - On the serious side it could also help with those who wish to make memorials for lost friends.

Uriah Absolutely. Since joining the team, it's something that we have permanently in our minds. It's not a question of schedule, but coming up with a reverent and

Uriah solid design. We've discussed everything from something like the Veteran's Memorial to something simple like Arlington Cemetary. Unfortunately, we know that there would be

Uriah folks who would disgrace such a thing, so we also need to make sure it's bulletproof. If anyone has any ideas I am open to suggestions via PM.
Martyna's player, and Malag's player, and I, and others who have posted in this thread thought, correctly I think, that the issue was one of being able to modify or engrave looted tombstones, such as that which comes from the Monstrous Interred Grizzle, the Peerless boss of the dungeon Bedlam, located in Malas, underneath the City of Umbra, from which the Necromancy skill comes.

These lootable tombstones can be displayed as decorative items in player housing. Thus, if these looted, decorative items could be modified or engraved, it is the perfect way to memorialize ones loved ones, or your character's loved ones for that matter (in an RP sense). And the abuse potential, while huge, is not an issue of any real import, because the memorial (sincere or not) would be inside someone's character's house.

As a pleasant side effect, it also affords Fellies the opportunity to create sarcastic "memorials" to their enemies, fallen or otherwise, something for which I am certain they will be grateful.

And if you enter another player's house, and their decor offends you, leave.

For some reason, however, others, including Cal and apparently yourself, radically misinterpreted the comments and thought the intent was to create public memorials.

Public memorials are, of course fraught with abuse potential in a way that customizable, private memorials are not. And, further, they never were the issue, or the request, as far as I and many others can tell.

Under current systems, it is already possible to abuse grieving people horribly.

A guild I was in on LS lost a member to a car crash. The dominant Fel guild of the moment responded by naming all their horses things like "I Killed [player name]" or "I ran over [player name]."

This continued for, as I recall, about a year after the death. The GMs would not respond, and this player's survivors (family members of the player also played) just had to put up with it.

And this was under current systems. Any abuse potential for a memorial in one's home, in the form of an engrave-able grave or tombstone that can be displayed as a decorative item, simply pales by comparison to abuses of current systems.

-Galen's player
 

hawkeye_pike

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I understand the good intentions behind this idea, but I do not support it. UO has an incredible number of heartless players who would abuse this to the utmost extent. If this service is to be added, it needs to be in the form of preset phrases where maybe a date and name is the only thing players can enter. Or have the service provided for purchase from uogamecodes. I think people would think twice about paying real life money to be a jerk in game.
Why do people worry about what I can engrave on a tombstone, while I can engrave what I want on weapons and containers, I can lay out self-written books, I can name my vendors badly, I can even make an offending custom house design.

Why worry about tombstones? What's the difference?

I think we should take it easy and not restrict the game too much. Enjoy the few freedoms that we still have in UO!
 
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Aristillus

Guest
Well said Galen...If we don't implement new things because of the potential to grief other players, UO would never have anything new again.
 
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