[NEWS:] New EM Event Reward Distribution Procedure

[Vallend]

After the heated discussion in Uhall over how EM event rewards were distributed Mesanna UO Associate Development Manager announced the following new policy:

Greetings Everyone,

We have been keeping a close eye on EM events and player feedback regarding rewards. After careful consideration we have decided that everyone that does the event should receive a reward. This reward will be the same reward across all the shards, with small differences in text on the item or the hue of the item. We will, of course, take precautions to ensure that only people who take part in a specific event receive the reward. The 1st and 2nd place winners will have their names on the item along with the event name and a year added to the item. When rewards are given out by the Event Moderators it will be announced with the post of shard times that the EM will be giving the applicable reward.

For future events, all locations will be announced with the times to stop any confusion for future events.

Mesanna

 

[DPudding]

Wow. We live in a world of entitlement. Very sad. I'll not be attending another EM event....I'd rather not sully myself with the architects of this idiocy.

 

[Giggles]

Thats really depressing I understand wanting fairness etc... but the same type of item on all shards? ug...

 

[Gildar]

I say great - significantly reduces the rare collectors, and those just looking for gold, and encourages the EMs to focus on storylines over making people happy with items.

 

[Shioni]

Well at least they didn't decide to do away with rewards. I still think my idea with the point system would have worked better then everyone would just get like a spring cleaning EM ticket and they could claim the limited fellowship reward or save up for a custom replica.

 

[Farsight]

Well that's certainly a kick in the ass of the uniqueness (is that a word?) of each shard.

On the other hand, those three who have received skulls in the last event just made a few extra millions of gold in one statement, since they are now the only true rares that will come from EM events.

I'm not happy, but I'll still enjoy the events. I hope that they come up with a better distribution method than what they've been using.

 

[Salivern_Diago]

Once again the complainers and moaners nerf something fun within UO. I've never won an EM Award yet, and when I did I wanted it to mean something. Now that everyone gets them they mean jack all.

Mesanna: You've completely messed up the rewards now, I'm sure there were more people in the UHall post that wanted it left as it was than those who wanted everyone to have a prize.

You could have made it so that the winners etc got something different/unique... I'ld have been happy with say.. everyone getting a sash and the winners a proper reward. That way then it isnt all worthless.

When will you learn to listen to the MAJORITY of people and not the moaners... Actually I'm going to make a thread demanding these changes dont take place... See if you listen to this moaner here.

SD

 

[Corvak]

I don't think it's a world of 'entitlement'. Because half these whiners wanted them to sell for stupid amounts of gold.

And now that everyone gets one, they're going to be virtually worthless! HAH!

 

[TimberWolf]

I think the whiners are greedy children, at least the ones I saw at the Catskills events were behaving like greedy children.

I Think the EM's and EA/mythic are just trying to find a solution. The return of EM's was suppose to be the beginning of something good in UO again. All the controversy and crap took away from What this was suppose to be about.

I hope they continue to work on the system and events and keep tweaking them, so that there is some uniqueness maintained.

Hopefully it gets rid of the rare seekers, but unlikely...now everyone will get a sash and 3 will get specials!

I will continue to attend events and support those that work hard to improve out community, but I am disappointed that whining and greed has won out again.

 

[Salivern_Diago]

If people want to pay silly amounts of gold for the items, its up to them. As long as the items were WON and not just given out then if they want tosell them or not.. its up to them.

As I said before, I've never won one (would have liked to) but I'ld have liked to, to have something that no-one else had ya know. Now, I CBA with it. I wont even bother trying to win now cos I get it for just being there.

Woo good going Mesanna for that no brainer!

I'll attend events, I'll even try to help out at the player events.. things like the Keep Drop earlier this month. But with this change in the EM Events, see my earlier words...

 

[CatLord]

Perfect... bye bye event rares.

 

[Gildar]

Well that's certainly a kick in the ass of the uniqueness (is that a word?) of each shard.

*looks at the reward distribution post again*
1. Rewards will still be unique per shard - they'll just be the same type (sure, every shard gets a wedge of cheese [or whatever], but the name and color will be unique to the shard [at least that's how I read it]).
2. Nowhere does it say that EMs won't be decorating shards
3. Who can list 10 items created by an EM or Seer that are unique to Catskills, owned by players, and not a mass reward that had nearly identical ("minor variations in name and hue") to a mass reward given on other shards?
The uniqueness of Catskills is defined by the players, the lore, and the decorated locales... not the rewards that have been handed out to players.

 

[Corvak]

I think most of them give out sashes already. The EM still sets the color, and name, I believe.

Uniqueness is based more on player run events and areas - like the UP's Black Market, or the Bard's Night events sponsored by PGoH. And events like B^L's keep the other week.

EMs can still decorate their shards as before.

 

[DPudding]

Well....the stupidity of the average person is magnified fifty-fold with the relative anonymity of the internet. I guess the vanity, jealousy and greed of the average person is also magnified? It's the same old chestnut....if I don't get something great...then I don't want anyone to get anything!

Remember folks...I didn't get anything either. But...maybe I didn't deserve anything? I did take a macer to a boat fight. But....three people I know got something. And I know for a fact they worked very hard during the event...inflicted serious damage....and followed through with each of the clues. Seems to me they deserved what they got! So...instead of hairlipping the system...why don't people exert more effort in doing the things necessary to win? Cause it's easier to complain and ruin things for everyone.

I give the EM program another 90 days. Then we're back where we were.

 

[TimberWolf]

I give the EM program another 90 days. Then we're back where we were.

Naked in a Bangkok hotel room??

Oh you meant that figuratively not literally!

 

[tsath1972]

I'd rather see a policy of no items created, or else go back to the old policy of having the items be harvested from the environment rather than be handed out.

This new policy may help to dampen the interest of re-sellers in events, since items will be essentially valueless for a few years now. But, it also adds extra work for the EM crew which would be better spent running stories.

But what disturbs me most is that complaints over items and distribution have surrounded every story cycle since the Shadowlords of 1997, so why is (whichever company now runs UO: Mythic?) just now making a policy? Shouldn't they have addressed this before introducing a new cycle of EM stories? Are any of the lessons of the past being heeded?

 

[Corvak]

it is very possible that EA Mythic will write a new command for the EMs that automates the process based on a list containing participants.

 

[Zuckuss]

The 1st and second place get their name put on the item. I think that's pretty cool. Personalized items are great.

Although EA, why did you decide to make a policy where "everyone" gets the/a reward? Now I hope we don't see people multi-clienting 6 accounts at the events just to get 6 uber sashes! Part of the reawrd itself was just being at the event. I didn't get anything at the ore quest, but I still had fun. I didn't make millions from the edinburgh quests but it was still a blast. Why all of the sudden is people not getting an item, ruining these events?

I thought ya'll we doing everything fine. I am sorry about the whiners =<

 

[Zuckuss]

But what disturbs me most is that complaints over items and distribution have surrounded every story cycle since the Shadowlords of 1997, so why is (whichever company now runs UO: Mythic?) just now making a policy? Shouldn't they have addressed this before introducing a new cycle of EM stories? Are any of the lessons of the past being heeded?

Because no matter what you do, people will always find a reason to find fault with something. Just watch. After they make this change, the player community will vote on the next issue to complain about.

 

[Shh!]

Wow. So everyone's a winner and gets a trophy? How lame. I can't say I am surprised however. People no longer wish to have to compete or earn anything. It's so much easier to point at what someone else has and claim that they deserve it as well. Sadly, EA has caved to the lowest common denominator but that's what they generally do.

 

[Shh!]

I say great - significantly reduces the rare collectors, and those just looking for gold, and encourages the EMs to focus on storylines over making people happy with items.

You couldn't be more wrong. Rare collectors won't be reduced, just the new rares that they collect will be limited. And are you seriously trying to say that EMs take precious story writing time and devote that to making items?

Yours is the attitude that is destroying this game. The sterilization and removal of anything "unique" that adds flavor does nothing but dumb down the game. There is no "ALL ITEMS" command in this game, yet.

 

[AnneNomilly]

My personal feeling on this is, let's wait and see what this looks like in practice before we get all bent out of shape over a concept.

Honestly guys, I see this as a positive just in the fact that it shows EA is LISTENING and TRYING. Yes, you will never make everyone happy. But sometimes finding balance takes some trying (and possibly failing). EA listened to whatever feedback they got and said, ok, that didn't seem to work. Let's do this. What on earth makes anyone think that if this doesn't work, they won't listen and try something else?

The return of the EM program is fairly new. Let's give them a chance before we throw the baby out with the bathwater. How do you know you won't LOVE what this turns out to be? And if you don't, send in your feedback and give them other ideas. Is the most important part of events the items or the event itself?

We've never seen an EM team this involved before. In the past, they showed up for events and then we'd see them at the next event. We didn't have them performing weddings. We didn't have them participating in player events or showing up to help fight town invasions. So how about let's give them a chance and see how this works before we take the pitchforks and torches and gather at the castle gates?

 

[DPudding]

Anne... I understand your take. But this has little to do with the EM's. It has everything to do with the players. Well...some of the players. People with itemitis have made this whole thing mundane. Why exert effort? I'm gonna get something for being here! The same old folks that always do the leg work and die multiple times will still be trucking along....

 

[Shh!]

Honestly guys, I see this as a positive just in the fact that it shows EA is LISTENING and TRYING. Yes, you will never make everyone happy. But sometimes finding balance takes some trying (and possibly failing). EA listened to whatever feedback they got and said, ok, that didn't seem to work. Let's do this. What on earth makes anyone think that if this doesn't work, they won't listen and try something else?

I don't think they are listening OR trying. What they are doing is taking the easy way out, like they always do. They give in to crybabies who pancake and moan that everything doesn't go their way. It's disturbing the direction this game is headed because before long, all shards will be test shards with "give" commands on them.

 

[DPudding]

The events have just become mediocre. Chasing around with no surprises whatsoever. "I showed up at the Counselor's Hall....where's my doohickey?" There's no impetus for any, other than the few who always do their best for the community, to do ANYTHING now. They just gotta show up. Where as I, a person who didn't receive anything last time, am trying to figure out how I can be better at this thing so I can earn a cool doohickey! Jesus...is it because I'm 40 years old? Do I just have a higher sense of self-worth?

 

[Shh!]

Jesus...is it because I'm 40 years old? Do I just have a higher sense of self-worth?

I think you hit the nail on the head there. For the MOST part, it is a generational thing (of course, sometimes idiocy knows no age).

 

[Gildar]

Why exert effort? I'm gonna get something for being here!

Something common for just being there. Something unique for being one of the top two (not supremely different than what everybody else got, but still unique).

And then of course there's the fun factor of being involved, which is what the events should be about anyway - not the rewards.